Hints for Green Care
NEW Artificial Green and the CARE REQUIRED
Respect your playing surface .
Are there any concerns?
There is certainly a need for proper care and maintenance to protect our investment, to comply with the conditions of warranty, and to ensure long-term enjoyment of our much-improved bowling facility.
In particular, members need to realize that while we now have a surface that plays just like grass, the surface is especially vulnerable to damage from lack of care in movement and bowling on the green.
Furthermore, unlike grass greens, damage to our greens cannot be so easily repaired by filling voids or top-dressing depressions. If damaged, our greens will require lifting of the bowling surface and costly repair by specialized contractors.
What do we need to do?
Our prime aim is to enjoy our bowls, while taking care to avoid risk of damage.
Maintenance tasks and frequencies of same Management and programming of bowls activities, and Recommended care in behavior, movement and bowling on the green.
Member should also realize the guidelines cannot be all-inclusive and should be mixed with a liberal dose of common sense. If you have any doubts – ask!
Rink Rotation (YES) East- West (NO) The recommendation is that we play in one direction only and frequently move the rinks sideways. This will help avoid wear in one spot and, by playing in one direction, will also help protect the integrity of ditch rinks.
Members will not be permitted to play on rinks other than the rinks set to the rotation program or to shift the rink markers without permission. (Rotation program to be developed) Alternation of Greens.
Footwear.
Footwear must be approved flat soled shoes, without heals or sole patterns. Sneakers or other leisure shoes with hard soles will not normally comply with these specifications and must not be worn on the bowling surface.
Avoidance of Dropping or Dumping Bowls. To avoid creating depressions in the green, bowls must not be dropped on to the greens. Instead, they should be placed on the green when delivered or on the surrounds and transferred to the green. If you hear your bowls hit the green you are dumping and damaging the playing surface .
If you are prone to dump when you are delivering your bowl, please see a Coach for assistance or, if necessary, consider using a Bowling Arm. Bowls Polish. Grippo or similar products may be used on the bowls but it is important that those bowls be polished prior to use on the surface.
Use of products on the fingers should also be kept to a minimum. (consider using a wet cloth).
Vacuuming & Blowing. The surface should be vacuumed on an “as required” basis, but in any case at least once every two weeks. Always vacuum in the same direction as the seams, ensuring that each run overlaps the previous run. Never stop moving the vacuum with the motors running unless you ensure that the head is lifted from the surface.
The vacuum cleaner is designed to remove fine debris and dust from within the surface, larger material may be removed by using a blower. When using the blower care must be taken to ensure that the nozzle is appropriately horizontal to the surface and, importantly, at no time allow the blower to blow down in a near vertical position.
Washing & Algaecide. Once a year, wash the entire green with a light detergent and water solution. This will maintain a porous surface, breakdown any surface tension and any build- up of environmental pollutant, to maintain the maximum drainage effect.
Stains & Contaminant. To prevent staining of the surface, please keep food, drink, lollies and chewing gum off the area. Most stains can be removed by using common dish washing detergent in warm water. To remove chewing gum, rub with an ice cube to harden and then peel off.
Bird droppings are best treated by letting them dry and then brush off with a light scrub with detergent and warm water. At no time are solvent based cleaning agents or Petro based chemicals to be used