The Tauranga Croquet Club is celebrating its centennial anniversary this Saturday and Sunday, October 29-30 – and we are in for some fun.

On Saturday, October 29, the club will host a Fun Tournament followed by a high tea, then a club tournament with a difference takes over on Sunday to celebrate the momentous milestone.

Tauranga Club President – and the longest serving club member – Gretchen Benvie is proud of the organisation's history.

'Croquet was first played in the Tauranga Domain in 1902 and at that time was part of the Bay of Plenty Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. It became more formalised in 1909,” says Gretchen, who has spent much time researching the club's history.

'In 1922 Tauranga Tennis and Croquet clubs split. The ladies in the croquet club decided to run their own affairs and their own club, so the Tauranga Croquet Club was established.”

Gretchen says the club is very active with regular club days. 'Our lawns are used by our club members four days a week – Tuesday, Friday, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoon. Other groups also use the lawns during the week. Plus, we have many tournaments and interclub events with local BOP clubs.

Gretchen, who joined the club in 1984, says croquet is a sport everyone can have a go at. 'Most people can play croquet to some degree. It's very easy to get involved in and very easy to get addicted to

'It's been said that croquet is a cross between chess, billiards and war. There's quite a bit of strategy, skills and tactics involved.”

Different kinds of croquet? There are many types of croquet but those popular are Golf Croquet and Association Croquet. 'We play Golf Croquet at our club which we introduced about 1999,” says Gretchen.

'Golf Croquet is easy to learn but there is a lot of strategy involved. So, while you're trying to score a hoop you are also trying to stop others from scoring it. To draw a parallel, it's a bit like snookering someone.”

And age is not a barrier. 'Many top players in the world are younger folk right from the age of 16 and up. Our oldest member, Max Hamilton, is 93. He's had a long association with the club with his mother joining in 1973.”

Croquet is very competitive in New Zealand, says Gretchen.

'Aside from numerous tournaments nationwide, The Tauranga Croquet Club will co-host, with Croquet Mount Maunganui, the Under 21 World Golf Croquet Championships February 2023.

'Spectators are always welcome to come and watch. If people are interested in having a go, we do like them to have some introduction lessons beforehand, which we can provide.”