The new ''True Draw'' synthetic green was opened on Saturday afternoon at Cromwell Bowling Club, and celebrated with a game of bowls by 70 people, including members and sponsors.
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper opened the proceedings, and got in on the action with a game of bowls afterwards. Club president Murray Wilson said he was really pleased with the new green, which was the first in Central Otago.
''At this stage, we're chuffed.''
The idea for an artificial green came from the club's projects committee back in 2011. The natural green had cost $12,000 to $13,000 to maintain, including fertilisers.
The artificial green needed little maintenance. It had an underfelt layer, as well as layers of compacted gravel of various grades.
Club coach Malcolm van Rensberg said the club had a ''hell of a time'' trying to get funding because its push to get charitable status was ''knocked back'' a few times. The club, with 101 members, was not seen as benefiting the community, he said.
Bowls New Zealand, the sports governing body, intervened and provided research to the club, which detailed benefits for the community, including health and social benefits, which helped the club eventually get the status.
''The beauty of this [new green] is you can play both ways. It's multidirectional,'' Mr van Rensberg said.
Funds for the green came from the Central Lakes Trust and Otago Community Trust, as well as the New Zealand Community Trust, Pub Charity and The Trusts Community Foundation.
Funds were also raised by Cromwell's Lions and Rotary clubs, and there were private donations from members. Mr Lepper said the club's push to get charitable status set an example for other bowls clubs in New Zealand to do the same thing.
It would allow the club to have a longer season which would bring other clubs and players to Cromwell, he said.
Mr Lepper, who has more than 27 years' bowls experience, will be joining the Bowls NZ board, made official at its annual meeting next weekend. And the future for the club's greenkeeper, Ray Hodson?
''He has retired and gone back to the ranks of bowling,'' Mr Wilson said.
