{"id":8415,"date":"2021-02-23T14:48:32","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T14:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southeastcroquetfederation.org.uk\/?page_id=8415"},"modified":"2021-03-09T11:32:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T11:32:28","slug":"development-reports","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/southeastcroquetfederation.org.uk\/1674644977408\/?page_id=8415","title":{"rendered":"Development Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Development Officer has been writing annual reports about the development of our clubs:<\/p>\n

2020<\/a> 2019<\/a> 2018<\/a> 2017<\/a><\/p>\n

2016<\/h2>\n

Guildford and Godalming<\/b>, with their new four-lawn facility, successfully hosted the third tier tournament of the World GC Team Championship in May. They constructed their new pavilion on the site of the old bowling club shack in June and hope to conclude an eventful year by completing the instillation of water and sewerage links. The club will have to raise around \u00a315,000 to install electricity. The transformation of this club into a first class croquet location has been achieved in a very short period of time due to good and energetic leadership and dedicated self help from its members.<\/p>\n

The last 4 of Sussex County<\/b>\u2019s 11 courts planned for refurbishment were completed in August and the grass on them had taken well. The next major project might be a new clubhouse but that is probably far in the future.<\/p>\n

Cobdown Sports Ground, the home of Medway<\/b>, is now owned by Marpaul Sports and is now called \u2018K Sports Cobdown\u2019. The change of ownership has resulted in a great improvement in the maintenance of the lawns. The irrigation system had been repaired and the club has bought itself an expensive and excellent mower. The new owners have a vision of all the various sports mixing together in the bar and playing each others\u2019 sports.<\/p>\n

A revised application by Lodsworth<\/b> for a CA grant for a slightly more modest and cheaper pavilion has been submitted to the CA Development Committee. With financial support from the CA and the Federation, the pavilion should be in place for the start of the 2017 season<\/p>\n

Worthing<\/b>\u2019s two courts have been moved at Field Place to a location within this well used recreational area which is much more conspicuous to the passing public. Funds were raised to build a modest club house adjacent to the new and well maintained
\ncourts. This was officially opened in June.<\/p>\n

West Worthing<\/b> have applied for a CA grant for a new pavilion to replace the old shed given by Woking to the club 5 years ago. The project will be partly funded by a loan from the main club to be repaid by a levy of \u00a320 on croquet membership annual subscriptions until the loan is paid off.<\/p>\n

Canterbury<\/b> have been given three completely new courts protected by a rabbit proof fencing, costing about \u00a320,000, These were paid for by the parent club. The croquet club is submitting, to the CA, an application for a grant to erect a modest wooden
\npavilion which, together with a rented \u201cportaloo\u201d, will complete a vastly improved playing facility.<\/p>\n

Compton<\/b> are submitting an application for a CA grant to help to refurbish its old and dilapidated clubhouse.<\/p>\n

Finchley Victoria<\/b> have added a croquet section to the bowling club. One of the greens will be for the exclusive use of the croquet players. A well attended grand opening took place in August with valuable support from members from Watford, Ealing and Hampstead Heath. The facilities available are outstanding.<\/p>\n

They include a recently constructed brick pavilion and extensive outbuildings. The initial ground work has been carried out expertly by Barry Bargroff, the bowling club\u2019s Publicity and Marketing Officer. However, there are issues which may hinder the
\ndevelopment of this croquet section. Michael Hague is usually able to find an experienced croquet player to provide the necessary leadership but no one has yet surfaced in Finchley. The second problem is that the council charge \u00a3120 per member for the use of the facility and its maintenance. The section is hoping for a degree of flexibility in order to be able to offer reduced initial fees to new croquet members.<\/p>\n

The Federation will be making grants, of \u00a3500 each, to Compton<\/b>, Canterbury<\/b>, West Worthing<\/b> and Lodsworth <\/b>towards the cost of their pavilions; (all subject to the approval by the CA of the applications already made to them for grants). A practice has developed of making Federation grants to supplement grants made by the CA, in addition to other direct ones not supplementing CA grants.<\/p>\n

2015<\/h2>\n

All four of the new courts at Guildford and Godalming <\/b>came into play in 2015. With the agreement of the Rugby Club, the Club constructed a 250 yard rabbit-proof fence on its open flanks. This helped to identify the club as a separate entity within the
\nsports complex. The next project is to build a modest clubhouse on the footprint of the old bowling club pavilion for which planning permission has already been granted. The clubhouse will include a toilet and cost about \u00a312,000, including the concrete base. It has been agreed with the Rugby Club that the site will be rent free for the next two years during which time the croquet club will increase its membership to 100 to enable it to pay rent thereafter.<\/p>\n

After a long period of uncertainty, Canterbury<\/b> decided to remain with its parent sports club at Polo Farm. Three new lawns are under construction, paid for by the Sports Club. The Club requested the SECF Lawns Officer, George Noble to have a look at what appeared to be a drainage problem on the site.<\/p>\n

Courts 1, 2 and 3 at Sussex County<\/b> were refurbished in phase 1 of the club\u2019s three year programme, and brought into use. Courts 4, 5, 6 and 9 were re-surfaced and re-seeded in September 2015 and will be brought back into use early next season. The
\nremaining four courts will be done in the autumn next year. The SECF provided a modest grant to help finance the work.<\/p>\n

The two new courts at Caterham<\/b> were brought into use in the second half of the season and one will be played on during this winter. The local Council had promised landscaping around them but procrastinated in the face of objections from local residents. The Club was not even allowed to position wooden ball stops along the boundaries of the courts as they could be trip hazards. Since the courts are encircled by a wide pathway along which pedestrians and the occasional car pass, there was concern. However, the extremely co-operative Council green keeper allowed a
\nstrip of high grass to grow on the sides of the lawns which proved to be a fairly effective ball stop.<\/p>\n

The building company Marples recently purchased the land on which the Cobdown Sports and Social Club stands. Medway Croquet Club <\/b>is a part of this Club. The croquet club has to negotiate with the new owners to define its future. The land is designated as a recreational area and there is thus hope that it will remain so.<\/p>\n

A lot of work has been put in by Preston<\/b> club members and local Council staff to refurbish the lawn adjacent to the Council-owned manor house. Three tons of top dressing were applied. The results were encouraging and the court was used for
\npromotional events and will be played on during this winter. The last stage of the project will be finished in the spring, in time for the 2016 season with the application of a further two tons of top dressing. The SECF has promised \u00a3150 towards the cost. 2<\/p>\n

After only its second season, Lodsworth<\/b> is busy raising funds to build a well equipped pavilion adjacent to its court for the start of next season. The CA granted \u00a31,000 and the SECF Committee agreed to contribute \u00a3250 towards the total cost of
\n\u00a332,000 – \u00a335,000.<\/p>\n

The two courts at Worthing<\/b> have been moved within the bowls complex at Field Place to a location in this well-used recreational area which is much more conspicuous to the passing public. Funds are being raised to build a modest club house adjacent to the new courts. The SECF has agreed provide a grant of \u00a3250.<\/p>\n

The Crawley Club<\/b> was reduced to 16 members but recovered to 22 by the end of the 2015 season. The \u00a34m restoration of Worth Park, in which the club is situated, is complete. There is a faint hope that there may be some funds remaining which could pay for improvements to the croquet courts. However, the Council has removed the device to prevent vandals riding motorbikes on them (for \u201chealth and safety reasons\u201d).<\/p>\n

Having just about raised the necessary funds to add two courts in the adjacent Rugby Club (a \u00a339,000 project), Reigate Priory <\/b>discovered, when it came to formalising the arrangement, that the \u00a35,000 annual rent expected by the landowner was unsustainable. The project has been shelved.<\/p>\n

An irrigation system at Cheam<\/b> has been installed using funds raised by the Club.<\/p>\n

2014<\/h2>\n

Good progress was made on a number of improvements to croquet
\nfacilities in the SECF. These included the fast tracking of two
\nmajor projects, the completion of a third and the successful
\nlaunching of a new club.<\/p>\n

A grant of \u00a310,000 to Sussex County<\/b> (to be spread over
\nthree years) was approved by the CA Development Committee and then
\nby the Management Committee just in time to allow phase 1 to be
\ntackled before the season end. Work started on phase 1 on 15
\nSeptember following consultation with drainage experts. Lawns 1, 2
\nand 3 had been stripped, verti-drained, harrowed, laser levelled
\nand seeded. Work was completed on Friday 26 September. A large
\nblanket was laid on the three lawns (to aid, it is said,
\ngermination of the grass seeds).<\/p>\n

Another CA development grant was awarded to Guildford and
\nGodalming<\/b> for the creation of two new croquet lawns. These
\nwere needed as a result of a decision by the board of their parent
\nclub to allocate to \u201cmini-rugby\u201d activity some of the land
\nformerly laid out as croquet lawns. The two new lawns were to
\ncomprise approximately 500 square metes of established lawn and
\n1,500 square metes of un-used, rough grassland. The process of new
\nlawn construction began during the first two weeks of August when
\na team of Croquet Club members, bringing their own mowers, cut and
\nremoved as much vegetation as possible from the rough grass area.
\nThe last croquet fixture needing all four of the old lawns was on
\n20 August 2014 and at 6 a.m. on the very next day the chosen
\ncontractor sprayed the entire area to further reduce spoil volume.
\nThen, a week later, they returned to undertake the task of
\nturf-stripping, levelling and seeding the 2,000 square met re
\narea. Everything went smoothly so that the work was completed on
\nthe same day \u2013 the contractors having worked from 7 a.m. until
\nafter 8 p.m. The ensuing spell of very hot weather caused
\nadditional work for members, who had regularly to sprinkle water
\nover the four lawns adequately to ensure germination. There are no
\nreports that a blanket was needed or used for any purpose.<\/p>\n

Caterham<\/b> managed to overcome obstacles surrounding their
\napplication for a long lease and fund raising and completed the
\ninstallation of a new toilet. This was in use for the last few
\nweeks of the season. It did not improve the croquet but it made
\neverybody feel a little more relaxed when playing. Work on two new
\nlawns was also completed. They were fenced off to keep them free
\nfrom damage until the grass was properly established. This made
\nthem look like a prison yard. The completion of the two projects
\nhas enhanced the club\u2019s facilities significantly.<\/p>\n

The new club at Lodsworth<\/b> got off to a flying start in
\ntheir first season. The new lawn lived up to expectations and 70
\nmembers were signed up, of whom about 45 were active playing
\nmembers. 22 couples participated in a doubles knockout tournament
\nand the club came 5th out of 10 teams at the Littlehampton
\nCentenary Challenge Cup event in July. The Club also played
\nagainst Rother Valley and West Chiltington and won. They will be
\nfund raising this winter in order to build a dedicated club house
\nnext year.<\/p>\n

Preston<\/b> (Brighton) has a long term project to add a third
\nlawn by reviving an old croquet lawn in the atmospheric grounds of
\nthe adjacent, council-owned manor house. John Mundy, the Chairman
\nof the club, is the driving force behind the project and is in the
\nearly stages of fund raising.<\/p>\n

The land on which Canterbury<\/b> currently plays is going to
\nbe sold in the near future (2014\/early 2015) by the parent sports
\nclub. Polo Farm is prepared in principle to offer an alternative
\nsite which will accommodate 3 lawns. This land has been prepared
\nwith spoil from building operations on the site and the topsoil
\nreplaced. Unfortunately, the site will not be fit for play in the
\n2015 season but Polo Farm will allow the croquet club use of other
\nareas (cricket outfield but subject to limited availability).
\nCheam has a plan to install automatic watering at a cost of
\n\u00a310,000. They have a CA grant of \u00a31,000 and will raise the
\nrequired balance. They will be looking for a supplement from the
\nSECF in due course. That is their right as a member of the
\nFederation. Hundreds of pounds may be available. The SECF pool of
\nequipment remains out of hoops and balls. The Development Officer
\nagain appeals to clubs for any equipment which becomes surplus,
\nincluding such minor items as clips and corner flags. They will be
\ngratefully received by Development Officer, Michael Hague and made
\navailable to new and\/or expanding clubs as required.<\/p>\n

2013<\/h2>\n

Some clubs are in financial difficulties: Angmering<\/b> where
\ncroquet members have to pay to be social members of the Ham Manor
\nGolf Club which has doubled its fee and takes it beyond what is
\nlikely to be affordable by the croquet element. Another is Purley<\/b><\/p>\n

Bury where for the first eight years of its existence the
\nclub has paid a nominal annual fee to the owners of \u00a3800 and is
\nnow increased to \u00a32,000 for its 35 croquet membership to pay.<\/p>\n

Crawley<\/b> began the formal applications in June for a
\nlease for its courts which were due for relaying as part of the
\nrenovation of Worth Park but was told that Crawley BC was
\nre-considering its strategy for the lawns.<\/p>\n

In August the club was told that the park is to be as inclusive
\nas possible attracting a fully representative cross-section of the
\ncommunity. The Head of Amenity Services e-mailed \u2013 \u201cWhilst we
\nfully support the croquet club and wish it to thrive, it is
\nessential that non-members can also enjoy the lawns and freely
\nparticipate in croquet. This is our strategy for the lawns. It has
\nrecently been discussed by the Worth Park Steering Group and
\nagreed by the council\u2019s lead member for Leisure and Culture\u201d.<\/p>\n

On 30th September a meeting was held between representatives
\nfrom the BC and the club. The club was told that it would not be
\npermitted to build a new pavilion and that it might not have a
\nlicence for exclusive use of the lawns. If things go well (from
\nthe council\u2019s point of view) the BC may erect a new pavilion and
\nthe club would be given (?) part of it in which to keep its
\nequipment. The long meeting revealed that the BC had not thought
\nthrough how it would organise loaning of equipment to members of
\nthe public, care of the lawns, etc. It seemed very possible that
\nthe improvement to the lawns would not take place \u2013 the project is
\nrunning out of money as some repair\/reconstruction jobs are
\ncosting far more than expected. The BC is happy for the club to
\ncontinue using its old pavilion (just a wooden hut with no
\nfacilities and on its last legs) until it has set up some system
\nfor the public to play. The club has no indication as yet of the
\nannual per capita fee it will have to pay for the new lease and is
\nfearful it will be beyond the means of its aging membership.<\/p>\n

The bowling club
\nadjacent to the Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club<\/b> has
\nalso given up the ghost. The main user of the sports club, the
\nrugby club, wants croquet to use the single bowls green and give
\nup its 4 courts to them. The issue is complicated by the fact that
\nthe ground involved stretches across two district boundaries.<\/p>\n

They are putting
\ntogether a project to build a clubhouse on the existing footprint
\nof the former bowling club building and to reseed the area given
\nto it for four courts. It is hoped to start the project in the
\ncoming season which will make a significant enhancement of the
\nfacilities and the attraction of the club to new members.<\/p>\n

Medway Croquet Club<\/b> is hoping to move to a new venue in
\n2015, which is fractionally less than a mile from its present home
\nand is indeed in the same parish, about 4 miles west of Maidstone.
\nThe site is in the grounds of Bradbourne House, which was
\noriginally Tudor-built, but much restored in the 18th century. It
\nis set in 20 acres of private parkland. The house is used for
\nwedding receptions and concerts etc and is also the headquarters
\nof the East Malling Trust (the landlords). It is part of a field
\nthat is not used but has been gang-mown regularly. One end of the
\nfield abuts an old walled garden and the East Malling Research
\nStation, (which the Trust runs) is planting some fruit trees at
\nthat end of the field. The field is in the shape of an elongated
\ntriangle with the parkland on one side and trees hiding a housing
\nestate on the other. Planning permission for the whole project
\nincluding 4 courts, club house and car park has just been
\napproved.<\/p>\n

The request for a 20 year lease for Caterham<\/b> has
\nsuffered delays as the newly formed Queen Elizabeth Fields in
\nTrust, a charity to perpetuate the use of land for sports fields,
\nnow controls the leases of users but the local council still have
\nto give its approval. Thus the bureaucratic process is lengthened.
\nPlans to improve the small clubhouse and to re-locate the two
\ncourts to a better site have been put on hold until the lease is
\napproved. But costs for the project are already rising. The Trust
\nis insisting that a valuation of the club house costing \u00a31000 must
\nbe completed and that the Council should carry out the work
\ninstead of private contractors arranged by the club which would
\nhave cost several thousand pounds less.<\/p>\n

However the club has continued to raise a thousand pounds here
\nand there and is optimistic. A recent meeting of members raised an
\nimpressive \u00a320,000 of pledges.<\/p>\n

Work progressed slowly at the new club at Lodsworth<\/b>, the
\nweather being a primary factor in the early part of the year. Two
\ncoaching days were held at Rother Valley, the first one attended
\nby 15 people and the second by 20! However the club now has a
\nbeautiful lawn of its own and boasts 42 signed up members. It will
\nbe holding its first AGM in November.<\/p>\n

The club has now met the conditions laid down by the committee
\nfor the \u00a31000 grant applied for and is anxious to receive the
\ngrant to help fund the maintenance work required on and around the
\nnew lawn over the winter.<\/p>\n

At the end of its first season the membership of Cheam
\nCroquet and Bowling Club<\/b> (formed at a defunct bowling club)
\nwas 88 with about 70 preferring to play croquet and the remainder
\nwith a preference for bowls. The waiting list had reached 39.
\nAlmost all the members are retired and a few are in their
\neighties. Less than 10 had played croquet seriously before.
\nSeveral have said that joining the club has changed their lives!
\n25 members did not re-new their membership for the start of the
\n2013 season but 16 new members were taken on from the waiting
\nlist.<\/p>\n

Since the start of the year 11 more new members were signed on,
\nmost as a result of the public coaching course the club is obliged
\nto run under the agreement with Sutton Council. 10 people attended
\nthe course and all of them joined so membership is now 90.<\/p>\n

Cheam entered a team in the SECF’s Golf Handicap League this
\nseason and also played at the Golf Teams Day. In addition Cheam
\nhas played 5 friendly matches – 4 golf and 1 association. 4
\nmembers played in the C level competition at Hamptworth. The bowls
\nelement has elected to play its own croquet competition over the
\nwinter months! In all an outstanding beginning for a new club
\nthanks to the quality of its leadership.<\/p>\n

2012<\/h2>\n

The 2012 season was a tough one for many clubs. The wet weather
\nruined the first half of the season. With numbers of entrants down
\nfor tournaments, income from them was reduced still further by
\ncancellations due to the flooding of courts and the resultant
\nlosses of the normal profit from lunch and bar sales. However, all
\nthe grants awarded by the CA for the past season produced
\nexcellent results, as has been reported by the clubs concerned in
\nthe Gazette.<\/p>\n

West Worthing CC<\/b> made a good start – doubling its
\nmembership in its first season. It now enjoys the use of four
\ncourts, sharing two of them with the tennis section. It was given
\na loan from the CA to buy Dawson balls for its competitive
\nactivities and was able to take part in some of the SECF leagues
\nin its first year of existence.<\/p>\n

Both West Wittering CC<\/b> and Ember CC<\/b> made good use
\nof their CA grants which allowed the clubs to complete their
\nirrigation projects after fundraising and, in the case of Ember,
\nmuch self help. These were investments for drier times.<\/p>\n

Crawley CC<\/b> received confirmation from the Borough Council
\nthat the Heritage Lottery Fund was going ahead with its \u00a340K
\nproject to restore the park to its former Victorian glory,
\nembracing the re-laying of the two and a half croquet courts and
\nthe installation of irrigation. The Fund was precluded from
\nassisting with the replacement of the dilapidated wooden hut
\npresently used by the club. The club raised \u00a313,000 including a
\n\u00a32,000 grant from the CA towards acquiring a \u201clog effect\u201d, chalet
\nstyle and vandal proof pavilion which would fit into the character
\nof the site, with a project estimate of \u00a325,000. However, the
\nproject came to a halt when the Council suddenly demanded a
\nlicence and a lease which would cost annually more than the club
\ncould possibly afford. The new club chairman went back to the
\nCouncil and found that a change of officials had resulted in a
\nmore amenable attitude. There is now a possibility that water and
\nelectricity will be provided for the pavilion by linking with the
\nservices installed for the irrigation. Connection to a sewer is
\nbeing investigated and so the club may be able to install a
\ntoilet. They are also investigating the possibility of
\ninstallation of a septic tank. The Council did not raise again the
\nrequirement for a more costly lease and licence. The club has
\ndecided to re-start fundraising and at the same time to look for a
\ncheaper option for the pavilion. The timescale is now for work to
\nbe started on the pavilion in October 2013.<\/p>\n

A \u00a3275 grant from the CA and the SECF for publicity allowed Jean
\nCobbold to advertise for the new club at Cheam<\/b> and to
\nrecruit 75 paid up members. The one-court club will be entering
\nSECF GC leagues in its second year and is also training up some
\nAssociation players. The Federation provided coaching courses for
\nthe membership in 2012 – essential support for any new club to get
\nit off to a flying start. Unfortunately, the wet weather deterred
\na number of players from attending regularly and there might be a
\ndrop in numbers for the 2013 season.<\/p>\n

A new club at Lodsworth<\/b> in West Sussex asked the CA for a
\n\u00a31,000 grant towards the construction of its first court. However,
\nthe grant was turned down because of the financial risk if the new
\nclub failed. A loan was offered in lieu. The club, which joined
\nthe CA in May of this year, appealed against the ruling and the
\napplication will be reviewed by the CA Development Committee. The
\nnew Club has good prospects. A SECF grant of \u00a3250 will be made to
\nassist Lodsworth if they receive support from the CA.<\/p>\n

2011<\/h2>\n

West Worthing Croquet Club<\/b> took advantage of an offer
\nfrom Woking Croquet Club to collect from them their 1982 croquet
\nhut, which was surplus to their requirements and was found to be
\ncapable of dismantling. There was a problem when a door was left
\nbehind but that was overcome.<\/p>\n

Last year the Federation agreed to make a grant of \u00a3250 to the
\nWorthing Croquet Club<\/b> towards the cost of their proposed new
\nstorage hut. Worthing have now acquired and erected their new
\nshed.<\/p>\n

Ember Croquet Club<\/b> (part of the Ember Sports Club in
\nEsher) have sunk a bore hole for water to irrigate their one and a
\nhalf courts as the first phase of a project to improve its playing
\nfacilities and re-vitalise the section. The CA has made a grant of
\n\u00a32,500 towards the cost of the second phase and the Federation has
\nadded a grant of \u00a3200 further to assist the Club with the project.<\/p>\n

West Wittering Croquet Club<\/b> now has a 21 year guarantee
\nof tenure from their local Parish Council and the Club is moving
\nswiftly to establish good facilities. It has already carried out
\nthe first phase and has re-laid two good, irrigated courts at a
\ncost of \u00a336,000. The CA has made a grant of \u00a31,500 and a loan of
\n\u00a31,000 towards completing the project. The Federation has made a
\ngrant of \u00a3200 further to assist the Club.<\/p>\n

Towards the end of the 2011 season an opportunity arose to take
\nover a defunct bowls club in a park in Cheam<\/b>. The London
\nBorough of Sutton has offered the bowling green with its
\nclubhouse, changing rooms and toilets for a peppercorn rent of \u00a310
\nper annum with a 21 year guarantee of tenure. The proposed new
\ncroquet club will be obliged to maintain the lawn but the Borough
\nwill continue to look after the surrounding trees and flower beds.
\nThe lawn will accommodate one full size or two three quarter size
\ncroquet courts. Three local Associate Members of the CA (John
\nTimberlake and Jean and Ian Cobbold) are enthusiastic about the
\nproject and have volunteered to take up the challenge of forming a
\nnew club. A recruiting drive is being planned for March 2012 and,
\nif that is successful, the new club will be seeking court
\nequipment from the CA and the SECF. The CA has provided a grant of
\n\u00a3200 towards the cost of launching the new club and the Federation
\nhas made a modest grant of \u00a375 towards the cost of advertising the
\nCheam launch.<\/p>\n

2010<\/h2>\n

Two new Federation clubs have been established during the past
\nyear. Croquet players in the multi-sports Epsom Sports Club<\/b>
\nwere provided with two sets of equipment by the Federation, one
\nwith the same conditions attached as for equipment provided from
\nthe CA New Club Fund and a second on shorter loan.<\/p>\n

Club East<\/b> in Bethnal Green created a flurry of activity
\nin March 2010. A group of young people led by Miranda Garrett
\nstarted playing croquet in a local park. The Club has joined the
\nCA and the Federation. They have been rewarded with one set of
\nequipment from the CA and another from the Federation, including a
\nball of string for the boundaries. David Collins from Dulwich
\n(a.k.a \u201cthe Silver Fox\u201d) provided much appreciated coaching
\nsupport in the summer and the club now has a core of thirty
\nplayers with other occasional participants. Ms Garrett has \u201cbig
\nplans for next season\u201d and has produced a refreshing article for
\nthe Croquet Gazette.<\/p>\n

Surbiton Croquet Club<\/b> completed the installation of an irrigation system and four flag poles in time for the MacRobertson. Both of these projects received grants from the CA and the Federation. The Federation Development Officer has reported that the impression given at Surbiton is of a well run and thriving club well worthy of hosting Federation, national and international events.<\/p>\n

The Federation has agreed to make a grant of \u00a3250 to the Worthing Croquet Club<\/b> towards the cost of their proposed new storage hut, subject to the CA committee approving the grant requested from them.<\/p>\n

Hurstpierpoint College<\/b> in West Sussex (motto: Beati Mundo Corde) has started a croquet club with coaching assistance from Daphne Gaitley and a SECF set of equipment re-deployed from Hampstead Heath (which continues to enjoy the set provided by the CA New Club Fund). Members of the school staff are organising the school\u2019s Croquet Club.<\/p>\n

2009<\/h2>\n

New Clubs<\/h2>\n

A challenge arose when word had it that the multi-sport Epsom
\nSports Club<\/b> might be interested in reviving the croquet
\nelement of its Social and Croquet Section.Nine local branches of
\nthe U3A were contacted. Four half day introductory coaching
\nsessions were arranged for September attracting over 40 people in
\ntotal, almost all of whom are now signed on for next season. The
\nclub is now running monthly winter croquet sessions to keep the
\npot boiling, the first of which took place in October with 20
\nplayers taking part.<\/p>\n

It provides two courts marked out on the edges of the cricket
\nfield by a very supportive groundsman and another court is being
\nsited using the two least used of the five grass tennis courts.
\nThe club has joined the SECF and is in the process of joining the
\nCA.<\/p>\n

Twelve members of the croquet section of the Shepperton
\nBowling Club<\/b> paid a visit to Woking to see how the game
\nshould be played.<\/p>\n

Grants<\/h2>\n

Of a number of grant applications outstanding at the end of last
\nseason, that from Cheyney<\/b> was withdrawn, funds having been
\nfound from elsewhere while both Sydenham<\/b> and Angmering<\/b>
\npublished photographs of the successful conclusion of their new
\nhut projects.<\/p>\n

Surbiton<\/b> has submitted a grant application to the CA
\nDevelopment Committee for the installation of a long planned
\nirrigation system in time for the MacRobertson Shield Test matches
\nnext season. SECF has awarded a grant of \u00a3500 towards this project
\nsubject to the CA approving a grant and \u00a3150 towards the
\ninstallation of four flag poles at Surbiton for use during their
\ninternational tournaments.<\/p>\n

Schools<\/h2>\n

Hurstpierpoint School in West Sussex has started a croquet club with coaching assistance from Daphne Gaitley and a SECF set of equipment re-deployed from Hampstead Heath which continues to enjoy the set provided by the CA New Club Fund.<\/p>\n

The offer from the headmaster of Eton to fund the construction of a croquet court, provides a glimmer of hope for the future.<\/p>\n

2008<\/h2>\n

Croquet Academy<\/h2>\n

Suffice to say here that in its first year of existence it has proved a success and has lead to a co-ordinated broad range of courses available to players of a wide range of handicaps and to potential officials. The Academy should now be officially adopted by the CA with delegation of overall policy delegated to the Coaching Committee although there may be aspects from time to time where the Development Committee might wish to contribute.<\/p>\n

New Clubs<\/h2>\n

The seeds have been sown for new clubs to develop in a number of areas. Angmering<\/b> is a break away from the old Worthing club which has found itself a new home in Worthing with reduced playing facilities. Both clubs seem to have survived the trauma of the split and re-location. Richard Hilditch played a significant role in getting Hampstead Heath<\/b> off the ground and Donald Beck in assisting the introduction of croquet into the Shepperton<\/b> Bowling Club. Hassocks<\/b> joined the CA this season and Lewes U3A the SECF.<\/p>\n

The New Club Fund continues to provide a vital incentive for new
\nclubs to join the CA. All the new clubs reported above have
\nbenefited from the fund and \/or equipment loaned by SECF.<\/p>\n

Grants<\/h2>\n

Dulwich<\/b> has completed the upgrading of its three lawns.
\nPreston LTCC<\/b> has postponed indefinitely plans for a new
\nclub house.<\/p>\n

Schools<\/h2>\n

Schools remain an area of development which has frustrated
\nattempts to penetrate it successfully.<\/p>\n

Qualified Officials<\/h2>\n

We have had two Association Grade 1 and three GC coaches
\nassessed during courses at the Academy and all have received their
\nbadges! In addition a team went from the Academy to run a Coaches
\nTraining Course at Nottingham.<\/p>\n

I am not aware of any AC referees being qualified but I can
\nreport on three candidates who passed the GC Referees Examination.
\nThey completed a day\u2019s course of instruction and a week later
\nunderwent a mock exam followed by the actual examination a week
\nafter that. It was admittedly time consuming but the high marks
\nachieved were proof of the value of the thorough preparation and
\nin particular of the mock exam without which none of the
\nparticipants would have passed.<\/p>\n

Finally I am delighted to report that for the second year
\nrunning, a member of Sussex CCC, namely Bryan Teague, has received
\nthe Lifetime Coaching Award. As explained in my report last year,
\nthe CA and the SECF owe so much to Bryan for the incredible amount
\nof work, time and effort he has put into his club and devoted to
\nthe sport, especially as lead coach and bringing along both
\nhundreds of players and many coaches over at least the past two
\ndecades.<\/p>\n

2007<\/h2>\n

New Club Fund<\/h2>\n

Of the three new clubs in the SECF which have benefited from the
\nfund, Dogmersfield<\/b> has flourished under a good team of
\nenthusiasts and is quietly looking for an alternative site to
\nprovide better facilities for its full capacity membership. It
\nreceived an injection of funds from SECF when the equipment
\nbelonging to the host hotel was unexpectedly withdrawn. One of its
\nmembers, Roger Barnacle, was runner up in the final of the Centre
\nStage GC Competition held at Edgbaston.<\/p>\n

Ringmer<\/b> has already moved to a better location and is
\nnow renamed the Cheyney Croquet Club<\/b>. RMA Sandhurst<\/b>
\nhas continued as an affiliated member of the CA but with the rapid
\nturnover of cadets and their intensive training program, one
\ncannot hope for much more than that some seeds are being sown for
\nthe future.<\/p>\n

Sadly Worthing<\/b> has finally been forced out of the Hill
\nBarn Golf Club by a rapacious developer. There are lingering hopes
\nof assistance from the local authority to form a replacement club
\nin Worthing, albeit with reduced facilities. However several
\nWorthing members have already joined nearby Sussex CCC.<\/p>\n

Development of Existing Clubs<\/h2>\n

Royal Tunbridge Wells<\/b> started the season well by winning
\nthe Apps\/Heley Award, followed by a successful season enjoying
\ntheir vastly improved facilities.<\/p>\n

Rother Valley<\/b> received a \u00a31000 grant from the
\nDevelopment Committee and \u00a3500 from SECF to construct a half court
\nto add to their refurbished two full sized courts, thereby
\ncompleting their present plans for development. The club ran a
\nmuch enjoyed weekend short croquet tournament in September and was
\nable to invite four local clubs to compete with the hosts on their
\nfive half lawns. Recruitment is also progressing steadily in this
\nrejuvinated club.<\/p>\n

Woking<\/b> at full capacity for its regular two courts with
\nover 70 croquet playing members has received a \u00a35000 development
\ngrant to help to install irrigation over the winter for all four
\nof its courts used for CA tournaments. Like Woking, Dulwich
\nCroquet Club<\/b> is a section of a larger sports club and is
\nhoping to receive grants from the CA and the SECF in order to
\ncarry out Phase 2 of the resurfacing of its three courts this
\nwinter. A resurgence of recruiting backed by an active coaching
\nprogram has brought new vigour into this club.<\/p>\n

Sydenham<\/b> has for the moment abandoned plans for a second
\nlawn but has already carried out work on improving its one lawn,
\nsadly sabotaged by torrential rain after seeding. It hopes for a
\ngrant to finish it off and add a hut.<\/p>\n

Coaching Courses 2007<\/h2>\n

The popular Silver and Bronze Courses run by Bryan Teague and
\nhis team of Grade 1 and 2 coaches at Southwick were once more well
\nattended as was the Summer School lead by Daphne Gaitley. Overseas
\nattendance on these courses continues. Bryan Teague is taking a
\nback seat next season and is giving up acting as lead coach. The
\nCA and the SECF owe so much to Bryan for the incredible amount of
\nwork, time and effort he has put into his club and devoted to the
\nsport, especially regarding coaching and bringing along both
\nhundreds of players and many coaches over at least the past two
\ndecades.<\/p>\n

A number of clubs took advantage of one day golf and association
\ncourses, tailor made to their requirements by usually teams of two
\nGrade 1 coaches from nearby clubs. These courses are self funding
\nin that the club is asked to pay the coaches their travelling
\nexpenses and provide them with refreshments, their coaching being
\notherwise free. Innovations this season were an over subscribed
\nSECF GC Advance Tactics Course for middle bisquers held at
\nSurbiton and a supper and GC Laws quiz at Dogmersfield. Both
\nseemed to hit the mark.<\/p>\n

Schools<\/h2>\n

An encouraging development at Eton is a new master in charge of
\ncroquet who will, I believe, play a much more active part in the
\ngames played there.<\/p>\n

Qualified Officials<\/h2>\n

A GC Training for Coaches was held at Southwick early in the season for nine students, also an Association Laws Course at Surbiton and Golf Croquet Laws Courses at Woking and Hurlingham. The conversion rate from student to qualification was low for the referee courses, partly because the standards for both AC and GC are set high and do not cater for the need for more referees in ordinary clubs and at Federation events (rather than for
\nprestigious CA tournaments), who could improve with experience if qualified but at a lower (Grade B?) standard.<\/p>\n

This is an appropriate moment to congratulate the very first recipient of the Lifetime Coaching Award, Don Mears of Sussex CCC, for his long history of coaching both in his own and local clubs and on the CA Silver and the SECF Bronze, Improvers courses and Summer School over many years.<\/p>\n

2006<\/h2>\n

New Clubs<\/h3>\n

We are following up one possible new club at Kings Langley<\/b>,
\nHerts (strictly speaking out of the SECF geographical area but
\ntaken on with the agreement of the E Anglian Development Officer).<\/p>\n

RMA Sandhurst<\/b> has not joined the CA for its second year.
\nThe problem with such institutions as this (cf St Thomas\u2019s
\nHospital) is that once the contact graduates\/qualifies \/is
\ncommissioned, there is often no proper handover and the link is
\nlost.<\/p>\n

Development of Existing Clubs<\/h3>\n

Three clubs, Southwick<\/b> (for lawn 8), Sydenham<\/b>
\nand Littlehampton<\/b> have put on hold projects to improve
\ntheir court facilities where existing funds available or projected
\nincome did not measure up to the cost of the projects.<\/p>\n

However the 2006 season saw the completion of the ambitious
\ndevelopment schemes at two clubs, Royal Tunbridge Wells<\/b>
\nand Rother Valley<\/b>, which together constitute a marked
\nimprovement to the playing facilities in the Federation. Tunbridge
\nWells now has three level courts with an excellent state of the
\narc irrigation system and improved buildings. The appeal of the CA
\ntournaments run by the club will be much enhanced by the quality
\nof the refurbished courts in 2007. All concerned in the enormous
\namount of dedicated work required for such an ambitious project,
\nare to be congratulated for its successful outcome.<\/p>\n

Rother Valley<\/b> took advantage of a one-off opportunity
\nfor a grant from the Petworth Leisure Fund to finance the
\nrefurbishment of both their lawns, install irrigation and
\nconstruct a new club house (moving the old one to be used for
\nstorage). This was achieved without recourse to financial aid from
\nthe CA and the SECF apart from six month bridging loans of \u00a31000
\nfrom each. The club intends now to run some open tournaments and
\nits beautiful rural setting will make a very pleasant playing
\nexperience for any of its visitors. The final phase of development
\nis the construction at low cost of an additional half lawn to
\nallow for more flexibility for the club\u2019s growing membership.<\/p>\n

There is one more project on the horizon \u2013 a new club house at Preston<\/b><\/p>\n

LTCC, Brighton.<\/p>\n

Coaching Courses<\/h2>\n

The popular Silver and Bronze Courses run by Bryan Teague and
\nhis team of Grade 1 coaches at Southwick were once more well
\nattended as was the Summer School lead by Daphne Gaitley. European
\nattendance on these courses continues with players from both
\nGermany and Austria taking advantage of the high standard of
\ninstruction provided by experienced and qualified coaches.<\/p>\n

A number of clubs took advantage of one day golf and association
\ncourses, tailor made to their requirements by usually teams of two
\nGrade 1 coaches from nearby clubs. These courses are self funding
\nin that the club is asked to pay the coaches their travelling
\nexpenses and provide them with refreshments, their coaching being
\notherwise free.<\/p>\n

Schools<\/h2>\n

A special effort was made this year to get more coaching contact
\nwith schools. I am very grateful to Watford for having visited
\nHarrow and made initial contact there and to Mike Huxley of
\nGuildford and Godalming who has taken over the link with
\nCharterhouse. For the record, other schools I have heard of who
\nseem to have some croquet activity going are Winchester, Wycombe
\nAbbey (Girls), Sevenoaks, Churcher\u2019s College at Petersfield and
\nMerchant Taylors, the last at least having croquet as a curriculum
\nsport.<\/p>\n

Qualified Officials<\/h2>\n

A CQC was held at Surbiton early in the season for eleven
\nstudents, six of whom were first club Surbiton members who
\nsubsequently did a great job coaching a batch of new recruits.
\nLater Chris Patmore was successfully assessed as a Grade 2 coach
\nsubject to qualifying as an Assistant Referee (a reversal of the
\n\u201cGood knowledge of the Laws\u201d qualification introduced four years
\nago to encourage more to go for the grade). Alan Cottle at
\nSouthwick has qualified as a Golf Croquet Coach.<\/p>\n

2005<\/h2>\n

New Clubs<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • West Wittering Cricket and Croquet Club<\/b> is well
    \nestablished but reports a low level of activity, mainly
    \nconfined to Golf Croquet.<\/li>\n
  • Ringmer Village CC<\/b> found the conditions placed on the
    \nuse of the Ringmer College facilities too restricting. The
    \nclub has now an improved location at the village cricket club
    \nand it is hoped that it will be able to operate more
    \npositively there. Don Mears of Southwick has given the club
    \ncoaching support in its new home.<\/li>\n
  • The SECF equipment loaned to Coolhurst Lawn Tennis and
    \nSquash Rackets Club for winter croquet has been withdrawn and
    \nre-loaned to the Temple Bowls Club<\/b> to try out croquet
    \non one of their two lawns. David Collins has been working
    \nclosely with the new venture. The club has joined the SECF and
    \nits 15 croquet members are reported as being enthusiastic and
    \nready to buy some new equipment.<\/li>\n
  • The interest in croquet amongst the Livery Companies<\/b>
    \nis growing with eight companies expected to compete in the
    \nInter-Livery Company Tournament next year. The Clerk of the
    \nFounders\u2019 Livery Company is looking at two sites, one on top
    \nof Hambros Bank and the other more hopeful one at the HAC
    \ncentre, with a view to forming a club in the city! This could
    \nbe of benefit to Imperial College and to St Thomas\u2019, both of
    \nwhom have struggled on but without success in finding suitable
    \nplaying facilities.<\/li>\n
  • Sadly the initiative to form a club at Hatchlands<\/b>
    \ncame to an abrupt end when after lengthy negotiations, the
    \nNational Trust declined to allow the proposed lawn to be cut
    \nto an acceptable height of grass for a croquet court.<\/li>\n
  • Nigel Graves has been helping the South Croydon Bowling
    \nClub<\/b> to introduce croquet to its members with the loan
    \nof SECF equipment.<\/li>\n
  • RMA Sandhurst<\/b> has been active and enthusiastic with
    \nthe coaching support of Woking LTCC. However the consumption
    \nof Pimms sometimes exceeds the amount of croquet played!<\/li>\n
  • Daphne Gaitley again with a loan of SECF equipment, has
    \ncoached at the Ham Manor Golf Club<\/b> but few members
    \nhave stuck with it. We are carrying on for another season to
    \nsee if we can get an improved response.<\/li>\n
  • There is an embryo of interest in croquet at the Rye
    \nTennis Club<\/b>, which will be top of the list for following
    \nup early next season.<\/li>\n
  • Finally Dogmersfield Croquet Club<\/b> is up and going
    \nwith a 35 strong membership and a waiting list. It is a bit of
    \na case study on starting up a new club where everything fell
    \ninto place. Firstly an opportunity arose to get in with the
    \nFour Seasons Hotel as it was being developed. The management
    \nwas receptive to establishing links with the local villagers.
    \nBrief notices in the parish magazine, the parish council
    \nnewsletter and the local newspaper with some handbill
    \nadvertising got the word around the neighbouring villages and
    \nled to a well attended public meeting in May. A Woking LTCC
    \nmember living in the area, Martin Mander, was persuaded to be
    \nthe first club chairman and was rewarded by being the winner
    \nof the of the club\u2019s first season long Golf Croquet knockout
    \ncompetition. Next season Association Croquet is being
    \nintroduced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Support to Existing Clubs<\/h2>\n

    The season has seen coaching support provided on request to
    \none or two clubs such as Crawley, Rochester and Purley Bury.
    \nRequests to the CA and SECF for grants for facility development
    \nhave been processed in respect of Southwick and Sydenham while
    \nTunbridge Wells has already had a generous grant approved by the
    \nCA and is well advanced in refurbishing its three lawns in time
    \nfor the 2006 season.<\/p>\n

    Coaching Courses<\/h2>\n

    The Improvers and Bronze Courses were again held over one
    \nweekend at Southwick in April and were well attended. The Silver
    \ncourse also held at Southwick, which has not been well supported
    \nin the recent past, was actually over subscribed this season.
    \nOnce again our thanks go to Lead Coach, Bryan Teague and his
    \nteam of coaches for their achievements as they do to Daphne
    \nGaitley and her team who ran another successful Summer School in
    \nJuly although for the first time numbers were well down. The
    \nstudents included four from Austria, which reflects the
    \nencouragement, support and advice that Austrian croquet contacts
    \nhave received from the SECF over the past few years. The first
    \ncroquet club is now well established in the suburbs of Vienna
    \nand a second is due to start next season at Salzburg giving good
    \ncroquet holiday opportunities to British players.<\/p>\n

    Schools<\/h2>\n

    A request for coaching support for next season has been
    \nreceived from the Headmaster of Harrow via our Eton College
    \ncontacts. A new young teacher at Charterhouse has undertaken to
    \nlook into putting the croquet activities at his school onto a
    \nmore formal basis and taking advantage of the coaching support
    \non offer and of a possible link up with Guildford and Godalming
    \nthough the new Guildford Chairman, Michael Huxley.<\/p>\n

    Coaches Qualification<\/h2>\n

    Daphne Gaitley and Frances Low were both appointed as Grade 2
    \nCoaches while there was only one candidate for Grade1 who
    \nunfortunately did not pass the assessment. 16 candidates
    \nattended the Coaches Qualification Course at Compton in April,
    \nthe majority receiving their club coach badge for Association
    \nCroquet and five for Golf Croquet. Jeff Dawson ran another fully
    \nsubscribed Association Croquet Laws Course at the beginning of
    \nthe season.<\/p>\n

    2004<\/h2>\n

    New Clubs<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • West Wittering Cricket and Croquet Club<\/b> is now well
      \nestablished having purchased \u00a32000 of equipment and returned
      \nthat loaned by the SECF. They are now looking to improve their
      \ncourts on the edge of the cricket field. Daphne Gaitley and Alan
      \nCottle assisted in a two day coaching course for 24 members in
      \nMay.<\/li>\n
    • Ringmer Village CC<\/b> has taken over some of the
      \nequipment released by West Wittering to start a small croquet
      \nclub at Ringmer College. Don Mears of Southwick gave his support
      \nto this initiative.<\/li>\n
    • Normandy Parish Council<\/b> (near Aldershot) has
      \nearmarked a land to be developed as a bowls and croquet club.
      \nThe site has been vetted by SECF and found to be most suitable.
      \nHowever there is a lot of fundraising to be done and at present
      \nthis can be no more than a long-term possibility.<\/li>\n
    • The Secretary of the SECF, Richard Hilditch, acted on a
      \nrequest for assistance from members of the Coolhurst Lawn
      \nTennis and Squash Rackets Club<\/b> to play croquet on their
      \ngrass tennis courts during the months of October to May. They
      \nhave been loaned equipment by the SECF and Richard and David
      \nCollins have provided coaching support.<\/li>\n
    • St Thomas\u2019 Hospital <\/b>has given up trying to establish
      \na club at Cobham as being too far out from London. They continue
      \nto search for a venue in London but playing opportunities have
      \nbeen few.<\/li>\n
    • Members of Imperial College<\/b> have shown an interest in
      \ncroquet and had an introductory coaching session with Susan
      \nDavies at Parsons Green. Eugene Chang just out of Eton and
      \nalready qualified as a Grade 1 coach after attending the CQC at
      \nHurlingham is hoping to establish a club at Imperial College in
      \nApril next season. Susan Davis who also attended the CQC at
      \nHurlingham and qualified later this year as a Grade 1 coach is
      \nactively pursuing contacts in both Imperial College and St
      \nThomas\u2019s with offers to try out the sport at Parsons Green.<\/li>\n
    • The completion of the Four Seasons Hotel at Dogmersfield<\/b>
      \nhas been delayed to February 2005. The plan to form a village
      \nCroquet Club using the hotel\u2019s facilities will then be put into
      \neffect.<\/li>\n
    • SECF responded to a cry for help from the Waldron Village
      \nCroquet Club<\/b>, Heathfield for a letter of support for their
      \ndevelopment plan for a bid to Sport England for part of the
      \nfunding for a new multi-sport pavilion. The outcome is not yet
      \nknown.<\/li>\n
    • The Bookham U3A<\/b> is now well established at Polesden
      \nLacey with active links with Woking WTCC.<\/li>\n
    • Hatchlands<\/b> is due to take off at another National
      \nTrust Property next season assisted by Geoffrey Cuttle. The SECF
      \nwill be represented at its first AGM in November 2004 to assess
      \nwhat support is needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Support to Existing Clubs<\/h2>\n

      The season has seen coaching support provided on request to one
      \nor two clubs such as Crawley. Requests to the CA and SECF for
      \ngrants for facility development have been processed in respect of
      \nSouthwick, Ramsgate, Rother Valley and Surbiton with one in the
      \npipeline from Tunbridge Wells. Chichester and Fishbourne received
      \na small grant from SECF for a set of new balls. Purley Bury is to
      \nbe congratulated for completing their construction of a new toilet
      \nfacility without having to call on the CA and SECF grants which
      \nhad been previously approved.<\/p>\n

      Coaching Courses<\/h2>\n

      The Improvers and Bronze Courses were again held over one
      \nweekend at Southwick in April and were well attended. The Silver
      \ncourse held at Southwick in May had four applicants only but at
      \nleast it took place after last year\u2019s cancellation due to lack of
      \nsupport. Our thanks go to Lead Coach, Bryan Teague and his team of
      \ncoaches for their achievements as they do to Daphne Gaitley and
      \nher team who ran another successful and well attended Summer
      \nSchool in July. The students included three from Germany.<\/p>\n

      Schools<\/h2>\n

      Efforts to get a foothold into Wellington College have failed so
      \nfar. Eton College has extended its croquet fixtures to Harrow and
      \nOxford University in addition to Charterhouse. But the lack of a
      \nreasonable playing surface continues to frustrate more
      \nsatisfactory growth for the Eton Croquet Club.<\/p>\n

      Livery Companies<\/h2>\n

      The Inter-Livery Company Croquet Tournament is now an
      \nestablished event on the Livery Company Sporting Calendar. The
      \nsecond tournament had six companies competing and the third
      \ntournament is schedules for next June at Surbiton.<\/p>\n

      Coaches Qualification<\/h2>\n

      The CA has lowered the course fee for those participating in the
      \nCoaches Qualification Course (CQC) to \u00a310, a welcome measure.
      \nThere were three CQCs held in England in 2004. For the SE,
      \nHurlingham hosted a course for 18 students with David Collins,
      \nDaphne Gaitley and Keith Collins forming the Directing Staff.
      \nThree club coaches from the CQC were assessed as Grade 1 Coaches
      \nduring the Summer School and one at the Grade 2 level. The
      \nyoungest student ever to be qualified as a Club Coach (again at
      \nthe CQC at Hurlingham) was assessed at the Grade 1 level on the
      \nBronze Course at Bath.<\/p>\n

      2003<\/h2>\n

      New Clubs<\/h3>\n