Noosa wins the Habner-Gugich Challenge and welcomes new members

The weather is heating up now November is well under way. Morning play is still popular, with those breaks becoming a little longer and water bottles being much more in view. Attendance is still good on the Noosa courts – some mornings all courts are full of golf croquet players, some with second colour balls being called into use. At the moment, two of our five courts are being renovated, which makes it a little more difficult for play, but players have been very patient. The newly renovated courts are already looking good, tempting to get onto them, but we have a few weeks left yet.

We recently held our friendly annual Habner-Gugich Challenge game. This is our beginner’s competition which we play as a friendly against Nambour Club, following the usual interclub competition conditions of play, but with relaxed rules. This is only open to newer players who have not yet played in any formal competitions. On Saturday 5th November at Noosa we had a good afternoon. Most players now playing Plate played in the Habner-Gugich competition a year or so ago and felt it was a great way to experience competition in a much friendlier atmosphere. Currently Noosa holds the Shield. On November the 5th final score was Noosa 7 Nambour 3. However we all agreed that this should be a two game home and away competition as it was before Covid changed things. So Nambour will host the second leg some time early next year before the interclub starts, Players are all looking forward to their return game and the trip to Nambour.

On Friday 25th October, 33 visitors from Provectus Algae attended the Noosa Croquet Club courts in Noosa Waters for a social afternoon and to try their hand at Croquet. Provectus Algae is a locally based firm which, according to its website, offers environmentally sustainable manufacturing, with the development of novel natural and biosynthetic high value products from microalgae.

Most participants were younger and it was an interesting afternoon, as many had taken this very seriously, having researched the background of Croquet beforehand.

Two games of Golf Croquet were organised, with people in pairs – lots of laughter, lots of self-congratulations on discovering that they could play the game! The group broke for drinks and then played a second game. This was a successful money earner for the club, and helped to break down the image of Croquet as just an old person's game – the participants really enjoyed it and will spread the word.

On the 9th November a group of visitors from the Combined Noosa Probus Club visited the Noosa grounds for a social visit and a game of croquet. Some had been on earlier visits and all were keen to have a go. An afternoon tea was arranged and volunteers from the Club took groups of four and gave them some quick instruction and led them through a short game of golf croquet. The visitors enjoyed their afternoon and were surprised that the game was as interesting as it was. Some expressed an interest in learning more, which will be followed up.

Final Club Championships have been completed. John Dark won the Division 1 Golf Championship, Ed Boyd won the Division 2 Golf title and Lorry Ryan won the Division 3 Golf title. John Olsen won the Division 2 Association title and Rob Moncrieff ran away with the Division 1 Ricochet prize. With membership numbers quite high, and a recent influx of enthusiastic new members, we are looking forward to a busy and productive 2023.

Colin Hindson

"(Photo above)"

By Colin Hindson, Noosa. From the Croquet Newsletter, December 2022, pages 19, 20.