Celebrating World Croquet Day

COUNTRIES around the globe will take up a mallet next weekend as clubs and community groups mark World Croquet Day on May 3.

The day was established by the World Croquet Federation (WCF), the international body for the sport, as a way of celebrating croquet with the aim of bringing people together to promote it.

Local clubs will also get behind the day, including the Belmont Croquet Club Inc who will open the gates to their courts for a free event.

Belmont Croquet Club promotions officer Janelle Morris said she hopes from the open day people will get a taste of the sport and what’s involved.

“Because it is a low-impact sport it can cover a range of people,” she said.

“Croquet is known as an old sport but we are keen to increase the demographic and get as wide of a range as possible.”

Each year the club holds their own event to mark the day, this year’s event is supported by a City of Greater Geelong Healthy and Connected Community Grant.

Using the grant, the club has also been able to purchase promotional signage and offer refreshments to its visitors.

Everybody is welcome to attend with the day aimed at people from age 10 and over, young children are required to be accompanied by an adult.

The Belmont Croquet Club is also home to life member Stephen Forster who was inducted into the Croquet Australia 2025 Hall of Fame.

“He is currently ranked at number 30 in the world for association croquet and as well as that, he curates our lawns and because of that, our courts are considered world class,” Ms Morris said.

“Whenever we hold a social event for affiliated players, our events always get full very quickly because people acknowledge how great our courts are to play on.”

The open day will run from 10am until 2pm at the Belmont Croquet Club.