¤ Start just in front of the Finishing Stake. ¤ Hit your ball through the wickets in the official path of play. ¤ Each time you make it through a wicket, you get another shot. ¤ Play through to the other end, where you must hit the Turning Stake with your ball. ¤ Turn around now, and go backwards. ¤ The first person to hit the finishing stake after their ball has passed through all the wickets (in the right order) wins!

NOTE: If your ball strikes another, you can take another shot OR you can be strategic and place your own ball next to theirs, brace it with your foot, and send their ball far away by hitting your own ball with your mallet. It’s the competitive person’s way to gain the upper hand.

Croquet as a public sport suffered a setback in the 1890's

when the Boston clergy spoke out against the drinking,

gambling, and licentious behavior associated with it.

James Deering stocked up on liquor, despite Miami being

a “dry” county and National Prohibition looming, so he

likely didn’t care that croquet was a drinking man’s game.

Some history

How to play: Croquet