Highbury Bowling Club’s Green Revival with SISIS and Dennis Equipment

Founded in 1921, Highbury Bowling Club in Prestatyn has been at the heart of the North Wales bowling community for over a century. The club moved to its current home on Highbury Avenue in 1923 and today proudly fields seven teams competing in leagues across the North Wales coast.

Until early 2025, the club’s green was maintained by an external contractor. However, following the end of that arrangement in February, the committee decided it was time to bring green maintenance back in-house.

“We’d been using a greens contractor for around five years, but after parting ways, we felt the time was right to take ownership of our green again,” explains John Cooper who now leads the newly formed greens committee. “Between us, we’ve built up plenty of bowling knowledge over the years -it was just a matter of learning how to apply that to looking after the surface ourselves.”

Highbury’s ability to make this transition successfully is thanks to the foresight of a former club member, who encouraged the club to invest in professional turf care machinery several years ago. That decision saw the club acquire a SISIS Superturfman, SISIS Rotorake Mk4 and SISIS Truspread, followed shortly afterwards by a Dennis Razor Ultra mower.

“That investment has been invaluable,” says John. “Having reliable, well-designed machinery has given us the confidence to take on the work ourselves and ensure the playing surface is something we can be proud of.”

The SISIS Superturfman has already proven itself as a vital part of the maintenance programme. The independently powered aerator provides effective surface aeration up to 100mm deep, reducing compaction, improving drainage and promoting healthier, stronger turf - all with minimal surface disturbance. Its Honda GX160 6.5hp engine and interchangeable tines make it a versatile, season-round tool for fine turf care.

Equally valuable is the SISIS Truspread, a hand-operated spreader and top dresser known for its precision and consistency. With a 900mm working width, ribbed rubber conveyor belt, and adjustable spreading rate, it ensures even coverage of seed or top dressing -essential for achieving professional results on fine turf surfaces.

After the club’s Presidents Day on 27th September, the newly formed greens team set about their first major renovation project. The work began with scarifying the surface in two directions using the SISIS Rotorake Mk4, effectively removing moss and thatch buildup.

Next, the team used the sorrel roller attachment to create small holes across the green, improving aeration and providing channels for new seed to drop into.
The SISIS Truspread was then used to apply a fine, even layer of seed across the surface, before being recalibrated to spread top dressing to protect the seed and encourage germination.

The entire three-day programme was a success and impressively, all completed by volunteers who had never previously used the equipment.

“Considering it was our first time using this machinery, we were really impressed with how easy it was to set up and operate,” John reflects. “The Truspread, especially, made the process straightforward and gave us excellent coverage. We’re thrilled with the end result and how the green has responded.”

Encouraged by their progress, Highbury Bowling Club is already planning the next stage of its maintenance journey. Their next purchase will be a set of hollow tines for the SISIS Superturfman, which will help further improve aeration and soil health in the coming season.

“We’ve learned so much in a short time,” adds John. “If any club is considering taking control of their own green, I’d say go for it but make sure you’ve got the right tools. For us, that means SISIS and Dennis. The quality and ease of use make all the difference.”

With renewed confidence, strong teamwork and professional machinery at their side, Highbury Bowling Club is entering its next century with the same spirit of dedication and pride that has defined it since 1921.