Dave Barnetts Green Photo: Supplied
Kihikihi Bowling Club has said goodbye to their mower and fertiliser and hello to a vacuum cleaner.
After their green fell into disrepair, and the then 35-member club couldn't find the money for a solution, a generous offer came through.
Club president Dave Barnett couldn't watch his club fall and decided to foot the almost half a million dollar bill to replace the green with carpet.
"The greens are world-class. They've been inspected and passed as having world standards for carpet greens," Barnett said.
"It doesn't matter where you play, it's all the same."
Kihikihi Bowling Club president Dave Barnett. Photo: Leah Tebbutt
Just over 12 months ago, the dirt greens were covered with bugs and disease and were facing closure.
However, since Barnett's donation the club boasts two tournaments a month and is hosting the Waikato Champions of Champions.
It's the first time the club has had the honour of hosting, as it never had a good enough green to do so in the past.
"We play all year now ... most grass greens don't bowl in the winter at all.
"We're getting really good numbers and support from far and wide. Our membership has just about doubled since we've had it and a lot of people are joining ours as well as their own club."
The old lawn green at Kihikihi Bowling Club. Photo: Supplied
Fifty truckloads of soil were removed from the site before drainage and metal were laid as a base.
The metal was then covered with a porous sealer, much like concrete, but it lets the water through. Then comes the felt, and then the carpet.
"Yesterday, it had rained all day and I came out here at 5pm and I couldn't see a drop of water."
Barnett said every week the club hosts a Twilight night. About 80 people attend each week, with many in the small town treating it as a special night out, Barnett said.
The metal is laid down for an even playing field. Photo: Supplied
Now, the offspring of bowlers present and past are signing up for the club.
"Hopefully it will snowball from there and we'll get more people.
"It's very good for the older people to get a bit of exercise. It gets people out there and gets them moving.
"I know the doctors in town like it, they tell all these old people to keep coming."
The carpet greens are a smooth and even surface for all players. Photo: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt
