Our foreign correspondent Scott Wilson has sent a dispatch from Dubbo, New South Wales - an historic club that has been exceptionally innovative in recent years.

Scott writes: "The club has three lawns, all synthetic surfaces, two newly-laid and one converted from tennis.

"This club (60 members) nearly died 4 years ago when the council decided their location of over 100 years had a better use.  Some urgent and smart thinking resulted in all the club members joining the local tennis club.

"Next AGM, croquet players out-numbered tennis players so it became the Dubbo Tennis and CROQUET Club.  The first job was a tennis court conversion to croquet lawn, then a year's wait for a government grant, followed by two more croquet lawns.  

"Dubbo is very hot in summer, they were still in the grips of a drought, and water wasn’t available and if it was, it cost a fortune.  More smart thinking and the two new lawns were synthetic.  First in Australia (hard to believe). They pioneered foundations under the lawn for the hoops and now they have the fastest lawns in Australia.

"I played two games of GC, partnered the president Bryan and we won 7-6 then I partnered Joan against Eleanor and Bryan and they won 7-6.  Most enjoyable and very social (just like KMCC).  I learnt very quickly that synthetic lawns are fast!  I guess more than half our normal stroke strength, I over shot many times before I mastered it. 

See you all soon.

Scott Wilson
Caravan, Out Back Aussie"

Caption: Joan, Eleanor, and Bryan, well presented in club uniforms, on the synthetic lawn.

Article added: Wednesday 14 September 2022