New members spend their first year finding their level on club days

The Come and Try course at comeandtrycroquet.com is free and runs for three weeks, with all equipment provided. When it finishes, clubs invite people back to a club day and talk with them about joining. For many, that is where the first year begins.

### The first months

New members play on the club's regular play days. Play times vary from club to club. The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable.

New members learn a lot by watching other people's games.

### Finding your level

In golf croquet, every player has a handicap. The scale runs from 20 for a beginner down to -6 for the best players. A new member starts high on that scale, and a first handicap is set by a "three times round" test.

Each player also has an index. Winning games raises it, and when it reaches a set point, the handicap comes down automatically. This is what makes the game fair. A beginner can play a fair game against someone who has played for years.

Some clubs also pair players of similar handicap in club games, so a new player is not always up against someone far more experienced.

### Gala days

Gala days are social one-day events hosted by a club, with players coming from other clubs. Morning and afternoon tea is often included.

Eildon's first golf croquet gala day of 2026 drew 32 players from Eildon and seven other clubs. Four Eildon members played their first gala day there. You can read the Eildon report on Hoopla.

### Later in the year

Club tournaments and championships come round during the year. Some members enter every one. Others never do, and both are fine.

### The years ahead

The basics of croquet take only minutes to learn. After that, there is always a new level to reach for, and many people keep playing for decades.