Members of Oban Bowling Club have taken a major step in future-proofing their Dalriach Road green with the purchase of a Maredo STrac 720 system, complete with ST160 CleanCut Sand Filler and ST230 High-Speed Corer attachments.

As a volunteer-led organisation, the members and committee chose to invest in new machinery to safeguard playing quality and ensure the club continues to thrive within the local community.

Oban Bowling Club welcomes ladies, gents and juniors for both competitive and social bowling. The STrac 720 was demonstrated on site earlier in the summer, following Greens Ranger Ian McCuish’s visit to a maintenance demonstration at a nearby golf course. Impressed by its performance, the committee purchased the guiding handle and two cassettes to provide greater flexibility in their green care work.

The self-propelled STrac requires no tractor, making it simple to operate and manoeuvre around the site. The access ramp to the playing area was already suitable, allowing the unit to start work immediately without adaptation.

The machine has already been in use with the ST160 CleanCut Sand Filler, which cuts narrow channels into the turf and backfills them with sand in a single pass — relieving compaction, improving drainage and promoting healthy root growth. The greens will also benefit from regular tining across the winter months, weather permitting, using the ST230 High- Speed Corer, which delivers fast, precise aeration to a depth of up to 75 millimetres with minimal surface disruption.

Anne MacDougall, Secretary and Vice President of Oban Bowling Club, said:“As a volunteer-run club, we’re very aware of the importance of looking after what we have. This was a big step for us financially, but we were confident the STrac offers excellent value and versatility for the work we need to do. It’s a practical choice that will make maintaining the green more efficient for years to come.”

The greens are open from April to early October, with around 90 members and a steady stream of visitors each season. Situated on a main route between one of the town car parks and the centre of Oban, the club often attracts holidaymakers, offering bowls and shoes to hire.

The system was supplied by Stuart Cameron, Area Sales Manager for Fairways GM, distributors of Maredo equipment in Scotland, who is based at Inchinnan, near Glasgow Airport. “The STrac 720 provides an efficient, compact solution for fine turf maintenance,” said Stuart Cameron. “Its interchangeable cassettes allow quick changeovers between aeration, sanding and other operations, helping clubs carry out essential work with minimal disruption to play.”

Maredo equipment is available through your local Wiedenmann UK dealer.