Okay, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that Dean comes across a little arrogant but the former Hastings Boys' High School (HBHS) pupil simply commands that respect with his nous.
One would have expected Craig or Bill to have shown Dean the basics but the seniors will attest to the fact the youngster has earned the right to call the shots once the mat is rolled out.
Says 48-year-old Pak'n Save Hastings butcher Craig: "Dean's the most skilful, so he tells us what to do."
Adds 72-year-old retired printer and Heinz-Watties factory employee Bill: "Dean has a better touch and eye than us. I'm very proud of him."
In fairness to the seniors, Craig only started playing a year before Dean picked up the wobbly sphere as a Year 7 Irongate School pupil almost by accident.
"Dad was a year before me so we were trying to work things out together," says the only teenager among the 90 full-playing members of the Hastings club.
Explains Dean: "I used to come to the business house [twilight] competition with them and one day a team was short of a player but I didn't want to have a go.
"I came back the following week and the same team was short again so the rest is history," says the teen who has represented the New Zealand under-18 team as well as the Bay senior men's pairs and fours teams.
Craig's flirtation was also by chance. He gravitated to the club's six-week business house competition on Thursday nights when the supermarket team was a player shy.
"I ended up playing for two years before becoming a member."
For Craig it was a godsend, because it was gentler to the joints than when he walked into the squash courts.
Bill, who emigrated to the Bay in 1972 from Hawick because he got fed up with the Scottish winters, started playing in 1980 before going into recess for a decade. He got back into it seven years ago through business house.
"I was playing indoor bowls for nine years at the St Leonard's Club, which doesn't exist any more."
Trust, Bill emphasises, is the secret to their triples success.
"You have to have that in any team you compete in, actually."
It helps that Dean receives coaching from Howard Sandler, of Auckland.
The younger Drummond, who went on to help HBHS field business house teams, has eight club titles (two singles, a pairs, two triples and three fours) as well as a Bay centre pairs crown with Richard Hocking of Taradale Club two years ago.
Dean, though, is under no illusions about how fickle success can be in a sport the older generations dominate.
"I love how challenging it can be. One day you're a champion and the next day you're a chump. You have just got to keep practising."
No doubt youth is on Dean's side. "My grandfather will tell you he can only last about two games in singles matches."
Craig says ex-club president, the late Owen Hutchinson, showed them the basics in his fours team.
