For Maria Watermeyer, co-chairperson of the Croquet Club at Marks Park, croquet provides as much mental exercise as outdoor recreation.

That was the message at Marks Park Sports Club, where the Croquet Club held its first open day to introduce the community to a sport Watermeyer describes as a blend of strategy, precision, problem-solving and fun.

Read more: Croquet hits the sweet spot at Marks Park open day

Watermeyer said the open day gave people an opportunity to step onto the court, try the sport and enjoy time outside with others. For newcomers, the sport can appear unfamiliar, but Watermeyer said its appeal lies in the decisions players have to make throughout a match.

Every game presents a new problem. Watermeyer said one of the aspects she enjoys most is that players cannot simply rely on the same approach every time. “The problem-solving I enjoy. The problem-solving is that it’s never the same game…and there’s also teamwork involved,” she said.

Players can compete in singles or doubles, with each format requiring a different approach. In singles, players use two balls each, while doubles players use one ball each. For Watermeyer, however, competition is only one part of the experience. The sport also offers an opportunity to spend time outside and connect with other people.

She said newcomers should not try to understand the sport from the sidelines. “The only way they’re going to experience it is to actually come,” she said. “In anything you do in life, you can’t experience anything until you actually do it.”

Also read: Croquet on Marks Park Sport Club greens

Watermeyer encouraged curious residents to spend just over an hour on the court and decide for themselves whether they enjoy croquet. For those who have never picked up a mallet, her message is simple: give it a try.

Croquet may look quiet from the outside, but once the game begins, every shot can become another puzzle to solve.

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