Summer Sports - Commonwealth Games
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Fairways Sportsgrounds is officially contracted to employ an experienced, full time greenkeeper to manage the site
(Back row left- right) Dave Gibson, Contracts Director; Trevor Gordon, Contracts Manager, both Fairways Sportsgrounds; Bill Gillespie, Director PSD Scotland, (sportsturf consultant).
(Front row left-right) Sarah Jane Ewing, Bowls Scotland achievement squad member, Willie Wood MBE, former world champion bowler and Jim Thomson, Site Supervisor, Fairways Sportsgrounds
metalwork would have done to a pedestrian or to a passing vehicle.
Then, summer 2013 brought an unmatched dry spell with almost unbroken sunshine from 3rd-23rd July toppling local records and truly testing our irrigation system in a way we never imagined.
However, one good thing about those recent months of incessant rain is that we know our drainage is tip top. Whatever amount falls and whatever amount lies on the surface, once the rain ceases the drainage on the new greens clears all residual water in roughly fifteen minutes. We’ve been monitoring this closely and it is true every time.
What has your relationship been like with the greens staff?
Greens are being cut with Jacobsen PGM22 greensmowers - four will be used for the Games’, with others on standby
Craig’s role has also been highlighted by the Games’ own PR team and we tease him that he might yet become the poster boy of the Commonwealth Games
” 70 I PC JUNE/JULY 2014
We are the greens staff, and this was always one of the attractive aspects of winning the bid. Fairways Sportsgrounds is officially contracted to employ an experienced, full time greenkeeper to manage the site. Initially, we took on greenkeeper Neil Plenderleith, who oversaw the greens for the first eighteen months and nursed them along until June 2012 when he handed them on to Craig Collins. Craig (28) had previously trained at Whitecraigs Golf Club in Glasgow and then had several years experience in the US, so was ready for the challenge on his return.
Craig is permanently based on site and prepares all six greens on a daily basis. All throughout his tenure he has liaised regularly with visiting officials and committee members, and increasingly learned about the nuances of the game and the essential differences between preparing for golf and prepping for bowls.
Regular elite training squad sessions take place on a fortnightly basis and several international standard events have been staged by way of testing the facilities. A four way international match was held last June,
followed by an eight way competition run in September. Both were organised by Bowls Scotland and these were enormously helpful for feedback, testing equipment and determining whether we had considered how the bowlers would be accommodated in a busy situation.
Ten separate events are scheduled for the Commonwealth Games, which include two for bowlers who are visually impaired or have a physical disability. The September international had a para sports competition integrated into the lawn bowls programme, which again helped us make sure we were fully set up to meet everyone’s requirements.
In recent months, the Bowling Centre has attracted quite a lot of media activity for the likes of Mercedes and Irn Bru. Craig's role has also been highlighted by the Games’ own PR team and we tease him that he might yet become the poster boy of the Commonwealth Games. Others in the Fairways Sportsgrounds' team will become increasingly involved as the weeks tick by.
Will you be on hand during the Games to offer assistance?
Yes, absolutely. Already, there are firm plans in place for the bowling green events which start on 24th July and conclude on 1st August. There are a couple of Committees looking after all the arrangements and we are in constant touch with their representatives. Logistically, there’s a lot to do, but our focus is quite unequivocally to present the greens to the best of our ability.
As you would expect, security clearance and site access were agreed many months ago. We’ve worked out detailed timings to keep the greens maintained in top condition and these are all approved. It means extra people, extra machines and some very long days. The weather is so unpredictable that, naturally, we’ve got to plan for all permutations and eventualities, so
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