Nothing goes better with croquet than a cold beer and a hot grill.

The Marion Mallet Club held its last Toast & Tally event Monday, signaling the end of summer-long season of open play, lessons and tournaments.

The Club, formed in 1984, plays across from the Sippican Tennis Club on a field created in 1993, according to Second Vice President Nancy Kendall. Kendall’s family owns the property at the corner of Water and Holmes Streets.

Toast & Tally days are special, open-to-anyone events in which people play Golf Croquet, which is simpler and more fun (according to club members) than typical Six Wicket American-style. Teams of two play each other for short matches involving the entire court and get a chance to improve their skills. The goal of Golf Croquet is to score points by knocking your ball through a wicket before the opponent. This in itself is a challenge, as the width between the ball and opening of the wicket post is no bigger than the edge of a dime. After all six wickets have been cleared, the team with the most points wins.

“Croquet isn’t just a lawn game,” Nancy Kendall says. “It takes strategy. But with the challenge is a lot of fun. Anyone can play.”

President Ridley Rhind, also a Marion resident, says the club now has about 50 members. Many are from the area, but there are also a handful from the Cape and even Rhode Island. Rhind grew up playing in England but now, he jokes, he knows a great deal more.

“The attraction to croquet is that a person can play well until late in life,” he says. “You don’t need much athleticism. And you learn precise hand and eye coordination. It’s like billiards and chess all rolled into one!”

Well after the games begin, a flurry of white-uniformed croquet players fill the courts, swinging their three-pound mallets with grace and eying potential moves. Seasoned vets strategize with and instruct newcomers. There is little rivalry, just good fun. During play other members fire up the grill to cook burgers and hot dogs along with enjoying cold drinks and other dishes brought in by members.

One player, Ruth Nicolaci says the Marion Mallet Club’s courts are the best in the region. They’re cut three times a week and are done by professionals. Rhind says it is the club’s biggest expense by far, but is supported through membership dues, which are around $125 a year.

He adds that teams come from Edgartown or Heritage and all over the state to compete in tournaments. Inter-club matches are also played, along with lessons from professional croquet player Bob Kroeger.

“We encourage anyone to join the club or take part in the fun,” Rhind says. “We’re just a group of friends who like to play croquet.”

Visit the Marion Mallet Club online at http://www.bobcroquet.com/Marion/index.htm