With the affiliation of Muritai Club at the Bi-Annual General Meeting on 16th September 2009 the Wellington Croquet Association (WCA) now has 11 member clubs, comprising three in the Wellington City area, five in the Hutt Valley and three on the Kapiti Coast. With a combined playing membership of 496 it is the largest Association in New Zealand.
Regular club days are held, both midweek and weekend, giving members the opportunity to take part in either, or both, of the game’s two codes; Association Croquet (the strategic version where many hoops can be made in one turn) or Golf Croquet (the version which can be more social and is quicker, both to learn and to play).
Until recently Association Croquet was the only version played competitively at clubs in New Zealand but the popularity of Golf Croquet is growing in leaps and bounds with competition opportunities expanding rapidly. Most clubs are happy to host work or family groups who usually play Golf Croquet. Participants have commented enthusiastically on this relaxed and competitive way of mingling together while having a great deal of fun at a fraction of the cost of more traditional outings.
All clubs hold open days when anyone who is interested, or curious, is given the chance to Have-a-Go. A frequent comment heard on these days is “We used to do this on my grandmother’s lawn when I was a kid and we had such a lot of fun”. Clubs hold these Have-a-Go days at various times throughout the season. The sessions are free of charge, the only requirement being that flat-soled shoes are worn.
Clubs all provide lessons for beginners and, for those who become a member the first year’s subscription is reduced for ‘New to Croquet’ players.
Croquet is definitely ‘The Game for Life’. It is not uncommon to see a teenager playing against a septuagenarian with neither having to make compassionate concessions because of the other's age.