Greens Committee Part 1 (NMem)

Cleanup Started Mar/2026

(Probably be finished in Late March)

My blogs are intended to help 

Team Effort

 improve the readers' Lawn Bowl's experience with  a few skill or mental tricks. Some blogs are to help the club members better understand their abilities to support their club and develop and preserve their (our) sport. This blog is intended for club members whom after a few years of game play is now interested in offering volunteer hours to support club services and recruitment.

 

Our Sport (Lawn Bowls) depends upon the survival of the local clubs, which today are more and more  being closed. (Update) When this was written in 2016 a lot of clubs in the United Kingdom were being closed.  A Lawn Bowls club is a big financial commitment for the owner of the facilities and the playing Greens.

 Everyone, you included, should be involved in preserving their club, especially where in some countries like Canada we find very few private clubs. This means that the decision of  Municipal councils is going to dictate if your club survives. Without more private clubs, which owned  the land and clubhouse and develop Lawn Bowls as a business venture; memberships prices and land development needs will continue to close our clubs. 

With out responsible wealthy individuals investing in Lawn Bowls, the Bowls club can only become administrated by executives who are volunteers. To these individual whom accept  to administrative the club and greens for a year or two; the future and  survial of the clubhouse and greens are not priority. My local club which neighbours on a small "Dog Park" has seen dog owners approach the municipal executive with the request of expending their land size to include parts of the club's non-sport area.

When club members' interest is not the survival of the club but instead their use of the facilities until it is closed; we should be developing a better bowling experience for all the members and thereby increasing their expectation of the club's survival.

 

Now, at the time of writing this blog, the Lawn Bowls season in our Northern hemisphere  are preparing for the closing of the Lawn Bowls season and our clubhouses; as election and club's  General Assemble  gather the  members. Who will be the new executives for the coming year and why should we expect them to become involved.  What have we done of the past years to develop or preserve our club.

In the next two blogs, I will introduce and explain why your decision, as a club members; should be to "get-involved".  My belief is that the club's future and survival depends on  club's members who want and expect a well developed "Greens Committee ". This may not mean executive meetings and long discussions but maybe just doing some "non-competitive" maintenance of our club greens which will improve the membership and  club's future.

The "Greens Committee", which should  work with the Match Committee should share the objective of provide the best greens available for members's club fun games and practice as well as offering to visiting Lawn Bowlers competitions which are of a quality that excites members.

 The "Greens Committee" members are not a half dozen members but should be at least half the club's membership because all members should be concerns with the protection the Lawn Bowling greens against damage; wheather, during the club fun games or competitions organized by the Match  committee, Executives on both Match and Green's Committees should through establishing schedules of  game play and maintenance work toward the best possible sport experience and

 conditions.

 Yes, it is true that every muncipal Bowls club has their "Greens Keeper" which is probably paid a few hundred dollars, if the club can afford to paid them at all. But with the exception of experience of these individual; every club member should show their pride in the quality of the club's Greens and hospitality.  Green maintances is not just working toward a good green; but each club member should  help and consider themself as a part of the  team of volunteer which make the "Greens Committee" with advice to others on protecting  our greens quality.

  First, is the education of all club members (and visitors) toward the responsibility to protect the greens during play. Here the "Greens Committee" must interact with the Coaching Team and Match and as the members abilities inprove, so also their responsibility of  the quality of Greens  should be included in the instructions to Beginning Members. It is not sufficent to teach them the new members the game of Lawn Bowls, but also how to deliver a good bowl to the jack with out any damage to the playing surface. Teaching that in being a Club member alos means being responsible toward all actions which damage our playing surface from footware to performance while on the green.

All members of the club should work toward the development of the club's activities and the facilities by a member of the "Greens Committee", the "Match Committee" or even in a role on one of the club's Social Activities. A blog of how to save a club is from August 2015 "Club worth Saving".

 Each committe, whether  Maintenance or recruitment,should have its own chairperson, who as a member of the club's executive and meets on a  bi-weekly schedule. These meetings with volunteers is to discuss and project activities as the club advances through it's various stages of preparation and daily activities.

The work of the Green Committee usually start a few month prior to club activities as members of the previous year's committee are contacted and informed of changes and improvement policies for the new "Bowls Season". It is always good to uses these early gathering to define the commitments or restriction of previous Green's committee member. Also these should be a policies which allow some volunteers to relax and educate new volunteers on proper maintenance.

One of the raison for lost of volunteer or long time Committee members is "Burnout" which may mean tired of doing the same task every year for several years. A good committee rotation of  volunteers through the many task of Maintenance and Services is best to have been established before hand in previous years. Getting new volunteers may be harder than keeping long time volunteers.

Also, a volunteer's commitment for the coming year should not be expected to be increased as "Burnout" usually happens in a complete lost of that volunteer.

As the club starts it's preparation of Green and Grounds for the new year of Bowls, all committee members and volunteers should see this new year as an opportunity to become more aware of Greens Health and Preservation.. With each new bowls season we need to be projecting  a better developed committee as we review the previous year's surprises and problems.

Volunteers and Committee members should understand the relationship between the  club executives and the Committees as well as the inter-committee relationship.. Each member of the Greens Committee, executive or volunteer, should work to support of the enormous work needed; but also understand and interact with the other committee volunteers. All working daily in support of the club's Greenskeeper and Ground Maintenance.. The  education of volunteers and other comittee volunteers only improves the overall  work done by all club volunteers and older club members,

A proper communication structure is necessary as all committees need to understand that by working together they project a lesser financial strain on the club's budget and builds better future of the club. As for green's maintenance, any beginning of the year volunteer commitment should be evaluated as to the individual knowledge and time available. Not to get everything done for the new bowls season, but toward understanding the experience of 2026 may prepare good club executives or committee chairs for the next few years.

 and be supported by a development plan of education and shared responsibility.  

Getting the work done is important but also the opinion and support of all volunteers as an important aspect of the club's growth and stability. Too many clubs have staginated as "do-only-what's needed" attitudes lead to decisions which block any future of the sport or club.  When the American founders were building the US constitution they knew of the danger of long-term executive power and the destruction caused by the lack of new ideas toward the same problems. 

Under a Match chairperson who also is probably a member of the club's executive, the "Greens Committee" prepares for the "Match" Chair to organizing the club's activities and various types of games, In the same way all work and no play is not good so also all play and no work is also bad. Every club has members whom are seldom seen in club games or social activities.  The games for the club members is the introduction to the various competition scheduled during a Lawn Bowls Seasoné If in the organizing a schedule schedule for club games is all fun and lack of respect for rules and ethics; then the fun games end up with always the same new members.

The elite players must be part of club activities and, although I should not admit it, I play just as hard in club games as in competion because I come to the game with an objective. A skip playing lead shows club members what a good lead can do as well as helping develop club skips to see what can be expected of the leads.

Match and Green volunteers should work together and understand the responsibility of each. If a Match volunteer is expected to watch for game security or "Rules of the Game"; then they would also understand the Green's volunteer concern for protection of the greens.  To have a fun game which has the mat always on the "Mat Line" only creates a lack of education when the new members arrive at games between local clubs.

 A simple thing as "Natural Distance" jack by a lead should be clear it can exist with the mat at any advance position. (as the green length permits). Committee chairs or leaders should expect and prepare new objectives in the supervised of Green's activity wheather as a Match volunteer or a Greens Volunteer. It should not be a surprise that volunteers of both the "Greens committee" and "Match committee" are helpful in creating a good club game or a competition game. When a volunteer sees themself not working for a committee but for the club and members; you began to see a club and membership grow into a strong future of Bowls.

(Update added March 2026) How important is the future of your club? (Feb 2026  The value of your club blog) as we all see a "Green’s Committee" or Match as individuals with an interest in building a strong club and activities.   I would not venture to guess how many good bowlers have left their club to go to another club  because they were seeking a season with better greens, better attitude or better social activities. Greens which are faster, or which are  better maintained often draw the better bowlers.  After paying more than a couple Hundred dollars for a four month of Lawn bowls; you come to the club one morning to discover the greens were in the condition like the photo to left.  Who’s fault is it ?  In the above blog it is suggested it was simply members wearing street footware which left a scent of food (fall tree fruits) on the green. Yes we can say it is unavoidable because it is damage by rodents (Squirrels, Skunks). But a greens committee volunteer can not expect club members to change their footware, if they are wearing wook boots on the green. And the "Greens Committee" volunteer will feel bad if they have seen members changing their footware to save the green and his boots seem ok for the work he is doing.

. Last year, I only saw one  visiting lawn bowler arriving for a provincial competition and change his footware before going on the green. Yes only one of near 50 persons playing in that organized competition. And these players were not new club members but players of several years experience. The exception was when the ficw clubs began asking the participants to pass in a foot (shoe) bath before going on the greens because of a spreading fungu disease between clubs  (end of update)

A recent discussion at our club about this fall (fruit) damage to the greens was replied to as, "The season is over" and suggestions that it was probably caused by skunks digging for grubs. Avoid the issue, blame something else, maybe fix it next year.  All a lack of responsibility for the problem.

Yes, as our greens are neighbouring  the community garden and the evening visitors may have come from seeking food in the garden. However, when the damage is unique to a certain part of the greens and so much damage has only happens overnight it must be seem as something has occured for this one time, over night visitors to be local squirrels or skunks.

However, I believe this was caused by the lack of control by club members on their use of "street footware" when going onto the greens. Club's with slack rules which allowed anyone with regular  street (flat sole) footware to go on the greens. (Update) In recent discussion with our previous "Greenkeeper", he told me how even when muncipal staff came to the club he would explain to them the need for concern on their footware. (end)

Over the years as the International rules have been more slack on the type of footwear used during practice or game play, many members have gone out and bought sailing or running shoes with flat soles.(Update)I have even seen the Club's president's wife on the green with footware with partial heels.

Yes if you invite the Mayor and his executives you must tell them about the footware they need to be wearing if going on the green for a photo. When the club accepts any type of footware how can you expect visitors to be expected to wear proper lawn bowling (like) footware. In recent years, security has insisted that these flat footware worn by members to bowl not include the flop-flops type sandals. (end update)

Secondly, we wear these shoes all day and then come to the club and go onto the green. Without a Greens committee volunteer working security;  we can easily define this green's damage as a problem created by club members and club attitude toward Greens damage prevention. And there should be financial cost explained to the various concern individuals who feel their unique executive position allow for them to be excluded.   (Muncipal workers or executive, visiting greenskeeper, pest control company employee)  we just accept it as "Oh Well what can we do it is normal every fall ?"  Yes, a lack of implementing of  a clear policy about footwear applied all season especially during the fall months when most trees (acorns) or bushes drop their fruit onto sidewalk. 

  
This example is listed to show "WE MUST ALL BE RESPONSIBLE"  My apartment is surrounded by apple trees which are beautifully flowered in the spring but now in the fall  my sidewalk from house to Car consists of a lot of small apples. Other members have acorns or other fruits on their footpath and likewise bring these foods to the greens when they wear the same footware.

 Small apples crushed by people passing on the sidewalk get onto your street footware, which if you do not change before going onto the greens; you can be sure to have carried  this food scent to the green. Squirrels which leave the greens alone all year round are attracted now to this new scent and believe a buried treat awaits them so the digging begins.  

When I first saw this problem, I thought why that single green only; and why so far from the community garden.  I realized that I had been the day before,  helping a learning member with a problem in delivery and I had not changed my footware before going on the green.  Yes, I took responsibility even if I think it was not my fault.  Now, for the last 10 years, I have three sets of footware for Lawn Bowls. One at the club,(in club locker) one for competitons (in bowls travelling bag) and  an extra lawn bowling safe footware for when I take my club shoes home for a monthly cleaning. Although I may not be coaching new members, I still tell them about the need to change their footware when going on the green. (something that club coaching does feel important).

Our club does not have a "Greens committee " to bring such problems or even develop an aawareness of such problems. This is  one type discussion members of a Greens committee will find interesting and of course the executives don t have time to study or discuss these things.

 (Update) The Greenskeeper, at our club a few years ago was the president and as a member of the club executives, one would have thought that he would definitely have created volunteer members to work with him (and forming as  Greens committee). These volunteer could then suggest such policy to members. Asking them to understand the need for  unique footware in the fall.  Ofcourse, no such committee was created or policy existed or expected to be installed and  applied in the coming (or following) year. So the greens will there still have this problem every fall.  Personalty,  I have for many years use only a clubhouse stored pair of lawn bowl shoes for this reason. This is an example of greens protection which involves all members (end).

Some of the members of a Greens Committee to work with the Chairman and the Greenskeeper are:

Games Person - This individual take a preparation and verification role in the club games schedule as organized by club Match Committee.  This schedule created by Match Committee establish the club`s game  games time for each club activity and the Greens Person  helps to arrange that games and competitions run smoothly.  While the greens keeper has worked  hours preparing the greens Games, he should see the Greens committee individual as responsible to verify that all greens preparation and security is in place before and during club game play..

Greens Preparation  - Where  Greens are usually rotated in their direction of play and the boundary lines

 of play changed daily; the Greens individual (or greenskeeper if working daily hours) will be sure that greens are  prepare before anyone goes on to the greens.

 Although the direction of play will be a posted schedule  in the clubhouse and the match individuals who place mats, pushers and protective screens could also setup these Green boundary indicators; it is usually suggested the Greens committee individual do this work in the early morning.  If so prepared or check,  every morning and again prior to the club game play; such  verification also shows a well organized and responsible club.

Yes, the Umpire is expected to check these things before a competition and I would not wish to say how many times as a player I have told an umpire the greens were not setup properly.   Our club has letters A to Z and on a day which line E (center line large white iindicator in photo right) is played  the rink or greens boundaries (smaller white strips) are also set on E. The next day the letter is changed and the center of the greens are moved left or right to prevent extreme wear on any given green. Everyone walks up a green in the center and therefore pack the center unless changed daily.

  Not a big task if controlled by one individual or an individual per certain game play. (Thursday's night play). What happens if the greenskeeper has requested certain area of the greens not be played that day?? Without a greens committee the greenskeeper must  be there when match is preparing the greens or simply leave a note for his Greens committee person responsible for that day and know this individual will verify his wishes are respected.

  Competitions may require  that the best available greens be assigned for the competition and give the best performance  to all visiting players.   In some cases certain part of the overall greens may be suggested, by the greens keeper or greens committee; as being withheld from play because of problems ( damage or has bad roll or falls) causing bad bowls performance. As a the greens preparation individual, in previous years,  I often rolled bowls with the greenskeeper prior to assigning greens, to evaluate and provide the best greens (I am a left hand bowler).

Lets look at what happens when a Greens Committee  does not exist and one member of the executive makes decisions concerning the greens; ( At our club this individual is the club president)

 At our club in early evening, the sun sets behind the skip when we are playing the East/West direction of the greens.  As we were having a important provincial competition that evening, a participating member of the club asked the club president (responsible for greens) if it was possible to change the greens North/South because the greens had been East/West for several days without being rotated.

 In preparation for this provincial  competition ,  the club president called the greenskeeper, to ask if he could do the competition with the Greens  going North-South. Yes, the president , without a greens committee, was  attempting to provide the best greens and  without a policy of greens rotation schedule was verifying  with the greenskeeper that there was not a specific objection.  (the greenskeeper being awoken from his sleep (works nights and greens as a small contract) replied.  “It is the same conditions of play for both teams, why change it “ so it was left that way.  True both teams had same problems; but what was the visiting bowlers opinion of our greens or our attempts to offer good bowl conditions and greens for the competition. 

Greens Security – Greens  Committee Chairman (President now) 

 (photo from Pinterest1000+ ideas and images)

is responsible for decisions to halt play for reason of security during dangerous conditions.

 With a greens committee it become the known policy that during a thunder storm and lighting that all game play must be stopped.   Our greens have a lot of large surrounding  trees and at any time when  sign of Lighting appear with the rain, the players will be  asked to leave the greens immediately.

Security of the greens is also a Greens Committee responsible. Every activity and usage of the greens should have a Greens committee member present to make decisions which protect the greens .

 During a competition in a previous club we were forced to play during wet conditions. the club greens were tough and had good roots so no protective screens were used during the start of play, but once the wet greens were beginning to show signs of damage  and debits, the Greens Committee dictated that the protective screens must be put into play.The umpire and the Greenskeeper or Greens committee know such a request must be respected; so play was stopped while protective screens were installed.  

What if it had been only one player causing the damage.  A greens committee individual would very politely speak to the skip of that team and explain if that player continues to make bad deliveries and damage the greens; it would be necessary to install protective screens.  A polite and without offensives to anyone.

Second part of this blog on Green Committee and Greenskeeper cooperation and working together.