history of croquet

  • 1100 BCE

    12th and 13th centuries

    In southern France, under different names such as jeu de la crosse and paille maille.
    It was played in monasteries and gardens using primitive sticks and balls.
  • 1350

    14th century

    Croquet spread through Normandy, Flanders and other parts of Europe.
    Nobles and royalty began to play
  • 1830

    In Ireland, the game was know as crooky.
    It started to formalize with more defined rules.
  • 1835

    the term "croquet" was used for the first time in Ireland
  • 1851

    M. Spratt published the first written rules of croquet.
  • 1857

    John Jaques edited the rules, creating the first croquet rulebook.
  • 1868

    First croquet club (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club) founded in Wimbledon.
  • 1870

    The first well-documented croquet championship was held in Wimbledon.
    This event increase the game's popularity.
  • 1882

    The Croquet Association was established in England.
    Regular Championships and tournaments began to be organized.
  • 1900

    Croquet was included in the Paris Olympic Games.
    It was the only time croquet was played in the Olympic Games.
  • 1926

    In Gijón, Spain, the first organized croquet group was created.
  • 1986

    The World Croquet Federation (WCF) was founded, which organizes international competitions.
    The WCF works to unify the rules and promote croquet globally.
  • 1994

    The Asociación Española de Croquet (AEC) was founded.
    The AEC has worked to popularize croquet in Spain and organize national events.
  • 1995

    First Spanish AC Croquet Championship in Gijón.
  • 1997

    The croquet association celebrated the first centenary of its founding.
    Special events were held to commemorate the occasion.
  • 2006

    First World Golf Croquet Championship, held in Italy.
  • 2022

    Last National Golf Croquet Championship took place in May, at Highlands Falls Croquet Club, North Carolina and United States.
  • 2024

    The World Golf Croquet Championship was held in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.
    Blake Fields was the winner.