I've had a lot of requests to supply a general set of recommendations for winter maintenance for bowling greens. Although the full program for any green should be based on a thorough inspection and soil analysis, there are some general rules you can follow. I've also put together a suggested package of materials to help you apply this program more easily.
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How to use the Winter Months to Transform your Bowling Club.
A large proportion of Bowling Clubs are currently experiencing a downturn in their fortunes. The finances at many of these clubs just don’t make sense, yet they struggle on year after year and somehow manage to hang on, even when member numbers are ridiculously low. This shows a determination and drive by clubs to survive …
The Maintenance YOU MUST do now for a PERFORMANCE BOWLING GREEN next season!
How has your bowling green performed this season? If the answer is “brilliantly”! we truly have a high performance bowling green, then congratulations you probably need read no further. However, if your club is like many I speak to then its probable that your answer will be somewhat less positive and that you could benefit from my new 34 page guide …
Bowls Green Maintenance and elephants
In the early part of the season no growth means no recovery from last winter’s damage, bare areas not filling in with new grass, bumps, hollows and all sorts of other problems mostly related to surface smoothness and consistency. I’ve heard more than my fair share of strange reasons in bowling green maintenance circles when …
Bowls Green Maintenance Basics-Green Speed
The great debate about green speed has raged on since the beginning of the game. But what are the factors known to affect green speed? In order of their impact on green speed these are the top 7 factors that you should bear in mind. Obviously there are others such as weather patterns, level of …
Deeper Faster Bigger…Better…Not in Bowls Green Maintenance!
Next question to ask as a matter of urgency: Does anyone have plans to get rid of compaction once and for all by hiring in a guy with a tractor and a big spiker that can go in 12, 16, 18, 20 inches? You add your own number here. Pointers: Compaction is an on-going issue; …
Performance Bowls Greens-Making Best Use of Winter
Time is marching on and most greens have had their autumn renovation works completed and the greens have been “put to bed”, which is my least favourite phrase in bowling green maintenance. There should be no question of putting a green to bed for winter, as the next few months are the most vital of …
End of Year Bowls Green Maintenance
It’s nearly time again to be thinking about what to do to the green after the last game has been played. I still hear the phrases “closing the green down for winter” and “putting the green to bed for winter” all too often and that is a worry. Of course these are for the most …
Opening Day Preparation: Getting the mower ready.
Getting the mower ready is often seen as someone else's responsibility during the close season, but great care should be taken to make sure you are not falling foul of tradition again. Relief grinding and back lapping have become an unfortunate norm in cylinder mower set up, but can be more damaging to the turf and the mower than you might expect. John Quinn explains the theory and suggests a solution that will ensure your mower gives you trouble free service and impressive results all season long.
Performance Greenkeeping Tasks for September
Greenkeeping Tasks for September and October have become to some degree a bit repetitive. This would be fine if the desired results followed, but in the majority of cases this can't be said to be true. This month John explains the science behind the perfect autumn renovation plan to get your green started down the road to consistent high performance.