How to Turn a Full Lawn Into Two Short Lawns

Any full-sized lawn can easily do double duty by setting it up for both full AC and Short Croquet. Simply put a white line or string down the middle, mark out the SC hoop positions, and you're ready to go with either AC or SC as required. In practice the extra holes have effectively no impact on play. Meanwhile clubs can double their lawn capacity while also encouraging players to take up this accessible version of AC.

For the extra set of hoops, any set will do to get started. Even the oldest hoops can be spruced up for an extra tour of duty by repainting them or, better, getting them shot blasted and powder coated - not expensive, and a much smaller investment than buying new.

Laying out is straightforward. Starting with a full size layout of 35 yards by 28 yards, proceed as follows. First insert tent pegs down the short North and South AC boundaries and insert tent pegs using these measurements:

15 feet
24 feet
42 feet
60 feet
69 feet

Now measure down between the tent pegs using these measurements, and, keeping hoops parallel to the tape measure, push a hoop or peg into each location just deep enough to stand up:

On line 1: measure 26 feet 3 inches and 78 feet 9 inches two corner hoops on each SC lawn.

On line 2: measure 26 feet 3 inches and 78 feet 9 inches for each SC hoop 5;

On line 3: measure 26 feet 3 inches and 78 feet 9 inches for the two SC centre pegs;

On line 4: measure 26 feet 3 inches and 78 feet 9 inches for each SC hoop 6;

On line 5: measure 26 feet 3 inches and 78 feet 9 inches for the four remaining SC corner hoops.

Use a pointed concrete chisel and club hammer to enlarge the holes, then a rubber mallet to drive the hoops and pegs home - job done! Whether it's needed for AC or for SC, the holes are there ready. It takes only a spare set of hoops and an hour of preparation time to allow twice as many players onto the same space.