PLACES STILL AVAILABLE:

ONE DAY ‘B’ LEVEL GOLF CROQUET TOURNAMENT  – SATURDAY 8 JULY 2017

RESTRICTED TONGOLF HANDICAPS: MIN 3; MAX 8.

at Bury Croquet Club, Whitehead Park, Bury.

BURY is one of just three Clubs in the North of England from which the winner will automatically qualify for The National ‘B’Level Golf Croquet Final.  In addition, points can be earned towards entry to this prestigious Event, the Final is being held this year at Southport in October.  (Yes, you read that correctly – it’s your chance to enter a national tournament, the Final will be held in the North West – so please support this event .

The Entry Fee is £15, (CA Premium Members £10). At the time of writing there are still 10 places available on a first come, first accepted.

NB: The handicap restriction applies at the time of acceptance into each relevant qualifying tournament.

Entries to :-

David Barrett
61 Heywood Hall Road
Heywood
Lancs
OL10 4UZ

Tel: 01706 368 214;   Mob: 07957 103 417;   Email: davidbarrett.db@tiscali.co.uk

Federation Handicap Meeting – Saturday 25 March

The Federation’s workshop on Handicapping was well attended at Bury with about two dozen Club Handicappers & Team Captains making an appearance to discuss the various changes made by the CA for the coming season and to reinforce the need to accurately maintain our cards . The meeting had four CA Handicappers present to field all the raised issues & questions, led by Don Williamson from the CA Committee. 

Here is a more detailed report from the Federation Secretary, David Walters:

NW Fed Handicap Workshop, 25/3/17 at Bury Croquet Club
Leader: Don Williamson

The Purpose of Handicaps is to provide a level playing field to allow 2 players to have an equal chance of winning. Weaker player gets extra turns.

Automatic Handicapping System provided by CA. Relies on players keeping cards accurately. Requires at least 10 competitive games play per season. Wins increase index, losses decrease index. Trigger points cause handicap to change.

Do all NW Fed Clubs have Club Handicappers for both AC & GC? Please check both NW & CA website are correct.

Club Handicappers should review all cards at least once a year.

Limits on who can make what changes on CA website.

AHS doesn’t cope with rapid improvements- hence need for intervention by Handicapper.

Appeals – Club Handicapper can’t over rule CA Handicapper’s change. Ideally there should be communication between Handicappers re rationale. Should there be an appeals process within Federation? Final arbiter is CA Handicap Committee.

Drift within small pools. Tendency for handicaps to increase should be offset by comparison against players from other clubs / federations.

Setting Initial Handicaps – Don’t default to highest available Handicap. Should use tests laid out on CA website to assess initial handicaps for both AC & GC. Make this part of Introductory Course / on joining / before first competitive game.

Competitive Games vs Social Play. All organised games under CA rules should be recorded on cards.

Do all clubs display the CA poster on how to complete a handicap card? Do all clubs display an up to date list of handicaps?

Index should not decrease below the minimum points (850 AC full lawn, 30 AC Short, 900 GC)

Returning Players – after a break, players should use their old handicap unless medical reasons. If so, a CA Handicapper should be consulted re appropriate change.

Short Croquet – League Rule changes – full bisque play. There is a correlation between full lawn and Short. If full lawn handicap decreases, them short lawn handicap should decrease.

Handicap Changes should be recorded on cards & reported to CA Office. Changes take effect at the end of the day, or at the end of an event held over consecutive days.

Sources
CA Website

Guide for Club Handicappers
https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=games/golf/handicapping/ClubHandicappers