After a career as a plasterer spent smoothing and cossetting house walls, Alan Allison swapped over to a career as a greenkeeper a decade ago, smoothing and cossetting bowling greens. He has never looked back.
Alan is now the much-appreciated greenkeeper at the Belfast Bowling Club on the northern outskirts of Christchurch. He is also the greenkeeper at the 2010 earthquake-ravaged Sumner and Redcliffs Bowling Clubs on the eastern side of Christchurch. His current greenkeeping portfolio is rounded out by caring for the two greens at the Canterbury Club, also in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs.
Like all bowling greens, each of the five presents its own challenges. Redcliffs, for instance, faces special challenges from the adjacent saltwater tide wetting the feet of the green. Alan is always aware that hundreds of bowlers are watching, ready to voice their opinions about the science and art of greenkeeping.
He also knows that great greenkeeping results can be elusive. Experienced greenkeepers understand that the more they know, the more they realise they do not know. Alan knows it is not easy.
He has high expectations of himself and the greens he maintains. He knows what good greens look like, and with Bowls New Zealand using Belfast, Sumner, and Redcliffs for the National Open Fours and Mixed Pairs in Christchurch earlier this year, he has demonstrated the skills to deliver quality greens.
“In greenkeeping circles, he’s relatively young,” says Belfast Club President and Green Supervisor, Greg Clapp. “But he’s got good greenkeeping genes. His father Eric was greenkeeper here at Belfast before him.
“He’s a hard worker. He’s often here early in the morning or late in the evening. He knows that club members want to be out on the green, so he works as much as possible around them.
“They appreciate him. He’s friendly, listens, and learns. He even gives oxygen to those bowlers who have their own views on how the green played or should be playing. He knows that inside every bowler is a greenkeeper waiting to voice his stuff.”
As expected, Alan also shares his knowledge and skills with the Canterbury Greenkeepers’ Association.
“But his big contribution,” says Greg, “is the work he does with fellow greenkeepers Roy Grigg and Jamey Ferris, who have a roving brief to keep Canterbury’s greens up to scratch. Alan was also part of the team that went up to Gisborne after Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, helping to restore the greens of many clubs damaged by the devastating floods.”
Alan now has a new project. He is working with the team trialling a long grass green at the Parklands Bowling Club in northeast Christchurch. Code-named 007XL, it is designed to better cope with climate change, being more durable and requiring less maintenance than maniototo or cotula.
“The trial is looking great,” says Greg, “and they’re expecting to play on this trial green this coming season.
“If it works, it will be a real feather in Alan’s and the team’s hat. It will also provide a new option for our bowling clubs.”
Congratulations to Alan Allison on being named Bowls New Zealand’s Greenkeeper of the Year for 2025.