The SJCC is working with St. Johns County to build a comprehensive professional public croquet facility. It will be used by SJCC members and guests to play croquet and host training clinics, senior and special Olympic events; and regional and national tournaments attracting many of the top players in the region and across the United States to the St. Augustine area. Moreover, it will be used to support local schools and colleges to field teams and compete for national collegiate titles.
The Ancient City of St. Augustine is a perfect venue for a professional public croquet facility with its proximity to airports and its excellent hotels and B&B's, restaurants, historical sites, and entertainment for everyone to enjoy year-round.
The St. Johns Croquet Club's vision is to foster the next generation of players for organized croquet in Northeast Florida. The SJCC will accomplish this by introducing the new sport of croquet to area high schools and colleges, families and young and older adults living in the St. Augustine area. Today, St. Johns County (SJC) is home to a number of highly ranked players including the fourth ranked woman in the game of golf croquet and three of the top 50 men players in the United States.
SJCC's mission is to invigorate and grow the sport by making its program accessible and affordable to any and all participants who want to play croquet regardless of age, gender, race or social background. SJCC members and guests may participate in any of our training clinics and friendly play, and interclub competitive events. Occasionally, some interclub competitive events invite guests to play.
There are several variations of croquet currently played, differing in the scoring systems, types and order of shots, and layout (particularly in social games where play must be adapted to smaller-than-standard playing courts.
The four popular forms of the game that have their own set of rules are:
Association Croquet (AC)
Golf Croquet (GC)
American Rules 6-Wicket Croquet (6W)
Long Grass 9-Wicket Croquet (9W)
AC and Golf Croquet are played in many countries around the world while all four variations are played for its domestic games and competition. Players use a variety of strategies and tactics for each type of game played.
A Healthy Choice
Everyone knows that health and wellness is important. But we also understand how difficult it can be to engage people in their own health solutions. The new sport of croquet is a healthy and safe form of exercise. On average players walk at least 2.5 miles during a game lasting 60 to 75 minutes. During a croquet event or tournament, players walk many more miles depending on the number of games that are played.
Croquet players soon find that they also need to learn a variety of shot-making techniques and develop an aptitude for angles, distances and speed when making croquet shots during a game with only 45 seconds to decide their next play. Applying these skills strengthens a player's physical and mental aptitude.
Affectionally, the new sport of croquet has been described as a combination of chess on grass, billiards, golf and war. As a result, players find the game is mentally challenging in every aspect of the sport and it's fun. Moreover, the new sport of croquet offers a relaxed social setting and atmosphere centered on competition, friendship, fellowship, and sport. All of which are important to one's health and well-being.
The sport of croquet is played throughout the US in tournaments sanctioned by the United States Croquet Association (USCA) and internationally by the World Croquet Federation (WCF). In addition to hosting regional and national tournaments, the SJCC envisions helping its members compete in interclub tournaments throughout Florida and across the US. The opportunities are great.
Winners of the 2021 Merion Croquet Invitational Tournament