Sorrento Croquet
The Sorrento croquet court is for the exclusive use of VIA members. Please purchase your membership here.
Croquet 2025 Programs and Court Availability
-
Mondays: Court is open.
-
Tuesdays: Instructional clinic from 9-10:30, then court is open.
-
Wednesdays: Court is open.
-
Thursdays: Supervised play from 1:30-3:30. Court is open the rest of the day.
-
Fridays: Midday Wickets 11:30-1:00 every other Friday starting 7/5, then court is open
-
Saturdays: Instructional clinic from 10-11:30, then court is open.
-
Sundays: Court is open.
Midday Wickets at 11:30-1:00 every other Friday starting July 11th is a relaxed session of Golf Croquet for players of all skill levels with snacks, light lunch and refreshments available in the courtside cabana. Instructional assistance will always be available if wanted at these sessions. It’s fun and social.
We are working on scheduling a Kid’s clinic and a Golf Croquet Play Day and will announce details for each once interest is confirmed and times are established.
There is a sign-up “white board” in the Croquet Cabana where players can sign up for 1.5 hour time slots for any times when there are no scheduled clinics or events.
There are at least four types of games played today, combining elements of chess (strategy), golf (putting), and pool (execution) played on grass. The first is the more traditional 9 wicket game that you might have played in your backyard. The second is "golf croquet," the simplest and easiest version to learn and the game played by the overwhelming number of players today in the US. The third is "association croquet"— the game most commonly played everywhere in the world, except the US. The fourth is so-called "American rules" or six-wicket croquet. “American Rules” and “Golf” croquet are the games most often taught and played on the courts in Sorrento and Woodlawn in Ellsworth.
One of the main reasons that Sorrento's beautiful court was built several years ago was because the game can be learned and played by men and women of all ages, and can be especially fun and interesting for retirees from the golf course or tennis court.
What is Croquet?
What Do I Need to Get Started?
How Can I Learn the Game?
On the equipment side, all you need is a mallet and sneakers or rubber-soled shoes.
There are several mallets available in a mallet rack on the northern wall of the Croquet Cabana, or you can go to the U.S. Croquet Association website and find recommended mallets for purchase online.
The court will be set up all summer so there is no need to worry about the wickets. The balls, clips, timers and "deadness boards" are all available in the gray equipment locker on the floor of the Cabana.
Each week clinics are available to teach how to play both golf and “American Rules”/“Six Wicket”.
Instructors are drawn from experienced Sorrento players. Each week there will also be an "exhibition" matches following the Tuesday clinics played by some of the better players from Sorrento and Woodlawn. A lot can be learned about these games by watching these exhibitions.
While the games of croquet can be challenging and competitive, there is also great enjoyment experienced by players of all skill levels who use the sport as a relaxed and informal social activity. On the Sorrento court, we promote both the social and competitive aspects of the sport. We welcome one and all to join us at the court to play croquet.
Watch this site and the bulletin board at the court for further details.