GC 3+ League

Golf Croquet 3+ League Rules – 2025

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1. General
   1. All games shall be played under the current CqE-approved Laws of Golf Croquet (NB: new 6th Edition, February 2022) unless modified below.
   2. The start time of the match should be 10.00 am, unless otherwise agreed by team captains.
   3. Any number of courts may be used: but note that the format differs substantially depending on the number available. Standard Courts should be used wherever possible, and all courts must be rectangular, at least ¾ size for both width and length, and at least 2/3 full size by area. All courts should be in adequate condition such that there is a possibility of accurate positioning, and of hitting a ball from one corner of the court to the opposite corner. Court assignments should be equably spread across all available courts.
   4. Where the home team has 2 or more courts each team shall consist of four players, not necessarily the same players each match. Prior to the start of each match, the Captains will exchange team lists with players listed as A (H1/A1), B (H2/A2), C (H3/A3) & D (H4/A4). The listings shall be firstly in order of handicap, and secondly in actual index.
   5. The order of play with 2 or more courts shall be:-
      First (normally in the morning): all players of both sides play a doubles game with the following format:-
      
      • H1 & H4 vs. A1 & A4, H2 & H3 vs. A2 & A3.
      Then 16 singles games, in an all-play-all format. The final game of the match is a second doubles game with the format
      • H1 & H4 vs. A2 & A3, H2 & H3 vs. A1 & A4.
      This final game is optional, at the discretion of the captains, unless it could materially affect the result of the match.
   6. Where the home club has only one court, then each team shall consist of three players, not necessarily the same players each match. The players shall be listed in order, first by lowest handicap and then by highest index.
   7. The match played on one court shall consist of 6 rounds with each round comprising one doubles and one singles game as specified in the 1-court schedule. Each player plays 4 doubles and 2 singles games. Match total 12 games. The 6th round is optional, at the discretion of the captains, unless it could materially affect the result of the match. A team scores 2 points for a match win and 1 point for a draw.
   8. All games shall consist of a single 13-point game.
   9. The default time limit is 50 minutes per game, but captains may mutually agree to waive this. At the end of the 50 minutes standard CqE rules apply: an extension period of 8 shots, at the conclusion of which the leading player is declared the winner. If the score is tied, then play will continue until the next hoop-point is scored to give a clear winner. Drawn games are not an acceptable result.
   10. Substitutes in matches shall be allowed only by prior agreement between the Team Captains.
   11. No player may play for more than one team in a season. In the event of a violation all illegal games won by that player shall be forfeit to the opponent with a 0-0 hoop score; all illegal games lost by that player remain valid.
   12. For those Clubs with two teams in the same region, the matches between those teams must be played as the first fixture otherwise the result of that game will be void.
   13. Teams may wear coloured attire, provided all team members (other than those wearing white) wear the same design. [Comment: This is in line with CqE Tournament Regulation P4(d)(2).]
2. Handicaps
   1. Players must have a current handicap in the range 3+ (i.e. no lower than 3).
   2. The total aggregate handicap of a team of four must be no less than 18, or 13 for a team of three.
   3. Subject to the application of rules 2a and 2b above, where a player's handicap changes less than a week before a match, that player and/or team shall remain eligible in accordance with CqE Tournament Regulations.
   4. Handicap Cards should be handed to opposing Team Captain before the start of play. All handicap cards must be up to date and verified correct by the Team Captain, Club handicapper or Official CqE Handicapper. If a player forgets their card, they should orally declare their handicap, but must provide a copy of the card to the opposing Captain and/or League Manager within 24 hours of the match. If a player's handicap turns out to be lower than that declared on the day, and the change would have been material in establishing eligibility for the individual or the team, then all illegal games won by that player shall be forfeit to the opponent with a 0-0 hoop score; all illegal games lost by that player remain valid.
   5. Subject to 2.c, if a team arrives for a match with handicaps outside the allowed range, the following procedure shall be used as a sanction. First, the offending team is listed in handicap order. Then starting with the lowest handicap player, declare that player illegal and calculate the average handicap of the remaining players, and repeat until the average handicap of the remaining legal players is at least 4.5. Then play the whole match using the standard format and current handicaps, but with all games played by illegal players deemed forfeit with a walk-over to the opponents for the purposes of the league. Handicap cards may still be updated with the actual scores of the forfeited games, which also remain valid for ranking purposes.
3. Results
   1. The home Team Captain should submit to the League Manager a copy of the completed score-sheet within 48 hours. [Comment: The score sheet must show the club names, location, date, full names of all players, handicaps, and all results. Email is preferred.]
   2. The home Team Captain is also responsible for submitting results to "results#croquet.org.uk" for inclusion in the Golf Croquet Grading System, within 5 days.
   3. Matches not played by the published cut-off date will be declared void and no points awarded unless a later date has been agreed beforehand by the League Manager. If a team cancels a match unilaterally less than 5 clear days before a scheduled match, then that team forfeits its points and the non-offending team shall be awarded the match and 2 points.
   4. In the case of a tie on points between two or more teams in an Area Group, then the winner will be determined by net games in all matches, then by net hoops; and then by other means determined by the Manager.
4. No-shows and retirements
   (See the GC league rules commentary for further explanation and clarification.)
   1. If one player on each side fails to turn up then the match is played according to rules 1.f and 1.g for a 3-a-side match. Otherwise:
   2. If a player fails to turn up for an agreed match then the remaining players in that team are listed in handicap order starting from position 1. Then (i) in each singles game with a missing player the opponent receives a walk-over with a nominal 7-3.5 hoop score; and (ii) in each doubles game with one missing player the game is played with three balls in the normal sequence and the missing player's ball remaining unplayed off the court.
   3. If a player has to retire in the middle of a game because of illness or injury then subject to 4.d, the retiree's hoop score at that point is retained and the opponent is deemed to win all the remaining hoops and the game. Any further games the retiree is due to play are awarded to the opposing team with a hoop score of 0–0.
   4. The two team captains may at their discretion agree to waive rule 4.c and treat the unfinished and/or unplayed games as not played instead.
5. Disputes: In the event of a dispute, the League Manager's decision shall be final.

Geoff Johnson
Manager