Golf Croquet
Golf Croquet is the fastest growing version of the sport of Croquet. This is due mainly to its simplicity to learn and play, however there is a certain amount of strategic skill required to be successful. Golf Croquet is won by a player hitting their ball through each hoop. Each player takes a turn at hitting a ball through the same hoop in the sequence of blue, red, black, yellow. Blue and black balls play against red and yellow. The player or team that wins the most hoops is declared the winner.
Other Disciplines
Ricochet
Ricochet was developed in the 1980s as an easy to learn version which can easily be used as a step up to Association Croquet. It was originally developed in Adelaide, Australia by John Riches and Tom Armstrong. Ricochet has similar rules to Association Croquet with the difference being that when a ball is ricochet it remains live and two free shots are earned. This enables the strikers ball to play closer to an opponent’s ball and ricochet that as well which earns a further two free shots. In addition to these rules when a player runs a hoop they earn one free shot.
Association Croquet
Association Croquet (AC) is the traditional form of the popular garden game. It is best described as a “race” in which the players attempt to be the first to complete the course of hoops and the peg with both balls of their side. Progress is made by striking a ball with a mallet and propelling the balls through hoops in a specified order. AC is based on the concept of a “break” – as in snooker, billiards and pool – in which the right may be earned to play a succession of extra strokes. It is possible to play a break of up to 91 strokes in which the striker’s ball will have been made to pass through twelve hoops and then strike the centre peg.
Gateball
Gateball is a mallet sport similar to croquet. It is a fast-paced, non-contact, highly-strategic team game, which can be played by anyone regardless of age or gender. Although relatively new in Australia, it is played by millions of people throughout Asia and South America.