Great progress with new bowling green

Masterton Bowling Club made a decision early last season to renovate their No.1 green over the coming winter months and excellent progress has been made in that regard.
The move was prompted by the vastly improved greens available to both club and representative players when visiting clubs in the Wellington, Manawatu and Kapiti areas.
Advice was sought from well-respected greenkeepers in those centres and renovation work commenced by removing about 25mm from the existing surface. Plus the wooden surround was renewed and levelled with a lazer beam.
A tractor with an adjustable blade was used to redistribute the soil with the blade being controlled by the lazer beam.
The top soil had a layer of thatch or very fine lawn clippings forming a film on the surface and preventing a free flow of moisture, therefore restricting the growth on the green.
The usual cover on Wairarapa greens is a weed called cotula which can be cut very closely and which stands up to the constant traffic during the summer days.
But accepting the expert advice given them Masterton decided to change to a fine leafed grass called Maniototo which not only had all the qualities required but which would also increase the speed of the green from 15seconds to 20seconds or more.
The "speed" term indicates the time taken from when the bowl leaves the player's hand until it comes to rest at the other end, and the faster the green the more wider the route bowlers can take to get around opponent's bowls.
In spite of an attack on the new surface by vandals which was speedily repaired the re-opening of the No.1 green should only be delayed a few weeks.
Masterton president Warren Wyeth said the renovation work was only possible through the many hours of voluntary work put in by club members, boith men and women.
He also noted that the various sponsors boards which have been erected around the fences at the club-some 35 in all-have all been taken up by sponsors to whom the club was grateful for their support.
A total of 20 new members joined the Masterton club last year and they are hopeful of similar gains this coming season which will open on Sunday, October 2. There will be a lunch at 12 noon to start off proceedings.
Masterton will also continue their popular business house bowls competition, starting on Thursday, October 27, and this will continue through to December 1.
Meanwhile the Carterton Bowling Club opened their season on Saturday with Mayor Gary McPhee doing the honours. About 80 people were present, including 25 croquet players and some of the Teusday night bowlers.
There was a full green for the triples competition and a special thank you must be paid to Len Epplett who worked hard over the winter to ensure that facilties were kept up to scratch. The official start for Tuesday night bowls is on October 4, these games running from 6pm to 8pm. For those who haven't played bowls before these competitions are an excellent way in which to introduce yourself to the game.
Coming events.- October 1 and 2, South End mixed triples; October 2, Masterton opening' October 5, midweek triples at Greytown; October 8 and 9, Featherston centennial triples; October 13, South End EBS farmers fours; October 14, Masterton WBS mixed triples; October 15, Superbowls preliminaries at Greytown.