After a whole year of no inter-club competition due to Covid, the Sunshine Coast Regional Club Championships in Golf Croquet commenced in mid-April. This is played at three levels – the Pennant competition for low handicappers, the Shield competition for those on medium handicaps and the new Plate competition for high handicap players/newer players.
On 12 April, the Noosa Club hosted Nambour in a home game in the Shield competition. Noosa came away victors by six games to four – a good start to the year. A good day for James Martin who had three wins, two singles and the doubles. .
On 19 April there were two games. The Pennant team travelled to Nambour for an away game, and claimed the day with a 7 – 3 win, a great start to their season. Best of the day were Niven Gugich who won all three of his games and John Dark in his first ever competition did very well with two wins out of three.
Also on the 19th, the Plate team hosted the Nambour team for its first game at Noosa. This was a first time for most players in any form of competition and, despite a great deal of initial nervousness on both sides, the Noosa team had a hard-fought six – four win. Everyone had at least one win. Well done to Lorry Ryan, Sally Walker, Susie Locke and Bob Eames.
The Plate game also served as the second leg of the Habner – Gugich challenge, which is a friendly competition between Noosa and Nambour for new and high handicap players. The first leg was played some time ago, but Covid and bad weather had prevented the second leg taking place. The Clubs decided to use this first day of official club competition as the second leg of this battle, which meant an overall win to Noosa of twelve game to eight. The Habner – Gugich Shield will now sit in the Noosa Clubhouse until later in the year, when two fresh teams of newer players can compete again when time is available.
The Regional Golf Croquet Championships will be held during May. These had to be delayed as they were originally set for that period of terrible weather during March. Noosa will host the Division 2 Championships at its courts in Noosa Waters on Saturday 22 May.
Remember, every Sunday morning we welcome new players to the Club. Come along and see why croquet is such a great sport to play in this beautiful weather. Noosa Croquet Club, Seashell Place, Noosa Waters, ring Niven Gugich on 0428 799 987 for further details.
