“PASSPORT”- A NEW GAME THAT COMBINES THE SKILLS OF GOLF AND ASSOCIATION CROQUET
BY ERNIE WHALLEY
A couple of years ago I resumed playing croquet after a gap of what… 20+years? I rejoined my former club, Herbert Park, Dublin which, at the time when I previously played, had two lawns and about 25-30 members, of whom probably12-15 played with any regularity. We played, exclusively, Association Croquet, the traditional form of the game.
On my return to the club, I found that the rush, the roll shot and the roquet had disappeared from the lawns. Golf Croquet was now the plat du jour for the, by now, 70 members.
Now Golf Croquet is a great game and deservedly popular. It is sociable, easy-to-play (up to a certain level) and not too time-intensive (a game takes approx 35-50 minutes). Association Croquet is another kettle of fish. It is a complex, somewhat intellectual pursuit (combining elements of snooker, bowls and chess) and a full game can take upwards of three hours. Only one player can play at a time, the out-player being banished from the court until their turn to play arrives. While I love Association Croquet I have to be honest and say that it is a game better suited to a clement climate. A warm sun, a sturdy deckchair, a good novel, a bottle of Pimms or, at least, a grown-up Martini* are the ‘must have’ accessories for the out-player.
All the above caused me to ponder “What if there was a game that combined the speed, simplicity and sociability of GC with some of the technical elements of AC?” I envisaged such a game as dual-purpose, providing an enjoyable alternative to the GC format and maybe have the further benefit of assisting coaches in the process of encouraging players to transition from GC to AC. The resultof my musings is a game that, in the main resembles Golf Croquet with an AC element in the form of the roquet/croquet/continuation shot spliced in the middle of it. This brings an opportunity to include time-honoured AC techniques such as the split, the rush and the half roll, roll and pass roll shots
How does it work? Wollyball** (also known as ”Passport”) may be played by 2 or 3 players, each with two balls. Four can play as teams of 2, with one ball each. All players are on the lawn during the game. A game is “first to seven hoops” (as GC). A two-player game takes approximately the same time as its Golf Croquet equivalent. The basis of the game is, before any ball is permitted to run a hoop it must have a “Passport”. The Passport is gained by roqueting (making contact with) another ball. After the roquet is made, the player making the roquet takes croquet from that ball. If either ball goes over the boundary as a result of the shot, the player’s turn ends. If not, the player is permitted to complete their turn with a continuation shot (as in AC). If they score the hoop from this shot, players (as in GC) proceed in sequence towards the next hoop. If he/she fails to make the hoop, players continue to shoot for the hoop in turn - but only balls with the “Passport” may make the hoop. After a hoop is run, all Passports expire and players must then roquet a ball once more in order to acquire a passport for the next hoop. Here I have introduced a slight complication. On the long legs of the “course” a player may roquet any ball in order to gain a Passport. On the short legs (Hoops 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11) a player is may only roquet their partner ball. (On the short legs, balls tend to be quite close together and it is relatively easy to roquet; this modification makes roqueting slightly more difficult). The players proceed in the order BLUE, RED, BLACK, YELLOW*** and all players may shoot for the first hoop. Subsequent to the first hoop being scored players may only go halfway to the next hoop (as in Golf Croquet) UNLESS the ball achieves its position as result of having been in contact with an opposition ball. A major difference between Wollyball and Association Croquet is that the hoop-runner does not acquire an extra turn as a result of running a hoop. I thought about this one hard and long but came to the conclusion that instituting this rule would help prevent the extended innings. An essential element of Wollyball is to ensure that all players on the lawn at all times.
Before commencing I took to the Internet to see if there were any other croquet-style variants gestated with similar intent, that is to devise a game that would have many of the merits of Association Croquet whilst speeding up play and ensuring that out-players were not left, bored and freezing, on the wrong side of the baseline for extended periods of time. The game "Ricochet" (which I think was invented in Australia) seemed to fit some, but by no means all of these parameters.
While formulating Wollyball I took the opportunity to simplify the rules. In Wollyball there are two forms of erroneous play (called “Faults” and “Fouls”). A Fault embraces the likes of Playing a Wrong Ball or Playing Out of Sequence (GC Rule 10) or breach of the GC offside rule (GC Rule 8). A Foul represents those errors listed as faults in GC Rule 11 - double taps, crush shots, push shots, touching another player’s ball during a striking period, damaging the lawn etc. etc. Golf Croquet players should already be familiar with the above 3 rules.
In Wollyball, the penalty for committing a Fault or a Foul is identical - banishment to a penalty spot (chosen by the offended player/team) from which the player plays his/her next stroke. However, in the case of a Fault, play continues in sequence. In that of a Foul, the player after the one who has committed the Foul resumes play, i.e. the ”Fouler” misses a turn.
There is one important difference from Golf Croquet. In Wollyball, in order to settle disputes as to whether a Fault/Foul has been committed, a verdict is reached by a majority decision, which the players should accept with good grace. In the case of a split decision, a toss of a coin decides. The foregoing obviates the need for a referee.
And so it goes. Wollyball has been trialled by myself, Frank Fitzgibbon and Steve Keating (HPCC Treasurer and Chairman). The Rules have been in a state of flux since Day One and the tactics are still evolving but we now seem to be in a state of development where the game is providing enjoyment and good competition for players of mixed ability. is proving enjoyable to play. Should anyone like to take part in the game’s development or simply have a go, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
I would suggest that the best time forHPCC members to try or trial Wollyball is late morning, say 11.30 till 1pm when the lawns at Herbert Park are usually free.
