He was back on the green during the club's fours tournament, held as part of the centennial celebrations on Saturday.
The 85-year-old Roxburgh man joined the club when he was 16 - "they wouldn't let me join before then, although I'd already been bowling for six or seven years".
The year after he joined, he won his first tournament, the Easter mixed pairs.
He says nowadays he is "a bit hopeless" at the game, but in his heyday he won 26 Central Otago titles, as well as representing the district at national tournaments.
"It's a great game, though, and you should start it young in life, like I did. The people you meet is the main thing; I've met a lot of great people and have got friends all over the country, through bowls."
Mr McKinnel, a life member of the club, was the longest-serving member at the centenary celebrations. His wife, Margaret, was honoured with life membership, receiving her award during the centenary dinner on Saturday night.
Club president Des Taylor said it was an appropriate time to recognise the sterling efforts of Mrs McKinnel, who had held every office in the club.
About 70 people, mostly from Otago and Southland, attended the weekend celebrations, which included a "meet and greet" on Friday, the tournament and a dinner on Saturday and a barbecue lunch and social bowls on Sunday.
Mr Taylor said the club was formed on 12/12/12 - December 12, 1912 - "so we're marking the occasion just a bit early".
At the peak of its membership, it had about 80 players, but these days, the number is closer to 30, aged from teenagers through to people in their 90s.
