Raising Standards on the Green: Inside the Wantage Bowling Maintenance Seminar
The Wantage Bowling Green Maintenance Seminar, held at Wantage Bowling Club, proved to be an excellent event, bringing together grounds professionals, volunteers and club members for a day packed with insight, practical learning and networking with like-minded peers. The clubhouse was filled to capacity, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere that reflected the strong interest in improving bowling green standards. The seminar followed on from a brilliant event at Northampton Whyte Melville Bowling Green the day before. A huge thankyou to the club for hosting us.
Proceedings began at 9.00am with registration and refreshments, giving attendees time to network and share experiences before the formal sessions began. At 9.30am, the seminar opened with a warm welcome and introduction from speaker Stuart Yarwood (DLF), setting the tone for a day focused on improving standards and supporting those responsible for maintaining bowling greens across the region.
The morning session centred on greens maintenance during the bowling season, covering key topics such as mowing regimes, presentation standards, disease management and general turf health. This was followed by a highly engaging on-green demonstration from Jason Briggs and Stuart Yarwood (DLF), where theory was brought to life through practical application. Attendees were able to observe techniques first-hand, ask questions and gain a clearer understanding of best practice in a real-world setting.
Beyond the technical knowledge, a key theme of the day was the importance of educating volunteers—who form the backbone of many bowling clubs. By equipping volunteers with the right skills and understanding, clubs can ensure consistency in maintenance, reduce long-term costs and significantly improve playing surface quality. Education empowers volunteers to make informed decisions, identify issues early, and carry out tasks with confidence. It also helps build a stronger sense of ownership and pride, which is vital for the sustainability of community clubs. Events like this seminar play a crucial role in bridging the knowledge gap and raising overall standards across the sport.
Following a complimentary lunch at 1pm—praised by attendees for both its quality and generosity—the afternoon sessions shifted towards more technical and developmental topics.
Another highlight of the day was the mower maintenance session delivered by Jason Briggs. His hands-on demonstration covered essential techniques such as setting the cylinder to the bottom blade, adjusting height of cut and backlapping a cylinder—fundamental practices for achieving a consistent and high-quality finish on fine turf surfaces and reducing the risk of disease.
Speaking during the session, Jason emphasised the importance of proper equipment setup and ongoing education:
“Getting the basics right with your machinery makes a huge difference to the quality of the surface. It’s not just about having the right equipment—it’s about understanding how to use and maintain it properly. Days like this are invaluable because they give volunteers and greenkeepers the confidence to carry out these tasks themselves and ultimately raise standards across their greens.”
Further sessions explored grass seed selection, helping attendees understand how to choose the right cultivars for performance and durability, alongside guidance on grant funding opportunities—an essential topic for clubs looking to invest in their facilities without placing strain on limited budgets.
The day concluded with an interactive Turf Clinic at 2.30pm, where attendees could seek tailored advice on specific challenges they face at their own clubs. This open forum encouraged discussion, knowledge-sharing and problem-solving in a supportive environment.
In addition to the educational programme, a wide range of industry-leading machinery was on display. Equipment from Dennis and SISIS drew significant interest, including the Dennis FT range, S500 Plus seeder, sorrel roller and verticut cassettes, alongside SISIS equipment such as the Autoslit, Dart, Rotorake MK5 scarifier, Trulute and Truspread spreader. Bray hand tools were also showcased, offering practical solutions for day-to-day green maintenance.
The event was delivered in conjunction with our dealers Turney Group, whose support and expertise helped ensure a smooth and successful day.
A huge thank you goes to Wantage Bowling Club for hosting the seminar. The food and hospitality were exceptional and the club’s welcoming atmosphere contributed greatly to the overall experience. Special appreciation must also go to the grounds team for allowing use of their excellent green for the practical demonstrations—providing the perfect stage to showcase best practice in action.
Finally, recognition is due to Dean Gibbons, the club’s dedicated greenkeeper, who has recently been named the GMA’s Greenkeeper of the Year as a volunteer. This well-deserved accolade reflects the high standards evident throughout the club and served as an inspiration to all in attendance.
Overall, the Wantage Bowling Green Maintenance Seminar was an outstanding success reinforcing the value of sharing knowledge, investing in people and supporting the volunteers who play such a vital role in maintaining the quality and future of bowling greens across the country.
Testimonials from the event:
''Today I was lucky to be invited to the SISIS/Dennis seminar which was held at Wantage bowls club.This was great as we were able to see different types of machines working on a real green- its not the same as watching a video. We were able to ask questions about all aspects of the use of them.The other great part about these seminars is you can also get to talk to other greenkeepers and share things with each other. I would highly recommend going to one if you get the chance as I know their will something you will learn and you can then go back to your club with the knowledge of the next machine to purchase'' Robert Black (Ramsbury and Aldbourne BC)
Fancy joining us on our next one? https://dennisuk.com/events
DLF Seeds DLF
Turney Group (https://turneygroup.com/