We assemble in the Traco car park. Aldershot Traco Club’s first ever croquet match! Is the team nervous? Of course we are…
A warm welcome at Woking. Lovely sunny afternoon. A beautiful setting in a quiet residential area. Two lawns immaculately prepared.
The match will be played using the Golf Croquet Advantage Handicapping System which is unfamiliar to most of us but is quickly explained. We have lower handicaps overall so, allegedly, are the better players.
Doubles matches first. Andy/John and Lynn/Colin are our pairs. Andy/John start badly (nerves?). We mutter that we are being outclassed, but recover to lose 5-7. Lynn and Colin romp home 7-1 on the other lawn.
Now the singles. Andy, Colin and John all win. We break for tea with a 4-2 overall lead.
The final session is two singles/one doubles. We need one win to return with heads held high.
Then Andy and Lynn both lose. We’re tied 4-4.
I sit and watch the doubles. Are we winning or losing? John gives me a thumbs up. It’s looking good. On the final hoop, Colin executes a fine jump shot and perfectly positions his ball to win the hoop, the game 7-3, and the overall match 5-4.
Phew!
Shout out to Colin, the only player on either team to be undefeated.
Many thanks to Woking for their wonderful hospitality and great tea!