Newcomers settle into club life during Come and Try

The Come and Try course is free and runs for three weeks. Something shifts in that short time.

In the first week, everything is new. Newcomers think about the rules, such as stepping on the line or hitting the wrong ball.

By the last week, the questions are different. Attention moves away from how to hold the mallet and towards where to send the ball. Newcomers know who to ask when they are unsure. They know where the good mallets are kept. They even know how the tea roster works.

The game has not changed. The newcomer has. Croquet was something they were trying, and now it is something they do. That is the difference between a visitor and a player.

When the course ends, there is a choice: keep playing or not. There is no pressure and no hard sell. Joining is simple, and anyone who needs more time is still welcome at the club.

Friends who have not tried it yet can book at comeandtrycroquet.com.

Enjoy the final week. You belong here.