On the manicured lawns of The Boca Raton, leisure takes on an unhurried rhythm. With the property’s massive kapok tree standing sentry in the background, members and guests trade screens for mallets and polished balls, rediscovering the simple pleasures of croquet and bocce. These timeless lawn games, once the pastime of grand estates, have found a stylish revival here at The Boca Raton, where afternoons unfold with gentle competition and the quiet luxury of time well spent outdoors. Croquet, a lawn game in which players use wooden mallets to strike colored balls through a sequence of small hoops called wickets, is having a moment at The Boca Raton. Just ask Paul Fecteau, the resort and Club’s croquet pro. Similar to a tennis or golf pro, Fecteau is here to help members and guests indulge in this centuries-old game that started in France in the late Middle Ages before becoming a pastime in England in the 19th century. Every Sunday afternoon during season, Fecteau is on the croquet court at the West Lawn of Cloister. A United States Croquet Association Certified (USCA) Croquet Instructor & Referee, he is also a USCA Championship Flight Croquet Player.
Wicket Shot
Nostalgic lawn games make a comeback on the grounds of The Boca Raton
Simply put, Fecteau says, “Croquet is a sport that involves three other sports. It has the putting skills of golf, the hand-eye skills of billiards, and the thinking skills of chess.” Beyond the actual skills-based game, croquet has become the ultimate social sport that anyone can play, no matter their age. Conversations can be had in the middle of playing, with a little playful banter between competitors known to enhance the game. A former schoolteacher in health and physical education, Fecteau has translated his instruction skills to players of all skill levels. He works with novice players to give the basic lessons, like how to grip the mallet, as well as advanced competitors who are thinking five steps and two wickets ahead. “It is such a great game,” says Fecteau, who has coached everyone from a 6-year-old to a 99-year-old. “You can compete at any age. You don’t have to jump the highest or run the fastest to be good at croquet.” Catrina Vargas, the Director of Recreation, says offering lawn sports at The Boca Raton helps enrich the on-property experience. “Family moments define our story, and we are focused on creating spaces designed to bring generations together,” she says. “We’re excited to have traditions like croquet and bocce that our Club members and resort guests return to.”
Adjacent to the croquet lawn are the bocce courts, two clay areas that see play beginning at 9 a.m. until well into the evening, thanks to the lighted field. The trendy, low-impact social sport is quickly becoming a popular ball sport around the globe. Popularized in Italy, bocce is a game where players take turns rolling large balls across a court, aiming to land them as close as possible to a smaller target ball called the pallino. Part precision, part strategy, the game rewards a steady hand and a keen eye for distance. It’s no surprise that bocce attracts all kinds of players at The Boca Raton. In addition to their proximity to the croquet lawn, the bocce courts spill into the signature restaurant Japanese Bocce Club, where diners are welcome to come out to the courts in between dishes to play. It’s commonplace to see kids playing as they wait for their dessert to be served, and adults watching over them carefully from their seats. Open for play with no reservation needed, both bocce and croquet at The Boca Raton have become synonymous with making memories. Whether it’s the quiet focus of lining up a croquet shot or the satisfying roll of a bocce ball gliding across the court, both games turn simple moments into memorable ones. They both invite laughter, a little friendly rivalry, and the easy rhythm of time spent outdoors.
In the end, croquet and bocce are less about keeping score and more about savoring the good company and unhurried pleasures that make any afternoon feel well played. “People don’t necessarily play these sports because you want to be amazing at them,” Vargas says. “It’s about building relationships. It’s not just about the game that you’re playing; it’s about the camaraderie that happens when you’re playing it.” Open for play with no reservation needed, both bocce and croquet at The Boca Raton have become synonymous with making memories. Whether it’s the quiet focus of lining up a croquet shot or the satisfying roll of a bocce ball gliding across the court, both games turn simple moments into memorable ones. They both invite laughter, a little friendly rivalry, and the easy rhythm of time spent outdoors. In the end, croquet and bocce are less about keeping score and more about savoring the good company and unhurried pleasures that make any afternoon feel well played. “People don’t necessarily play these sports because you want to be amazing at them,” Vargas says. “It’s about building relationships. It’s not just about the game that you’re playing; it’s about the camaraderie that happens when you’re playing it.”