Golf is a pastime much-loved by many across the Goulburn Valley, but what about its close relative?
On February 1-2, players from across the wider region congregated at Mooroopna Croquet Club for a crash course on Golf Croquet — the fastest growing version of the sport — from state coaching co-ordinator Maurice Cevaal Hewitt.
Launched via the Together More Active program, a Victorian Government initiative, a healthy turnout of players from Shepparton, Mooroopna, Kyabram, Rich River and Deniliquin were put through their paces by the Golf Croquet guru.
“We’re coaching them on how to play, hoop running, positional strokes, clearance shots and we’re playing out scenarios that make them think outside the square,” Hewitt said.
“We’re here to coach them so they get the idea and when they’re playing in competition they’re not threatened.
“We build their confidence so they can go and enter and have a good chance of winning or participating to the highest level.
“I think it’s a great initiative ... it’s a great turnout for novice players.”
The program, run in three two-day blocks, assesses the players’ performance and incremental improvement.
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On the money: Leon Gebbing lets one fly. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 6
Listen up: State coaching co-ordinator Maurice Cevaal-Hewitt addresses the group. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 6
Up and down: Taryn Arho hits through the middle of the ball. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 6
Ready to rock: Karen Ferguson prepares to strike. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 6
Strong grip: Chris Birch drives towards the hoop. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 6
Ducks in a row: Cherie Lessing lines up her shot. Photo by Rechelle ZammitHewitt said the end goal of the initiative was to grow the game at grassroots level while boosting individual confidence.
“It builds confidence within the play, but it also stretches out into the public sector and gets people involved in playing the game,” he said.
“If you’ve got the correct instruction on how to play a game right from basic, you’ve got a better chance of leaving an impression on somebody else that will come along and play. And that’s what it’s all about.
“It’s a really good game because it gets people off the lounge chair and gets them to use their brain matter as well as their physical.
“You don’t have to be strong to play croquet; it’s just the way that you play it that makes you proficient at it.”
Hewitt went on to explain how Golf Croquet’s popularity has exploded statewide, a point echoed by Mooroopna Croquet Club’s John Young.
Young said though the floods impacted the club, the bounce-back had been strong and with new facilities on the cards, the trajectory was looking up for the keen band of players.
“The club was formed in 1940 and membership is just fantastic. We can now boast the fact that we’ve got the biggest membership in the Goulburn Valley region,” he said.
“Council has been terrific and they’ve provided us with transport and accommodation.
“Now we’re really looking forward to news this month about hopefully a new clubhouse for the Mooroopna Croquet Club, something that will take us through for the next 50 or so years.”