For Croquet use only sign

I like to jog/walk at different places to change things up for my body. LaFortune is always fun to me because you have so many things to look at while you do the 5k. I’ve noticed the croquet sign, but in full disclosure, I work nights, So I’ve not been there when folks were actually playing croquet, until a couple of weeks ago.

I was pretty tired and kind of forcing myself to get a little exercise in because my mind needed it more than my body. I came around the corner off of 51st and headed South on the jogging trail only to notice a bunch of folks dressed all in white on the croquet lawn. Then I spotted more people sitting under a tent watching some very focused folks take shots at the colored balls and white wickets that sprinkled the grass with good clean fun and competition on a hot summers day.

I immediately remembered playing the lawn version of croquet with my great-grandparents and grandparents in Arkansas. We would wait until the sun started to set on a hot summers day, and the evening began to cool just enough to make it bearable to start a game. We had so much fun taunting each other and laughing with my granny Jones as she took great pride in beating most of us and sending our balls as far off the lawn as she could while giggle and saying she hated to do it. At the end of the night when it was too dark to see, we’d run inside and each get a bottled coke to drink out from under the kitchen sink… usually while trying not to scratch the chigger bites, we’d just gotten. These were mear battle wounds for a fun night of play. A small price to pay for some bragging rights and  Coke.   LOL, They are such beautiful memories.

Anyway, I obviously had to walk over and find out what was going on … As it turns out on this day, a tournament involving teams from 12 different states was underway. As I talked with some of the gentlemen on the sidelines, I learned more about the fierce contest unfolding quietly in front of me. It was pretty neat how they welcomed a curious stranger asking all these questions when they were trying to watch their friends play. Such a kind and fun group of people. They soon pointed out A woman named Cheryl who happened to be playing and ranked 15th in the country. WOW! That’s pretty cool. I didn’t get to meet her because we’ll let’s face it she was in the heat of the croquet battle. I’m telling ya it was awesome.

Now, you’re in luck. Labor Day Weekend(2019) the Tulsa Croquet Club is hosting the Midwest Regionals tournament at the Croquet Courts at the Gardens at Lafortune if you want to check it out. According to Matt Baird, “There will be players from six to eight states in the Midwest. Some of the best players in the country.” Visitors are welcome even if you don’t know the rules and regulations don’t worry. Players not active in the game will explain to newcomers what’s happening and how it all works

From my experience, It’s a pretty neat thing to see in person. Again, there’s no cost to watch, and a lot of fun to be had sitting in the shade with some new found friends learning about an old sport with a little classic flare.