Revamped turf impresses players
Balls went zooming past the hoops during croquet on Tuesday, but everyone was smiling nonetheless.
The newly-renovated turf on the Stratford Croquet Club’s courts meant the balls were going faster and further than players were used to, president Eileen Judd said.
The Stratford club’s facilities used to be known as the worst in Taranaki and players were threatening to quit if something wasn’t done about it.
But this is no longer the case after the turf was given a thorough and long overdue renovation during the winter.
Judd said the croquet players would have to adjust their playing style to better suit the new surface.
‘‘We used to have to hit the ball really hard to get anywhere, and when you do that it, it’s really hard to get it straight.’’
‘‘It’s 100 per cent better than last year, it was in a very bad state last year and some of the very good players said they wouldn’t come back if it didn’t improve.’’
Club members had gone to its landlord, the Stratford District Council, which maintains the courts, and between the council and its contractor, a remedy was found.
‘‘We had a specialist turf renovator come up from Palmerston North and scarify the courts then vacuum them to remove the moss out of the turf,’’ JohnPaul Heather, contracts manager for Downer in Stratford, said.
‘‘It should be a much quicker playing field for them now.’’
He was given the honour of hitting the first ball through a hoop to open the season on Tuesday, following a celebratory cuppa with scones, cream and jam.
Judd was hopeful the club could now host more competitions for players from other clubs around Taranaki, and get some more members from Stratford.
The turf had improved so much she was also confident the club would be able to start its twilight croquet sessions again later in the season.