Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 18, 1993                   TAG: 9305180179
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CROQUET CRAZE IS BIGTIME

Today, 5,000 players are members of the U.S. Croquet Association, nearly a quarter of them 60 and older.

The association, which was formed in 1977, has seen the number of croquet clubs climb steadily, with one new club forming every week. Currently, there are more than 300 clubs listed.

For the serious player, the croquet played at clubs is far different from the backyard variety of the game. Much like golf, there are handicaps. Skillful players count each stroke in their score, while less experienced players may deduct points based on the average of their previous performances.

The blue, red, black and yellow balls are hit on velvety, flat grass courts the quality of the finest putting greens. White clothes, including shoes, are a must. The sport can be played in singles or doubles. And most players prefer to buy their own mallet, paying $200 to $250.

Court time costs about $10 a day per person. While there are public courts in such far-reaching locales as New York City's Central Park; Greenwich, Conn., and Beverly Hills, Calif., most croquet courts are found at tony resorts and private country clubs or golf courses.

Skill, but not athletic ability, is required to hit the ball through the six cast-iron wickets positioned on the 105-by-84-foot court.

"We call it a life-extending sport," said Jack Osborn, founder of the U.S. Croquet Association, which is based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

"When a man starts losing yards on his golf drive, or a tennis player has an elbow that pains too much, croquet makes a wonderful alternative."