Croquet

Contact for any queries: Feona Bickley (Croquet Secretary)

Croquet is a game for all ages, and whether you are an experienced player or a beginner you will be made welcome.  There are currently around 40 Croquet members who play the Golf Croquet version of the game, with both Club sessions and private play available.  Tuition is available for members, by arrangement, from Howard Grove, the Croquet Association qualified Coach.

No equipment is required – there is a good selection of Club mallets on loan from the Club, together with 2 sets of balls and hoops.  These are kept in the croquet pavilion, which was replaced in 2024 to include a shelter and permanent electricity supply.

Players must wear flat shoes but there is no other dress code, though the traditional wearing of “whites” (white/light-coloured clothing) may be requested by other clubs when playing inter-club matches.

The Croquet lawn is maintained by a professional groundskeeper and is open all year round except for when it is taken out of service for annual maintenance – usually a few weeks October-November however adverse weather conditions may delay the lawn coming back into action until some time in December-March period.  The lawn should not be played on when there is frost, snow or excessive surface water on the ground.  Play should not take place before 10:30am Tues – Sun or before 11am on Mondays, to allow the groundskeeper to complete any necessary duties.

All members must attend a short Induction course (15 minutes) given by a member of the Croquet Committee before they venture out onto the lawn unsupervised. This includes Rackets members (who can partake in Croquet as part of their membership) and is intended to safeguard equipment and players.  Beginner players are advised to contact Feona Bickley (Croquet Secretary) to arrange an extended induction.

Inducted members will be added to the ‘Croquet Members List’ – once on this list, members will be safeguarded with the code to the croquet pavilion and may set up the lawn for play unsupervised.  Croquet members can bring guests to play, with a maximum of 5 visits per year per guest.  Members MUST sign in their guests in the visitors book in the croquet pavilion and pay £3 per guest per visit.