World Croquet Federation World Croquet Federation The World Croquet Federation (WCF) encourages, promotes and develops the recognised versions of the game of croquet internationally at all levels. National croquet associations around the world are members of the WCF, and the WCF sanctions championship croquet tournaments worldwide. The official rules of Golf Croquet are maintained by the WCF. Croquet playing Nations must satisfy strict criteria prior to membership being accepted by the WCF. Australia, Canada, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, and United States of America are Full Members of the WCF (as of 6 June 2016). Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,
Croquet game was played, in particular there is no reference to the distinctive croquet stroke. The noted croquet historian Dr Prior, in his book of 1872, makes the categoric statement "One thing only is certain: it is from Ireland that croquet came to England and it was on the lawn of the late Lord Lonsdale that it was first played in this country." This was about 1851. John Jaques apparently claimed in a letter to Arthur Lillie in 1873 that he had himself seen the game played in Ireland, writing "I made the implements and published directions (such as they were)