Croquet mallets and balls on Bald Head Island

The short answer: Bald Head Island players can order an Invictus mallet made to their handle length and shipped to North Carolina, with the Invictus Rise our usual first suggestion for a coastal lawn. Invictus X balls are approved for championship play.

Croquet on Bald Head Island

Croquet on the island centers on the Bald Head Island Club, a private club whose championship greensward has hosted US Croquet Association tournaments, among them the North Carolina State Singles, the North Carolina Croquet Open and the Solomon Trophy. The USCA named it Croquet Club of the Year in 2012.

According to Croquet Network in June 2024, the club teaches both golf croquet and American six-wicket, and its croquet programs are open to members, guest members and vacationers whose rental includes a club membership. A Wilmington magazine put the croquet community at about 80 members that summer, and the club had relaxed its all-white dress code for novices. Check with the club for current arrangements.

What Bald Head Island's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

This is a car-free barrier island at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, reached by ferry from Southport. Long, humid summers keep grass growing fast, salt air and sea breezes are constant, and afternoon storms can leave a lawn heavy for a while. A head that is easy to control on a slower, softer surface helps, and an aluminium head will not swell in the damp.

Which Invictus mallet suits Bald Head Island players

Invictus Rise, US$695. Chosen more often than anything else we make. The head is aluminium, about 3 lb, and the sweet spot is slightly bigger, a little easier to control in lush summer grass. We tend to recommend 11 inches.

RF Pro, US$1,295. Our top model, developed together with World Champion Robert Fletcher. A 3D printed aluminium head with brass weights and composite faces comes to about 2 lb 12 oz, so it is lighter and very precise for six-wicket shot-making.

Each one is made to order at your handle length, with an 11 or 12 inch head. Graphite Black is included; Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold and Deep Purple add US$119. You cannot pick the weight. Weigh up both with compare mallets.

Balls for Bald Head Island clubs

Invictus X balls, 450 g and made entirely in Australia, carry World Croquet Federation championship approval and cost US$635 a set. Our guide is a set of first colors and a set of second colors per lawn; how to choose croquet balls for a club goes further.

Delivery to Bald Head Island

Usually 4 to 8 weeks from order, as an estimate.

Questions Bald Head Island players ask

Will salt air hurt an aluminium mallet? Rinse and dry it after play and read our care guide; aluminium does not warp or split like wood.

I only play here on vacation. Is a custom mallet worth it? If you play at home too, yes: it is built to your handle length and travels with you.

What if it does not suit me? Add the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee, US$99, when you order.

Also in the Carolinas: Pinehurst. All towns: croquet mallets and balls in the United States.

Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.