oaklandcroquet@yahoo.com
The Oakland Croquet Club (OCC) is located in Lakeside Park by Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. We play on the back lawn of the historic Oakland Lawn Bowling Club. The OCC plays the three major varieties of croquet: American Rules, Association/International Rules and Golf Croquet. Our mission, along with our sister club, the San Francisco Croquet Club, is to promote croquet locally, nationally and internationally.
The OCC is a member of the United States Croquet Association. Other USCA members are welcome to come by and play, just let us know when you are in the area. Indeed, visitors are always welcome. We offer a free Introduction to Croquet Class on the last Sunday of every month. But don't feel you have to wait. If you're passing by, stop and check out croquet.
We host tournaments and private parties on our first-class lawn with professional grade equipment. All in all, the Oakland Croquet Club provides a premium croquet experience to our Oakland community.
All members have access to our equipment and use of our tournament grade mallets. Challenging, competitive play is available to both the casual, occasional players and to players looking to compete in national tournaments.
No croquet experience is required to join. There is a free Introduction to Croquet Class to help you get started. We have an active, social membership. You'll always find other members at your level who can give you a good game.
Members have the option of joining the nation croquet organization, the United States Croquet Association (USCA). USCA Membership is not required, but it does offer some privileges to its members, primarily the ability to compete in USCA sanctioned tournaments and a discounted membership rate at some other USCA members clubs.
OCC Membership is available at several levels:
Regular
$180.00 a year
Membership includes: all club privileges, USCA voting rights and USCA membership.
Limited
$75.00 a year
Membership includes invitations to most club events and activities (USCA sanctioned tournament entry requires USCA membership).
Affiliate
$50.00 a year
For students or players with primary membership at another USCA affiliated club. USCA voting rights and USCA membership are not included at this level
Thursday - Sunday - Monday
There is regularly scheduled play on these days starting about 1:00pm. Players of all skill levels are encouraged to come out and play. The vibe is informal. Drop-ins are welcome and snacks are encouraged.
Club Day
We hold a Club Day once a month, usually on the last Sunday of the month. All members are invited out for a day of croquet and a pot-luck lunch. Members are encouraged to bring along fiends and family. Walk on guests are also welcome. Play starts about 10:00am.
Other Play
Members are free to arrange play or practice anytime unless the lawn is otherwise reserved for a special event or hosting a private party. The club also holds intra-club tournaments several times during the year, to which we invite players from some other Bay Area clubs to mix things up a bit.
Free Introduction to Croquet Class
A free introduction to croquet class is held on the last Sunday of each month. The OCC provides everything you'll need for the class, just be sure to wear flat-soled
shoes.
Reservations are needed to attend these free classes, so if you wish to attend please contact us and reserve a space. Feel free to bring along a friend or two!
No. The Oakland Croquet Club provides all the equipment you'll need to play, including mallets.
The Oakland Croquet Club is located in Lakeside Park by Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. Directions
Nothing. Guests are not charged to play. However, if you plan to play regularly, we do ask that you join the club.
No. There is no specific dress code. We do require that members and guests wear flat soled shoes.
Yes. There is regularly scheduled play during the week and weekends.
Sure. We love visitors from other clubs!
We play all year, weather permitting.
Yes. The law is available for private parties and/or team building events.
- Events can be scheduled for any time of year during daylight hours, weather permitting.
- The club provides a complete program - all the equipment setups and instruction.
- The club can also design a croquet program for an offsite venue of your own choosing.
We do not offer catering, but you are welcome either to bring food and drinks to the lawn or to have them delivered to the lawn.
The dress code is "comfortable". Flat shoes are required.
Parking is allowed inside the park from 7:30am until dusk but there is a fee:
- $3.00 every two hours weekdays.
- $12.00 all day parking during weekdays.
- $5.00 Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
There ares several travel alternatives to get to the park.
Whether traveling east or west, take the Grand Ave, exit, then turn right at the first stoplight onto Grand Avenue. Follow Grand Ave. west and the park will be on the left. Turn left onto Bellevue to enter the park.
AC Transit Line #12 stops at Grand Avenue and Bellevue Avenue, but a better option is the stop at Grand Ave. and Perkins St. There is a path there that will take you into the park and right to the lawn.
The 19th Ave. BART station is a twenty (20) minute walk from the lawn. Or catch the AC Line #12 bus at the nearby stop on Broadway.
Local Clubs
THE SAN FRANCISCO CROQUET CLUB
- Just across the Bay, the SFCC plays on the lawn at Stern Grove. 19th Ave, and Wawona.
General Information
- CWO is an online magazine dedicated to all aspects of croquet: the people, places, and history. CWO provides full coverage of the sport with news, profiles, commentary, photo essays, tournament results, rules, and much more.
- A huge repository of articles, primarily but not exclusively about Association Rules Croquet, but with valuable information and instruction for any croquet player. Great material for coaches and players; technical information about the game, the lawn, and the equipment. Overall a fantastic resource about the sport.
Organizations
UNITED STATES CROQUET ASSOCIATION
- The national organization of croquet. General information about the various forms of croquet, information on clubs and tournaments across the country, and instructional material about the game.
- The World Croquet Federation is the world governing body for croquet. Its primary objective is to make the various modes of the game "well-known, well-understood, well-respected and well-supported sports in countries throughout the world".
Equipment
- Carries everything you need to play croquet at any level. Complete sets for casual backyard play and tournament quality hoops, mallets and balls. A great selection of croquet accessories, as well.
- The National Center Pro Shop carries a full range of croquet equipment: mallets, balls, hoops, accessories, gifts and even attire.
- The official store for the English Croquet Association. Like The Croquet Shop and the NCC Pro-Shop, it carries everything and anything a croquet player or club might need. In addition, there are a few items unique to this UK site. Well worth exploring.
Media - YouTube
The number and quality of croquet videos on YouTube has greatly increased over the last few years, through both private and "organizational" efforts. Two of the best:
-
rdilley USCA Croquet
The vast collection of croquet videos on this channel spans many years and numerous tournaments. It has the distinction of covering all four variations of croquet. Yes, even 9-Wicket. -
Croquet England Channel
This is the official YouTube channel of the English Croquet Association. There is an ever growing collection of videos covering major croquet competitions - primarily Association Rules and Golf Croquet - including world championship play with world class commentators. -
And just for fun:
A Jump Shot Compilation
.