Extreme Croquet

Extreme Croquet has grown since the 1970s, and is played by American college students. Rules are variable and, in many ways, irrelevant. The crucial aspect of the game is the placement of hoops, which may be placed a great distance apart, and on severe slopes, under bushes, or in the middle of streams.

Extreme Croquet is, perhaps, a sign of rebellion against the mainstream backyard game in the USA. Croquet in the States has built up a reputation as a game for children, and this reimagining adds some spice to what may have been a staid experience for some youngsters.

The first documented instance of Extreme Croquet was in Sweden, when the game was played over a drunken weekend in a forest. Alcohol seems to be omnipresent throughout the game, and the remote location of camping holidays often lend themselves to a creative croquet experience.

Care should be taken not to make the placement too extreme. There's a danger of making the game impossible (and boring) or downright dangerous, as well as presenting a nuisance to wildlife / bystanders / law enforcement officers.

At any rate, players should expect much of the equipment to become lost or broken during a session. For this reason, playing on a regular basis is likely to become prohibitively expensive very quickly.