Text Box: Yamba Tifdwarf Trial at Alphington BC Text Box: YAMBA TRIAL SUCCESS  The Yamba Tiff Trial conducted at Alphington Bowls Club in Melbourne has developed markedly over the summer period. The V.G.A is extremely happy with the result so far. The club Alphington Bowls Club is so impressed with the new surface that they have SCRAPPED A PLANNED SYNTHETIC SURFACE ON THERE OTHER GREEN ……….AND WANT THE YAMBA TIFF (AND NOTHING BUT YAMBA) The story so far has been a WIN ALROUND. The Greenkeeper in charge deserves full praise for the manner and endeavor in which he has taken on this project BRETT HAINTZ has enthusiastically and energetically transformed a basket case (PRIOR SURFACE) to a green to be proud of it is a credit to Brett’s never say die attitude. Just a short history of the story so far is as follows. November 2006  Yamba Tiff planted from sprigs from BOB WARE (YAMBA BOWLING CLUB N.S.W.) January 2007 Project nearly ended as a poor strike and a green full of weeds dampens our enthuisiasm (Our belief is we sowed to early,hence poor start to the Trial) The three of us Brett Haintz,Doug Agnew and David Sharp made the decision to perservere with the grass (Note- I was the one not so sure and was out voted by Brett and Doug to continue………..I WAS WRONG AND THEY STILL LET ME KNOW February 2007 After eradicating the unwanted infestation of weed and more favorable weather THE YAMBA TOOK OFF. March 2007 The warm weather continues for the first two weeks and then stops and THE YAMBA STARTS ITS DORMANCY Winter 2007 Grass slows as expected,keeps it colour reasonably well COVER AROUND 90% Spring 2007 Slow out of dormancy,some weed re-entered the green,easily eradicted November 2007 Grass starts to move again THAT’S MELBOURNE December 2007 Played on it for the first time January 2008 Continues to grow rapidly BOWLERS FALL IN LOVE WITH YAMBA TIFF March 2008 Grass is performing well and produced a very good surface. The result so far is exciting and full of promise to improve more as time moves forward. Our greatest fear is Spring Dead Spot (we have done the preventives and so far and have been disease free next spring will be our biggest challenge) THANKS GOES TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND ORGANISATION TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE VICTORIAN GREENKEEPERS ASSOCIATION ALPHINGTON BOWLS CLUB NORTHERN MELBOURNE INSTITUTE TAFE   BOB WARE YAMBA BOWLS CLUB  (YAMBA’S START) BRETT HAINTZ  (GREENKEEPER IN CHARGE) DOUG AGNEW   We will keep you informed of its future development of this trial grass, THIS GRASS IS A GOER AT THIS STAGE Any interest in this project is encouraged, please contact the following for information DAVID SHARP 0423-807 227    BRETT HAINTZ 0416-358 213     DOUG AGNEW 0409-385 340