Your Club's Loan Mallets Are Teacups

If you invited a guest into your home for the first time, would you serve them tea in a chipped, stained mug?

Most people wouldn't dream of it. You'd reach for a nice, clean cup. The message is simple: we're happy you're here, we value your company.

Your loan mallets are your club's teacups.

Clubs welcome two main types of visitors: prospective members trying croquet for the first time, and guests at social functions. The mallet they're handed is their primary connection to the game. It shapes their first impression of croquet and of your club's standards.

A tatty, splintered mallet with a worn grip makes hitting the ball harder. It also sends a message that visitors are an afterthought. They might feel undervalued before they've even played a shot.

A solid, well-balanced mallet with a comfortable grip does the opposite. It tells your guest you care about their experience. It helps them connect with the ball cleanly and leave with a positive memory.

CAQ President Michael Eddiehausen puts it simply:

The goal is simple: every person who visits a Queensland croquet club should feel welcomed, valued, and have the best chance to fall in love with the sport.

Simple fixes that work

Many clubs have shown that a bit of effort goes a long way. An older mallet can be given new life with volunteer help.

Sanding and re-varnishing the heads and shafts makes worn mallets look and feel fresh. The materials are sandpaper, a brush, and varnish from Bunnings, and it's a straightforward weekend project.

Replacing worn grips is the other reliable fix. Comfortable, durable grips are available from tennis and hockey shops, and most will fit them for you.

If your club doesn't have the labour, a partnership with the local Men's Shed often unlocks it. Their members have the skills and tools to refurbish a batch of mallets and many enjoy a project that helps a community group. Ask around your club; someone is usually keen.

This investment of time and resources helps create a welcoming environment. Newcomers are more likely to return.

Part of a bigger picture

Equipment quality is one piece of a larger membership effort. Every Come & Try session run across Queensland puts a mallet in a stranger's hands before anything else about the club has a chance to make an impression. When someone arrives curious about croquet, the mallet you hand them becomes part of their story about the day.

Share your experience

If your club has tackled this problem, we'd love to hear how: photos of your loan mallets, tips on fitting new grips, how you funded replacements, anything that might help other clubs. Start a thread in the forum below.

Your input will help create a resource for all 42 Queensland clubs.