Croquet: It's an old stigma Mackay Croquet Club wants to shed in hopes of enticing new members.

After celebrating its 110th birthday in June, the South Mackay-based club is struggling for numbers, which club president Paul Lanigan puts down to the incorrect view that the sport is simply "a game for old ladies”.

While member numbers have increased from about eight to 18 in recent times, Lanigan said the club wanted to break down the barriers and expose the game to people of all ages.

"It's hard to attract younger people, or any person lower than 60 (years old),” he said.

"Croquet has a stigma attached that it's a game for old ladies, but we just want anybody involved - anybody who is interested.”

The club started in 1908 and it has had its Juliet St site since the 1960 move from the original Gregory St site where the Canegrowers Mackay building now stands.

Playing pennants across croquet disciplines in Association, Aussie Croquet and Golf Croquet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Lanigan said the sport would surprise as an ultimate game of "strategy”.

"It's a strategy game, it's something like billiards ... they always say it's a cross between billiards and chess,” he said.

"It takes two and a half hours to play, you have to manoeuvre the balls through one hoop (at a time), but you have to think two hoops ahead.

"You catch on pretty quickly.”

As part of Croquet's Central Region, the club plays pennants with clubs from Rockhampton, Gladstone, Gracemere and Yeppoon.

With the ageist plight not restricted to Mackay, Lanigan said all clubs in the region were "struggling” for numbers.

Hoping to turn things around, Lanigan said the club was actively advertising for new members.

"Lately we've had a couple of kids interested, and we had Pioneer Tennis Club and Mercy College here.

"We just have to encourage a few more people,” he said.

"We used to have a come and try day; we've had one this year already, and have the Seniors Expo, and a Come and Sign on Day council runs.

"You don't need your own mallet straight away, you can come and play the game then after three months you can sign up.

"It's social, people play it socially and anybody can (get involved).”