Hoops
Please note that lawns are typically mowed on Tuesday and Friday mornings, with play available from around 9:30 am on those days. If you’re the first to play on a lawn on a Tuesday or Friday, please remember to check the hoops. The contractors remove them for mowing, so they may be loose or missing and will need to be replaced before play begins. A blue mallet is kept just inside the clubhouse door for this purpose.
If you’re playing there and need to remove these hoops, please use the hoop lifter – located on the outside of the shed at the front by the right-hand window. This helps prevent injury, as lifting hoops by hand can strain your back or hands.
Swishing worm casts
If you’re the first to play on a lawn, please take a moment to swish away any worm casts. They can affect the run of your ball, and treading them in risks damaging the surface and creating muddy patches. Swishers – long, flexible yellow poles – are stored in the eaves of the shed’s front overhang.
If you’re the first to play on a lawn on a Tuesday or Friday, please remember to check the hoops. The contractors remove them for mowing, so they may be loose or missing and will need to be replaced before play begins. A blue mallet is kept just inside the clubhouse door for this purpose.
Boundary Boards
During the summer season, when leaving a lawn, if its partner lawn (i.e. Lawns 1 & 2 or Lawns 3 & 4) is also not in use, please rotate the two central boundary boards between them by 90 degrees. This allows the sprinklers located there to operate effectively.
Jump Shots
Jump shots must not be taught or practiced on the courts. There is a designated area between the shed and the clubhouse for teaching and practicing.
Croquet jump shots are forbidden in the winter because the ground is softer due to moisture from rain, frost, or snow. When a player executes a jump shot, the mallet drives the ball downward before it lifts off, which can damage the turf. In winter conditions, this impact can create divots or depressions in the playing surface, making it uneven and harder to repair.
Frosty Weather
During frosty weather, please avoid booking a lawn before 11:00 AM. If when you arrive the lawn you have booked is still frosty, do not play until the frost has fully melted. This is essential for both safety and the preservation of the grass for the following reasons:
Injury Risk: The path and verandah can also be icy, and frost makes the grass slippery, increasing the likelihood of slipping and falling. This can result in sprains, fractures, or other injuries.
Damage to Grass: Frost causes ice crystals to form on grass blades, which can puncture and damage their cell walls. Walking on frosty grass can rupture these cells, leading to brown, dead patches. The pressure from your steps can also cause permanent damage, particularly when the frost is thick.