A report by Michael Andersch, Chair, BSOP
I inspected the Glenorchy Rodman synthetic green on Friday 23 September to assess it’s compliance with the laws of the game and consider its suitability for pennant and competition play.
The green has been in operation for approximately 6 weeks and Rodman are regularly playing and practicing on it. From a trading perspective, the ability of their members to now bowl across the former off season is an added benefit to the club bringing in both $ and people.
To the green itself; Ditch depths and widths all meet the minimum and maximum requirements in the laws of the game. Depth varies only very slight between 80 and 85mm around the green and is well above the minimum requirement of 50mm depth. 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 well over the minimum.
Banks generally exceed the minimum height requirement. The top of the banks at Rodman have followed the contour of the existing paths and “lay of the land” and a small amount of variability see some rinks at between 190mm and 220mm which is below the 230mm law requirement. Regardless, this lower height would only pose an issue for a rebounding jack or toucher that now passes just above the bank height. Given the location on end rinks, the rarity of such circumstances arising in pennant or other BTS competition, it is a fact we make note of.
Ditch widths are consistently 245-260mm wide and present uniformly to player on a rink. Variations can only be observed if one take a position to view such in a single view across the full green and is only minor.
Rink width is precisely 4.55m, above the minimum rink width law by almost 1 foot in old money.
Boundary pegs on outside rinks on the narrow side of the green (SW corner) are 300mm from the side plinth and 520mm from the bank, below the measurement stipulate in the law. Rodman are mindful of this deviation and intend to play pennant where Premier and Div 6 will share the green and require only 7 rinks and hence in competition play the position of the boundary pegs will meet minimum distance requirements. The green is 36.7m by 38.5m and this enable 8 rinks of play for club events and practice if that E/W direction was utilised.
Our inspection did not include the rolling of a bowl but I observed players practicing. There remains a certain amount of settling of the nap of the surface which will occur with both the regular rolling and warmer weather. I discussed with Mike Kirkwood and Tony Vince the feedback from Sandy Bay and they have indicated the same experience that in certain conditions, two brands/models of bowls have shown a tendency to track against the natural draw.
It is anticipated this will wain as the grain/nap of the synthetic surface settles with its regular rolling and when warmer weather releasing the rigidity in the pile/fibres. Berry Bowling System are re-attend the club and make adjustments to the amount of sand across the green that is hoped to reduce this tracking effect.
I anticipate the new synthetic green will be quicker and truer at the start of the season than for the former grass green that was replaced. Rodman, like Sandy Bay have done work around the surrounds of the green, clubhouse and decked areas and the result is a great job that presents the green and the club in its best light.
On behalf of the Bowls South Officiating Panel, we recommend the new Rodman synthetic green be declared “fit for play” for BTS events.
Michael Andersch,
Chair, BSOP
26 September 2022