Croquet England begins working with the National Trust
Croquet England is proud to announce it’s working with the National Trust on a new collaboration, which hopes to encourage more people to play more croquet, in more places. The world will be celebrating 90 years of Golf Croquet on 14th December 2023, from family members to World Championship players, everyone can enjoy the sport of Croquet.
Getting more people playing more croquet, in more places!
Croquet England has always encouraged people to give croquet a try, whether it’s in the garden, at college or by visiting a local club. Now, as part of a new collaboration with the National Trust, Croquet England are promoting even more places to try croquet. Visiting the beautiful surroundings of a National Trust property, can be the perfect way to discover croquet, some of which have a unique croquet history of their own.
The National Trust charity offers croquet in the grounds of many of the sites in its care around the country, giving people a taster and introduction to the sport, especially in the warmer spring and summer months.
The National Trust has a special role in the story of croquet. The rules were codified at Chastleton House and Gardens in Oxfordshire, by Walter Whitmore Jones in 1866. Jones was born and lived at Chastleton, and had a passion for inventing games. Chastleton is now in the care of the National Trust and is one of the sites where visitors can enjoy a game of croquet with friends.
Golf Croquet hosts 5 World Championship events, The World Championship, Team World Championship, Women’s, Over 50s and Under 21s. Many players from around the world started their Croquet journey in the garden with family members or at college with friends and will now be members of associated Croquet Clubs. With the help of the National Trust, our next World Champion could have been introduced to the sport at a property near you.
The current World Champion, Matthew Essick from USA, is 24 and has played Croquet since he was a child, but only played in his first Golf Croquet World Championship in 2022 which he then went on to win.
In a recent interview he praised Croquet for being not just an exciting and competitive sport to play, “The unity within the community is different than in other sports”, and playing in the events is not just about competition, but about encouraging other players to succeed as well.
Just search croquet to find a National Trust site near you, the best time of year to visit for a game is during spring and autumn.’ Home | National Trust
Image of Blickling Estate in Norfolk| National Trust Images
