Bowling Green Performance Standards Data

Bowling greens might be classified into 3 or 5 grades of quality, although for many greens there will be a core range of values between which a green would be classed as a preferred range or an acceptable range which would have slightly broader parameters than the preferred range.

An example of illustrative performance standards for a bowling green across a range of quality levels from Grade 1 (entry); Grade 2 (medium); Grade 3: (intermediate); Grade 4 (high) and Grade 5 (elite) might be as follows:
N.B. Actual parameters used within performance standards can vary between different authorities and user requirements, although the following provide a useful starting point as an indicative comparison between different grades. With greater awareness for environmental responsibility and the need to continue to reduce the number of artificial-synthetic products being loaded / sprayed into the environment, especially where sustainability is being promoted, an increased number of performance standards have been included within pests and diseases as the setting of appropriate thresholds for control is an important component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Without a more detailed breakdown than exists with most performance standards then this will limit the practical relevance and understanding of IPM. The setting of values for thresholds will be determined by the expected overall quality of a surface and trying to determine the maximum value which might be set for damage that would still not reduce the overall surface and playing quality. For example, if the fusarium threshold is set at 5% for an intermediate quality green, would this level fundamentally affect the overall quality and experience of players? If not, then this value could be increased as by doing so this would mean less need for artificial-synthetic pesticides or substances to be applied, as well as potentially reduced physical practices, to help contribute to controlling the disease, which will also reduce the cost of greens maintenance. If, by contrast, the value was considered too high for expectations then there would be increased likelihood of higher maintenance inputs and costs. The acceptable percentage values may also change during the playing season, with values that relate to a more pristine surface to start the season, but gradually allowing a slightly higher percentage of deterioration, or undesirable elements, towards the end of the season because it would not be long before renovation of a green would take place, so why worry too much about a less than pristine surface at this time of the season?