Cover might give winter bowls

Press, 13 March 1987, Page 20

Cover might give winter bowls

New Zealanders who want to play bowls in the winter months have two choices — they can play indoors or, if their bank balances allow it, head for Australia, Queensland’s Gold Coast in particular. But soon, this coming winter in fact, there may be a third choice — playing outdoors on greens in their own centre.

After almost a year of trials, and a few tribulations, two Christchurch men have been instrumental in coming up with a cover for a full-sized bowling green, one which they believe will enable winter play. The pair, both bowlers

themselves, are Pat Doig and Warner Barber, of the Papanui club. With assistance from the D.5.1.R., engineers and plastic manufacturers they are about to market a cover which they believe could bring a new era to bowls.

The cover is a polyethelene material and All Weather Sports Covers, Ltd, the company Messrs Doig and Barber have formed, will be leasing them out to selected clubs. The initial idea is to have two in Christchurch, one each side of the city. “During the winter months there are many

days when the sun shines and conditions are ideal for bowls, except that the greens are too damp. By covering a green when it rains, or overnight to protect it from frosts, we believe that a green in winter will be just as good to play on as it is in summer,” said Mr Doig. He said the big problem that had to be overcome was getting the cover across the green, an area of 36 metres square, and now this had been done.

“The cover is wrapped around a metal roller, in fact six roller segments bolted together. Four men can roll out the cover in less than two minutes and

we also intend to put a motor at each end of a roller. The cover, if preferred, can then be rolled out, and back in, at the push of a button.” Mr Doig said the proposal to clubs which take up an option to lease a cover would be that they hire out rinks on a userpay basis, like golf and indoor cricket fees. “We envisage games being played, by arrangement, on Saturday mornings and others on Saturday afternoon, and, perhaps, a mid-week tournament. Even if the greens were used only eight days

a month over the six winter months it would mean a sizeable income to the club.” Sponsored tournaments, women’s days and coaching schools were other possibilities, and Mr Doig said that he felt winter outdoor bowls would be a great way to bring new players into the game, especially those who have other sports in the summer. Mr Doig said that from discussions with greenkeepers he did not see any problems with greens being damaged through winter use.

“The cover should even be an aid' in protecting greens from unwanted rain, and it would also help stimulate growth in the colder months.”

Clubs which have a cover should also find them handy in the summer, especially in summers like the one now drawing towards a close. “As soon as rain stops, and if it has been really heavy rain then the water is swept off the cover, the cover whipped off and play gets under way. There is no waiting around for the surface to dry out,” said Mr Doig.