New Green

[kiwi bowler]

At my club one of our artificial greens is on it's last legs and it was decided at the AGM we would be getting a new artificial next season at a cost of approx NZ$180,000. (we would get grants etc).

But I have been told now they are thinking of putting it back in grass (I like this idea) the initial cost will only be arround NZ$30,000.

And then annually we will pay a green keeper about NZ$10,000 (green keepers here in Auckland I'm told, usually look after 3 to 4 greens to make a living).
We as member's will also have to help with the green's at time's, which is fine with me.

[wrong bias]

grass is good:)but as long as you keep the banking artificial as it is murder to cut. it takes longer to cut the grass on the banking than to cut the whole green ,our club is hoping to get an artificial bank next season at a cost of £10 to 12 grand

[Blondie]

I myself would prefer grass any day, don't know a lot about the cost but most of our funds go to a company that maintains the green,tney do the fertilizing and treatment and the members have a green committee that cut and do any work, lot of the men really enjoy cutting the grass someone told me that artificial and grass work out around the same to maintain:D

[E T]

Always a good debate, Grass or Artificial??
I always prefer grass, more challenges and better playing atmosphere etc.

Costings I have been told is that Artificial is a big initial outlay but over 10 - 15 years the costings are similar due to the high maintenance costs of maintaining a Grass 'Green'.

Give me a Grass green any day!!!!!!!:D

[snapper]

Cant beat grass so much more interesting to play on changes with the weather
Hate artificial dread playing on them got a few in our division always think its unfair when we get County games there:roll:

[kiwi bowler]

If my club goes ahead with the new idea we will still have our other green which is artificial.
And that means we will still be able to play during the winter depending on the rain.

[Angel]

You are so lucky to have the choice of artificial or grass not many clubs over here have both that would be a bit like winning the lottery Angel:D

[Crabie]

Wonderful idea great to have both grass and artificial think they are bringing a ruling or so its rumored that our greens can be a shorter length
Our green has only three rinks which only goes one way and cant be changed
Not sure how wide it is think it will be brought up at next AGM :roll:

[kiwi bowler]

Wonderful idea great to have both grass and artificial think they are bringing a ruling or so its rumored that our greens can be a shorter length
Our green has only three rinks which only goes one way and cant be changed
Not sure how wide it is think it will be brought up at next AGM :roll:

Hi Crabie, check out "All Things Bowls" - Lenght of Green 32 Meters

[kiwi bowler]

Well at the committee it seems we are still getting a new artificial green as there's more members who would prefer this. They think it's too much work looking after a grass green:(

[Angel]

Thats a great shame would have been nice to have one of each, got to go with what everyone wants Angel:(

[kiwi bowler]

Yes, but it's more the older members, I think it's because there's less maintenance looking after an artificial green.

And I'm ok with their decision

[Blondie]

Can understand that, lot of work cutting grass and using the roller not so good when you are getting on a bit,
The biggest problem we have is disposing of the grass cuttings, got to bag them and take them to the local dump
Lot of carrying and lifting :(

[Bundyboy]

Artificial can mean lots of things. There is carpet, felt, punch needle and others. Because of the water crisis over here the government is giving grants to save water and most clubs use it to put in synthetic greens. We have both and the synthetic is being replaced, lots of comments on what is the best. The biggest problemover here is keeping the speed to around 15 seconds. Most synthetics speed increases with age. The association doesn't like that.

[mary]

Hi Bundyboy we only have synthetic greens over here and there are not a lot of them, but I can see in the future that is where the Clubs will be going the cost of Maintaince and having a specialist firm that comes and manages the green cost thousands every year
And we are also on water meters with the way the water rates are going up it will only be a matter of time before all clubs will be forced to get artificial greens:roll:

[mary]

We get very little in the way of grants Bowling seems to be left behind when it comes to funding:(

[kiwi bowler]

Hi Bundyboy we only have synthetic greens over here and there are not a lot of them, but I can see in the future that is where the Clubs will be going the cost of Maintaince and having a specialist firm that comes and manages the green cost thousands every year
And we are also on water meters with the way the water rates are going up it will only be a matter of time before all clubs will be forced to get artificial greens:roll:
Hi Mary, can you not put in water tanks to catch the rain water, that way you would not have to pay water rates.
Quite a few clubs here in NZ have water tanks.

[mary]

Hi Kiwi Bowler no one over here has water tanks not even sure what one would look like
There has never been any don't know why, we do get an awful lot of rain but they still charge us really high water rates
And going up every year when we do have a dry spell in the summer which isn't very often we get hosepipe bans with fines if you are caught using one
Have got a water barrel beside the greenhouse which I use for plants
Think we could use some of the ideas you have over here:)

[Surfer]

Think Water Tanks are a great idea most Bowling Greens would have the space for one I don't think they have the know how on what or how to

go about getting one and would we get planning permission,Local Council's are really hot on planning permission need it for everything

Going to look on Goggle and see what I can find out interesting subject Surfer:cool:

[snapper]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:G_dBZFnn4zQJ::www.freefoto.com/images/13/64/13_64_5---Four-Burrows-Wind-Farm--Cornwall_web.jpg (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freefoto.com/images/13/64/13_64_5---Four-Burrows-Wind-Farm--Cornwall_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freefoto.com/preview/13-64-5%3Fffid%3D13-64-5%26k%3DFour%2BBurrows%2BWind%2BFarm%252C%2BCornwa ll&h=400&w=600&sz=103&tbnid=G_dBZFnn4zQJ::&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bwind%2Bfarms%2Bin%2Bc ornwall&hl=en&usg=___4QEDpSX2p5F6zGbHUOVX4KRXnY=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&cd=1) Hi all you Bowlers on the subject of water tanks we should all be more self sufficient, the latest thing in Cornwall is the wind farms our local Tesco and The Eden Project are all looking for planning permission to erect and run one, if the local council were more flexible it would be the way to go, :D


Just a thought Kiwi Bowler but do you have anything like this in Zealand

[kiwi bowler]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:G_dBZFnn4zQJ::www.freefoto.com/images/13/64/13_64_5---Four-Burrows-Wind-Farm--Cornwall_web.jpg (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freefoto.com/images/13/64/13_64_5---Four-Burrows-Wind-Farm--Cornwall_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freefoto.com/preview/13-64-5%3Fffid%3D13-64-5%26k%3DFour%2BBurrows%2BWind%2BFarm%252C%2BCornwa ll&h=400&w=600&sz=103&tbnid=G_dBZFnn4zQJ::&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bwind%2Bfarms%2Bin%2Bc ornwall&hl=en&usg=___4QEDpSX2p5F6zGbHUOVX4KRXnY=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&cd=1) Hi all you Bowlers on the subject of water tanks we should all be more self sufficient, the latest thing in Cornwall is the wind farms our local Tesco and The Eden Project are all looking for planning permission to erect and run one, if the local council were more flexible it would be the way to go, :D


Just a thought Kiwi Bowler but do you have anything like this in Zealand

Yes a few and more are planned if they get permission

[mary]

I think the wind farms are lovely we should have a lot more of them, what a more natural way to get electricity without all the pollution
Have been reading that people who live near the Eden Project have started a petition to stop them putting a Giant one up which will supply all the electricity they need
I'm sure in time every house will have one we are going to have to find an alternative to oil

[Sam]

Hi Everyone

Sure its a good idea but have heard they make quite a noise if you live anywhere close

I don't think I would want one next door to me but I don't know enough about them will have to Goggle them and see what I can find out:D

[Bigbear]

http://nt1.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=pWZeIa_puDsJ&imgurl=www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01236/wind_farm_ufo_1236868c.jpg
Telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4220725/UFO-wind-turbine-crash-site-sealed-off.html)'UFO' wind turbine crash site sealed off (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4220725/UFO-wind-turbine-crash-site-sealed-off.html)
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago
The wind farm where UFO hunters believe an alien aircraft struck a 290-foot wind turbine has been sealed off. By Stephen Adams Security guards have been ...
UFO wind turbine prank site sealed (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/12/ufo_crash_site_sealed/) Register
UFOs crashing into wind farms: has the Guardian solved the mystery? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jan/08/windpower-thesun) guardian.co.uk
UFO claim over wind farm damage (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/7817378.stm) BBC News
Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1108973/UFO-experts-believe-mystery-wrecked-wind-turbine-final-proof-alone.html) - Telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4176548/UFO-blamed-for-destruction-of-wind-turbine.html)
all 321 news articles » (http://news.google.co.uk/news?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK309&lr=&ie=UTF-8&resnum=1&ncl=1290886916)
Tentacled 'UFOs' spotted days before turbine destroyed (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4219350/Tentacled-UFOs-spotted-days-before-turbine-destroyed.html)
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 7 hours ago
And the family's description is strikingly similar to what witnesses claim they saw shortly before the wind farm incident on January 4.

Surprising what you can find if you go on Goggle looks like you could have UFO or little green men in England interesting thought
But I reckon there must be some other explanation for the damage, still trying to work out what,

If you see any strange people around and I don't mean in the Bowling Club let us know Bigbear:D:roll:

[Blondie]

What an interesting topic still got an open mind about space ships etc, got to be something if so many people keep claiming to have seen

something

The wind farms are the future its only a matter of time before our world runs out of oil and gas we need to find safe alternatives :)

[crackerjack]

Their not martians it was just the fellows from the local bowls club down the road...

Jack

[Angel]

Hi Jack think we've got a few of them in my Club ought to see some of the members at the beginning of the season, got so many clothes on hard to tell if they're men or women,

Could they be some Alien Creatures beamed down onto the green and they are playing some strange game,

Wonder what someone from another planet would think if they saw us Bowlers out there in the rain and cold standing around throwing balls up at another smaller ball ????:D:D

Angel

[Angel]

Hi Bigbear did make some interesting reading, kept me occupied for a good half hour not really a believer in spaceships and aliens
But who am I to say some strange things happen if anyone has seen any would love to know:D:D

Angel