Close call to qld rep

CROQUET: Don Close enjoys his mallet sports but it is hardly relaxation, as when he is out there he admits it's war.

It would be easy to think of croquet as a quiet past time after a stressful week, but for the successful local businessman it is more of an opportunity to play a sport that is highly competitive and very technical.

Now Close has proved that he has what it takes by gaining selection for Queensland and he admits he could hardly be more thrilled.

“I was excited when I heard last week, but I'm getting over it now,” he joked.

Mind you, he has time to think about what he has achieved as he makes his representative debut in March at Sydney.

He will get a little taste of what it is like at a higher level of the sport as the team will meet and enter a number of tournaments prior to March.

“Before I go I will undertake training with the State team,” he said.

“In Sydney the team plays doubles and singles against each state.”

Therefore it is vital that players get used to a playing partner before they travel to national championship.

Close, who plays his croquet with the club at Gracemere, has only played the sport for 10 years even though his wife, Diane, was already hooked on it.

“It is something in which we can compete or participate together,” he said.

“She hounded me to try it.”

However, Close was reluctant until persuaded by a foreman he'd had as an apprentice, but even though he taught Close the basics, it was another two or three years before he felt he was anywhere near proficient.

“It's very much a combination of a game of chess, billiards and war,” he joked.

“I get pleasure from the challenge of making strategies work to win the battle.”

Like lawn bowls, croquet has a stigma of being just for old people but Close said that is far from the case.

“All (croquet) champions are young, good looking and smart,” he quipped.