This section of the website is aimed at people who enjoy a game of croquet
in their back gardens, or who are interested in doing so. We estimate there
are in excess of half a million people who own a croquet set in the UK, making
it a very popular game for those with a garden lawn large enough to accommodate
it (see What you need).
Croquet is an ideal way to spend a summer’s afternoon. It provides some gentle exercise without being too strenuous, it is suitable for all ages, it involves a combination of mental and physical skills, and it is possible to socialise at the same time as you are playing (unless of course you are getting very serious about it!).
There are two main versions of the game played in gardens throughout the UK – Garden Croquet and Golf Croquet.
| Garden Croquet | Golf Croquet |
|---|---|
| Garden croquet is a simplified form of Association croquet, and it involves getting extra turns in reward for hitting another ball or running a hoop. This provides for a richness of tactics and a wide variety of types of shot to play. Click Garden Croquet for the rules. | Golf croquet is a simpler form of the game, but still involves a great deal of skill. It is perhaps particularly suitable for when you have limited time, as games tend to be shorter and (if you haven't played before) the tactics and rules are a bit more straightforward to understand. Click Golf Croquet for the rules. |
Why not visit our on-line shop for books (including the rules) or to buy other croquet equipment. We stock a wide range of croquet sets as well as individual bits and pieces.
There are over 120 clubs registered with the Croquet Association in the UK and they are scattered over the whole of the UK. Virtually all clubs offer starter packages and will be quite happy to let all comers try this fascinating game without any financial commitments and may even offer some coaching. Clubs will usually play Association Croquet (of which Garden Croquet is a simplified version) and Golf Croquet.
Click here for more information about joining a club, or here for details of clubs in your area.
If you have any questions about any form of the game, visit our questions and answers page. If you can't find the answer there, you can ask us your question and we will do our best to answer it.
© 2007-8 The Croquet Association - www.croquet.org.uk