The Sport That Can Bring the UK and USA Together
List of All 'Life in the UK' Articles
By BRIAN WILSON
UK Travel Correspondent
Special to North Palm Beach Life
Mo and I play croquet – almost 4 times/week, plus competitions - life can be hectic!!
We play both Golf and Association Croquet – we understand there are also "American Rules" but we don’t know about those.
I’d like to introduce you to the fascinating sport of croquet and show how "6 hoops, 4 balls, 2 mallets and 1 lawn" can bring USA and the UK together.
Let me introduce croquet. In the UK there are over 200 clubs and 8,000 active players across the country, and croquet is enjoyed in both a competitive and social environment.
You’re wrong if you think it is genteel pastime; it’s a game, played by people of all ages and abilities. Your objective is to send your ball through a series of hoops, or knock your opponent out of the way, or block them from scoring – but you always shake hands at the end!!
The UK Croquet Association has produced a short video:
UK Travel Correspondent
Special to North Palm Beach Life
Mo and I play croquet – almost 4 times/week, plus competitions - life can be hectic!!
We play both Golf and Association Croquet – we understand there are also "American Rules" but we don’t know about those.
I’d like to introduce you to the fascinating sport of croquet and show how "6 hoops, 4 balls, 2 mallets and 1 lawn" can bring USA and the UK together.
Let me introduce croquet. In the UK there are over 200 clubs and 8,000 active players across the country, and croquet is enjoyed in both a competitive and social environment.
You’re wrong if you think it is genteel pastime; it’s a game, played by people of all ages and abilities. Your objective is to send your ball through a series of hoops, or knock your opponent out of the way, or block them from scoring – but you always shake hands at the end!!
The UK Croquet Association has produced a short video:
Our Club (Camerton and Peasedown) is a few miles south of the Georgian City of Bath and is set in the beautiful Somerset countryside. We have 4 full sized lawn (each the size of 2 tennis courts) and a club pavilion. There are times when there are two games of doubles being played on each lawn - that’s 32 people playing at the same time.
The World does come to our club – a few years ago we were one of the hosts for a World Championship. You can see our lawns, Club pavilion and marquees in this picture.
The World does come to our club – a few years ago we were one of the hosts for a World Championship. You can see our lawns, Club pavilion and marquees in this picture.
Croquet is a game of skill and strategy, angles, tactics, guile - a bit like snooker on grass. Croquet offers sport, friendships, fun, competition and a whole lot more - it’s an outdoor sport that keeps you physically and mentally fit, providing a competitive yet sociable environment.
So, how did croquet bring the USA and UK together?
Heather from Boston (Mass) and Paul from Bradford on Avon (UK) were to "tie the knot" in the fine City of Bath.
They realised that, with over 70 guests, they wanted to create an opportunity for both “families” to get to know each other, so they were treated to an afternoon of Croquet at Camerton & Peasedown Croquet Club.
The American contingent came from Boston and the East Coast, Texas, Florida, the Midwest – plus others from across the US.
On arrival at the Club, guests were greeted by a celebratory arch created by Club members holding croquet mallets aloft. Everyone then moved down to the Club grounds where an introductory drink of Pimms was taken before they went on lawn for a short introduction to Croquet – then onto a real game.
So, how did croquet bring the USA and UK together?
Heather from Boston (Mass) and Paul from Bradford on Avon (UK) were to "tie the knot" in the fine City of Bath.
They realised that, with over 70 guests, they wanted to create an opportunity for both “families” to get to know each other, so they were treated to an afternoon of Croquet at Camerton & Peasedown Croquet Club.
The American contingent came from Boston and the East Coast, Texas, Florida, the Midwest – plus others from across the US.
On arrival at the Club, guests were greeted by a celebratory arch created by Club members holding croquet mallets aloft. Everyone then moved down to the Club grounds where an introductory drink of Pimms was taken before they went on lawn for a short introduction to Croquet – then onto a real game.
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The 5 Club coaches and a myriad of Club Members were on hand for each of the 16 games. There were a number of timed games and everyone soon got in to the swing of things – people enjoyed a good-natured game of Croquet and some became very competitive
Then onto the main marquee where a series of tables, bedecked with bunting and the flags of both countries, were laden with old English china service, home-made scones, jam and clotted cream, not forgetting the lashings of tea.
Everyone enjoyed the cream tea – but there was the question “do you put cream on first, then jam on the top, or the other way round?”
Club members were on hand to serve tea and to replenish scones, jam and cream – it was quite an operation, catering for over 50 people
People did not want to leave the sunlit grounds with views across the Somerset countryside - and a group photo call would be a reminder of this fantastic day.
And finally: Croquet is not only a growing sport in the UK - it is alive and well in the USA.
So, if we have got your interest, why not go along to your local club and find out more - there are quite a few in Florida and certainly in Palm Beach. Visit the United States Croquet Association to find out more.
Croquet is a fantastic sport - so contact your local club soon. However, if you are a croquet player and will be visiting the UK, why not contact me and I’ll send you details of local clubs. Better still, if you are visiting Bath, then we’ll love to see you.
Then onto the main marquee where a series of tables, bedecked with bunting and the flags of both countries, were laden with old English china service, home-made scones, jam and clotted cream, not forgetting the lashings of tea.
Everyone enjoyed the cream tea – but there was the question “do you put cream on first, then jam on the top, or the other way round?”
Club members were on hand to serve tea and to replenish scones, jam and cream – it was quite an operation, catering for over 50 people
People did not want to leave the sunlit grounds with views across the Somerset countryside - and a group photo call would be a reminder of this fantastic day.
And finally: Croquet is not only a growing sport in the UK - it is alive and well in the USA.
So, if we have got your interest, why not go along to your local club and find out more - there are quite a few in Florida and certainly in Palm Beach. Visit the United States Croquet Association to find out more.
Croquet is a fantastic sport - so contact your local club soon. However, if you are a croquet player and will be visiting the UK, why not contact me and I’ll send you details of local clubs. Better still, if you are visiting Bath, then we’ll love to see you.