[image: Beryl on the croquet lawn -- https://imagedelivery.net/IEMzXmjRvW0g933AN5ejrA/assetsbulletsitefiles-2405a74c-8df0-80e8-bf69-d01e79a7555a-attachmentd81320d6-da0a-4548-8861-11fb204214105ef6fed0-8ea1-40b3-b898-360397e84bd3jpg/public]

Retirement catches a lot of people off guard. You spend years thinking about how to get there, but not much time thinking about what you'll do when you arrive.

Try Croquet Before You Retire

Her mother had played croquet, so the game was already on Beryl's radar. The problem was fitting it in while she was still working full-time. Her solution? Find a version of the game that matched her schedule.

[image: Croquet club social scene -- https://imagedelivery.net/IEMzXmjRvW0g933AN5ejrA/assetsbulletsitefiles-2415a74c-8df0-804a-a326-fc83e8cf7474-attachment22461e6d-bee2-4306-ac56-9b91b897af7a5ef6fed0-8ea1-40b3-b898-360397e84bd3jpg/public]

"The only code that I could play at that stage was gateball because they played it Tuesday afternoons and Saturday afternoons."

This was a deliberate first step. She was building her future social life while still working. When her retirement day arrived, she already belonged somewhere. The passion was already growing.

[image: Beryl playing competitive croquet -- https://imagedelivery.net/IEMzXmjRvW0g933AN5ejrA/assetsbulletsitefiles-2415a74c-8df0-8066-932c-e2682a87314e-attachmentf2c93244-00b2-4931-b70b-f647574aa7e45f337382-6e50-4c49-9540-5c438eb77fb2jpg/public]

What started as a way to fill Tuesday afternoons turned into a second sporting life.

"The game matters, but the friendships matter more."

Nearly two decades later, croquet is still central to Beryl's life. She's travelled nationally and internationally for competitions. She mentors new players and helps run the club. All because she started before she retired.

[image: Beryl with croquet friends -- https://imagedelivery.net/IEMzXmjRvW0g933AN5ejrA/assetsbulletsitefiles-2415a74c-8df0-8089-b790-ca17c3d3d26f-attachment92c3aa23-c8da-4498-ba21-fa0c286dfec84fd90aa7-15ad-41d8-9aca-1139a4e939f2jpg/public]

Planning for retirement? Find a croquet club near you and arrange a visit. Find your nearest club