Twelve participants from the Central West, Central Coast and Sydney began a series of singles and doubles matches on Monday, with the players with the most wins by Friday to be declared the winners.

They played by the original, or association, rules - each player aims to hit two balls through all the hoops and a peg before their opponent. 

Margaret Craig said the game was a mixture of lawn bowls, snooker and chess.

"It's always good to get into a tournament where you're seeing people other than your own club," she said. 

Referee Jim Hicks travelled from Port Macquarie, but said the participants had been well-behaved so far.

"I haven't called a fault on anybody's play," he said.

The club also showed off its latest equipment thanks to grants from Orange Credit Union and the state government, with an Orange City Council-funded verandah still to come.

A lease for an air monitoring station will help the club maintain its greens.

President Rick Mills said grants were key to keeping the club going.

"Without the help, most croquet clubs would be suffering," he said.

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