Kestrels and Kites on trial

In their first match of the 2021 Advantage GC season, HW Kestrels were the 'away' team at a very familiar venue.  HW Kites provided the welcome, the opposition  and the cakes.  

Played in deceptively cool sunshine, the games were -- for most players -- our first experience of the 'Advantage GC' system being trialled in the Southern Croquet Federation. This replaces extra turns by allocating a pre-start score  to each player, based on their handicap.  (Some of the low handicappers started with a negative score!) Play then proceeds as in level play, without the possible distractions of extra turns. 

After the first 12 matches, honours were even at 6 games all and only 2 net hoops difference.  Time for tea and cake kindly served by Kites reserve Sharon  -- it was chilly!  Whether the extra calories helped or not, Kites took three of the final four games to end up winners by 9-7. 

The SCF is asking for feedback. People's first comments were that Advantage GC is easy to use, whichever method is adopted for keeping score; that play is less distracted; and that a low handicap player faces an inevitable challenge of starting with a negative score.

So, we all passed!

Chris Webbley