Christmas 2011
Club Days
Open days to visitors are on Monday and Thursday afternoons starting at 14h00, Saturdays starting at 09h00.
The Club can he hired out for functions on application to the Treasurer, Ann Wilson – ann.wilson@telkomsa.net
Upcoming events
Publicity
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Radloff Park (Lourensford Road) under the mountains and in view of the vineyards is one of the best kept secrets in Somerset West! This is the Somerset West Croquet Club which has four lawns and rustic clubhouse.
Croquet (in its form of golf croquet and association croquet) is a game for young and old alike, played with great enthusiasm worldwide. So do you enjoy snooker, ball games, good company and pleasant venue then do visit us any Monday, Thursday (2pm onwards) or Saturday (mornings) – these are our social club days.
The club has a braai area under the vines alongside the clubhouse. We have a full summer fixture list incorporating inter-club, provincial and national tournaments.
The club is also available for private functions and corporate events on application: Ann Wilson – ann.wilson@telkomsa.net, Mike Dooley – kimcard@telkomsa.net, Tony Shelver – 4cecily@polka.co.za.
Latest Competition Results
Photo Gallery
History
(Thanks to Peter Millson, past President of SWCC, for this article)
Croquet in Somerset West in the early days was purely a social affair with many of the large houses in the area having private lawns albeit some smaller than standard. Some of the grander places like Vergelegen, owned by Cynthia Johnson, even had tea arrive on silver trays courtside at four o’clock!
From a nucleus of the original players, George & Lesley James, Jack & Jemima Benn, Brig. & Lady Elizabeth Tyler, Cmdr & Mrs Gray (Yi & Joan), Lady Kenmare, Elizabeth Fraser, Madge Francis, Maureen Duffus decided to start the club in 1979 and persuaded the Municipality to build two lawns in Radloff Park.
George James was the original Chairman and the Countess Kenmare President. There was much committee discussion as to whether the members would wear R2.50 as an annual membership fee!
As soon as the courts were playable, new members arrived in the shape of Cynthia’s son, Tom Barlow, Val Durie, Pat Boyd, John & Sheila Becket, Dick le Maitre, Geoffrey Robinson, and the young were brought in during their tender years: Tom’s son Charles, Judith Downton (now Hanekom) Andrew Hobbs, Wynand & William Louw, and the Ware family.
Golf Croquet being just a ‘fill-in’ game after a ‘proper game’ of Association, these babes (and they were little more) started straight in on Association and were soon leading lights in the game both locally, nationally and internationally. Indeed they were South Africa’s Croquet wunderkinder.
The club grew in strength over the years with competitive play against the other Cape clubs but did not grow in numbers until Golf Croquet was introduced by Peter Heydorn who had seen the potential of this form of the Game when he was over in Australia winning medals for his Association Croquet.
As numbers grew because of this, another lawn was added mainly through the efforts of Jack Benn and lately the club-house has been enlarged and a fourth added.
This club is now strong in depth with members and attracting more, trying to popularise Association Croquet as well as entering a programme to introduce the game to those who have never had the luck or opportunity to play Croquet before. But today, tea is served on plastic trays and the only silverware is in the trophy cabinet.
Players
Somerset West Croquet Club has a membership of 41 and is growing. A group of summer visiting "swallows" enjoy the time they spend with us and are able to take advantage of country membership.
Contact Details
| Contact: | Ann Wilson |
|---|---|
| Address: | TBC |
| Tel: | +27 (0)21 852-7810 |
| E-mail: | swcc@croquet.org.za |
