It has been estimated that as many as 90 percent of the world’s croquet players play this type of croquet.
The Barry club regularly holds golf croquet club tournaments, but to give higher-graded players an opportunity for more competitive play, the club decided to hold a tournament for players graded 8 and above. It was open to players not only from Gisborne but also from outside clubs.
Handicaps for golf croquet range from -6 to 16.
Often tournaments cater for the more competitive players with low handicaps.
Tournament manager Ross Thomson said the club had a policy of supporting and encouraging new players and higher-handicap members. With this in mind, the club organised a tournament just for them.
The 14 players were divided into two blocks of seven. Players played all the others in their block. Handicaps were calculated by deducting the lower handicap from the higher and the difference was the number of extra turns the higher-handicap player received.
In the first round in Block 1, Christine McCullough upset top seed Rose Langley, of Whakatane, 7-4.
In Block 2, Ina Elzen, on a 12 handicap, beat Barry club member Jenny Barns-Graham, on an 8 handicap, 7-4. This was the first indication that Elzen would be a force to be reckoned with.
Rick Thomson (based in Hamilton but registered at Barry, and playing on an 8 handicap) defeated Barry club member Richard Jackson, on a 14 handicap, 7-2, in Round 2 in Block 1.
The Barry club’s Robyn Chaffey upset Howard Shroll (Whakatane) 7-4 in Block 2.
In Round 3, the Barry club’s Glenis Ebbett put up a good fight before losing 7-4 to Chaffey in a long game.
In Block 1, Muriel McMillan (Barry) started hitting her straps, defeating Langley 7-5.
Barns-Graham beat Shroll 7-5 in Round 4, and McCullough, on a handicap of 8, only just defeated Robert Paterson (Barry) 7-5.
Campion College student Paterson is new to the game. Having joined the club only two weeks earlier, he was on a handicap of 16.
Paterson showed great skill and a grasp of tactics — enough to indicate he is a future threat, having played so well against a seasoned campaigner.
Elzen disposed of Chaffey 7-5.
Barns-Graham’s experience came to the fore as she beat Chaffey 7-6 in a Round 5 game in Block 2.
Paterson started coming right and was delighted to achieve his first tournament victory — over George Ebbett, 7-5.
Paterson caused the upset of the tournament in Round 6, defeating McMillan 7-2.
John Langley (Whakatane) scraped home, 7-6, against Barns-Graham in a tough encounter.
Thomson began finding form, defeating George Ebbett 7-2.
The final pool round was crucial for some.
John Langley’s 7-6 win against Chaffey ensured him second place in Pool 2.
Elzen continued on her winning way, disposing of Shroll 7-4. She was the top pointscorer in Block 2.
In Block 1, Ebbett beat McMillan 7-5 and Patterson continued to improve, winning his third game 7-2. The lad was on fire.
Thomson and John Langley met in a playoff for third place. Thomson won convincingly, 7-1.
The game for the top prize was a different story.
Elzen came out all guns blazing, and McCullough, who had lost only one game in her block, was up for the contest.
They fought tooth and nail around the lawn. Elzen showed great cunning in the use of her extra turns, pulling them out of the bag at crucial times.
McCullough would roquet Elzen’s ball away, only for Elzen to come back with her extra turns and, with great finesse, place her ball in the crucial place to score the hoop.
Elzen pulled ahead after a long struggle, eventually securing a deserved 7-5 win.
Now that Elzen has reduced her handicap, a few club members will be out to beat her.
The tournament — sponsored by Jenny Virtue of Bronwyn Kay — was a great success and players appreciated the competition.
Anyone wishing to have a go at golf croquet can attend club days on Friday and Sunday afternoons from 12.45pm at 530 Aberdeen Road.
Flat-sole shoes are required but all the equipment is supplied.
