Mallets in Motion
According to the United States Croquet Association (USCA), America’s national governing body for the sport, croquet boasts nearly 10,000 players on more than 600 greens in the U.S. and Canada. There are different versions of the sport - each with its own rules and regulations - as well as different layouts for the goalposts, known as wickets.
Beyond the sheer fun of the game, as well as the challenge of tournament play, studies have shown several health benefits to playing croquet.
A low-impact activity, it involves walking, bending and swinging and helps improve cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, muscle tone and joint mobility. Croquet enhances hand-eye coordination and balance. The relaxed pace, combined with fresh air, can help reduce stress. The game requires strategic thinking and concentration, which can boost cognitive function. And, because croquet is typically played in groups, it fosters social connections, which improve overall well-being.
In October 2022, 63-year-old Greg Fisher, an avid tennis player and resident of Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, faced a setback when a torn meniscus in his knee sidelined him from the sport he loved.
Seeking expert care, Fisher consulted with Brendan Murphy, PA, Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Center. Together, they decided on a rehabilitation course that included physical therapy and daily exercises. With tennis off-limits for the time being, Fisher received clearance to play croquet at Mission Hills, which, coincidentally, is home to a thriving croquet community.
Murphy explains that patients who have setbacks such as Fisher, or those who have arthritic challenges, are still advised to remain active.
“The goal is to get the patient back to whatever activity they love,” says Murphy. “But if it causes them too much pain and we can’t control it with our nonsurgical modalities, then we have to consider either a surgical solution or modify their activities.”
Within a year and a half, Fisher won the 2024 USCA Western Region Golf Croquet Regional Championship that qualified him to play in the USCA Nationals (held that year at Mission Hills)
and reached a ranking of 90 in the nation in singles play.
Greg’s wife, Francine, has been actively involved in the croquet club since they first moved to Mission Hills in 2019. She notes that when everyone was in the pandemic lock down, croquet players were outside playing in masks and gloves. The game has also been a critical step in her recovery from recent foot surgery.
“I was never encouraged to play competitive sports, but now with croquet I’m out on the court at least three times a week; it gets me moving and I feel better,” Francine says.
Her drive to improve at croquet has even motivated her to engage in low-impact workouts and weight exercises at the country club’s sports facility.
Greg also incorporates stretching exercises and lunges into his warm-up routine and has since returned to playing tennis.
“I can play tennis in the morning and then croquet in the afternoon - it’s a great combination,” he says.
Of the different variations, Francine notes that Golf Croquet is the most popular and the easiest to learn. American Croquet is the principal game of the USCA and is also known as Six-Wicket Croquet. Association Croquet is played worldwide and in most international competitions.
Ches Gibson, former Director of Racquet Sports at Mission Hills Country Club, oversaw the croquet program, which the USCA recently designated as the USA Croquet Club of the Year and boasts a dedicated croquet teaching professional. Weekly croquet clinics are open to sports club members who wish to try their hand at the sport.
“When members get a taste of croquet, it inspires them to play more, which I love because it keeps them active, both physically and mentally,” Gibson says.
To learn more about croquet, visit the United States Croquet Association website at CroquetAmerica.com.
