“Every sport has a certain amount of natural wastage. It’s unfortunate that ours has
traditionally had more, as we have always been seen as a sport for the older
generation”
Alistair Hollis, Development Officer, Bowls England
our focus is now more on the rootzone. It’s more about plant health now and we apply more liquid feed and amino acid treatments.”
“Cultural methods have become more the norm here, with the science behind what we do dominating our workload,” adds Andy. “The qualified groundstaff coming through the ranks now are more well versed in the science and keener to act on the advice of agronomists, through liaising with STRI and other bodies.” Recent soil surveys have highlighted
where changes or improvements can be made. “The reports found potassium, magnesium and cobalt deficiencies in the greens, but good potassium levels,” explains Bob. “We can use these most recent findings, alongside the annual STRI studies, to look to modify our practices to remedy these issues. It’s about combining traditional with more modern methods, which means we are more reactive with chemicals, applying them only when necessary.”
Even the home of bowls has suffered with disease. “We’ve had issues here,” reveals Bob, “the worst probably being
an outbreak of dollar spot just two days before a national championships. We have to weigh up the costs involved with a preventative approach. After all, everything you do on a green costs money, so savings have to be made where we can.” “The problems with maintaining turf well, when you are in the council sector, is that few people realise the huge cost and time involved with doing a good job. It’s always underestimated by those who hold the purse strings.” Beach House Park is close to the hearts of local and national bowlers alike, yet numbers in membership have dwindled year on year. “Ticket sales and annual memberships are continuing to slide,” explains Andy, “largely through natural wastage, with the older members passing on or simply being too elderly to continue playing.” “It’s partly our role to look for ways to turn the tide on this trend, which we’re keen to do for the other six greens in the town, some of which are already showing positive signs of a turnaround.” Aside from Beach House Park, another
six greens are run in the Worthing area, with differing fortunes,” Andy reports.
“Usage of the greens across the town has been mixed, with some clubs simply not acting to attract more players, while others have chosen to tackle their problems head on and are achieving great success.” Two of the most heavily patronised sites - Field Place and Marine Gardens - demonstrate bowls’ fight for survival and the challenges the sport faces nationally. Field Place had been through tough times, with participation so low that closure was looming. But, after croquet was introduced, popularity ballooned. “The success there has been great so far, and they are over the moon with how membership is taking off,” Andy enthuses. “It goes to show that if the market is right, minority sports like croquet and bowls can survive.” Marine Garden was also struggling to
retain participation levels as separate men’s and a women’s club until it decided to merge and offer mixed bowls - a move that has proven the tonic needed to revive numbers. “Today, couples increasingly want to enjoy their leisure time together, not independently,” Bob says, “so, the days of single sex clubs are fast disappearing,
The artificial sports surface maintenance specialists, Sweepfast Ltd, in conjunction with Pitchline 3G, will be demonstrating Pitchline 3G’s long life high visibility sports field marking system at Rugby School on the 5th May 2011.
Since its launch in 2002, the pitch marking system has been refined and improved to give precise, laser guided, long lasting lines that save sports facilities money by reducing the labour, machinery, and material costs associated with traditional line marking methods.
Artificial Lines in Natural Turf
22
The marking system is unaffected by maintenance practices such as mowing and vertidraining, and is ideal for local authority and school facilities where austerity measures have reduced maintenance budgets.
If you would like to attend the demonstration at Rugby School, contact Sweepfast Ltd on tel: 0121 7479255, or e-mail:
info@sweepfast.com, or visit their website (
www.sweepfast.com) for further details.
Free Demo 5th May Rugby School
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