“Training for bowls greenkeepers needs to stay just ahead of the death rate!”
Sherriff Amenity’s Martin Samuel
standing up the grass prior to cutting to achieve the optimum playing surface. DGM’s Dennis Lumley gave a brief overview of the company’s product portfolio and talked about the importance of servicing machinery to keep it in prime condition. The final speaker of the morning was
Richard Pryor, from First Independent Finance, who explained that, because of the low interest rates, now was probably the best time ever to arrange finance. Some visibly winced at the figures being bandied around but Richard offered some interesting suggestions for ‘financing the finance’ such as including a ‘one arm bandit’ in the package which could, in effect, cover the monthly outlay. Whilst some might not like the idea of a machine clicking and flashing away in the corner of the clubhouse, it is certainly an option worth considering for cash strapped clubs. Following lunch, provided by the host club, delegates then went outside for on green demonstrations.
Dave Bracey showed, with the aid of a very effective, yet slightly ‘Heath Robinson’ contraption, how a bowling green is constructed and why it is important to understand what is actually under the surface. Next, Robert Jack explained the
renowned Dennis cassette system and their various uses. The benefits of hand and powered slotters and spikers were also discussed as were the benefits of groomers. All were ably demonstrated on
Dave Bracey and comb!
STRI ‘new boy’ Charles Henderson
the green by Robert and Dave The final presentation of the day was entitled ‘Performance Measurement of Bowling Greens’ and was presented by Alison (Ali) Downes, with interjection from Charles and Steve. This is a new STRI initiative that aims to set individual parameters to overall performance of a green. It is divided into three distinct areas - benchmarking, organic matter testing and level surveying. As Ali explained, benchmarking the
green relates directly to the performance of the surface - perhaps the biggest ‘bug bear’ amongst members, and one that they give their greenkeeper the most ear ache about! The benchmarking criteria includes:
• Green speed - with the ‘ideal’ set at between 10-13 seconds for a bowl to travel 30 yards
• Grass species - sward count using an optical point quadrant
• Firmness - measured by clegg hammer impact
• Organic matter - analysed at four different depths
• Smoothness and trueness - a new measuring device, which is in its final prototype, able to measure in real time across a green
• Infiltration - double ring test to measure drainage rate
Steve and Ali then gave a demo of the laser levelling survey which is accurate to
Richard Pryor, First Independent Finance
+/- 2mm and is carried out with readings taken at two metre centres across the green. There will be a more in-depth article on this subject in future issues. And then it was back inside for questions and answers. A few grey areas were ‘lightened’ and the session also offered a further opportunity for Dave Bracey and the STRI to give slightly opposing views.
The subject of younger greenkeepers coming into the sport was raised. Most felt that bowls was unlikely to ever appeal to younger people but should be looking to attract sportsmen and women of forty- five plus, leaving cricket, football and hockey. It was felt that ongoing training was important and that days such as these were invaluable but, as one wag said, “training for bowls greenkeepers needs to stay just ahead of the death rate!”.
And, on that rather humourous note, the day came to a close. All the delegates I spoke to had
thoroughly enjoyed the day and found it very worthwhile. Dennis are to be applauded for
providing these seminars, something they have regularly being doing around the country for a number of years. Of course, they will have benefitted from showing their wares to a captive audience, as will Sherriff, DGM, the STRI and First Independent, but the lack of ‘sales jargon’ was very refreshing indeed. As they say in Zummerset, “a proper job”.
Robert Jack explains the cassette system
Ali Downes explains speed of green test
Charles Henderson talks about infiltration rates
Steve Gingell talks about laser levelling
93
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132