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What Your Loan Mallets Say About Your Club
If you invited a guest into your home for the first time, would you serve them tea in a chipped, stained, or cracked mug?
Most people wouldn't dream of it.
You’d offer them a nice, clean teacup because it sends a simple message: "We're happy you're here, and we value your company."
In the world of croquet, the loan mallet is your club's teacup.
The two main types of visitors a club welcomes
- the prospective member trying the sport for the first time, or
- a guest at a social function
The mallet they are handed is their primary connection to the game. It dictates their first impression not just of croquet, but of your club's hospitality and standards.
As part of a broader discussion on membership, the Croquet Association of Queensland (CAQ) is encouraging clubs to look closely at the equipment they provide to newcomers.
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Until then, stay safe. We hope you have a great summer waiting for you.
A tatty, splintered mallet with a worn-out grip doesn't just make hitting the ball more difficult; it sends an unspoken message that visitors are an afterthought. It can make them feel undervalued and diminish the potential joy of the game, no matter how friendly the welcome.
Conversely, a well-balanced, solid mallet with a comfortable grip immediately enhances the experience. It tells your guest that you care about their enjoyment and that your club takes pride in what it does. It helps them connect with the ball more cleanly, experience the satisfaction of a good shot, and leave with a far more positive memory.
Ultimately, the goal is simple: to ensure that every person who visits a Queensland croquet club feels welcomed, valued, and has the best possible chance to fall in love with the sport.
- Michael Eddiehausen, CAQ President
Create welcoming mallets cheaply
Many clubs are already demonstrating that a small amount of effort can yield fantastic results. An older mallet can be given a new lease on life with a little volunteer effort.
Simple fixes include:
- Sanding back and re-varnishing the mallet heads and shafts to make them look and feel fresh.
It is a relatively simple process that can be completed with some sandpaper, paint brush and varnish from Bunnings.
- Replacing worn grips. Comfortable and durable grips are readily available from tennis and hockey shops. They should be able to fit them for you too.
- Engaging the community. Has your club considered partnering with a local Men’s Shed? Their members often have the skills and tools to assist with refurbishing a batch of mallets.
Ask around your club and see if someone would like to help give your mallets a new lease on life.
This small investment of time and resources is a crucial step in fostering a welcoming environment that encourages newcomers to return.
We’d love to know, what is the current state of your club’s loan mallets? Good and bad. Do you feel it makes a difference in having potential members join your club?
[Discuss your club mallets here: www.clubhub.caq.org.au//discussions/club-mallets]
A Key Part of a Bigger Welcome
This focus on equipment quality is a foundational piece of a larger membership drive. CAQ is currently developing comeandtrycroquet.com, an upcoming online portal designed to make it easier than ever for people to find and connect with their local croquet club.
As we prepare to welcome a new wave of potential members, ensuring their first on-lawn experience is positive is paramount.
When a new player, who has been excitedly receiving information about croquet arrives at your club, the mallet you hand them will be a critical part of their story.
Join the Conversation on Club Hub
To help pool our collective knowledge and support each other, we have created a dedicated space on Club Hub for club volunteers to discuss this very topic.
[Discuss your club mallets here: www.clubhub.caq.org.au//discussions/club-mallets]
We want to hear from you.
Go to our ClubHub forum to share your experiences and ideas.
- What do your loan mallets look like? Send us a photo, good or bad!
- What's the story behind your mallets? If you have a great set, how did you get them? Was it through a grant, a donation, or a club project?
- Do you know how to put a new grip on a mallet? Share your tips or ask for advice.
- Would a directory of available mallet types be a useful resource for your club when considering new purchases?
Your input will help create a valuable resource for all 42 clubs across Queensland, fostering cooperation through communication.
[Discuss your club mallets here: www.clubhub.caq.org.au//discussions/club-mallets]
Ultimately, the goal is simple: to ensure that every person who visits a Queensland croquet club feels welcomed, valued, and has the best possible chance to fall in love with the sport.
- Michael Eddiehausen, CAQ President
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