BEECHWORTH CROQUET CLUB

When croquet is mentioned, what comes to your mind? Garden parties, upside down flamingos, hedgehogs or an intimidating woman calling for a beheading?

Whatever your image may be of croquet, President of the Beechworth Croquet Club; Doron Gunzburg says there is much more to the sport then meets the eye.

"I must say croquets worst enemy is its image, some people think of Alice in Wonderland with that eccentric look and other people think of little old ladies pottering around and that is fine but it’s a very challenging game that can be played at a fairly elementary level."

"The beauty of it is you never stop learning so you are growing as you play more and try out different things."

"Croquet was played on lawns hundreds of years ago, and apparently snooker and billiards were modified to play indoors on a table based on croquet. Croquet has the various shots with the angles like billiards so it has got that diversity if you chose to play it that way, it offers incredible opportunities."

"It's a bit like golf in the sense it is very much a mental game. If you have the mental approach, attitude and self confidence then you can do a lot better then if you don't have those things. Once you have all the basic techniques and strokes and so fourth it does become very much about mentally challenging yourself."

"You are always learning and trying something new and you are always trying to improve. We enjoy being outdoors being in the fresh air and having the exercise. We also enjoy the camaraderie of croquet; it's quite an extended family, wherever you go you see people year after year. It's got the social, competitive and learning aspects and it keeps your mind active as well as your body."

Promotions Officer Jan Gunzburg says there was a change to croquet rules to make it easier for beginners; "There was a big revision to learn croquet because it was difficult to take in the whole complex game at the top level so now we have rookie tournaments for beginners and mentoring."

Despite it being a game that's easy to pick up Jan says you do reach a stage where practice makes perfect; "where you know what you would like to do but you can't do it, but as your technical skills develop you are able to achieve more, the thing is you are challenging yourself and building your confidence," so the secret to becoming a good player? "Focus, skills and drills…strategy and a killer instinct."

Source: "Not Just Flamingos and Hedgehogs" - Alison Rees, ABC Goulburn Murray.

Beechworth .com.au