Croquet mallets and balls in Portland, Victoria

The short answer: Portland players can buy an Invictus mallet or Invictus X balls online for delivery to the far south-west of Victoria. With cool, windy weather off the Southern Ocean and lawns that are often soft, we point most players to the 3 lb Invictus Rise.

Croquet in Portland

Portland Croquet Club has played in the Botanic Gardens in Glenelg Street for more than a century; it marked its centenary in January 2011 and published a short social history, 100 Years In The Garden. Association croquet is played on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, with Tuesday moving to the afternoon in winter, while Aussie croquet, ricochet and golf croquet fill Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. In 2023 the club crowned separate association, Aussie and golf croquet champions, and it has run a January association tournament and a winter social day. Visitors are welcome, and players from Mount Gambier make the trip for gala days.

What Portland's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

Victoria's oldest European settlement sits on Portland Bay, open to the Southern Ocean. Summers are mild, rarely hot for long, and winters are cool, wet and windy. The lawns in the gardens hold their moisture for much of the year and play at a soft, unhurried pace. A blustery day also pushes the ball off line on long shots, so a steady mallet and a smooth, compact swing matter more here than on sheltered inland courts.

Which Invictus mallet suits Portland players

Invictus Rise, A$990. Our most popular mallet. The aluminium head comes to roughly 3 lb, giving enough mass to roll the ball across damp, slow grass, and its slightly larger sweet spot makes it a little easier to control. We generally fit it with an 11 inch head.

RF Pro, A$1,980. The flagship model, created with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its head is 3D printed in aluminium, weighted with brass and finished with composite faces, at about 2 lb 12 oz. Lighter and very precise, it suits strong association players who take on the January tournament.

Each is made to order to your handle length, with an 11 or 12 inch head. Graphite Black is the default; NRA Blue, Rose Gold, Deep Purple or Snow White are A$130.90 extra. Our comparison page and fitting page cover the choice.

Balls for Portland clubs

Invictus X has World Croquet Federation championship approval, weighs 450 g and is made entirely in Australia, at A$990 a set. Allow one first-colour set and one second-colour set per lawn, and read ball colours explained for how sets are made up.

Delivery to Portland

Each mallet is built after ordering, so expect it in Portland about 4 to 8 weeks later; this is an estimate. Ask about ball sets and we will quote a delivered price for your lawns.

Questions Portland players ask

Does an Invictus mallet suit Aussie croquet? Yes. Both models work for Aussie, association, golf and ricochet.

Can I see how it goes before I commit? The optional satisfaction guarantee, A$99, gives you 30 days of club play first.

Will salt air and wet winters damage it? No. Aluminium handles damp; dry it off after play and see product care.

Elsewhere in Victoria: Victorian croquet towns.

Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.