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Guests and Group Events Policy

Updated August 2023

Guests

• Non-member guests are welcome to spectate at any time. Relatives and friends of members may participate in any of the club's social events, though frequent visitors should consider becoming a Social Member
• Casual callers should be made welcome, offered a cup of tea, and chatted to about the game, the club, and their interest in it. If they would like to have a go themselves, they should be offered a supervised opportunity to strike a few balls (play permitting) and they should be put in touch with the Membership Secretary or Coaching Coordinator, who will arrange for them to try a structured Taster Session
• Playing guests, except those with a CA handicap, are to be entertained on lawn 3 if possible, and are limited to a maximum of three per session per member, and must be accompanied by the member at all times
• Sessions must be booked in advance through the court booking system. A full session is for a maximum of three hours. A half-session is for a maximum of two hours
• Individual Guests may play a maximum of five times in any year. If they wish to play more in any year, they are expected either to become a Club member (if experienced) or undertake our course for beginners at the next available opportunity
• The fee for a full session is £6 (one guest), £10 (two guests), and £12 (three guests). The fee for a half-session is £3 (one guest), £5 (two guests) and £6 (three guests). If guests wish to have refreshments, the amount to be paid is as per the published price list
• Members do not need to inform the Committee when arranging sessions for up to three Guests but should book the session as a Guest session and put cash or a cheque for the requisite amount in the 'Guest fees' container in the clubhouse as well as completing the Visitors Book with date, names and amount

Group Events

• Group Events are defined as being proposed by a Club member who will be attending the event, and apply to groups of between four and 16 per session that will involve exclusive use of one or two lawns (maximum of eight attendees per lawn), and must be accompanied by at least one designated member per lawn at all times
• Group Events will be charged at the rate of £10 per attendee, which includes tea, coffee and biscuits from Club resources
• Group Events require a booking fee of £20, payable at the time the booking is made. The booking fee is refunded against the eventual charge for the event, or if Bristol Croquet Club needs to cancel the event
• Guests at Group Events may provide their own refreshments at their own cost. Reasonable amounts of alcoholic beverages may be consumed, but not sold, on Club premises
• All applications for Group Events should be made, in the first instance, to the Secretary for discussion by the Committee, detailing the designated members who will attend
• The Visitors Book should be completed with date, names and amount

Corporate Events

• Corporate Events are similar to Group Events except that they are not proposed by a club member, and apply to groups of between four and 24 per session that will involve exclusive use of one or more lawns (maximum of eight attendees per lawn). They will require the Committee to provide designated club members to attend (at least one designated club member per four external attendees), and will normally require golf croquet coaching. For these reasons, the fees charged are higher
• Corporate Events will be charged at the rate of £20 per attendee, which includes tea, coffee and biscuits from Club resources
• Exclusive use of the clubhouse is available at a charge of £40, which covers the duration of the session plus one hour
• Corporate Events require a booking fee of £40, payable at the time the booking is made. The booking fee is refunded against the eventual charge for the event, or if Bristol Croquet Club needs to cancel the event
• Guests at Corporate Events may provide their own refreshments at their own cost. Reasonable amounts of alcoholic beverages may be consumed, but not sold, on Club premises
• All applications for Corporate Events should be made, in the first instance, to the Secretary for discussion by the Committee, who will appoint the designated members who will attend
• The Visitors Book should be completed with date, names and amount
• Special dispensations deviating from the above principles and fees may be granted by the Committee in certain circumstances (e.g. non-profit organisations and local community groups), following application to the Secretary

For more information, please email Chris Frew, who will be happy to help.