Author: Jo-Anne Merrell

Grounds

Hi All,

We are a volunteer organization and many people commit a significant
amount of time so that all members can enjoy the game and clubhouse
gardens and facilities.

Some of our new members have signed up as volunteers and I thank you.

We typically reserve Monday mornings (~7.30 start) for greens
maintenance, mow and maintain the grass surrounds and perform routine
pruning of the flower beds and bushes. Just show up and someone will
direct you. We also offer free coffee and treats to the volunteers.

I thought I’d share what we did today and some projects that need
additional help.

Monday morning crew: greens were mowed and rolled this morning. Rose and
clubhouse garden pruned and trimmed. Green surround and guest area grass
cut and edged.

Key Project to be done:

Garden/Rockery areas surrounding the green need weeding and plants and
bushes pruned.

Trees and bushes along Stanford Avenue need cutting back.
Car Park garden needs bushes pruned. (Ask Sandi or Lynne for details)
Mesh Fence needs painting green.
Virginia creeper needs to be cut back.
Cement plant pots in “Rock Garden” need painting and some new life.

Let me know by email if you have a burning desire to take on one of
these projects. I’ll review replies and allocate teams.

Thanks for your attention.

Andrew Adamson

Grounds Director

President’s Message

We have had a very successful, busy bowling season so far. The many volunteers have been working very hard to make our club look fantastic and one of the best on the island.

Kudos to our coaches and volunteers who have hosted grade 10 & 11 students, spent a morning coaching Fortis team as a pay back for their work on the club benches and have spent many hours coaching our novices and anyone who is in need of help on the green. Tournaments held at our club so far this year have been very successful, thanks once again to the many volunteers who work hard to make this happen!

Your board members have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly for your enjoyment. You may not see them but believe me they are there and dedicated to making the club one of the best!

Trevor Motley

COACHING

The last scheduled coaching day on the calendar is July 26. This does not mean that we are abandoning you to your own devices. Coaching for anyone is always available. You can contact the coaches through the website under player development. If you want help from a specific coach, note that in your request. It is not an inconvenience. We enjoy coaching and helping whenever and wherever we can. Novices can also contact their mentor. Failing all the above, my phone number and email is in the Member Directory. Didn’t get a directory? We’ll fix that, too.

Olav Skjelbred – Our Gentle Giant…..

A very Gentle Soul who we had the privilege to have as a member of our Club has passed away. Olav Skjelbred has been battling cancer for several years but passed a few days ago. Olav was such a quiet man, always happy and smiling. He came to Canada as a young man after being a ski instructor in Norway. When arriving he worked in the forests of BC as a lumber Jack. He did have some stories to tell about his life and it was a hard one. He became a club member and was a very helpful to many. He spent lots of time on the green and was always smiling no matter how his game was, good or bad. Olav was a coach here which came easy to him as he had been an instructor. He would help you out if you were having a problem. During the winter months you would see him at Short Mat either to play one game or two depending on the day. Then some days come as a spectator. In the summer of course he was on the green enjoying the game he loved. He worked on the our garden planting flower and weeding for few years. If you were at the club for maintenance on Monday mornings he would be there to help Gord Campbell serve up coffee and goodies to keep you all going. During Covid it was Olav’s 90th birthday and the club did a drive by celebration for him. Then Sandi did a cupcake birthday for him two years ago. He was both surprised and very happy. He loved our Lawn Bowling club and enjoyed talking to all the members. He will be sorely missed by many of us. We send our condolences to his daughters and their families from our family, his extended family.

Coaching for Singles

On July 12, 19 and 26 we will be coaching novices on how to play singles. Singles play is a little different from normal play in that obviously, it is only you against one person. You will have a marker to help with the mechanics of play, (setting jack, etc.) but the rest is up to you. If you plan on entering the novice or intermediate singles competition and would like to come to these coaching sessions you are more than welcome as well.

Sandi Mitchell