Mucking in to produce championship green

MANY HANDS, LIGHT WORK: The wheelbarrow brigade and other keen helpers were out in force to remove the top layer of the Gisborne Bowling Club's number one green as part of a six-month replacement project. Picture by Paul Rickard

BOWLS - GISBORNE Bowling Club has already saved thousands of dollars, thanks to the support of its members and volunteers.

The club is replacing its number one green, a process that is expected to take the next six months.

Gisborne Bowling Club president Tim Sherriff said greens need to be replaced approximately once a decade but it was about 15 years since the club had done it.

“It was OK to play bowls on but we want to have a championship green.”

Sherriff said the strength of the club was on full display with the number of volunteers who came out with shovels and wheelbarrows in hand earlier this week eager to help remove the top layer of their green.

About 12 millimetres was removed from the playing surface. High-quality replacement soil from Taupo will be trucked in next week.

The club then has to wait until the end of June to sow the Maniototo grass and it is expected the green will be ready for play by mid-November.

With winter comes the rain and the club doesn't play often during this time, so it will be largely unaffected, said Sherriff.

Members will still have one-and-a-half greens that games can be played on, weather permitting.