#GroundsWeek2026: That winning feeling at Wantage Bowling Club

As #GroundsWeek 2026 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the passion, dedication, and personal stories that sit at the heart of the grounds management industry.  

We spoke with Dean Gibbons of Wantage Bowling Club, whose journey into bowls and greenkeeping is rooted in lifelong enthusiasm, community involvement, and a genuine love for the craft. Balancing a full-time career with his role as a greenkeeper, Dean embodies the commitment seen across the industry; where pride in presentation meets the pursuit of perfect playability.

Below, Dean shares his story, insights, and why he believes the future of the industry is full of opportunity.

Could you tell us about your journey into turfcare, and what led you to bowls in particular?

I suppose you could trace it all the way back to when I was about seven or eight years old, helping my dad in the garden and eagerly getting involved in cutting the grass in any way I could maybe even earlier, running around with my bubble-blowing Fisher Price mower!

I actually discovered bowls first, when my local outdoor club visited my primary school to set up an after-school short mat club. That soon progressed into playing outdoors, and I guess the rest is history; I’ve now been playing for 24 years at the ripe old age of 34.

After five or six years of playing, my interest in keeping the home lawn in top condition gave me the bug to get involved with maintaining the bowling green. I began helping out, and eventually took over as greenkeeper in 2012.

Was there a defining moment when you realised this was the career for you?

I’d describe being greenkeeper at Wantage Bowling Club more as a passion than a career. My full-time role is as a Civil Project Engineer, but in any spare time I have, I’m either looking after the bowling green, playing bowls, tending to my own lawn, or spending time with family.

There wasn’t a single defining moment where I thought, “this is for me” but there were certainly early signs that I wouldn’t be stopping anytime soon!

What is it about maintaining a bowls green that you find most rewarding?

Without a doubt, it’s the sense of satisfaction and pride. Seeing bowlers enjoying a high-quality surface is incredibly rewarding.

Knowing that the time, effort, and dedication you put in contributes to producing a fast, true, and enjoyable playing surface; for both members and visitors, makes it all worthwhile.

Which aspects of the role give you the greatest sense of satisfaction?

Visually, a bowling green looking its best brings instant satisfaction—but looks aren’t everything. How the green actually plays is far more important.

Striking that balance between appearance and performance is always the priority, and it’s that challenge getting both elements just right; that gives me the greatest sense of achievement.

How would you describe the relationship between a greenkeeper and their surface?

Protective!

The time and effort that goes into preparing high-quality sports turf is often underappreciated, and that’s true across all sports. For me, it’s almost like raising a child; you nurture it, learn from it, and understand what it’s telling you.

That connection builds over time and becomes incredibly important.

What do you love most about working on sports surfaces?

Being outdoors, without question. Rain or shine, I’ll be out on the green, usually in shorts enjoying the fresh air.

There’s something very satisfying about providing a great playing surface, even if there are challenges along the way. Whether I’m mowing or carrying out other tasks, it’s also a chance to slow down, clear my head, and take a break from the day job.

Would you recommend the grounds industry to young people? Why?

Absolutely.

The grounds management industry has an ageing workforce, but it really shouldn’t be that way. It’s an incredibly rewarding field, with a strong and supportive community. My experiences have been overwhelmingly positive people genuinely want to help each other and improve the industry as a whole.

There’s now far greater awareness of the career pathways available, from apprenticeships to degrees, and initiatives like the GMA NextGen community are doing fantastic work to promote the industry to younger generations.

It offers a huge range of opportunities, and everyone I’ve met takes real pride in what they do.