A report by Michael Andersch, Chair, BSOP
Leonie Price and I inspected the Sandy Bay synthetic green on Monday to assess its compliance with the laws of the game and consider its suitability for pennant and competition play.
Ditch depths and widths all meet the minimum and maximum requirements in the laws of the game. Rink 8 on the South Western corner near the club entry has a ditch width of 210mm and is slightly narrow than the average on the rest of the rinks (circa 245mm) in both directions of play (But that is still within the parameters)
All ditches met the minimum depth measurement of 50mm below the playing surface of the green. The long pile on the synthetic material in the ditch together with a curved edge (of a radius of 25-35mm) on the green create an illusion of shallow ditches, but measurement to the playing surface height was determined to be 70mm in the spots that created the initial visual concerns. It is obvious with a physical test that the pile of the synthetic fibres in the ditches will settle when a jack or bowl rest on them.
All Banks exceed the minimum height requirement. A small amount of variability in the Bank Height on the Northern King Street side which is slightly higher (circa 20mm) than the Clubhouse end.
Rink width is precisely 4.3m, meeting the minimum rink width law.
Boundary pegs on outside rinks are 900mm from the side of the green and well above the 600mm minimum for synthetic greens.
Our inspection did not include the rolling of a bowl. The start of the season is still 2 months away and a certain amount of settling of the nap of the surface will occur with both the regular rolling and warmer weather. Leonie and I discussed with Mark Quinnane and Andrew Norris that we both have had anecdotal reports on the speed and grass lines.
Mark and Andrew have indicated in certain conditions, two brands/models of bowls have shown a tendency to track against the natural draw, but it is anticipated this anomaly will wain as the the grain/nap of the synthetic surface settles with its regular rolling and when warmer weather releasing the rigidity in the pile/fibres. We anticipate the new green synthetic will be quicker and truer at the start of the season than the grass surface that was replaced or other grass greens in South of Tas.
Sandy Bay has done a great job in the presenting the green in its best light, with the surrounds of the greens also updated to match its new playing surface.
On behalf of the Bowls South Officiating Panel, we recommend the new Sandy Bay synthetic green be declared “fit for play” for BTS events.
Michael Andersch
Chair, BTS Officiating Committee
10 August 2022