In the middle of the 19th century, a single pastime held the imagination of the wealthy and powerful the world over: croquet. This simple game originated in England, and within a few years, it had spread across the globe as a must-have form of entertainment at upscale parties. Today, you can enjoy a croquet game in the comfort and convenience of your own backyard, just like those ladies and gentlemen of old.

How to Play Croquet

The basic rules of croquet are quite simple: each player attempts to get his or her ball through a series of hoops placed in the grass. The first one to get the ball through all of the hoops is the winner. While this may sound simple, players can knock their competitors’ balls with their own, sending them out of position. With so many ways of sabotaging other players while trying to get your own ball through the hoops, croquet leads to hours of outdoor fun. Official croquet rules, as seen in professional tournaments, are more intricate; players can add these rules to the mix as they become more proficient in the sport.

Setting Up a Croquet Game

Another excellent reason to include croquet in your list of yard games is the ease of setup and the minimal equipment required. A good croquet set comes with all the croquet equipment you need to get started, including croquet mallets, balls and hoops to set up in your yard. Because you set the croquet hoops up yourself, the game can be as simple or as complicated as desired. Best of all, the game can accommodate anywhere from 2 to 15 players. All of your friends can join in the fun!

If your kids use your yard during the day, it’s still no problem to set up a croquet game if you’re entertaining guests that evening. Because a croquet course can be set up and taken down in less than 10 minutes, your yard can be free for the children to use during the day but still set up for get-togethers at night. It’s a wonderful way to maximize your enjoyment of your outdoor space.

While croquet was originally played by women in long, fancy dresses and men in waistcoats, everyone can join in the fun of this challenging game. Your croquet set will be the life of the party, so don’t be surprised if friends ask to come over for another game.