BACKYARD BATTLES

Contrary to popular opinion, croquet isn’t just for little old ladies or the wealthy few. Although croquet is one of the oldest sports around (Americans started playing croquet in the late 1800s). its advanced age does not make it a tame game for the otherwise idle elite. A game of croquet can turn into a real battle, requiring both skill and showmanship.

The rules of the game are simple and few. The person or team that successfully hits the ball i through all of the wickets (or hoops) and makes the peg point (by hitting the colored peg at the end of the course) wins the game. That’s it-croquet is not overloaded with picky points and procedures.

Often called “chess on grass,” croquet demands the concentration of a golfer and the strategic maneuvering of a battlefield general. Astute croquet players think two or three shots ahead and are masters at guessing what the other side has up its sleeve. They keep an eagle eye on the enemy, ready to knock the opponent’s ball into the tomato plants and send him off the course at every turn. (When one ball hits the opposing side’s ball, the side in play receives an extra turn, which may be used either to hit the opponent’s ball away or to advance their own ball. The pros call this maneuver “taking croquet.”)

Around town, there are only two full-fledged croquet courses that conform to handbook regulations: George B. Dealey Park at 6501 Royal Lane-known for its uneven surfaces and knee-high grass-and the course that Dr. John Boyd built in his Col-leyville back yard. Boyd, who welcomes players to join him on Sunday afternoons, is such an avid player that in 1982, he and some fellow SMU exes formed the Dallas Croquet Association, which is actively lobbying the city to build a decent public playing court.

Since playing fields are limited, you might want to invest in your own set for your back yard. Croquet sets range from the essentials-only set found at Oshman’s Sporting Goods for $34.99 to the elaborate set of mallets and balls carved from imported English hardwood sold at Abercrombie & Fitch for $1,650.