A hot day at Taunton Deane for a Golf Croquet League Match on 20th July 2026

Calling our day at Taunton Deane "good" would be like calling a desert an oasis. If all lawns were like those at Taunton Deane, I'd hang up my mallet and take up knitting! The ground was barren and as hard as a rock containing unpredictable slopes and bumps. Markers were about as useful as a chocolate teapot—couldn't even make a dent! It was more a game of luck than skill. The home team managed to win conclusively. Due to the tricky conditions, getting a ball through a hoop was like trying to solve a Rubik's cube! Bev, their captain, wisely decided on timed games and 4 doubles and 12 singles were plenty unless we were prepared to play till dusk! We quickly learned that the only strategy was to play defensively and knock any opponent away from the hoop. Consequently, few games reached completion, and they were all decided by fractions based on handicaps. If we'd finished the games, we might possibly have turned the tables - because even if your opponent gets the first two or three hoops this doesn't mean the oppositiion would not be able to claim the rest! Thankfully, we had a referee, David Jones, to keep things in check and a generous supply of tea and cakes to keep our spirits up! Thank you for your hospitality Taunton Deane.