Welcome to Colchester Croquet Club

At Colchester, you’ll find a friendly and inclusive club of 80 to 100 members, ranging in age from their early 20s to early 90s. We warmly welcome new members and encourage everyone to get involved, whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the sport.

Our home in Lexden features a welcoming clubhouse and four top-quality lawns, recognized as some of the best in the country and frequently hosting national competitions.

The club caters to everyone, from those looking to have fun, meet new people, and enjoy some gentle exercise, to players eager to compete in events across the county or even nationally.

For those who prefer social play, our Club Days on Mondays and Thursdays are perfect opportunities to meet others and enjoy a friendly game. As a member, you’ll also have access to a convenient lawn booking system and a WhatsApp group to arrange games with fellow members.

If competitive play is your goal, we’ve got you covered too! The club participates in numerous competitions both individually and as a team, and we also host internal tournaments throughout the summer for players of all skill levels, from beginners to experts.

If you’d like to give it a try, we’d love to welcome you to one of our Club Days, held on Monday and Thursday afternoons. You’ll always find a friendly face ready to introduce you to the club and the game.

All you need to bring is a pair of flat-soled shoes – we’ll provide everything else! With our four excellent lawns, a range of mallets, and all the equipment you’ll need, we’ll also give you the basic instruction to get started.

Croquet is one of the finest outdoor sports, combining ball skills with strategic thinking. It’s a friendly, enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and great fun to play.

We’re always delighted to welcome new members of all ages and experience levels, from complete beginners to seasoned players. If you’re an experienced club or match player, we invite you to visit our club section to learn more about us and how to get in touch.

If you’re new to croquet and considering taking it up, keep reading for a brief introduction to the game and its many benefits.

Why play croquet?

Croquet is an enjoyable, sociable game that can be played by people of any age and of either sex. In addition, it is generally a mixed sex sport.

There are two principal forms of the game – Association and Golf.

Association Croquet is a game of complex strategy and high levels of skill, and is similar in many ways to games like snooker or pool.

Golf Croquet is a game with a long history and a recent resurgence of interest at all levels has made it the most popular variant today. Compared with Association Croquet it has simpler rules and is more interactive (each turn is just a single stroke), but it requires a similar level of accuracy and tactical awareness.

Both forms of the game may be played as singles or doubles and many people enjoy playing both, as skills learned in one form of the game may be applied to the other.

Croquet’s effective handicap system recognises smart thinking as much as physical skill, so everyone has a good chance of winning.

As with any game, the best players probably start young, but many take it up after retiring from more energetic pursuits. It can be as skilful as you want it to be – advanced players can take it very seriously, but most club members probably see it as a relaxing and friendly way of passing an afternoon.

About the club

The club was formed in 1926, and is based in Elianore Road, Colchester.

Our main season runs from April to October, and membership is open to people of any age. We also have winter access to the lawns when weather allows. New recruits are always welcome, and all members have the use of our equipment as well as access to coaching from our more experienced players.

For both formats of the game, there are internal events and regional and national leagues and tournaments for those who wish to play competitively. These cater for all levels of player from beginner to expert.

Interested in playing?

Before deciding whether to join the club, prospective members are welcome to try the game. See our taking part section for details, and contact us if you want more information.