San Francisco Croquet Club

Synopsis of SFCC Golf Croquet

There are several versions of croquet played around the world. Most people in the U.S. who have played croquet before, probably played the backyard, nine hoop version popular in yards and parks across America. Unless otherwise requested, we use a simpler version of croquet for private events called Golf Croquet.

After a brief explanation of the rules, we'll just jump in and start playing. It is very easy to learn and play even for people who have never payed croquet of any type before. It's also lots of fun and just challenging enough to provide moments of triumph!

How To Play

Golf Croquet is played between two sides — the blue and black balls versus the red and yellow balls. In singles each player plays two balls; in doubles each player plays the same ball throughout the game.

The object is to be the first side to score four points. A side scores a point when one of its balls is the first to pass through the next hoop in sequence, as shown in the illustration. Note that each hoop is scored by only one ball, so that both sides are always contesting the same hoop.

If after scoring six points the game is tied at three all, hoop #1 is contested again to break the tie.

Play is made by striking a ball with a mallet. The player who is playing a turn is called the striker, and the ball in play for that turn is the striker's ball. Turns are played in the sequence blue, red, black, yellow. This sequence of colors is painted on the peg in the center of the court. Each turn consists of one, and only one, stroke. There are no extra shots earned by hitting other balls with your ball or scoring a hoop with your ball. One turn, one stroke.

The striker must strike the ball with one of the mallet's two end faces, never with a side face or the shaft. The striker must strike the ball cleanly and only once during the stroke.

Starting the Game

The game begins with a coin toss. The side that wins can choose to go either first or second. If you choose to go first, you and your partner play the blue and black balls, your opponents, red and yellow. The blue ball plays first. Each ball is played into the game from anywhere within one meter "box" in corner four by hoop #4.

Once you choose you ball (color), that is the only ball you can hit or even touch with your mallet. If you do make mallet contact with another ball, your turn is over. The balls are replaced, if they moved, and you lose that turn.

Scoring Points

A ball scores a point for its side by being the first ball to pass through the contested hoop in the right, scoring direction. If the striker's ball causes another ball to run the hoop, the point is counted for the side whose ball ran the hoop. If two balls pass through the hoop on the same stroke, the point is scored by the ball that goes through the hoop first.

Out of Bounds

A ball goes out of bounds as soon as it crosses over the boundary string. When a ball goes out, it is then brought back in and placed just inside the boundary nearest to where it crossed the string.

The Halfway Rule

When a hoop is scored, any ball more than halfway to the next hoop is an offside ball.

When you have an offside ball, your opponent has the option of making you place that ball on one of the two penalty spots before you play that ball again, the opponent choosing which penalty spot. The penalty spots are on the Left and Right boundaries, even with the peg.

A ball can stay more than halfway if it reached its position after running a hoop and scoring a point, after making contact with an opponent's ball before stopping more than halfway, or after being moved to that position by an opponent's ball.

The Win!

The first team to score four points wins. If there is a 3-3 tie after hoop six is scored, all the balls, still playing in order and from where they lay, play back to contest hoop #1 again. The first team to score, wins, 4-3.