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Handicap Guidelines: Setting Initial Handicaps

For a Beginner

A Handicapper will have to watch the player play several games and ask himself how many bisques the player needs to win half his games against opponents he is likely to play.

The following test may be used, as guidance for the Handicapper. The Handicapper should set the hoops on a court according to the Tournament Regulations. The balls should be placed on the court as if the standard opening had been played and the tice missed on the fourth turn. Thus, two partner balls should be placed about three yards apart on the East boundary near hoop 4. One of the other balls should be placed in the tice position near hoop 1 on the West boundary and the final ball should be placed in corner II.

The player whose handicap is being assessed should then construct and play a four-ball break to peg, finishing with a tidy leave. Each attempt should be continued to the peg even if disaster strikes along the way.

The total number of bisques used to complete this exercise should be noted and the exercise should be repeated about 5 times. The Handicapper may disregard the first two attempts if he considers that the player performed poorly due to a lack of familiarity with the exercise.

To calculate the player's handicap the Handicapper averages the number of bisques taken to complete the exercise and then subtracts one bisque. The result is then multiplied by two and rounded to the nearest integer to give the appropriate handicap for the player.

GC Players Starting to Play AC

There has been, for some time, a reliable table of handicaps for conversion from Association to Golf Croquet, however a similar table from GC to AC has not been devised until now. At the request of many, the CqE Handicap Committee has developed a GC to AC conversion table to be introduced for the 2025 season.

It is widely accepted that some GC skills are transferable to AC including the ability to run hoops and to clear (roquet) balls. Other AC skills, including the croquet stroke (take offs, roll shots and splits) are rarely used in GC so must be mastered. Further challenges for any GC player learning AC are the tactics and gaining experience of how to build an innings.

For GC to AC players, the Club Handicapper presently decides their starting level. This means players are reviewed before they play in an event outside their club. There is evidence that most players are placed in an acceptable "similar skills" bracket, but others are given handicaps of 20 plus irrespective of their GC experience. The adoption of a conversion table would reduce frustrations in Federations and other Clubs as well as improving consistency of assessments.

Conversion table - GC to AC

The Table is structured to recognise distinct "step changes" in playing abilities for both disciplines (Based on Class Level for GC & Standardised Index levels for AC). The aim is to show transparency of how the handicap is set and to give assurances of a "fairer" playing field. The principle structure of the table is for different levels of GC players to start AC at different (but consistent & appropriate) levels.

GC to AC conversion table

GC Class Level of play

GC Handicap Range

AC Initial Handicap

AC Initial Index

Championship / Open Minus handicaps 11 1200
A-Level 0 - 3 inclusive 14 1100
B-Level 4 - 6 inclusive 18 1000
C-Level & D-Level 7 - 12 inclusive 22 900
All other players 14 and above 24 850

Notes -

In All Other Cases

A Handicapper will have to watch the player play several games and ask himself how many bisques the player needs to win half his games.

If the Handicapper is considering setting a handicap of over 8, he should ask the player to complete the above test. However, he should not adhere religiously to the test result, but should also consider factors including the player's tactical awareness and ability to hit long roquets.

A Club Handicapper may set an initial handicap of above 8. A National Handicapper may set an initial handicap of 0 or above.

Returning Players

A player returning to the sport after a break of some years should play off their previous handicap unless there are valid and compelling reasons (e.g. medical) to alter their handicap. If there are, and their handicap is to be changed, then a National Handicapper and Club Handicapper must jointly determine the new handicap.

Recording New Handicaps

Croquet England Associates are required to record their new handicaps in the Subscribers' Area of the website - the office is not responsible for this. Players who do not have the means to do this should contact their club secretary.