Whakatāne Bowling Club is celebrating the installation of a brand spanking new green, which is providing more predictable play for its users.

The old threadbare green off Merritt Street was replaced in October and was fortunate not to be struck by too many weather-related delays.

Club secretary and treasurer Tracey Ashley said they were grateful to receive a $75,000 grant from the New Zealand Community Trust.

The grant was a sizeable contribution towards the total $250,000 cost of the new TigerTurf green, which allowed the club to keep some money in the coffers as it eyes up replacing its second green in the next couple of years.

President Kerri Haddock described the turf as “out of this world” and said members would be treating it like their firstborn baby.

The honour of sending the first bowls down the green went to Ashley and Haddock, club patron Rob Lyford, green superintendent John Chelley and vice president Brent Johnson.

The rest of the club had their first run on the green during their trophy day on Tuesday, which saw players drawn out of a hat to form teams, creating the potential for new combinations to form.

Twilight business house players also gave the new green a go on Wednesday night, many of them playing with new modern bowls the club was able to recently purchase.

The competition, raising funds this year for Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, was pushed back by a week to allow the green to settle.

There is hope the top-notch turf will keep Whakatāne in contention as a potential host for any overflow games that may result from Bay of Plenty hosting two national-level events in 2026.

Bowls New Zealand’s Sumerset National Fours and Sumerset National Mixed Pairs tournaments will be played at venues across the Bay of Plenty in February 2026.

Although it is likely the events will be focused on the centre’s larger towns, the Whakatāne club’s upgraded facilities make it possible to be considered as a host for the country’s top bowlers.