The Middle Peninsula Croquet Club in Mathews will hold a United States Croquet Association sanctioned tournament on the lawns at Redart this weekend.

The tournament begins Friday and ends Sunday afternoon. It’s open to the public at 1100 Lillies Lane.

A release said 28 players from across the country will play six-wicket or “American Style” croquet.

According to tournament director Macey White, “The modern game differs a little from the game we all played in our backyards as kids.  The wickets are solid steel and the openings are only 1/8 of an inch larger than the croquet balls.” He added, “Croquet is a great low impact sport. It takes good physical skill and strategy to play well. It takes a lot of the same skills as chess and pool combined.”

Club member John Priest described the courts as being like “flat putting greens.”

Club members routinely play at Redart on Sunday afternoons and anyone wanting to try the game...