Playing field: a rectangle (35 × 28 yards in full size, but any flat lawn will work as long as the proportions are correct), with six goals and a stake, arranged in a “double diamond” pattern – three goals at the top, three at the bottom, the stake in the middle.
Objective: To score points by being the first to play a ball through each goal, in order from 1 to 6. Each goal counts exactly one point and is only awarded once – it doesn’t matter which side goes through, only who goes first.
Moves: A move consists of a single stroke. There is no bonus stroke for passing through a gate or hitting another ball – this clearly distinguishes golf croquet from association croquet and makes the games quick, usually under an hour.
Parties: Two parties with two balls each (blue/black against red/yellow), played in a fixed color sequence, rotating through all four balls.
Scoring: The first team to reach 7 points (out of a possible 13) wins. If the score is 6-6 after all 12 attempts, goal 3 will be played again to decide the winner.
The stake: Unlike in Association Croquet, it plays no role in scoring here – it is simply a fixed obstacle on the field.
The game starts near a corner, and the group works its way along the loop shown in the diagram – everyone is always chasing the same “living” goal at the same time, which makes the game fun and sociable even for absolute beginners.