Join the club. Literally.

Yes. The lawns are inside Mission Hills Country Club, so you'll need a country club Sports Membership first. Then you join the Croquet Club itself.

Annual Club and USCA dues are $175 for a single membership (including $75 USCA dues) and $335 for a couple (including $135 USCA dues). Your annual dues help offset the club's operating expenses, from equipment to tournaments and socials. Renew early and save: each season, returning members who renew before the early-bird deadline enjoy a discount on both single and couple memberships.

It's already included in your dues, and it opens doors. As a USCA member you'll gain valuable access to the website and resources, receive an Official Rule Book, can play in sanctioned events around the country, earn an official handicap and national ranking, and follow the sport nationally. Croquet News, the USCA's magazine, comes to you free. Learn more at croquetamerica.com ↗

Same family, very different game. The backyard version usually means nine wickets in a double-diamond, two stakes and whatever lawn was handy, with house rules settled by whoever owned the set. Here you’ll find:

• A true lawn. Our courts are cut and rolled as smooth as a putting green, so the ball goes exactly where you send it, mistakes included.
• Tight wickets. Ours are solid iron with barely an eighth of an inch to spare around a one-pound ball. Running one cleanly is a small victory.
• Six wickets and one stake, laid out on a regulation court, with official USCA rules instead of house rules.
• No foot on the ball. That classic backyard “send” is out. Every shot is played with the mallet, and the strategy runs deeper than you’d expect.

The good news: if you can swing a mallet, you already have a head start. See the games we play →

Not at all. Every one of us started with a wobbly first swing, and we haven’t forgotten it. Our members are always glad to offer a tip, explain a rule or pull a beginner into a pickup game, and you’ll be surprised how quickly it clicks. When you’re ready for more, New Player Croquet School is free (January 12–14), Thursday clinics run every week at 2 pm, and Sunday Funday welcomes every level. There's even a Newbie Tournament in January.

Whites, and not just for tradition’s sake. The custom goes back to Wimbledon, which began as a croquet club before tennis came into vogue, and there’s nothing quite like the sight of a lawn full of players in crisp whites: elegant, a little old-world and unmistakably croquet. In the desert it’s also simply smart. White reflects the sun and keeps you cooler on the lawn. Look for whites with built-in UV protection and top it off with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Flat-soled shoes only because heels and cleats damage the putting green turf.

Not at all. The club keeps a wide assortment of first-rate mallets for members to use: different lengths, weights and head sizes, in classic hardwoods and modern composites. It’s the perfect way to try a few, find the balance and grip that suit your swing, and hone your stroke before you invest. When you’re ready for one of your own, our members are always happy to share an opinion or three.

Both. Sunday Funday and Thursday open play keep things social and relaxed, while the club calendar runs from the friendly Newbie Tournament to the Pat Apple, Presidents’ Cup, Scrambled Doubles and Bob Riddell, with singles and doubles for players of every handicap, and challenge ladders keep the rivalries going between events. Ready for more? Mission Hills also hosts USCA-sanctioned tournaments, including the US Open Invitational, the Desert Classic and the Western Region, on the same lawns that have welcomed the National Championships, the Solomon Trophy and the MacRobertson Shield. Your USCA membership brings an official handicap and national ranking, so you can track every step up. During major tournaments, Lawn 1 stays reserved for members’ play, and the summer Lizard League keeps things competitive through the hot months. See the tournament calendar →

The lawns reopen November 3, 2026, and the Season Closer & Party is April 10, 2027. Thursday clinics continue through April 22. But the croquet never really stops: the Lizard League, a hearty band of year-round locals, keeps the mallets swinging right through the summer months.

Yes. Your guest is registered by you in the Court Reserve (Invited) app, checks in at the Sports Club Tennis Shop, and pays a $15 guest fee, with up to six visits a season. Guests play on Lawn 4 in whites and flat-soled shoes. Visiting USCA players are welcome too; email us before you come. Guest play details

There are plenty of ways, from coordinating a Sunday Funday to helping at a Thursday clinic or setting up Night Croquet. See Get Involved.