Sixty-three years ago Kamo Bowling Club proudly opened its first grass green in Three Mile Bush Rd.
A lot has changed since the club was founded in 1948, and on Saturday club president David Read opened the club's first artificial green, where the initial grass one once lay. The club alsohosted 20 teams from Ngunguru, Hikurangi, Waipu, Kerikeri and Onerahi, who contested the first competition on the new turf - a Mixed Fours Tournament.
"We are really happy to have the new turf. It took five weeks to lay and prepare. It means we can play in any weather," Read explained.
"It's running a bit slow today as it hasn't had enough use yet and we need to do more rolling - but once we do that it will be moving much faster."
There are only three artificial greens in Whangarei - at Hikurangi, Onerahi and now Kamo. The Kamo president said he hoped the club could attract major regional tournaments now it had the all-weather, eight-rink green.
The new green also means Kamo Bowling Club can stage a Winter Bowls Series Mixed Fours, which will be held one Saturday every month at the club, limited to 16 teams, and also an Any Combination Triples every Tuesday night - also limited to 16 teams. "Our aim is to get more teams from other clubs over here playing," Read said.
The Winter Series would run until the new season started in early October.
The Kamo Bowling Club has three greens and 169 full-playing members, but it could always accommodate more, Read said.
Anyone interested in playing bowls at Kamo should call David, 09 437 6446, or the clubhouse, 09 435 0394.
