AIMS
The aim of the Inspection Programme is to endeavour to bring the greens of Affiliated Clubs within Berkshire to an acceptable standard. This should enable all club members to play National, County and Club Competitions on equal terms.
METHOD OF INSPECTION
It is hoped in each case that the Inspection Team will consist of 3 members of the Berkshire County Association. The Inspection Visit will either be in the morning or afternoon. Usually a morning Inspection will start at 10am and an afternoon Inspection at 2pm.
CRITERIA
The Criteria for arranging green inspections will either be on the basis of a routine inspection or as a result of complaints. The Inspection Team will consist of a combination of County Officers, Selectors, Umpires and the Greens Maintenance Representative if they are available.
Routine inspection visits will be made during April or September, visits resulting from matters of complaint will be at any time during the season, the same Inspection Team may not visit every club.
REQUIREMENTS
Clubs will be required to advise prior to an inspection their rink markings or settings for National and County Competitions and other information regarding the green to assist the Inspection Team. Once the green has been inspected, rink markings or settings must not be changed without prior approval, any change may require a further inspection. Prior to the inspection a Green Inspection Information Sheet will be sent to each Club Secretary whose green is to be inspected. This sheet will require rink markings or settings to be shown along with other details of dimensions relating to the length of the green, banks, ditches and ditch fill material. The sheet must be returned by the date advised.
Where considered appropriate by the Inspection Team rink settings, used for National and County Competitions will be tested in both directions of play.
It will be necessary for a club official or the green keeper to be present whilst the inspection is in progress, Mats and Jacks will be required during the inspection. Depending on the rink settings used by the club, the Inspection Team will discuss with the club representative their requirements to conduct the inspection.
The Inspection Team will check all the measurements and dimensions, (other than the playing area), previously provided by the Club.
The banks and ditches must comply with the ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls, i.e. the ditch must have a holding surface in the bottom, both Bank and Ditches must not be injurious to Jack or Bowls. The Ditch shall not be less than 200 mm nor more than 380 mm wide and it shall not be less than 50 mm nor more than 200 mm deep (Law 47). The top of the bank must be at least 230 mm above the surface level of the green, preferably upright, or alternatively at an angle of not more than 35 degrees from the perpendicular (Law 48).
The width of each rink should comply with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls (Law 49) and also the Domestic Regulation for Bowls England that states ” For play in National Competitions and National Championships under the jurisdiction of Bowls England, the width of a rink must be not less than 4.8 metres.”
The Inspection Team will look to see if there are any turf problems. Bowls will be rolled both ways on rink marks or settings as considered necessary by the Inspection Team, to ascertain whether the green surface is flat and allowing the bowls to run freely: –
(a) Without bounce.
(b) Without running against the bias.
(c) That there is no slope of the surface close to the ditches.
REPORT
When the inspection has been completed a member of the Inspection Team will give a copy of the report to the club representative. A Green Certificate will be forwarded usually within 14 days, this will be based on the Inspection Teams findings. The Green Certificate will indicate if there are any problems existing and if any rink(s) or settings require work or are not to be used for National and County Competitions.
APPEAL
If a club for any reason feel the Inspection Report is not factual, is unfair, or the green or some of the rinks have been closed for competition play unjustifiably then the club may make an appeal in writing. In such circumstances, arrangements for another inspection to be carried out will be made. In the case of an appeal the decision of the first Inspection Team will stand until a further inspection has been carried out.