A simple introduction
Rules
The game is played with four balls, Blue and Black versus Red and Yellow. Unlike Association Croquet, each turn consists of just one shot, and play is strictly in sequence: Blue, then Red, then Black, Yellow and Blue again.
All four balls attempt to get through Hoop 1. As soon as one ball is successful, that side scores a point, and attention passes to the next hoop in the sequence. The first side to seven points is the winner.
Hitting the opponent out of position is legal. Players will often clear an opponent’s ball 30 yards, in the hope of keeping it out of range. Tactical complexity arises out of blocking shots, and putting the other players out of position, while putting your partner into a better scoring opportunity.
Read More
There’s more detail available in the Basic Rules of Golf Croquet here, or visit the Croquet England website for the full World Croquet Federation Rules of Golf Croquet.
Watch a GC match
The 2023 WCF golf croquet women’s world championship 2023 was another terrific event, held in Sussex County Croquet Club in August 2023. There was a changing of the guard with Jamie Gumbrell taking the title in a really sublime final against Rachel Gee. Play starts around the 36th minute.
The 14th WCF golf croquet world championship was held in Sussex County Croquet Club in July and August 2022. The third and final game of the final match between Matthew Essick and Robert Fulford may be seen here. The third game starts after 8 minutes
Before Matthew Essick came to the ‘Worlds’ in July 2022, he had won the US GC National Championship, beating Sherif Abdelwahab at Highlands Falls in North Carolina. Russ Dilley provides a wonderful commentary. The final match is shown below and play starts after 2 minutes.