The 6 empty practice courts along Bathgate Road are ready to get into the spotlight once more. It’s time to croquet again.
So how did this All-England Club form? Its full name is actually The All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It all began on July 23, 1868. It was just a normal day when 6 men met in a magazine office in London. At first, they only played croquet, but once tennis started trending around England, they decided to join and add tennis to their club. Soon, they stopped playing croquet and just focused on tennis. But the word “croquet” in the name just sort of stuck there.
However, as of July 18th, 2022, the club is bringing back croquet. Many people (especially the players) are ready to get back on the smooth grassy hills with their wood mallets in hand as they get ready to aim with the ball.
“It’s the game that grabs you,” says Jonathan Smith. Smith used to be a pretty famous tennis player, but once he decided to retire he didn’t know what to expect in the future. It was only when a buddy of his took him to a croquet place and taught him how to play that he knew what he wanted to do.
Smith instantly fell deeply in love with the game. He even admitted that when he scored goals, he would act like a “very happy bunny”.
Smith also talked about croquet player Reg Bamford, saying that he loved playing so much that, “He actually hit the peg 65 times consecutively, and then he stopped for lunch.”
Even though croquet may seem like an “old fashioned” or “ancient” game, it is still played throughout the world. If this trend of croquet playing continues, maybe it’ll stay that way.
So how did this All-England Club form? Its full name is actually The All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It all began on July 23, 1868. It was just a normal day when 6 men met in a magazine office in London. At first, they only played croquet, but once tennis started trending around England, they decided to join and add tennis to their club. Soon, they stopped playing croquet and just focused on tennis. But the word “croquet” in the name just sort of stuck there.
However, as of July 18th, 2022, the club is bringing back croquet. Many people (especially the players) are ready to get back on the smooth grassy hills with their wood mallets in hand as they get ready to aim with the ball.
“It’s the game that grabs you,” says Jonathan Smith. Smith used to be a pretty famous tennis player, but once he decided to retire he didn’t know what to expect in the future. It was only when a buddy of his took him to a croquet place and taught him how to play that he knew what he wanted to do.
Smith instantly fell deeply in love with the game. He even admitted that when he scored goals, he would act like a “very happy bunny”.
Smith also talked about croquet player Reg Bamford, saying that he loved playing so much that, “He actually hit the peg 65 times consecutively, and then he stopped for lunch.”
Even though croquet may seem like an “old fashioned” or “ancient” game, it is still played throughout the world. If this trend of croquet playing continues, maybe it’ll stay that way.