Summer Sports - Bowls
There can’t be many more picturesque settings than Fitz Park Bowling Club in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District. But, when Storm Desmond swept through in December of last year, the River Greta burst its banks causing devastation across the town and dumping six inches of silt on the club’s greens. Mike Robertson of Greta Garden Services explains to Alice Northrop how the club turned things around to be able to play this season
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itz Park Bowling Club is situated in the beautiful surroundings of Fitz Park in Keswick, in the picturesque Lake District. Opened in 1882, the club consists of two greens; one
private and one public. The club currently participates in four leagues: the West Cumbria Men’s Fours League, The Eden Valley Mixed Fours League, the Eden Valley Ladies Fours League and the Eden Valley Mixed Triples League, and has many internal competitions, though the needs of non- competitive bowlers are also well provided for.
The green sparked my interest when I saw the launch of their impressive new website, and saw the devastating pictures of the damage caused by Storm Desmond, which hit the country in December last year. So I spoke to Mike Robertson, of Greta Garden Services, who advises the club on their bowling greens with his business partner Pete Rainey. When I spoke to Mike, they seemed a long
way from the flooding back in December: “It hasn’t rained for a few weeks, to be honest. The bowling green next to us was relaid two weeks ago and it’s basically droughting off now and there’s nothing left. I look after a couple of cricket squares as well and they are drying off. It’s either feast or famine up here.” Mike has been in the turf industry for
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Mike Robertson
about thirty-five years, and started off helping at the cricket ground where he used to play, before being asked to work at the local golf course. “I wanted to go and do something I enjoyed; it’s my main love really, sports turf. I went to Myerscough College and did an NVQ level 2 and 3. Then did an HND in Sportsturf and Golf Course Management.” He was then made Head Greenkeeper at Penrith Golf Club, followed by ten years as Head Greenkeeper at Maryport Golf Course. Pete and Mike went to Myerscough
together and have remained good friends. Pete was also a Head Greenkeeper and, when out cycling together one day, they spoke about how they were both getting disenchanted with the golf industry; “Just the fact that the numbers were dwindling and the budget seemed to be getting cut every year.” So the two men started their own business. “It was mainly gardening, but we have progressed more to the sports turf side of things now.” “Myself and Pete work together probably
three days a week. Then Pete does his gardening and I do the sports turf work. I look after the square at Penrith Cricket Club, they play in the Northern League. Then I have my ECB work to do as well.” Mike is referring to his ECB Pitch Advisor role for Cumbria. He was appointed in November after completing the training. “At the
Our first comment when we go into a bowls club, is that we won’t necessarily save you money, but we’ll make the best use of the money you’ve got
PC JUNE/JULY 2016 I 69
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