GC Open League

Golf Croquet Open 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 at least ¾-size with the correct proportions. 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. 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.
3. Disputes: In the event of a dispute, the League Manager's decision shall be final.

Geoff Johnson
Manager