ABOUT CROQUET
There are several variations of croquet, but the main ones are Association Croquet and Golf Croquet, both of which are played at the club, and for both of which free and expert coaching is available.
Golf Croquet is easier to learn, and is a very popular sociable game, and one that is played at a fast pace. See here for a good description and here for the Golf Croquet links on the Croquet Association website.
Association Croquet is more complicated and requires many different types of shots. It is often described as being akin to Snooker played on grass; planning ahead as in Snooker, or in Bridge, or Chess: as you become more proficient so you are able to build breaks and use both attacking and defensive moves. See here for a good description and here for the Association Croquet links on the Croquet Association website.
Both Association and Golf require great skill to compete at the top level and both are played to European and World International level. There's also a handicapping systemin both games, involving extra shots (called bisques), to allow weaker players to play even games against stronger ones, so you don't have to be worried about being much weaker than your opponent!
Unlike most outdoor sports, both men and women
are able to play croquet socially and competitively and on equal
terms. At Tunbridge Wells we have a membership covering all ages
and in more or less the same proportions of men and women. It is
a game, too, that can be played to a high standard by those who
are not as active as they once were! Some quite severely
disabled people enjoy playing croquet. However, please note that
although our main entrance has 10 not so easy steps wheel-chair
access is available via a side-entrance across the lawns.
See also World Golf Croquet Championship 2012 for a 30 minute TV programme shown on South African TV. It was sponsored by the WCF, Kapara Insurance Brokers and CCj.
Copyright © Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club 2003 -