Albany Curling Club

About Albany Curling Club

Albany Curling Club: Two Sheets and Seven Decades on McKown Road

Albany Curling Club has been curling on McKown Road in the hamlet of McKownville, in the town of Guilderland on the western edge of Albany, since 1955, when it started with 16 members. It is the only curling club in Albany County, and its own dedicated clubhouse holds two sheets of ice and a warm room where spectators watch the play. The club sits on four and a half acres of its own land and belongs to the Grand National Curling Club and the U.S. Women’s Curling Association.

The season runs from early October through March, with men’s, women’s and mixed leagues spread across the week and members ranging from about 10 to 90 years old. Membership has grown to around 150, and the split between women and men is now close to even. Club curlers have brought home a U.S. Women’s Curling Association senior championship.

Albany also works at bringing new people into the sport. Little Rockers introduces children as young as five, stick curling keeps players with limited mobility on the ice, and junior, school and Scout groups fill other days. Winter learn-to-curl sessions cover ice safety, delivery, sweeping and scoring before a real game, and a free youth open house welcomes younger players. Weekend bonspiels draw teams from surrounding towns and from Canada.