A croquet club is a small group that soon knows your name

If you have been thinking about joining a club, somewhere to go each week and people to see, a croquet club is worth a look.

A croquet club is a small group, a few dozen members who share the lawn on the same set days each week. Because the same people turn up on the same days, a newcomer does not stay new for long. You soon become a regular, and people know you by name.

A club day follows a simple pattern. First you play. Then you stay for tea and a chat. For many members, that cup of tea after play is a large part of why they keep coming back.

Men and women play together. Croquet is one of the few outdoor sports where they compete on level terms, sharing the same lawn and the same games.

You do not need any experience. You do not need to have played anything before, and you do not need to be fit or fast.

On your first visit, a club member shows you how to hold a mallet and hit a ball. Then you join a friendly game, with someone to help if you get stuck. The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable.

Croquet is played at walking pace. You walk around the lawn and swing a mallet. There is no running and no jumping. You can go at your own pace and rest whenever you want.

There is nothing to buy, either. Clubs provide the mallets and balls for new players. The one firm rule is about shoes: wear flat-soled, enclosed shoes. Sneakers or trainers are ideal.

Croquet comes in two forms, called codes.

Golf Croquet is the simpler one. It is easy to learn, a game can be played in under an hour, and it is where most newcomers start.

Association Croquet is the original form of the game. It is more complex and more strategic.

Some players enjoy both codes. Whichever you choose, the basics of croquet take minutes to learn, yet there is always a new level to reach for, and many people play for decades.

The easiest way in is the free 3-week beginner course at comeandtrycroquet.com. All equipment is provided and no experience is needed.

Booking is simple. You enter your name, email and postcode, and the website finds your nearest club and shows you the times. Once you book, a text message confirms it. The session itself is a gentle taste of the game, usually one-on-one or in a small group: a mallet, a ball and a cup of tea.

Queensland has 41 croquet clubs spread across the state. You will find them in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, in Central Queensland and in Wide Bay Burnett. With clubs in so many places, the odds are good that one is near you.

Book your free beginner course at comeandtrycroquet.com, where your postcode will find your nearest club. You can also browse Queensland clubs at clubhub.croquetqld.org.

The only thing you need to bring is a pair of flat shoes.