Croquet mallets and balls in York, Western Australia
The short answer: York players can order an Invictus mallet made to their own handle length, and the club can order Invictus X balls, online with courier delivery to the Avon Valley. For summer evenings on firm lawns the RF Pro is a fine choice, and the Invictus Rise covers every season.
Croquet in York
York has played croquet since 1909, nine years after Western Australia's first club opened in Fremantle. The riverside greens on Glebe Street are on the Shire's heritage list, which singles out the greens and their setting. The Shire bought the land in 1945 from the church's diocesan trustees for ten pounds. A 1959 clubhouse marked the club's golden anniversary; its replacement, the Peter Bailey Pavilion, opened on 30 November 2019, 110 years after the club began, standing on pylons on the embankment at least a metre above the 100-year flood level.
The club has two full-size courts, both lit. Golf croquet is played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 2pm in winter and 7pm in summer; association is on Tuesdays and ricochet on Thursdays. Since 2008, with a break in the late 2010s, the York Croquet Challenge has brought public teams onto the lawns on Tuesday nights, and come-and-try days supply the equipment. The motto comes from 1909 press coverage: "Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill!"
What York's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
York sits inland in the Avon Valley, away from the coastal sea breeze. Summer days are hot and dry, so summer golf croquet waits for the evening, and the lawns run firm and fast. Winter brings cold mornings and most of the rain, and the pace slows.
Which Invictus mallet suits York players
RF Pro, A$1,980. Our flagship, a joint project with World Champion Robert Fletcher. A 3D printed aluminium head carries brass weights and composite faces, at about 2 lb 12 oz: lighter, very precise, at ease on a quick court under lights.
Invictus Rise, A$990. Our most popular mallet. About 3 lb of aluminium head and a slightly larger sweet spot make it a little easier to control, and the extra mass helps on soft winter afternoons. The 11 inch head is our default.
Each is made to your measurements, with an 11 or 12 inch head, finished in Graphite Black or, for A$130.90, Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold or Deep Purple. Weight cannot be specified. See the fitting guide and compare mallets.
Balls for York
Invictus X balls are World Croquet Federation championship approved, 450 g, made entirely in Australia and A$990 a set. For two courts, two first-colour and two second-colour sets is the usual guide; how to choose club balls explains more.
Delivery to York
Every mallet is made to order, so delivery to York is usually 4 to 8 weeks from ordering, as an estimate. Balls go by courier, with the delivered price confirmed before you pay.
Questions York players ask
Will summer heat harm the head? No. Aluminium does not dry out or crack; see product care.
Can I try it first? Take the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee (A$99) and play Glebe Street with it before deciding.
Do you deliver beyond Perth? Yes, anywhere in Australia; see also our Perth page.
More in Western Australia: croquet mallets and balls in WA.
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