Game start and ball sequence:

• Starting position: A game of Golf Croquet starts in the yellow corner
• Ball order: Balls are played in order: BLUE, RED, BLACK, YELLOW
• Order reference: This is the same order as the colors on the center stake
• Consistent sequence: This playing order continues throughout the entire game
• Turn rotation: After Yellow plays, it returns to Blue for the next round

Team compositions:

• Team sides: BLUE and BLACK play as a team, RED and YELLOW play as a team
• Singles play: One player plays BLUE and BLACK, opponent plays RED and YELLOW
• Doubles play: Four players total, each player has one ball to play
• Doubles teams: Owners of BLUE and BLACK vs owners of RED and YELLOW
• Partnership: Teammates work together to help their side score points

Objective and scoring system:

• Main objective: Be the first side to score seven points
• Scoring method: A point is scored when a ball passes through the hoop being contested in the correct direction
• Winning condition: When one side scores 7 hoops, the game is over and that side wins
• Point value: Each hoop is worth exactly one point
• No partial points: A ball must pass completely through the hoop to score

Hoop contest rules:

• Shared target: Everyone contests the same hoop until one ball scores it
• Next hoop: After a hoop is scored, everyone contests the next hoop in sequence
• Play from position: Players continue from where they are on the court, not from a specific starting point
• No reset: Balls remain in their current positions when the contested hoop changes
• Sequential hoops: Hoops are contested in numerical order (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, then back to 1)

Ball interactions and boundaries:

• Ball collisions: If a ball hits another ball, both balls stay where they end up
• No extra shots: Hitting another ball does not earn any bonus shots
• Out of bounds: When a ball goes out, it comes back to the boundary where it went out
• Boundary placement: Ball is placed just inside the boundary line at the exit point
• Turn continues: Going out of bounds does not end the player's turn

No bonus shot rule:

• No extra shots ever: No extra shots are earned in Golf Croquet by hitting a ball or scoring a hoop
• Alternating turns: Players simply alternate turns in the set order regardless of what happens
• Different from other croquet: This is unlike other forms of croquet where hitting balls or scoring can earn bonus shots
• Simple turn system: Blue plays, then Red, then Black, then Yellow, then back to Blue
• Faster gameplay: This keeps the game moving quickly and makes it easier for beginners

Essential Golf Croquet strategies:

• Clearing: Hit opponent balls away from the contested hoop to prevent them from scoring
• Positioning: Get your balls close to the contested hoop for scoring opportunities
• Blocking: Use your balls to block opponent access to the hoop
• Teamwork: In singles, coordinate your two balls; in doubles, work with your partner
• Risk vs reward: Sometimes it's better to clear opponent balls than attempt to score
• Court control: Try to keep opponent balls away from the action area

Game duration:

• Typical length: Most games take 30-60 minutes
• Fast-paced: Golf Croquet is much quicker than other forms of croquet
• Skill dependent: Beginners may take longer as they learn positioning
• Simple rules: The straightforward rules keep games moving efficiently
• No bonus shots: Since there are no extra turns, games progress at a steady pace
• Perfect for beginners: The shorter game length makes it ideal for newcomers to croquet