News

News Articles

12:01:46 am Mallet Club to Play in Marion

Categories: Marion

Are you looking for a sport that requires a lot of foresight and logic? Are you timid when it comes to strenuous activity, but still crave the interaction of a competitive sport? Then American “Six-Wicket” croquet may be the activity for you.

The Marion Mallet Club, a local group dedicated to American six-wicket croquet, is an enthusiastic group of croquet players who play by the rules of the United States Croquet Association. The sport, which tends to elicit British connotations, is actually enjoyed by Americans as well, and isn’t just a backyard sport. The “backyard” laissez-faire version of croquet is the nine-wicket game, which is a far cry from the more competitive six-wicket version that the Marion Mallet Club will demonstrate in their end-of-July tournament.

“Anyone interested in learning the game, this is their chance,” said Mallet Club member Ruth Nicolaci. The group, which has been around since 1990, consists of 52 members and meets on a regular basis to play what Ms. Nicolaci calls “chess on grass”. Since the sport is so strategy-based, it is considered a particularly intelligent game, much like chess.

According to the United States Croquet Association, American croquet is played by up to 10,000 people in North America and is gaining in popularity. In nine-wicket American croquet, the player uses inexpensive croquet mallets, stakes and six balls, and approaches the game from a casual, social standpoint. In the six-wicket game, however, the shots are more difficult, only four balls are used, and the equipment is more heavy-duty.

The Marion Mallet Club was formed as a collaboration of the Sippican Chowder Marching Band and the Croquet Club. Nowadays, they find themselves playing an increasingly popular game, and hope that even more players will join them. Even though the six-wicket game is a little more competitive, Ms. Nicolaci said that the game is mostly “informal and fun… You don’t need a lot of athletic ability. You just need to think.”

The Marion Mallet Club court is 105-feet by 80-feet, and they cut that space in half to play doubles. “This is becoming more and more popular,” said Ms. Nicolaci, who urged people to attend their tournaments on Saturday and Sunday, July 31 (8:30 am to 5:30 pm) and August 1 (9:30 am to 12:00 pm). The first day will be tournaments, and the second day will be tournament finals. Both days of action will be at the Mallet Club court, located on Holmes Street in Marion, across the street from the Sippican Tennis Club.

“There are always people around to explain the game,” said Ms. Nicolaci, but for those who want to study ahead of time, the United States Croquet Association has a comprehensive list of American Croquet rules (which differ somewhat from International and Golf croquet rules), on their website: www.croquetamerica.com. The website also includes a video tutorial on the game, and other resources for learning American croquet.

Right now, all the Marion tournament games are filled, so the Mallet Club is particularly looking for spectators. “Just come and cheer,” said Ms. Nicolaci. If you like what you see, feel free to ask one of the members at the tournament about joining, or contact club president Barbara Claff at BarbaraClaff@aol.com. The Mallet Club typically has their practices, referred to as “High/Low” games, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

By Anne O’Brien-Kakley

Send feedback » • Permalink

Comments:

No Comments for this post yet...

Leave a comment:

[Contact] [Log in] [Admin]