Bowling Green Usage Management

Popular over-used rinks will contribute to the start of a slight bowls valley / depression / groove the length of a rink. Future bowls will roll into the slight depression, further reinforcing its effects leading to a relatively dull and much less skilled game of bowls.

Making sure rinks are turned regularly and the width of rinks varied will help to spread wear evenly over the entire green aiding sward recovery. Having a proactive management committee which communicates effectively to members and visitors can help to address many detrimental issues arising on a green; the benefits of positive management cannot be overstated.
When usage is booked it is also important to make sure that the central rinks are not overused, even those these are traditionally the most popular to play on – use the outer rinks just as much, even though there may be some reluctance from some players to utilise these. Aiming to produce a surface that plays consistently across its entire surface should negate any issues regards the use of the outside rinks. Having a policy agreed by the management team and members is an important aspect of trying to make sure a fair and equitable use of all rinks takes place.
Varying the centre line of a rink by altering the rink width within the allowed parameters, as well as changing the boundary marks for the rink corners on a routine basis is considered good green management practice. The rinks must be the same width when set out for a day’s play (Law 49.1), and the use of different colours for the indicators or pegs to mark the four corners of each rink can significantly help with ensuring appropriate sideways movement of rinks occurs, helping to spread wear across the green (Law 49.3). White, blue, red and yellow are commonly used. The boundary indicators or pegs for an outside rink must, however, be at least 0.6m from the edge of the green (i.e. the side ditch) (Law 49.6).
Whilst 6 rinks are the most common set out for a green, when little use is expected and planned then having just 4 rinks set out, which effectively stagger the 6 rinks, leaving a gap between each rink, will contribute significantly to the spread of wear. However, specific boundary corner marks would need to be set out to make it clear that these are only used at predetermined times as agreed by the management committee.
Where weather conditions have produced an extended period of wet ground conditions then the green surface will typically be softer and more easily worn. If this occurs it might be deemed desirable to have the favoured direction of play for the main competition days, for example Saturday and Sunday, then change the direction of play on a Monday so that the ends on the favoured direction are now given some rest. The direction would then be changed back the following Saturday morning ready again for competition play. Additional wear would occur on the reverse, overused, ends but this might be an acceptable compromise to help protect the favoured lines during this period of continued wet weather. However, this approach would need to be managed sensibly and it does have limitations of not being able to continue for any length of time, as otherwise unacceptable damage and bare patches might arise on the overused ends.
Use of groundsheets: These are sometimes used where it is considered that the surface is wet and soft and may cause damage from the delivery of bowls. However, the use of groundsheets will not reduce the impact of a bowl, will increase humidity and temperature beneath the sheet and this increases the probability of disease attack where they are left in place for any length of time. If groundsheets are to be used, then they should only be used to allow a competition game to be completed where weather conditions have worsened since the start of a game. If the green is being damaged from play, then it is actually not fit for play and the match should be postponed or abandoned. The use of groundsheets may possibly help to provide some limited protection to the green from footwear at delivery, but this is an arguable point. The use of sheets should no longer be continued if a green is to be maintained to a good condition throughout an entire playing season: If damage is being caused from play then the game should be stopped, no excuses. “Where groundsheets are in use they shall be placed with the back edge 2 m from the ditch; the mat at the first end and every subsequent end shall be placed with its front edge being 2 m from the ditch, and at the back edge of the sheet.” (‘Laws of the Game: VI’, English Bowling Federation’). Bowls England Regulation: No. 52 just states that “Fixed groundsheets are acceptable for National Competitions; however portable/moveable groundsheets are prohibited.” (Regulation 1.21).