In 2018, John and Noreen Rice were formally introduced to the new  sport of croquet at a social event.  They joined a public croquet club in the Annapolis area, attended the three day croquet course at the United States Croquet Association in West Palm Beach, Florida, and were immediately in love with the sport.  Soon they were both competing in tournaments including the Maryland Senior Olympics (50 and over).  John won a gold medal and Noreen won a bronze medal a year later.  At the 2019 and 2021 Invitational Tournaments of the Merion Cricket Club in Pennsylvania, Noreen won first place in first flight singles and doubles.  Together they competed at the Chesapeake Croquet Club in Hartfield, Virginia against a number of clubs, including the St. John’s College teams.

John and Noreen Rice moved to St. Augustine in January 2022 from Annapolis, Maryland.  Unfortunately, there were no croquet courts or clubs in or near their new home in St. Augustine.  There are other clubs north and south of St. Augustine, but they are private and most require residency in a gated community.  Today there are 50 private croquet clubs across the State of Florida and only one public croquet club located in Sarasota. 

With their shared love for the sport and experience in training and organizational development, they established the St. Johns Croquet Club in St. Augustine in 2023.  They believe there is a need to build a successful croquet program in the St. Augustine area that is accessible, affordable and sustainable modeled after the Sarasota County Croquet Club located in Venice, Florida.  

SJCC's officers and board are working tirelessly to realize the vision and mission of the club.  Currently, they are working with the St. Johns County (SJC) Board of Commissioners and the SJC Department of Parks and Recreation to identify a site and fund the construction of professional croquet lawns in or near the St. Augustine area for the SJCC.