Tuesday today, another chance for a roll-up but — rain overnight and it’s still falling this morning, so chances for play are very remote.
The club recently was the base for Bowls New Zealand, Region Two, Green Keepers Forum and below is part of the report we received from Martin Christensen, forum convenor and chair of the event:
Forum Attendees, Taranaki 3, East Coast 1, Hawkes Bay 13, Wairarapa 9, Kapiti 16, Wanganui 7, Manawatu 13. Wellington 8. Plus speakers and club members 16 total 86.
Speakers: David Hewitt, Paul Berry, Aaron Murter, Brendan Hannah, Lauchie McAlistair, Kevin Timms, Don McMurry, Howard Ivory, Neville Turnbull, Trevor Turnbull & Tony Jones.
Trade: Preeble Seeds, Palmerston North supplying complimentary caps and product samples, information material.
Apologies:
Levin Bowls Consultant Michael Hersey, Club President Hazel Rose, Centre President Pat Taylor & Members of the Bowls Kapiti Board. Bowls Wellington President Charlie Clayton.
The decision was made to hold the Forum in Levin in an effort to bolster green keeping activities in the Centre, this proved to be the correct decision as the 16 locals involved in green keeping were surrounded by their fellow Green Keepers from the seven other Centre’s.
All Credit to Neville and his team as the Venue Club and surroundings were presented in immaculate condition with two exceptional greens, it must be noted that the green keepers shed and equipment plus exemplary record keeping would have to be the envy of all green keepers, as one speaker remarked the club set the Bench Mark for all others clubs.
I would complement the other two clubs visited Levin Women’s & the Central Levin Bowling Clubs visits proved to be very informative with the two respective green keepers addressing the visitors and conducting an open air forum on their greens.
Brendan Hannan, NZ Sports Turf Agronomist’s two presentations were up to date and enlightening as well as his up front fielding of all manner of inquiries from the 70 plus attendees, assisted by Paul Berry and Aaron Murter.
The other presentations were first class and well delivered and I personally thank all attendees & presenters for taking part in a very worthwhile event run to a very tight time table, we can now look forward a similar forum next year within the Region.
Finally a vote of thanks to the Regional Office for their contribution to the forum especially providing the lunch at a no charge forum, the proceeds of the raffle were donated to the Club.
Martin Christensen
Forum Convener
REGION TWO, GREEN KEEPERS SEMINAR – PROGRAMME:
Programme: Tuesday 21st August 2012 at the Levin Bowling Club.
Start 8.45am Cup of tea/coffee, enrolments, and housekeeping.
9.20 Welcome
9.30 David Hewitt, Regional CEO Green Keeping KPI’s
10.00 Presentation: Paul Berry, Aaron Fertilisers
10.30 Presentation: Artificial Green –
Neville Turnbull, Levin Bowls & Lauchie McAllister, Waikanae BC.
10.45 Brendan Hannan, Agronomist NZSTI,
Overview of Region, local soils and conditions, preventive programming.
11.30 Open forum: Paul and Brendan
12.15 Kevin Timms, Training Opportunities and the new Horticultural ITO set –up.
12.30 Lunch
1.00 Visit: Levin Women’s Green – Gary Walden
1.30 Visit: Central Bowling Club Levin Green – Norm Kopke
2.00 Green Walk: Levin Bowls – Neville & Trevor Turnbull & Tony Jones
2.30 Brendan, Chemicals, generic, new products, changes in chemicals packaging, specific usages Central Region
3.00 Presentation: Don McMurray, everyday problem shooting.
3.25 Presentation: Howard Ivory, Hydro Seeding.
3.40 Open Forum: Brendan parked up questions, wrap up and close.
4.00 Afternoon refreshments