All's Fair in. . . Love & Croquet
Summer is here, and we're already thinking holidays, relaxing and afternoons in the park, so naturally, we checked out the Laurel Bank Croquet Club to discover why this game is the perfect Summer vibe.
Photography: @castleandcrown
Written by: Sam Kirby
The Game of Kings
There is something deeply fascinating about croquet.
It's been called a test of strategy, skill and tactics. Winston Churchill supposedly wanted to be buried on his croquet lawn. Leo Tolstoy loved the game so much, he romanticised it in his novel, Anna Karenina. And in Alice in Wonderland, Alice plays a nonsense version, using a hedgehog as a ball and a flamingo as a mallet (in the real world, coloured balls are hit with a wooden mallet through hoops fixed into the lawn).
Indeed, it is said that, if golf is 'the gentleman's game', then croquet is 'the game of kings'.
While in reality, this moniker most likely refers to its popularity among the English elite of the time, there's a part of me that feels it speaks to the sense of casual indulgence that comes from a sun-soaked afternoon with friends, grass underfoot, the feeling that 'one should always have a glass of Pimms near-to-hand', and not a single email or notification in sight (in this modern world, perhaps that is what it feels like to be a king? . . .the luxury of quiet).
The history of croquet itself dates back to the mid-1800s, and as with all great things, the precise origins are somewhat disputed.
It's purported to have been the Irish that brought it to London; the name itself is actually French (the French word "croche", meaning a shepherd's crook), and if it's anything like The-Great-Inter-Tasman-Lamington-Debate, New Zealand is probably laying its claim also (sorry New Zealand, but I'll defend Toowoomba's culinary honour to my final breath).
Regardless of its much older origins, it is generally agreed that croquet as we know it today began to take shape in the early 1850s, with rules first registered in 1856 and the first All England Croquet Club, formed at Wimbledon in 1868.
Fun Fact: While Wimbledon later converted its croquet lawns to tennis courts, it is still known today as The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Such was the golden age of croquet that it even featured as a sport in the 1900 Paris Olympics.
Locally, you'll find the Laurel Bank Croquet Club nestled on the southern fringe of Laurel Bank Park.
With its exquisitely manicured lawns, which first opened in 1935, and picturesquely quaint clubhouse built a few years later, the club is an energetic mix of social and competitive players.
"We currently have 38 members, with over a 70-year age span, who play across all levels; some for fun and social, others are zone, state, Australian and even International competitors", explains Club president Jane Wright. "One of our youngest Club members is actually about to fly to Perth for a major tournament."
"For me, I enjoy the fun, the strategising, the challenge and the thrill of a great shot, all while being in the beautiful Laurel Bank park."
In reality, croquet is a game of finesse, demanding accuracy and control, and today's serious version is even akin to 'chess on grass'.
"It can get quite competitive! and you can be venomous while smiling (said with a grin) as you hit your opponent's ball away; but all-in-all, the croquet community is very friendly and connected", Jane continues.
"The local clubs regularly host days to play, socialise and enjoy each others hospitality; we have competitions, and we also host Come and Try days for people interested in learning more.
"We play a style called 'Golf croquet' on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings and late Wednesday afternoons, so if you are interested, come by; we're always open to new members and sharing our love for the game!" Jane encourages.
“The clubhouse and greens are also available to hire for parties, and the club coaches players to get them started”.
If you ask us, it’s pretty much the perfect way to have some fun and kick back, relax and enjoy the park.
FB: @laurelbankcroquetclub | Laurel Bank Park: 216 Herries St
FB: @laurelbankcroquetclub | Laurel Bank Park: 216 Herries St
HOW TO PLAY: ALL'S FAIR IN. . . LOVE & CROQUET
First thing first, it's a good idea to decide 'just' how much you value the friendship of the people you're playing against. And by that, we mean - before playing, it's always best to agree on the level of seriousness and which rules to follow, as these can vary significantly based on the style of the match (and how many Pimms have already been had).
In garden or backyard croquet, the object is to maneuver a coloured ball (usually blue, red, black, and yellow) over the lawn and through a series of hoops or wickets by hitting it with a special croquet mallet.
Players take turns: Each player has one swing (unless additional shots are earned by hitting the ball through a wicket or into another player's ball).
When a player knocks their ball into an opponent's, they can place their ball next to the opponent's and (depending on your answer to the first question) whack it as hard as you'd like into the nearest shrubbery (croquet can be brutal!).
Keep in mind, if a ball is hit out of bounds, it is placed back onto the court where it crosses the boundary. If a player's ball strikes a stake during the game (even if knocked by another player), they are disqualified.
Balls should travel through all hoops/ wickets in a forward direction and the correct order, with a player finishing once their ball hits the final stake. The game continues until every player has reached the finishing stake.
