Croquet in the Garden

Autumn Sun at Southwick

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 in the UK who own a croquet set, making it a very popular game for those with a lawn large enough to accommodate it (see What you need).

About Croquet

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. Garden Croquet rules can be downloaded.	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. Golf Croquet rules can be downloaded.

Where to Buy Croquet Equipment

Visit our online 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.

Why Not Join Your Local Club?

There are over 180 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 free coaching. Clubs will usually play Association Croquet (of which Garden Croquet is a simplified version) and Golf Croquet.

You can read more about joining a club, or get details of clubs in your area.

Any Questions?

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.