Some say croquet combines the skills of golf, billiards, and chess. Competitors have a passion for a game that looks genteel, but can be fiercely competitive.
The great thing about the croquet is that anyone can play. Young and old, men and women — everyone competes on equal footing. There are no women’s tees or handicaps. Former professional player Jim Welch called it a “thinking man’s game,” both challenging and exciting.
The idea of croquet is that team players use a mallet to hit a ball through wickets, six or nine, depending on your preference. The first team to hit through all the wickets wins.
These days croquet can be played on grass or carpet. Carpet croquet games have wickets that stand on the carpet with weights.
What’s great about croquet is that it is not strenuous — you can take a seat while the other guy is hitting — but when it is your turn, you still get a few steps in before you knock the ball. It gives muscles a mild workout. It’s also social, played with two to four other people.
Plus, it’s fun. Trash talk is allowed — “Knock him to the hills!” they say. Players often do a running commentary on the game.
The sport has stood the test of time, originating with 14th century French peasants, surviving and growing in popularity over the centuries. Croquet equipment was advertised in the New York Clipper in 1862. One New York paper editorialized, “never in the history of outdoor sports in this country has any game achieved so sudden a popularity.” The U.S. Croquet Association carries rules for backyard nine-wicket, American six-wicket, international six-wicket, and nine-wicket golf croquet.
Whichever you choose, you’ll have a great time playing — that is, unless you are the victim of being ‘knocked into the far hills.”
