Renowned as a finer pastime for the leisure class, croquet was typically played at quaint garden parties on sprawling country estates in The Hamptons. While the enjoyment of a lazy game on a sunny afternoon hasn’t lost its appeal, it can these days be taken a lot more seriously, thanks to an influx of croquet clubs.

In standard competitions, specific rules are used, an overview of these runs as follows: Each player has two balls, which they must aim to make pass through each of the hoops in order and hit the peg in the centre of the court. The balls must go through each hoop twice, once in each direction. As the hoops are less than 5 mm wider than the ball, control is key and the ball must be very close to the hoops. On your turn, you can make a hit on either of your two balls. If you can make either hit any of the other balls on the court you can earn yourself two further shots.

You will score a point for every time your ball runs through a hoop or hits the pegs in order – with 26 in all. Games are normally played until completed or ended after a specific time limit.

If you’re interested in joining a league, the Croquet Association of Queensland has a full list of clubs, but don’t forget to top off your team uniform with a boater hat and a tall glass of Pimm’s.

Image via MC Love Buddy.