New for 2025
Six personalised 2-hour sessions learning Association Croquet

£5 per session for non-members

Members join free

Association Croquet (often referred to as AC) is a game of strategy, skill and taking calculated risks. 

If you would like to learn a ball game which involves both mind and body, this may be a challenge you will enjoy. And if you are a ball player who no longer wishes to risk injury in games like tennis, cricket or hockey, croquet offers you a completely safe form of exercise in good company and in pleasant surroundings.

Learning the full game can take time and effort, even with the benefit of helpful coaching.

Go at your own pace: We are offering six personalised sessions in the company of experienced AC players in our club.

Start simply: This set of sessions will give you time to acquire the basic skills, and learn the rules, for playing "Short Lawn Croquet", in the beautiful surroundings of the gardens at Levens Hall. A full game takes only up to one and a half hours, and it is played on a half-size lawn, making shots easier to execute than on a full-size lawn.

Tailored to your needs: The course suits complete newcomers. It is also for those who have played before and want to refresh their game, and will suit those who play the very different game of Golf Croquet and would like to have a go at AC.

Personalised learning and practice: You will have a personal contact at the club who will arrange your sessions. We have allocated Thursday mornings to give priority for this programme, but if you want to come at another time it will be arranged.

What will you do?: We find the best way to develop an understanding of croquet is Look and Try. We will break the game down into bits you can watch, try and practice. Putting those bits together, you will get a feeling for how the game works, and progress to playing the full game. By having an experienced partner to hand at all times, you will be able to develop your understanding and skills.

Getting to know other players: Over the course of the sessions we will be able to link you with different fellow-players so you have a range of other people's experiences to hear about and draw on.

Membership discount if you decide to join the club: Once you have completed sufficient sessions to decide if you want to join the club, we will deduct your session payments from your membership fee. Anyone joining the club mid-season will be offered a partial reduction on the full year fee. See our Membership page.

Taking it further: Within the club we offer social play 7 days a week, which can include both just coming along and practising on your own as well as playing against other members. Croquet has a handicap system, which gives new and developing players every chance of competing successfully against more experienced players. We have club competitions in both Golf Croquet and the different forms of Association Croquet. We play in North West leagues and new players will soon find themselves able to join a club team if they wish.

How to Join Up: Contact us and let us know you would like to join Come and Try Association Croquet. One of us will be in touch to arrange your first session. Payment will be £5 for each session completed if you are not yet a member.

What do I need?: No special clothing is required, so just dress for the weather, with footwear for grass which can be wet. We provide you with a mallet and the equipment on the lawns.