Croquet—that old-school favorite involving mallets, balls, and hoops—conjures memories of backyard BBQs, Slip 'n Slides, and pure relaxation. Recapture that summer state of mind at Stern Grove's croquet lawn, operated by the San Francisco Croquet Club (more of a social club that happens to play croquet). The well-maintained playing fields are flanked by pine and eucalyptus trees, making these lawns a sweet weekend retreat within city limits. The catch: the lawns and croquet gear aren't open to the public unless you rent out the facility for $15 per person, and at a minimum of 10 people. The loophole: you can sign up for a free introduction to croquet lesson; members Elaine Fong or Reuben Edwards will teach you to play casual 6-wicket or the more advanced 9-wicket games. Either way, you and your friends will feel just hoopy.

The croquet lawns are on the corner of 19th Ave. and Wawona St. The next intro session is 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6. Reserve a free space by emailing Reuben Edwards at reevan@yahoo.com. Also contact Reuben for reserving the croquet lawns for a private party. Additional intro sessions are not yet scheduled; contact SFCroquetClub@aol.com for information on upcoming sessions.