CROQUET IN THE GARDEN?
DAVID CORNES Croquet sports journalist
For a northern based croquet loving couple 2025 was very stressful for my wife and me. The process of selling up, buying and renovating a new home with many (unexpected) additional works is probably well known to most readers. For us, as a consequence, competitive croquet play had to take a back seat, except for me having the pleasure of representing Bowdon CC in the National GC Inter-Club final against Roehampton, in late September down at Cheltenham. By early December, with most of the house internal work heading towards completion, our thoughts turned to an outside area which was originally overgrown with fruit trees and on uneven ground. Over the years I've had several conversations with croquet players who have some sort of "home" practice mechanism, but never thought we would be able to consider having something built in our own "back yard". Surely cost would be inhibitive and to re-create a quality croquet lawn would be extremely challenging? Well, as you will see, the end product satisfies both concerns. Initial enquiries were made with a local company (Hi-Tech Turf based near Chester) specialising in artificial grass projects including children’s play areas, golf greens and driving ranges. The owner came for a site visit and confirmed that a croquet practice area, up to 4 metres wide (standard width of their grass), could be constructed and it should provide many years of use. What have we ended up with? A fast paced and flat lawn area with good drainage. The lawn measures 13 feet (4 metres) wide by 30 feet (10 metres). The distance from one end boundary to the Ultra Hoop (set in concrete at 1/32 inch) is 23 feet. The lawn's perimeter, near the hoop, is cushioned with schools playground matting so the noise from balls hitting it is minimal. The rest of the lawn has boundary stops (3 by 2 inch wood). How was it constructed? Over a two-day period Hi-Tech Turf completed tasks including:
• Removal of existing lawn area, reducing levels and place excess into a skip • Blind off (harden) area with crushed rock, compact and level • Install sleepers and surround barriers to stop the ball leaving the lawn • Install a new composite plastic frame to the perimeter of the lawn (this is not visible but anchors down the Turf) • Blind off area with type 1 mot crushed rock, compact and level • Install "Terram" weed fabric and fix down • Blind off area with crushed slate, compact and level • Install new schools turf, Cut to the perimeter frame and fix down • Lightly sand dress the top side of turf pile (giving the turf stability, help to hold it in place and upright) • Power brush to finish
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www.croquetengland.org.uk | 6
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