South African Croquet Festival

[<<] [>>] by Chris Bennett
30th August 2001 (International)

Dear Friends of the Festival,

Alas, there will be no Festival in 2002 or 2003.

The problem has been reaching an accommodation with Wanderers to provide the venue. Having sold off one of their three cricket ovals, the pressure on the remaining two coupled with the build-up to the cricket World Cup being held in South Africa in 2003 is such that they do not feel disposed to rent one of them to us in the meantime. Regrettably, there is no other suitable venue in the Johannesburg area.

However, as you may know, all C.A. members have automatic affiliation to Country Club, Johannesburg, so if any of you are travelling to South Africa (possibly on your way to a Cape Town tournament), I will be very happy to lay on a few days croquet based on the CCJ lawn where we can offer you a wide range of handicaps as opposition, all in the most delightful surroundings of the club with its full facilities at your disposal. I will be on hand there between the end of October this year and the first week in March next year but if you would like to come you will need to let us know as soon as possible if you wish to secure accommodation in the club's "Dormy House".

There is also a new club at Mount Grace, a wonderful hotel in the Magaliesburg range about an hour's drive from Johannesburg on the way to Sun City. Its croquet lawn has probably the best view of any in the world.

Additionally, anyone wanting to visit Durban will find the croquet club there very hospitable - they play only association with a wide range of handicaps. We can put you in touch with them.

Please pass this message on to anyone you think might be interested. Our phone numbers are (UK) 0121 455 6426 and (Johannesburg) 011 789 5583.