Croquet Questions Answered — Birmingham Croquet Club

Trying croquet

What is golf croquet?

Golf croquet is a form of croquet where two sides race to run each hoop first, taking one stroke per turn. The usual game is 13 points, and the first side to reach 7 wins. It is the game we teach, and our beginner’s guide walks through a whole game.

Where can I try croquet near me?

In Birmingham, Alabama, come to one of our events and we will teach you, with a mallet ready for you. Our start page shows how to say hello in our Facebook group, the events page lists what is coming up, and the regional page lists clubs across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

Do I have to join a club to try croquet?

Not to try it. You can say hello in our Facebook group and come to an event, and a casual membership is free if you decide to join. See the membership page for the paid options.

Do I need my own mallet or equipment?

No. We have a mallet for you, and Croquet England says many clubs lend mallets. Our advice: borrow before you buy, then read our equipment guide when you are ready.

Do I need a fancy lawn to play croquet?

No. The people who started the Birmingham Croquet Club played for over ten years in a public park. A flat patch of grass about 50 by 40 feet and some equipment is enough, and our court setup guide shows you how to lay one out.

Is the Birmingham Croquet Club exclusive?

No. We’re not an exclusive club and we’re not a country club. Everyone’s welcome, whatever their age or experience, and a casual membership is free.

Can grandparents and grandkids play together?

Yes, and it’s one of the best things about the game. Grandkids can play their grandparents, and everyone’s on the same playing field.

What if I get good and want to compete?

The United States Croquet Association is waiting, and you can join at any point in your life. Our full membership includes it.

Is croquet hard to learn?

The basic idea is simple: each turn is one stroke, and each hoop is one point. Aiming and a smooth swing take practice, but we put new players in a real game the day they start.

Who can play croquet?

Almost anyone can. Croquet England calls the sport low-impact and open to all ages and abilities, and our club welcomes new players whatever their age or experience.

Can kids play, and is there a minimum age?

Yes, and there’s no minimum age for kids to get out there and learn. Sets come in all different sizes and shapes to fit all players. For tournament eligibility, including any age rules, we defer to the United States Croquet Association. Our junior membership is for players 25 and under.

Can I play croquet in a wheelchair?

Yes, wheelchair players take part at croquet clubs. The golf croquet rules also let a disabled player use a modified mallet shaft or other aids, as long as they gain no advantage. Questions about access? Ask in our Facebook group.

What should I wear to play croquet?

For a first try, wear comfortable clothes and flat-soled shoes; Croquet England says flat-soled shoes are enough for casual play. Whites are the tradition at tournaments, where the World Croquet Federation (WCF) asks for clothing that is at least 75% white and the United States Croquet Association (USCA) calls all white customary at titled events.

How long does a game of croquet take?

A usual 13-point game often takes about 50 minutes, according to the WCF, and Croquet England puts it at 30 to 60 minutes. Shorter 7-point games and longer 19-point games are also played.

How many people can play?

Two or four. In singles, each player plays both balls of their side; in doubles, each of the two players on a side plays one ball all game.

Our club and events

Is there a croquet club in Birmingham, Alabama?

Yes. The Birmingham Croquet Club plays golf croquet on lawns around Birmingham, and new players are welcome with no experience or equipment needed. Read more on our Birmingham croquet page.

Which croquet clubs are near Birmingham?

We are one, and our regional clubs page shows clubs across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi on a map. It follows the USCA’s club directory, and if we have missed a club, tell us and we will add it.

How much does membership cost, and what does it include?

A casual membership is free, a club membership is $15 a year, and a full membership is $90 a year and includes membership in the USCA. A couple membership is $165 a year, and a junior membership, for players 25 and under, is $40. Details are on our join page.

Does the club offer lessons?

Yes. We hold lessons alongside play days, and we teach every new player the basics when they come to play. Our events page shows what is coming up.

Where and when does the club play?

We play on lawns around Birmingham. Dates for play days and other events are on our events page and announced in our Facebook group.

Does the club run tournaments?

Not really. We point tournament questions at any level, including who’s eligible, to the United States Croquet Association. Some members travel to tournaments such as the Grand Cup at The Lakewood Club in Point Clear, Alabama, and you can see their results.

How can a beginner play fairly against a stronger player?

With a handicap, which lets players of different strength compete on more equal terms. A golf croquet handicap can be as high as 20 or as low as minus 6, with lower meaning stronger, and the higher-handicap player gets extra strokes. Our rules guide explains how it works.

Is there a public croquet court in Birmingham?

Not yet. We are working toward a public court where anyone can walk on and play, and you can read about the project on our public court page.

Background

Is croquet an Olympic sport?

Not today. Croquet was played at the 1900 Paris Games, which Olympedia counts as Olympic and Croquet England calls a demonstration sport, and roque, an American hard-court variant, was played at the 1904 St. Louis Games. Neither has returned.

Where did croquet come from?

Nobody knows for certain. Croquet England says it is thought to have been invented in Ireland and brought to England in the 1850s, while other accounts point to the French game of pall-mall. Our history guide sets out what is known and what is disputed.

Where did golf croquet come from?

Golf croquet is believed to have been played in English gardens from about 1900, with rule sets dating from 1902. You may read that Egypt invented it, but that is unsupported: the WCF describes a pilot finding golf croquet played at a very high level in Cairo in 1988. The history guide has the full story.

Is croquet connected to Wimbledon?

Yes. Wimbledon’s club was founded on July 23, 1868, as the All England Croquet Club, and by most accounts it added lawn tennis in 1875.

What do the USCA and WCF do?

The United States Croquet Association (USCA) is the national body for croquet in the United States; it was organized in 1977 and is based in West Palm Beach, Florida. The World Croquet Federation (WCF) held its first general meeting in 1989 and maintains the rules of golf croquet, which the USCA also uses.

Which rulebook do golf croquet players follow?

Players follow the WCF Rules of Golf Croquet, 6th Edition, approved in 2022, plus the official rulings issued in October 2024. The USCA has no separate golf croquet rulebook and uses the same edition. Older guides can be out of date, so see our rules guide for a plain-English summary.

What is the difference between a hoop and a wicket?

Nothing: they are the same thing. The golf croquet rules say hoop and peg, while American six-wicket and nine-wicket players say wicket and stake. We use hoop and peg, and our glossary explains other terms.

How is golf croquet different from other kinds of croquet?

In golf croquet each turn is one stroke and each hoop is one point, with no extra strokes for scoring a hoop or hitting a ball. American six-wicket, Association and nine-wicket croquet all let you earn extra strokes in a turn. Our types of croquet guide compares them.

Sources

Last updated November 2026.

Croquet questions, answered.