Bowlers back synthetic greens

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Bowlers back synthetic greens

BOWLS competitions will take place year round in Wonthaggi, with two synthetic greens on the cards for the bowls club.
Wonthaggi Bowls Club held its annual general meeting on February 5, at which members voted in favour of the development of the synthetic greens.
The project is anticipated to cost $500,000.
“We are one of only two clubs in South Gippsland that is still playing on grass greens,” Wonthaggi Bowls Club president Trevor Teer said.
“The advantage of the synthetic green will be that we will be able to bowl regularly – even when there is inclement weather – and it will be low maintenance.”
It is hoped the project will be completed in 18 months. This is timely, as interest in bowls is on the rise.
Mr Teer said bowls programs run by local police with the schools have generated young people’s interest in playing the sport.
“The Bluelight Bowls program has helped introduce a lot of young people to the sport. They love it and they are showing a lot of potential,” he said.
Currently, Wonthaggi Secondary College and Wonthaggi Primary School are involved in the program.
The club itself has also seen a peak in membership. There are 150 members at the club.
“We have been lucky. Typically bowls clubs lose its members but we have quite a few new players coming through,” Mr Teer said.
The new greens will mean Wonthaggi will be able to hold winter competitions, and host more tournaments for all South Gippsland clubs, giving the club more exposure.
The club will apply for grants for the project, despite talks about moving the club to the Wonthaggi Golf Club site.
Mr Teer said the club had waited 12 months for confirmation about the move. Whilst a new site would help the club with its limited parking situation, Mr Teer said the current facility was suitable for members.
“Our greatest issue is parking. We have all day parking out the front of the bowls club, but it fills quickly with people working in the shops. Bowls can go for six hours, so our members need to find somewhere to park long term,” Mr Teer said.
“We will be discussing our parking options with (Bass Coast Shire) council.”
In April, the club will hold a board meeting to set up a subcommittee, which will spearhead the synthetic green development project.

Ready for a change: Lorraine Day and Allan Ireland are Wonthaggi Bowls Club members who will benefit from the new synthetic greens. Club members currently play on grass greens, as pictured.

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Posted by on Feb 27 2018. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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