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Two years ago Bowls Ōrewa put a protective roof over one of its greens.
Doing this has increased membership and income, enabling bowlers to continue to play through the winter months, according to club president Peter Clark.
He says the club has had 80 new members join since the first roof went on, and demand on the greens is such that another one is needed.
Lighting allows the covered green to be played on in all weathers, day and night, and the cover is also appreciated by bowlers on hot summer days.
“We were the first club in North Harbour to cover a green, and more bowling clubs are now looking to add canopies,” he says. “Covered greens provide income for clubs right through winter and also help attract national tournaments.”
The club now has bowling seven days a week, and is introducing twilight bowls.
A youth development programme is underway to encourage younger bowlers into the sport – the covered green provides the certainty that games can go ahead, which school schedules require.
The club has obtained resource consent from Auckland Council to build the second canopy, and has selected a contractor to do the work.
It is now in the fundraising phase. The budget is around $1million ($200,000 more than the first canopy cost), in part because covering a second green also means replacing grass with artificial turf.
Clark says the money will need to be raised through grants and corporate sponsorship.
