Golf Croquet,  Golf croquet has a long history, it has experienced a recent resurgence of interest at all levels. There are now many golf croquet tournaments including regular world championships, so it is not just a beginner's game.
The basics of the game In games of croquet the blue and black balls play against red and yellow (if you are using secondary colours then it is green and brown, against pink and white). Games can either be singles or doubles. If it is doubles then each of the two partners has one ball.
Beginning Starting from corner 4 everyone is for the same hoop (hoop 1 - the blue one), and a point is scored for the side whose ball first runs the hoop in order. To run a hoop in order means to run it in the correct direction. The normal hoop order and direction applies. The order and direction that hoops are played are shown in the court diagram above.

Each person has only the one stroke in each turn. The balls are played in set colour sequence (blue, red, black, and then yellow). This sequence is shown by the colours on the peg. (If two games are being played on the same lawn then different coloured balls are used for the second game - in sequence green, pink, brown and white.)

Before the game there is a coin toss and the winner then plays blue 'the first ball' towards hoop one (H1), followed by the other player(s) in the game. By the second turn it is usual to find players trying to get right in front or even through the first hoop. As soon as one player makes that hoop, then all players contest the next in order.
Careful If a player is unable to make a hoop, and sees that an opponent might do so, there is a temptation to sneak towards the next hoop in order. There are penalties if they go more than half way there!
Jawsed It is not necessary for a ball to go through a hoop in one shot. Sticking in the jaws is okay until the next turn for that ball, BUT an opponent is allowed to knock the ball out. If the ball is knocked through the hoop by an opponent, the opponent gives the first player the point.
Games lengths The standard version is played as best of 13 hoops, so that the first side to 7 hoops is the winner(H1-H6, then Hoops 2,1,4,3,6,& 5 in the other direction.
Guide to Golf Croquet Tactics A very simple introduction to the tactics of golf croquet. There are skills in playing this version of the game and of particular importance is the ability to hit straight either in order to make hoops or knock other balls away.
Given the objective is to get through a hoop before the opponent, two basic strategies used to achieve this are;
1. Knock the opponent balls away.
2. Put your ball between the opponent's ball and the hoop or protect your other ball, if it is in a good position by getting between it and and the next-to-play opponent's ball.

Association Croquet,  An Outline - Association Croquet is played as a singles or doubles game in which two sides compete against each other by hitting balls through a sequence of 12 hoops. In singles one player takes two balls and in any turn decides to play whichever ball is better placed. In doubles, partners take one ball each but they must also decide which is the best ball to play during a turn. By playing a sequence of strokes, players may keep a turn going (a break) and complete several or all hoops in a single turn.
The game is won when two balls of one side complete all the hoops and "peg out", or if they are ahead when time is called.
The art of the game is to master the physical side of using a mallet to hit balls very accurately, and to be able to plan a winning strategy.
Scoring by making hoops - The balls are hit through six hoops in one direction (yellow line) and then through the same six hoops but in a reverse direction. The final shot is to hit the peg in the middle of the lawn. The side which "pegs out" both balls wins the game. Many games, though, are time limited. Then the side which scores the most hoops wins.
Sequences of strokes - Players make a sequence of shots by hitting their ball on to another (a roquet). The player then places their ball against the hit ball and plays a two-ball shot (a croquet shot) in order to get near another ball or a hoop. They then play a further shot (a continuation stroke) to try and hit yet another ball or pass through a hoop. Thus the sequence of shots is roquet, croquet and continuation.
Making breaks - In any one turn, a player may use any of the other three balls on the lawn once, in making the sequence of shots before making a hoop. When a hoop is made, the three other balls may be used again. By using a shot sequence, a player may move from one hoop to the next and thus make a whole series of hoops in the one turn - called a break. Coloured clips placed on hoops are used to mark a player's progress.
Use of strategy - The game involves considerable strategy in placing balls in order to make breaks, and skilled players can finish a game in a few turns. Many players do not achieve this level of skill, but can still play successfully against more skilled players in handicap games where they can have extra turns (called bisques) which reflect the differences in ability.
The game thus involves exercise, physical skill and the ability to develop a strategy for making breaks and winning games.
This is why it has be likened to a combination of chess and billiards played on lawns.
Some enjoy it for the social elements of club play, and others seek the competition. It is truly a game for all reasons.