Passion for bowls leads to private rink

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 522, 8 February 1994, Page 5

Passion for bowls leads to private rink

A passion for outdoor bowls has led to an Ohakune couple making a long-term investment in the sport. Ken and Merrilyn George's newly-installed bowls rink has attracted a lot of attention from enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. The Georges decided to invest in the amenity only after a lot of careful consideration, saying they wanted a practice green comparable to the surfaces of the country's top greens. Conforming to international specifications the 36.6 metre by six metre rink is the first privately-owned astro-turf bowling rink in New Zealand. Mr George liaised closely with the Auckland company during the consultation stage and right throughout its construction to ensure all specifications were met.

The first step in the laborious process was excavation of the site - but not before the 40-odd established shrubs and plants were removed. One exception is a mature shade tree that has been incorporated into the landscaping of the site. A complicated layering system of pipes, scoria and sand was meticulously installed to ensure maximum drainage potential. Layed was fifteen metres of scoria to a depth of 400mm topped by filter cloth and 40 metres of sand chosen specifically for its drainage properties, trucked in from Taihape. The surface was laser-levelled and compacted by Astro Grass technicians before theartificial grass 'carpef , importedfrom Holland, was layed. Another three tonnes of Waikato sand was swept through the carpet,

finished off with a rotary mower to remove any surplus. Ken has personally put in over 40 hours rolling the rink to get it to its current immaculate condition. The result of this labour of love is a fast green that ri vals some of the top playing greens in the district. One of the many advantages of an artificial green is the fact that it is playable 12 months of the year, even in the Ruapehu region's less-than-temperate climate. Its only requirement is regular watering and rolling once a week. Construction and installadon of the amenity may be complete to the point where the rink is playable, but landscaping and the addition of decking plus lighting are on-going projects being pursued by the couple. The overall effect is striking, combining the immaculate rink with cobblestoned surrounds, coupled perfectly with a shady pergola set amidst a landscaped setting. Total cost is estimated at around $30,000 - over half that amount invested in the rink. While the initial cost is high, the couple maintain that the lack of maintenance in the long run makes it an affordable investment. "When you compare it to the cost of a new boat that you might use two or three months of the year, we use it every day", said Ken. He is hopeful that the addition may promote a greater interest in the sport and ultimately increase membership of the local bowling club. Ken invites local enthusiasts to contact him regarding use of the rink and coaching in the basics. Already the couple' s 7-year old grandson has shown great promise in the sport and numerous people

have commented favourably on its performance, including two of Merrilyn's Ruapehu College classes. "They were rapt and very enthusiast about the sport."