If you’re headed to Fort Worth to take your best shot at Stewart’s, or if you’ve wondered how to play croquet in a friend’s backyard, it’s time to learn the rules of this lawn game.

Croquet is a game that has been played for over 150 years. It is a unique combination of pool, golf, and chess. Although it is often thought of as a backyard game, it is much more than that.

Doug Grimsley bought his house in Vienna, Va., 13 years ago specifically because, at 15,000 square feet, the backyard could accommodate a full-size croquet court. He hauled in a hundred pickup ...

A croquet-style approach might be appealing. But it would violate the rules, carrying a two-stroke penalty in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.