Record numbers sign up as new croquet season starts '); lockdown restrictions were eased. The private members’ club has the largest croquet club in the country with 197 members. A strict pre-booking system is in place to control numbers on the greens at any time. The club has also been taking guidance from the Croquet Association on safe playing during the pandemic. Starting the playing season nearly four months into the year means that croquet is straight into its competitive programme both internally at Phyllis Court and on the national tournament circuit. As the deadline for entries to the club’s season-long knock-out competitions approaches, entries have smashed all previous records, even without any doubles events for the time being, with almost all members signing up to take part.