The purpose of a handicap is to allow participants of varying abilities to compete on equal terms. The handicapping system with which most people are familiar is that of horse racing, where the class horses are loaded with extra weight so as to give the weaker nags a chance of winning. Handicapping is an inexact science. It must be because, in a perfect handicap race, the horses would all arrive at the winning post in a line, with only a nose or a short head to determine the winner. As we know, this doesn’t happen. It is not uncommon to see one of the horses romping home with the others eight lengths or so in arrears. In Association and in Golf Croquet we have our own systems of handicapping. The system in use at Herbert Park for Golf Croquet is one that was invented in Ireland and successfully trialled by CAI affiliated clubs over the last four or so years, replacing an earlier system, one involving the giving/receiving of extra strokes, that was considered too complex and, hence, unsatisfactory. The present system is simple to operate. A player must score as many hoops as the figure of his or her handicap to win the game. Play ceases when one player reaches his or her own figure For instance, if Lizzie (4) plays Charlie (6) if she scores 4 hoops before Charlie runs 6 she is deemed to have won.
In a game of doubles a side’s handicap is equal to half the sum of their individual handicaps. A half-hoop is rounded up to a full hoop, i.e. Lizzie (4) and Tom(5) = 9 divided by 2 = 4.5, rounded up to 5 play Niamh (6) and Tony (8) = 14 divided by 2 = 7. If Lizzie and Tom run 5 hoops before Niamh and Tony run 7, the former pair are the winners.
Games between players/sides of equal handicap are played as normal, first to 7 hoop games.
“Why handicap?”
Handicap play gives the less experienced players a real chance to compete on level terms and should be encouraged. Even in social play it’s more fun to win than to lose!
