TWEED Heads Bowls Club will put its hand up to host the Commonwealth Games lawn bowls competition if the Gold Coast is successful in its bid for the 2018 event.

Club deputy chairman Vince Leather yesterday said he would even invite Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to inspect the greens to show her why the club deserves to have a role in the games.

“I think it would be great to bring her down here for lunch to show her what we can do for the games,” Mr Leather said.

Ms Bligh, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and Australian Commonwealth Games Association president Sam Coffa signed the formal bid lodgement papers for the games in Brisbane yesterday morning.

Mr Leather said hosting a part of the games on the Tweed would be a big boost to the local economy.

“I would absolutely love to see the games held here, especially the finals. It would be a big boost for the community and local accommodation,” he said.

“There aren’t too many clubs out there that can handle this kind of event.”

The club boasts four outdoor greens as well as an indoor green.

It has hosted a number of national and international events in the past 20 years.

It is also home to the prestigious Golden Nugget tournament and will host the Australian Indoor Championships later this year.

Bowls development officer Greg Kelly said a submission to host even the finals would be on the board’s agenda.

“It would be a pleasure to host the lawn bowls here should the games come to the Gold Coast,” Mr Kelly said.

“We can fit 2000 people around the greens to watch the events, and we’ve got our indoor facilities if the weather conditions aren’t ideal.”

Mr Kelly said the first step would be to write to the Gold Coast Tweed District Bowls Association.

The Queensland Government has spent $11 million on the bid and will invest more than $1 billion in infrastructure over the next eight years.

Ms Bligh said the games would be a shot in the arm for the coast’s economy, boosting industry, tourism and the region’s ability to host international sporting events and teams.

“I believe we are well-placed to win this bid,” she said.