Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass and the lawn at The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt is an idyllic location to play this sport. Some believe that croquet developed from the French game of Pall Mall but arguments link Pall Mall more to golf than croquet.  What is known is that the game traveled from Ireland to England around 1851.  A gentleman called Spratt is said to have found the game and then passed the it on to John Jacques which Jacques disputed claiming he made equipment from patterns he bought in Ireland and had published rules before Spratt introduced the subject to him.  Whatever the case, Jacques was the first to make equipment as a regular business and in 1864 published his first comprehensive code of laws.  At first, croquet was most popular among women, it was a new experience for them to be able to play a game outdoors in the company of men.  The game's popularity grew in the 1860's where garden parties began to be called croquet parties.

Guests who wish to spend a few hours on the lawn playing croquet will be given instructions from ESPA and will also be give the necessary equipment.