A love of grass courts since childhood has seen Dan Gardner live out his childhood dream of going to Wimbledon \u2013 even if it wasn\u2019t as a player.<\/p>\n
Dan has returned from a trip of a life time, spending nearly four weeks shadowing and learning off some of the best greens keepers in the world.<\/p>\n
His passion for playing combined with his love of turf meant that travelling to the UK to learn as much as he could was a dream come true.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father built a grass court in our backyard when I was about five years old,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I guess the seed was planted then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan\u2019s career in greens keeping extends back many years, and an odd vacation in Perth decided his future.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter finishing university I realised I didn\u2019t want to live in big cities and needed another plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan spent 10 years mastering the Swan Hill tennis courts before a career change in IT beckoned, only to be drawn back to the courts he dominates as a player.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were large learning curves swapping between the two which motivated me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my time in IT, the depth of the internet developed and I would learn a lot from online sources like @WimbledonGroundsman on Twitter and golf courses in the US.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat knowledge would help and inspire the transition out of IT.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like everything, organising his trip come with its fair share of challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelief. Anxiety. Excitement,\u201d Dan explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a long process that went down to the wire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to a place I didn\u2019t know, and knew no one.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lifelong dream was finally going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
His angst of how he would ever be able to fill in his days at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club were quickly squashed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ended up spending 10 hours a day at the club, basically talking turf with like-minded people.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the top down, all the ground staff there have had amazing turf journeys and something to learn from.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Dan could not pinpoint his favourite part of Wimbledon, his awe of the tennis club did not go unfulfilled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seemed every day I would discover something new on the grounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cAorangi was relatable because the courts were set up in banks similar to those at home, but Centre Court demanded respect because of its history.\u201d<\/p>\n
The list goes on.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall the place is amazing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI often found myself smiling just at the thought of being there.\u201d<\/p>\n
In between watching games from the best seat in the house \u2013 ground level on all the major courts \u2013Dan learnt a plethora of tips he is eager to share with all back home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learnt so much from the way they go about things, it will be good for others to share in that.<\/p>\n
Tennis Victoria host a Grass Court Forum annually, and those in attendance will hear about Dan\u2019s experiences first hand.<\/p>\n
\u201c(There is) a level of maintenance we don\u2019t see here in tennis much anymore, but I think there is a lot to look forward to, especially if we can keep pushing things forward.
\n\u201cThere are many things I will bring back, but the motivation and inspiration I bring home is immense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the fact my favourite Grand Slam tournament has invested in grass courts and will \u2018protect and enhance grass court tennis and to grow it internationally\u2019.<\/p>\n
The Wimbledon motto, \u2018in pursuit of greatness\u2019, has left Dan with the urge to continue working to be better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think you can\u2019t improve, it is time to give it away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been reminded several times that there are no excuses now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan embarked on his journey with a particular interest in learning about metrics and benchmarking – which is a measureable approach to continue working against.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough they prepare courts very differently from us, it will be exciting in the future to compare our surfaces in terms of data,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Since returning to the green courts made famous by Tennis Victoria\u2019s Country Week, Dan was able to use his connections to make the trip possible. While the trip was mainly self-funded, there are many people he thanked in making the trip possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeil Stubley, Head of Courts and Horticulture at Wimbledon, with his first invitation and then the hospitality of both himself and his team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Tennis Victoria Places to Play team, led by Ken Barton, for their direction, passion and investment in grass court tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd as always, all the friends and family of the Swan Hill Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for their amazing support and inspiration throughout the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before we know it, Dan\u2019s courts could surpass those at Wimbledon, and the tiny town of Swan Hill could be the envy of the English Grand Slam in future years.<\/p>\n