Linda Nickels discusses three-decade history with croquet

The longest serving member of the Queanbeyan Croquet Club first got into the sport after marrying a soldier.

"I used to watch people in Hobart in the park play this funny game that I had never seen before," Nickels said.

"The lawn had a white picket fence around it and all these ladies were dressed in knee length dresses and wore hats.

"I thought I could play as it didn't look that hard."

Nickels has been playing for over 30 years now and said times had changed.

"More men play these days, women's dresses have gone and in their place are shorts and trousers," she said.

"I never played in Tasmania, but my first club was Nagambie in country Victoria.

"We then moved to Brisbane and played at the Wynam club before going back to Sydney where I trained with the development squad for NSW.

"Over the years, I have played in many clubs and tournaments up and down the coast and won a few of them too.

"I hope to get back to competitions."

Nickels wants to see as many people play the sport as possible because there are so many benefits that can be gained out of it.

"The friendships I have made over the years and the challenges you come up against when you play in competitions is the best thing about croquet.

"It is played outside which is good for your health and well-being.

"If you have a really bad day on the lawn and then you go into the club house, all will be forgotten.

"It also challenges the mind as you have to outwit and out play your opponent to finish ahead in the game."

As croquet may not be the most popular sport out there, here are a few things you might not know about the sport which dates back to the mid-1800s.

"There are no boundaries and people of all ages and genders play against each other," Nickels explained.

"We have a lot of younger people playing nowadays than we did when I started.

"It is also really cheap compared to other sports."

The Queanbeyan Croquet Club plays six days a week and at night under lights and anyone is welcome.