2024 CROQUET NEWS VOLUME 2: Summer Issue

CroquetNews

LOVE AT FIRST STRIKE

When you see the two immaculately manicured croquet lawns at the heart of Peachtree Hills Place, it’s easy to understand why croquet enthusiasts love this luxury Life Plan community in the heart of Atlanta.

Here you’ll find elegant homes, upscale dining, attentive staff, fitness center with resort-style pool, and an onsite Wellness Center...all in an historic Buckhead neighborhood.

Visit us to meet a lively group of friends you can don your whites with every day.

“When we saw the croquet courts, we made our choice on the spot.”

- Bill Mullican, Member

Established in 2019, The Peachtree Hills Place Croquet Club is proud to be an official member of the prestigious United States Croquet Association.

Proud to be a Development Partner and Sponsor of the USCA Golf Croquet Nationals

For more information please visit

Showcasing the USCA

Recently, my attention was drawn to a livestream of a croquet event being played on the other side of the world. This event was the inaugural Fletcher Sharpe Invitational 35 & Under Tournament. My interest was drawn because the field included two USCA players in our Team USA uniforms. The two players, Stephen Morgan and Tom Balding, are both distinguished performers in the U.S. and were visiting Australia to play this event and the Australian National Championships. The goodlooking U.S. team uniforms are a relatively recent item in the history of U.S. Croquet and, in a large part, because of the efforts of the Lee Olsen Fund, its committee members (Michael Albert, Hal Denton, Rich Lamm) and the generous charitable support of many of our members.

Also on show at this tournament were some of the brightest and youngest talent playing GC at the top level. The future looks bright if the standard exhibited is any indication. Matches and interviews can be seen on the Cooks River Croquet Club Sydney Aus YouTube site.

While it is enjoyable to spend some screen time watching some far away games, an opportunity is coming that features the finest 80 players that the world has to offer. This is big news and do not let it pass by without your consideration.

The 2024 WCF GC World Championship is being contested October 18-26 at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Hartsfield, Va. Seeing talent at this level firsthand is a special experience. Having the world’s best at the world’s largest croquet venue is also unique. I would encourage all members to consider this opportunity to experience the finest players in the game and plan an excursion to enjoy some of the event. If anyone has difficulty deciding which of the 24 full-size championship lawns to watch, I will completely understand.

The organizing committee, being chaired by Michael Albert and Bev Cardo, supported by Jeff Soo, Cheryl Bromley and Tom Cooper, are also looking for volunteers to help the event run smoothly and provide our overseas visitors with a great croquet experience. Our USCA, as event hosts, are on display to the entire croquet world. Please consider what you can do to help this event be successful. A good starting point is to raise your hand and reach out to our chairpersons.

Thank you for your support of the USCA through membership, which makes all this happen. Let’s keep the ball rolling!

Damon Bidencope

Proud USCA Member / USCA President President@croquetamerica.com / www.croquetamerica.com

USCA Management Committee

President Damon Bidencope president@uscroquet.com

First Vice President Michael Albert firstvp@uscroquet.com

Second Vice President Carla Rueck secondvp@uscroquet.com

Treasurer

Douglas Moore treasurer@uscroquet.com

Secretary Beverley Cardo secretary@uscroquet.com

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

Florida

Bill Simmons floridarvp@uscroquet.com

Mid-Atlantic

Sally McGrath smcg226@gmail.com

Midwest Russell S. Dilley midwestrvp@uscroquet.com

Northeast

Preston Stuart northeastrvp@uscroquet.com

Southeast Linda Trifone southeastrvp@uscroquet.com

Western Patrick Sweeney westernrvp@uscroquet.com

USCA STAFF

Office Manager

Ursula Peck membership@uscroquet.com

Tournament & Schools

Johnny Mitchell tournament@uscroquet.com

Membership Coordinator

Stephanie Lutge croquetoffice@uscroquet.com

United States Croquet Association

700 Florida Mango Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Tel. (561) 478-0760

Fax (561) 686-5507

USCA Merchandise Is

CroquetNews

Departments

Debbie Davidoff was the USCA Women's Golf Croquet Grand Prix Champion for 2023. See her full profile on page 24. Photo provided by Debbie Davidoff.

2024 AC Women's Grand Prix Leader Arlene Parker. See all the current GP standings on page 47.

Publisher Dylan Goodwin | croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Managing Editor

Julie Jantzer-Ward | uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com

Submit inquiries and articles to uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com. Text should be submitted as a Microsoft Word file and photos should be high resolution (300 dpi). All content may be edited for length and photos will be adjusted appropriately. The Croquet News is produced four times per year and is distributed as a benefit to USCA membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USCA.

© 2024 United States Croquet Association

theclubhouse

Plan Now: National Croquet Day 2024

Even though Croquet Day 2024 on June 1 is just around the corner, you still have time to plan your club's croquet event. It’s fun, easy and what your club needs to continue growing. The USCA will help you in any way we can, so don't hesitate to call the office or email marketing@croquetamerica.com.

The USCA is excited about the impact National Croquet Day will continue to have on the croquet community and has the following targets in mind during the development and creation of the event each year:

• Foster relationships by building community.

• Support participation and continuity through organizational excellence.

• Commit to growth through diversity and inclusion.

• Develop and enjoy the sport through education.

• Promote croquet as a lifelong activity and healthy lifestyle.

To maximize the opportunity, USCA clubs are encouraged to post photos of their National Croquet Day activities on their websites and email them to croquetmedia@uscroquet.com. The USCA will post them on its Facebook and Instagram channels to showcase each club’s day.

In addition, National Croquet Day 2024 will kick off a new “Photo of the Month” series. As members and clubs send photos to croquetmedia@uscroquet.com, we will post the winner and several alternatives. It will be a fun way for your club to get national exposure and hopefully acquire new members.

Clubs have been creative as Croquet Day has become an important part of their annual growth efforts. Here are some recent prize winners sure to inspire you:

• Grand Haven did “Rock the Wickets” featuring music and colorful decorations.

• How about a “Luau on the Lawn” featuring a Hawaiian barbecue at Wyndemere?

• Perhaps an “Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter” theme?

• Funny photos are always a winning concept, matched with a funny hat theme.

• Jekyll Island had a “Croquet Carnival” that was easy to put together and so much fun.

• Or just go with the traditional Wine & Wickets or Mallets & Margaritas or Mallets & Martinis.

Don’t worry about borrowing a great idea. It will be original if it’s at your club.

Prizes

The top 10 photos of themed events will receive a certificate, publicity in the Croquet News and on the USCA website. The winners will be selected by players and committee members, so please assign the photography duties to a creative individual.

Why National Croquet Day Matters:

Our goal at the USCA is to promote the awareness, development and enjoyment of croquet in the United States, providing resources and governance for the sport at all levels. And most importantly, life is much better with croquet in it. Grab a mallet and a friend, and let’s play together.

Countdown To GC Worlds

The 2024 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club, in Hartfield, Va., October 18-26, 2024. The event capacity is 80 players. Please contact Event Director, Michael Albert for sponsorship opportunities or volunteer opportunities at mycopres@gmail.com. Jeff Soo is the manager and WCF Event Lead. Cheryl Bromley is Referee and Macey White is the host club main contact.

Player Allocation

The WCF has already awarded 37 ranking places and two wildcards for the event. Additionally, 37 membership places will be awarded by the member countries and four spots are reserved for the qualifier. The USCA has eight membership places. The following U.S. players received ranking places:

• Matthew Essick

• Ben Rothman

• Sherif Abdelwahab

• Danny Huneycutt

• Chris Barley

• Stephen Morgan

• David Maloof

Membership allocation is due from all countries on May 16, 2024, and announcement of all players allocated should be announced within one or two days of that deadline. All event players are requested to submit their bios and headshots by June 16, 2024. Entry fees for the event are due by June 18, 2024, and the main event cut-off date is September 2, 2024. Any returned places after this date will be filled with additional qualifier spots.

Corfu Becomes WCF Recognized Organization

The World Croquet Federation (WCF) has announced that the Corfu Croquet Club, situated on the picturesque Greek island of Corfu, has officially joined the WCF as a Recognised Croquet Organization.

Located near Gouvia, the Corfu Croquet Club boasts a rich history, having been established in 2014. The club’s facilities include four lawns that offers AC and GC play for locals and visitors.

The WCF now has 30 recognized member organizations with 13 full members, five associate members and 12 recognized member organizations.

GC World Qualifier Information

The WCF Golf Croquet World Championship will also stage a qualifying event held at the same venue October 13-16, 2024. The purpose of this tournament is to fill the Qualifying Places for the GC World Championship main event. Four Qualifying Places are currently reserved in the for the Championship, but this number will be increased if any places are returned after the cut-off date on September 2, 2024. Players in the Qualifier must be prepared to play up to six games in a day and are expected to have made a firm commitment to play in the Championship if offered a Qualifying Place.

A player who has previously been offered, or who currently holds, a Ranking, Wildcard or Membership place in the Championship is not eligible for the Qualifier.

The Qualifier Allocation Date is July 14, 2024, and all entries received will be sorted in order of World Ranking DGrade. The Qualifier Ranking List does not have a minimum game or current ranking requirement. If the tournament is over-subscribed on this date, entries will be accepted in Ranking List order and the remaining entries will be added to the Qualifier Reserve List. If a space later becomes available, it will be filled by the highest-ranked player on the Reserve List as of the date the space became available.

The closing date for the qualifier is September 29, 2024, and no entries will be accepted after this date. The Qualifier entry fee is $120 (USD) with a student fee of $60 (USD). Payment is not required until after the allocation date of July 14, 2024.

To enter the qualifier, you can register by clicking on the event in the USCA online events calendar or by contacting the USCA office at tournament@uscroquet.com.

Sarasota County Croquet Club To Host 2025 U21 GC World Championship

The 2025 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla., April 14-18, 2025. The event will have 24 competitors.

The Sarasota County Croquet Club has seven lawns and the club will be targeting a lawn speed of 10+ seconds for the event. The tournament will utilize Quadway hoops that will be set to the largest ball plus 1/32 inch with an upward tolerance of zero and a downward tolerance of 1/64 of an inch unless otherwise specified.

The format of the event will feature four blocks of six players playing best-of-three matches over three days. The block draw will be performed according to WCF Sports Regulations. The top four in each block will qualify for the Knockout stage (playoffs).

The Knockout Stage will comprise 16 players, with the matches again utilizing a best-of-three format. The final will be a best-of-five match, if time allows.

The event will offer a Plate event for players who do not qualify for the Knock-Out Stage. It will consist of block play and single-game matches. It will be followed by a knockout stage of at least semifinals and finals, which will be a best-of-three match. Additionally, the event will offer a Bowl for players losing in the first round of the Knockout Stage and a Shield for players that lose in the quarterfinal round of the main event.

2025 U21 GCWC Event Dates

Invitation Date | July 17, 2024

This is the date that Members will be formally invited to send players to participate in this event.

Response Date | September 17, 2024

This is the date Member nominations for Ranking and Wild Card places must have been received by the WCF Management Committee. Members must also specify the number of Membership Places they wish to take up and RCO’s should advise if they would like to request a Membership Place.

Allocation Date | October 1, 2024

The World Ranking List to be used to determine the initial allocation of Ranking Places.

Announcement Date | October 15, 2024

By this date, the breakdown of places will be advised and players awarded an Initial Ranking Place or Wild Card will be announced.

Closing Date | November 15, 2024

This is the last date members countries can nominate players for their Membership Places. Within one to two days, the WCF will announce recipients of Membership Places and Replacement Ranking Places.

Player Contact Details and Bios | December 15, 2024

This is the date players are asked to provide their contact details, bios and a headshot photo.

Congratulations Cheryl!

The 2023 Women’s Friendship Cup participants want to Congratulate Cheryl Bromley for being our mentor and for her induction into the 2024 Hall of Fame. We thank you for all that you have done for the game of Croquet, including being the founder of the GC Women’s Friendship Cup and the Women’s GC Open.

2023 GC Women’s Friendship Cup Group: Karen Connery-Albert, Suzie Beer, Gay Cinque, Nancy Crouch, Debbie Davidoff, Lynn DeVault, Caryl Firth, Pam Fitzer, Diane Fitzsimons, Cynthia Fowler, Mary Galasso, Glo Ghegan, Pam Groh, Mary Hennelly, Kath Jenkins, Cynthia Joa, Shelley Laird, Lisa Maloney, Mary Miech, Sarah Parsons, Angela Pittman, Pat Richmond, Suzanne Spradling, Lorie Tarver, Suzanne Turner

TheInbox

Shining Croquet Stars Inducted into US Croquet Hall of Fame

On March 1, 2024, the Croquet Foundation of America, in conjunction with the US Croquet Association, welcomed two outstanding individuals into the esteemed ranks of the US Croquet Hall of Fame. On this occasion, Cheryl Bromley, of the Milwaukee Croquet Club, and Sara Low, of the New York Croquet Club, were honored for their exemplary contributions to the sport. Interestingly, this was the first time that both inductees were women. The induction ceremony, held at the Charles P. Steuber National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach, Fla., was graced with the presence of more than 160 friends, family and croquet enthusiasts.

The Chair of the Gala was Carol Stuart with Alixandra and Stuart Baker as Honorary Chairpersons. In reference to the inductees, the theme of the Gala was “Shining Stars,” which provided the Gala Committee an opportunity to create an ethereal atmosphere, from sparkling deep blue and silver centerpieces to flashing klieg lighting on the ceiling of the veranda to the shiny festive cocktail attire worn by both women and men.

Just before the cocktail party, a private reception was hosted by Hall of Famers, Anne Robinson and Ruth Summers, in the center’s ballroom where 12 fellow inductees gathered in their red jackets to welcome and toast Cheryl and Sara with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. We plan for this event to become an annual tradition, allowing the Hall of Famers to reconnect and have an informal in-person opportunity to welcome the newest HOF inductees.

At the induction ceremony on the spacious veranda, Cheryl Bromley, revered for her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport of golf croquet, was presented with her Red Jacket by her nominator, Priscilla Flowers, of The National Croquet Club, marking her official entry into the annals of croquet history.

Similarly, Sara Low, renowned for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the sport, was presented with her Red Jacket by her nominator, Douglas Moore, of the New York Croquet Club. The moment formalized her well-deserved place among the legends of croquet. Moore reminded all attendees that Sara was both the first female President of the New York Croquet Club and President of the USCA.

The induction of Cheryl Bromley and Sara Low into the 2024 US Croquet Hall of Fame is a testament to their unwavering commitment and passion for the sport. Their achievements inspire croquet enthusiasts worldwide and embody the spirit of sportsmanship, excellence and camaraderie that defines the croquet community.

The annual Hall of Fame Induction and Gala serves as the CFA’s major annual fundraiser. The money raised provides essential operating support for the Charles P. Steuber National Croquet Center. The 2025 Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony will be held on February 28, 2025, during The Steuber Classic at the National Croquet Center. Don’t miss it!

Congratulations On Your Well Deserved Honor

Scott and Suzanne Spradling ScissorTail Croquet Club

Cheryl & Sara

To Those Who

The Croquet Foundation of America’s

2023 DONOR “WALL OF HONOR”

With great appreciation we list below and thank the generous donors that helped support the Croquet Foundation of America last year, including gifts from charitable trusts, foundations and bequests.

ANGEL

$100,000 AND ABOVE

James BartleSandyJames Fine Food

DIAMOND

$50,000 AND ABOVE

Bob Alman Estate

Randy & Bev Cardo

David & Cristina Kepner

W.P. Carey Foundation

GOLD

$5,000 TO $9,999

Anonymous

Ruth Summers

SILVER

$1,000 TO $4,999

Don & Jan Allison

John Brown

Calvert & Liddy Chaney

BRONZE

$100 TO $999

Anonymous

Stuart & Alixandra Baker

CFA DONORS AD 2021

PLATINUM

$10,000 TO $49,999

Gay Ann Cinque

Hope Harmon

Dr. Sandra Knuth & Dr. Robert Walsh

David & Millie McCoy

Freear Pollard

Lenore Warren Orlowska

Allison Worthington

Caryl Firth

Alex & Mary Galasso

Wayne & Connie Gallo

Bruce Hinden

The Lazarus Charitable Trust

Tom Lindley

Mary Anne Mathys

Ellen Playford

Dr. Philip Robinson

John Schott

Michael & Jean Sexton

Charles Steuber Jr.

Neill Trimble

Suzanne Turner

Bob Williams & Fei Fei Chao

Trudy Crowetz

Harvey & Pam Geiger

Brian Leeler

Larry & Arlene McDermott

Thomas & Barbara O’Laughlin

Bill Sadowski

Nancy &Jim Sansalone

Lewis & Janet Schwartz

Suzanne & Scott Spradling

Michael Todorovich

James Toomey

Mary Lou Wagner

On Behalf of Croquet Players Everywhere, THANK YOU!

Our apologies for any missed names, spellings or categories. Please call that to our attention.

Support the Game

2023 VOLUNTEER WALL OF HONOR

The Boards of Directors of the Croquet Foundation of America and of the National Croquet Club are deeply grateful to the following individuals who, during the year 2023, so generously donated their time and experience.

Sonia Alexandra

Richard Allen

Carol Bannister

John Bannister

James Bartle

Karen Beck

Dick Brackett

Bob Broadway

Liddy Chaney

Lovejoy Duryea

Connie Gallo

Mike Gibbons

Joanne (Jody) Gill

Jane Grandusky

Steve Grassbaugh

La Neil Gregory

Jill Harrold

Bruce Hindin

Nanci Hunt

Geoffrey Johnson

Julia Johnston

Scott Langston

Susan Langston

Alan Lazarescu

Tom Lindley

Tim McCormick

David McCoy

Millie McCoy

Linda Merk

Franck Meunier

Flossie Napolitano

Lenore Orlowska-Warren

Suzanne (Barbara)

Pearlman

Sheila Peterson

Bob Phillips

Please

Jane Pflug

Martha Ramey

Marie Rittman

Philip Robinson

Diane Rose (Young)

Carla Rueck

Bill Sadowski

Nancy Sansalone

Jane Louise Smith

Robert Smith

Howard Sosin

David Spivey

John Strasser

Ruth Summers

Stephen Tasker

James Taylor

Elisabeth Tretter

Bill Trower

Susanne Turner

Sue Varey

Gail Warlick

John Warlick

Diane Waterfall

Anyse Winston

Allison Worthington

Diane Wren

Charlie Alexander

Sonia Alexandra

Don Allison

Jan Allison

Barbara Bailey

Carol Bannister

John Bannister

Anthea Blamire

John Blamire

Richard Brackett

Bob Broadway

Kaye Broadway

Joni Cherbo

Mary Churchill

Gay Cinque

Lois Clay

Trudy Crowetz

Fiona D’Aguilar

Marianne Davidson

Anne De Lisle

Hal Denton

Gerry Eubanks

Caryl Firth

Ned Fleming

Priscilla Flowers

Bruce Fogel

Lynn Foley

Clint Fowlkes

Mary Galasso

Jim Grady

Jane Grandusky

Steve Grassbaugh

Pam Heyer Groh

Bruce Hindin

Nanci Hunt

Lin Irey

Julia Johnston

Susan Langston

Anne Licursi

Tom Lindley

Larry Lynch

Tim McCormick

David McCoy

Steve Mednick

Franck Meunier

Vicky Naranjo

Lenore Orlowska-Warren

Sheila Peterson

Vernon Pierce

Kathryn Robertson

Phil Robinson

Bob Rochedieu

June Rochedieu

Carla Rueck

Cami Russack

Tate Russack

Bill Sadowski

Jim Sansalone

Nancy Sansalone

Sharon Zack SPONSORED CONTENT — From the Croquet Foundation of America, a separate 501(c)(3),

Bob Smith

Jane Louise Smith

David Spivey

John Strasser

Lynda Sudderberg

Dick Sullivan

Ruth Summers

Stephen Tasker

Mike Todorovich

Bill Trower

Suzanne Turner

Lou Tyrell

Bob Van Tassell

Sue Varey

Gail Warlick

John Warlick

Diane Waterfall

Anyse Watson

Allison Worthington

Diane Wren

Sharon Zack

Croquet Break: Reach New Audiences

By Sue Sherer

The mission of the USCA is to promote the awareness, development and enjoyment of croquet in America and is focused on the following five key elements:

• Foster relationships by building community

• Support participation and continuity through organizational excellence

• Commit to growth through diversity and inclusion

• Develop and enjoy the sport through education

• Promote croquet as a lifelong activity and healthy lifestyle

One of the great ways to do that is to contact your State Senior Games organization and have them adopt croquet as one of their competitive sports. We did that three years ago in New York state by petitioning the Empire State Senior Games to add golf croquet, hosted at the Rochester Croquet Club. And now we have been successful at having the Kentucky Senior Games add golf croquet this year, hosted by Derby City Croquet. Why the Senior Games? When croquet is added to the list of sports in which senior athletes can compete, people who sign up for other sports will see it on the list and be intrigued and possibly sign up for your sport, too. We had three non-croquet players sign up to play with us in New York just because they saw it on the list and were competing in other sports at a different time. The state does the publicity and registration, provides the gold, silver and bronze medals, and often includes other items for each participant like a t-shirt, towel or pin. People who may not be aware that there is even a USCA and that croquet is a competitive sport will see it on the list of options they can choose. Participating in the state senior games gets the game of croquet out in front of the public eye in a way that our individual clubs cannot. If multiple states were to offer croquet at their level, winning athletes could then compete in the National Senior Games.

The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) exists today as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to adults ages 50+. It currently is a 20+ sport, biennial competition for men and women 50 and over, and is the largest qualified multi-sport event in the world for seniors.

NSGA Member Organizations (individual states and territories) hold annual games with qualifying competitions in the year preceding The Games. For example, 2024 is a qualifying year at the state level to compete in the 2025 National Senior Games. In 2023 when the games were held in Pittsburgh, PA, and Columbus, OH, there were 11,681 senior athletes competing. Athletes that meet specific criteria while participating in Qualifying State Senior Games qualify to participate. To date, the NSGA has held 19 summer national championships.

To find contact information for your state, visit the NSGA website: https://nsga.com/state-games-information/. I’d love to know which states besides NY and KY have croquet on their list of options. The more states that add it, the greater the likelihood that it could be added at the national level and the more

John Q. Public sees croquet as an active, competitive sport that is a fun social, physical and mental game.

Together we can get exposure for the game we all love to a broader audience!

ABOUT THE WRITER:

When Norm Pike brought the game to us in 2007 from the Bombay club in St. Croix, our lives would never be the same! My husband Peter and I became directors for the Rochester Croquet Club for more than a decade, the Pikes having moved on to the Carolinas. My first tournament was in St. Croix and I managed first place in second flight. Later I would play at Patuxent, Buffalo and Annapolis, winning awards at the two latter tournaments. While I love to win, my true passion is passing along the love of this unique lawn sport to others. It was natural that when we moved to Louisville last year we were fortunate to team up with Margaret, the wife of the late Gary Bennett, and begin a new club in Kentucky on the court he had recently finished installing in his own backyard. We are pleased and proud to be introducing the game to a whole new crowd at Derby City Croquet!

Weekly Croquet Break

"Reach New Audiences" was originally published in the USCA’s Croquet Break weekly member newsletter. The newsletter is seeking articles on croquet-related subjects by USCA members to be published electronically in the weekly newsletter sent by email to all USCA members.

Procedure: Submit your piece to Sara Low (hoopsnflies@msn. com ) or Ursula Peck (membership@uscroquet.com) to be added to the weekly Croquet Break calendar. Before publishing, suggested edits (punctuation and spelling) and a final page will be sent to you for your approval.

Article Format: Microsoft Word Length: Any length. Additional: Short bio and photo (.jpg) to appear with article.

Vision For Accessible Croquet In Vero Beach

I have a vision of making croquet accessible to all citizens of the Treasure Coast area, not just the members of the eight or nine private clubs that have lawns. I teach at four of those clubs and have been slowly introducing the idea to the members where we have a group of solid supporters. One of those members recently commented on the vision, saying, “(It) will meet a significant social need in sharing this great sport with the underprivileged youth and the elderly in our area.”

For the last three seasons, I’ve driven by the site of the old Vero Beach hospital daily, which was razed and leveled many years ago. Every time in passing, I’ve envisioned the area, suitably sized for six proper lawns, available to residents of Indian River County to play croquet. It is grass, it is flat, there is parking and it is highly visible — perfect for croquet. The inaugural Treasure Coast District Championship was held in early April in Vero and next year I would be overjoyed to see it on this site with multiple lawns.

On a bright sunny day in March, I set up two regulationsized lawns on the rough grass for “Pop-Up Croquet,” and 22 volunteers gathered to support the cause on the proposed site. They played a bit of extreme croquet. Unintended jump shots were the order of the day, but everyone had fun. We were joined by County Commissioner Laura Moss, who has supported the concept since first touring the area with me in 2022.

Laura has been a loyal supporter of this project, and we could not get this off the ground without her help. We first met with the previous administration two years ago (which has since been changed top to bottom) and as soon as we got a bit of traction, we were faced with “selling” the concept to the new administration once again. Laura has always been there to assist.

“There is no better time for croquet in our growing county as we look to diversify our recreational offerings. Its potential is unparalleled,” Commissioner Moss says. “Croquet encourages outdoor recreation and good health far into senior years while providing the perfect opportunity for accomplished, caring seniors to mentor at-risk, underprivileged youth. In addition to these clearcut benefits for our residents, croquet tournaments can generate significant tourism and thereby revenue for local businesses, as well as additional tourist tax revenue.”

The success of the Sarasota County Croquet Cub in a public/ private venture has been the “look-what-they-did” model. I have created the Indian River Croquet Association, which will become a 501-C-3 corporation, and its mission statement includes the following:

We believe the lessons learned on the lawns: teamwork, respect, etiquette, honor, strategic thinking and physical ability all translate to life skills important to everyone. Our members will mentor those who will benefit from that guidance. There will be no charge to become a member of the association for any area youth and others who cannot afford to pay dues. We wish to make this sport accessible to all. We believe that members who can pay will do so, and otherwise contribute to help the growth and sustainability of the Club.

Hundreds of at-risk and underprivileged teens live a half-mile from here, who otherwise are unlikely to enter the realm of croquet, in addition to fixed-income seniors who may not be able to afford a private club membership. The doors that croquet can open for them are many, particularly for the youth of the area. This sport is too good to make it available only for a select, fortunate few. Mentoring matters. We envision seniors and youth playing, cooperating and competing together. Life’s lessons work both ways.

I am willing to set up and manage the croquet program for the county, to ferry students or seniors who have no transportation and to coach as many newbies as I can. I am confident that I will find plenty of volunteers to help manage the facility and teach the values inherent to croquet. Everyone has been incredibly supportive of the concept and a few have generously pledged monetary assistance to assure sustainability.

As a public/private venture, fundraising on the private side is a part of the deal. I want the county to know we have skin in the game. Because of the pop-up event, one generous donor was moved to pledge a significant monetary donation if the program gets going, one that I hope can be matched by other contributions from like-minded friends. All we need now is the

county to give access to a site. Once that happens, I am confident additional funds will come.

We then need to partner with the county to build and maintain the facility. Croquet is relatively inexpensive: a stick, a ball and some hoops. We don’t need a stadium or an airconditioned hall to make good players; just some good, flat grass and a lot of enthusiasm.

Think of the opportunities the croquet world could afford to a youngster who might never get the chance to see the lawns at NCC or any other private club or hobnobbing with the lucky few who can afford to belong to such places. We all can learn from each other, regardless of background. Give me a 15-yearold athlete and an 80-year-old grandmother and I’ll help them become amongst the strongest croquet team players in Florida … in one year.

—Bo Prillaman

Ready to Live the Croquet Lifestyle in Sunny Florida?

It would be my pleasure to help guide you through the nuances of our local Florida market. With access to top listings, a worldwide network, exceptional marketing strategies and cutting-edge technology, I work hard to make your real estate experience memorable and enjoyable.

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561-351-5704 cl614@msn.com

Saint Johns Croquet Club Hosts a Free Croquet Clinic

November 11, 2023, was a beautiful day at Treaty Park, near St. Augustine, Fla., for 26 local participants who signed up for a free clinic to learn the game of croquet. The newly established Saint Johns Croquet Club (SJCC), located in St. Augustine, organized and hosted the event. Professional instructors and experienced players conducted morning and afternoon sessions and demonstrated the different styles of holding a mallet and hitting a ball. Afterward, they taught the participants how to play the games of 9-wicket and golf croquet. Many who participated commented they were surprised to learn how challenging croquet can be and look forward to playing on a professional croquet lawn next time.

All of this was possible because SJCC founders, John and Noreen Rice, applied for and received a $1,000 grant from the USCA to hold the event in a public park. By the end of the day, 16 participants signed up for a free membership to the USCA for 9-wicket play. In addition, 10 of the 16 participants signed up as founding members of the SJCC. Because of this positive experience, the SJCC plans to host more croquet clinics and events locally in a public setting with help from

PASSAGES

Bill Blanton Houston Croquet Association

Bob Bozeman Red Stick Croquet Club

James Brogan ......................... Grand Haven Croquet Club

Jane Enochs ........................ Lake Toxaway Mallet Club and Spring Island Croquet Club

Hope Harmon.................. The Hope Harmon Croquet Club, Mission Hills Croquet Club and National Croquet Club

Diana Hill ....................................... Sonoma Croquet Club

Myron McCumber At Large Member

Rita Miragliotta Croquet Club at PGA National

Joëlle Rice

Larry Rose

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Fleet Landing Croquet Club

Robert Yount Croquet Club at PGA National

USCA. In the meantime, as a new member of the area’s First Coast Croquet League, the SJCC will participate in interclub events. While the club waits for approval from St. Johns County to build professional lawns, they will continue to grow the membership, offer weekly practice at nearby parks and other local venues.

John and Noreen have been working with officials at the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department and the County Commissioners Recreation Advisory Board to build four professional lawns and facilities in or near St. Augustine, Fla., for the SJCC. The mission and goal of the SJCC is to establish a partnership with St. Johns County like the model implemented by the Sarasota County Croquet Club (SCCC). The result will be a croquet program much like the SCCC that is affordable and accessible for families, students and adults to play this great game.

Here’s a sample of what some of the participants have said:

“If people are like me and have no experience or knowledge of croquet except as a play-thing sport your parents and grandparents occasionally played like shuffleboard, then people need to be aware how much more fun the true regulation game is.”

“(I) really enjoyed that introduction to croquet. When is the next croquet clinic? Can I join the SJCC now as a Founding Member?”

“When will SJCC have professional croquet lawns to play on?”

The SJCC thanks the USCA Grant Committee and everyone who helped make all this possible including:

St. Johns County Dept. of Parks & Recreation: Teddy Meyers, Joe Kustra and Ground Crew.

USCA Regional VP Florida: Bill Simmons.

National Croquet Club: Cami and Tate Russack.

Ponte Vedra Croquet Club: John Curington, Helen Covington, Bobby Greene, and Anita Huber.

PNC Bank: Michael Plantier, Amy Tivey, and Jared Bodlak.

2023 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Zack Watson

For his achievement during the 2023 Solomon Trophy

2023 AC GRAND PRIX

FEMALE WINNER

Lynda Sudderberg

2023 AMERICAN 6W RULES GRAND PRIX

Randy Cardo

Seventh Consecutive Year

2023 WINNER OF THE AC GRAND PRIX

Stephen Morgan

2023 WINNER OF THE GC GRAND PRIX

Marc Stearns

2023 WINNER OF THE WOMEN’S GC GRAND PRIX

Debbie Davidoff

2023 JACKIE JONES AWARD

Linda Trifone

American 6W Grand Prix Female Winner

2023 CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT

Darin Guffey

For dedication to the Highlands Falls Croquet Association.

2023 CLUB OF THE YEAR

Belleair Country Club Belleair, Florida

2023 CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

John Goldener

Sarasota County Croquet Club (with Michael Albert, USCA First Vice President, on the right)

2023 DISTRICT PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

John Brown, Texas

2023 REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

Billy Simmons, Florida

2023 NEW CLUB OF THE YEAR

Derby City Croquet Louisville, Kentucky

2023 FAMILY OF THE YEAR

The Lassiter Family Belvidere, North Carolina

2023 CROQUET COUPLE OF YEAR

Ellie and Matt Griffith

2023 MICHAEL STRAUSS AWARD

Joel Schipper, WDRB in Louisville, KY

For coverage of the Derby City Croquet Club’s opening day.

2023 OUTSTANDING SPECTATOR

Mitze Rauers

2023 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Michael Todorovich

For his enthusiasm in organizing and coaching AC at the NCC

2023 SPECTATOR OF THE YEAR

Pam Deason

2023 TEDDY PRENTIS AWARD

Jeff Soo

Recognizing Excellence and Passion in Croquet Education

2023 PRESIDENT’S AWARD

James Creasey

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

Michael and Karen Albert For International Support

Missy Chilton

For Outstanding Support of American 6W Rules Croquet

Tom Cooper

For Significant Contributions in Marketing and PR

Howard Cox

As host of the Westhampton Mallet Club on his family estate since 1959

Nick Gray

For his tireless efforts in management of tournaments at Mission Hills Country Club

Howard and Lois Holdsclaw

For your commitment and support to croquet

David Kepner

For his Significant Contribution

Tom and Barbara O’Laughlin

For your commitment and support of croquet

For Outstanding Contribution to the 2024

Freear Pollard

Worlds (Carla Rueck on the left and Damon Bidencope in the center)

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION

Michael Albert

For the Talent Development Program

John and Anthea Blamire

For Contributions to Membership Enrichment at the NCC.

James Creasey For Outstanding Outreach for Croquet

Russ Dilley For Development of the YouTube Channel for the USCA

Brian Hovis For Development of the YouTube Channel for the USCA

David and Mieke Maloof

For Outstanding Commitment and Promotion of the Sport of Croquet

Mike McRee

For Outstanding Individual Contributor to the Promotion of Croquet

Paul Neubecker

For Development of the YouTube Channel for the USCA

Jeff Soo For the Talent Development Program

Peter Timmins For Leadership of the New York Croquet Club

Michael Weimerskirch For International Support of Croquet

Alix Worley

For Outstanding Collegiate Ambassador of the Sport of Croquet

Debbie Davidoff

Age: 63 years young

Grip: Solomon

Mallet: Trimmer, 11” head, 2lb. 14 oz. Shaft length 36”

Years playing croquet: 12

Home base:

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., with summers in Highlands, N.C.

Home club:

The Ponte Vedra Croquet Club (also The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach and Highlands Country Club)

Favorite croquet venue:

I am very lucky to be able to play at Highlands Country Club (HCC), especially when the sky is “Carolina Blue!”

Favorite tournament:

I love playing in the Club Teams because there is such a sense of camaraderie and healthy competition.

How did you get into the game:

I was a member of both Highlands Country Club and the Country Club at Sapphire Valley (CCSV) in North Carolina. HCC had a growing croquet program, but I was intimidated to start because I (wrongfully) felt I would have a hard time fitting into a group of seasoned players. CCSV constructed its first lawn and a whole crop of people began to learn together, and I started with them. It didn’t take long before I was playing at both clubs.

Croquet highlights:

Of course, I love the tournaments where I win, but some of my highlights include games where I didn’t win, but had a great battle. I was proud of going to 4-4 against Matthew Essick (he went on to beat me 7-4) where he attempted a jump shot from behind the wicket to clear me (it didn’t work, and I scored the hoop). I also have loved every battle with Brian Lozano, both doubles and singles.

Having the opportunity to travel and play in the qualifier for the Women’s World Championship was definitely a highlight for me, although it came at a personally challenging time for me, so I hope to be able to experience that again and be able to fully drink it all in.

Winning the Club Teams with my husband before he passed away was truly a highlight. In general, the biggest highlight for me was getting to the championship level and realizing all the players were treating me with respect and as a worthy opponent.

Team USA Captain Matthew Essick

Do you play other sports?

Yes. I play golf, but in the past year and a half, I have concentrated on my croquet more to the detriment of my golf handicap. I grew up playing tennis, soccer and swimming.

Favorite sports teams:

Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, University of Miami Hurricanes, New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. (Clues to some of the places I have lived.)

Pop culture favorites:

My favorite book is “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. When I taught executive MBAs, I would make an award at graduation to the team in my class that wrote and presented the best business plan. My award was “Atlas Shrugged” because to me the book illustrates the value/power of original thinking and what happens to our society when people stop thinking for themselves.

What is the best thing the USCA has done for croquet?

The USCA is a great information source for all players. As our sport continues to grow, the issues we will face will become larger and a strong USCA will be essential for the success of the sport in the U.S.

What is the USCA’s greatest weakness?

I have observed firsthand that other countries have really focused on developing their female players. I would love to see an emphasis from the USCA to help more U.S. women be more competitive internationally.

What would you like to see happen in the sport over the next 10 years?

More public lawns available for players throughout the U.S. More women playing at the championship level and playing in national and international titled events.

What have you learned from croquet?

To never give up … there’s always an option; and that people can be active and competitive their entire lives.

Quick croquet tip:

Keep your tempo the same on every single shot. Simply vary the distance with the length of the backswing, NOT by speeding up the swing.

2024

Venice, Fla. | March 18-24, 2024

2024 AC National Championship Singles

Finalists Zack Watson and Tom Balding

Balding Backs Up AC Worlds Performance with National Title

BY JEFF SOO

The 38th annual USCA Association Croquet National Championships returned to the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla., for the third time since 2019 and the first time since the club’s expansion to seven full-size courts. Only five of those courts were needed for the doubles, which occupied most of the first three days. First Flight, with five pairs, played a double round-robin without a playoff. SCCC members Matt Griffith and Gene Raymond went undefeated to win handily. Jane Beharriell and Arlene Parker were runners-up.

Championship Flight, with six pairs, started with a block and finished with a best-of-three knockout for the top four. Wy Louw, playing his first tournament after a 19-year break from croquet, teamed with Jeff Soo to win the block and earn top seeding. Their one-block loss was to Tom Balding and Steve Scalpone, who finished just behind on net points. Both pairs advanced to the final, where in each game Scalpone made the first break and Balding closed out with a triple peel. This was the first U.S. national title for Scalpone and the second for Balding, who had won the GC doubles title with Blake Fields in 2023.

With three inches of rain forecast for Friday, Tournament Directors Jeff and Eileen Soo advanced the singles schedule as much as possible, starting singles block games in place of doubles Plate games on Tuesday and Wednesday, then squeezing in extra games on Thursday. As it happened, Friday turned out to be much more playable than expected, but better safe than sorry.

First Flight Singles started with two blocks of five, the top three from each block advancing to a modified Draw/Process and only the block winners earning a second life. Matt Griffth and Preston Stuart won their respective blocks with four victories each. Raymond came second in Block B after a one-point loss to Stuart, but won a spot in the final by winning three games in the Draw on Saturday, including wins over Griffith and Stuart. Griffith beat Stuart in the Process final to earn the other finalist spot. Raymond took an early lead in the final, but Griffith equalized and then took a one-point lead in the first turn after time was called. Raymond hit and scored two points to win the First Flight title.

Championship Singles had blocks of seven and eight, four advancing from each block to a best-of-three knockout. Top seeds Zack Watson and Tom Balding went undefeated to win their respective blocks, each with four triple peels. Balding then advanced to the final with four successive triple peels. Watson had a bumpier road, adding only one triple peel to his tally, and dropping a game in his semifinal. Just how well Balding was playing was shown on Friday, when he completed an adventurous sextuple peel in a Plate game. He continued his outstanding form in the final, winning in straight games with two more triple peels. Ten triples and one sextuple in 14 games with no losses is the kind of form that took him to the semifinals of the world championship in 2023. The results of this tournament lift him to his highest-ever ranking, #10 in the world and #1 in the USA.

Each flight played a singles Plate in the flexible Swiss format. Roger Vorraber won all three of his Plate games to win the First Flight Plate. Doug Grimsley and Brian Cumming had the best records in the Championship Plate, Grimsley winning the final.

Nancy Hart was Tournament Manager, assisted by Gillian Merritt.

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. Tom Balding

02. Zack Watson

03. Stuart Lawrence

04. Jeff Soo

05. Wy Louw

05. Paul Bennett

05. Brian Cumming

08. Steve Scalpone

09. Doug Grimsley (Plate winner)

10. Patrick Sweeney

11. Jay Hughes

12. Randy Cardo

13. David Druiett

13. Chris Percival-Smith

13. Michael Todorovich

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Gene Raymond

02. Matt Griffith

03. Preston Stuart

04. Arlene Parker

05. Walt Janitz

06. Tim Williams

07. Roger Vorraber (Plate winner)

08. Chris Smith

09. Jane Beharriell

10. Becky Essick

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

01. Tom Balding/Steve Scalpone

02. Wy Louw/Jeff Soo

03. Jay Hughes/Stuart Lawrence

03. Brian Cumming/Doug Grimsley

05. David Druiett/Chris Percival-Smith

06. Paul Bennett/Patrick Sweeney

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Matt Griffith/Gene Raymond

02. Jane Beharriell/Arlene Parker

03. Preston Stuart/Roger Vorraber

04. Becky Essick/Tim Williams

05. Sandy Janitz/Chris Smith

Championship Plate winner Joshua Freeth with presenter Paul Bennett

Championship Finalists Ben Rothman and Matthew Essick with presenter Paul Bennett

Lynda Bjorklund

Championship Bowl winner Brian Lozano with presenter Paul Bennett

GC Nationals Celebrate 25th Anniversary

BY paul bennett

The 2024 USCA GC Nationals was hosted by the Mission Hills Croquet Club, February 11-18. International players from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico flew into the Palm Springs, Calif., airport, along with players from a variety of states. The field was jam-packed with the strongest set of players the club has seen playing golf croquet (GC).

This version of croquet has evolved over the past 25 years to include the development of numerous clubs, talented players, coaches and, in fact, the creation of the World Croquet Federation (WCF) by Tony Hall, an avid golf croquet player at the time.

Bob Riddell, one of Mission Hill Croquet Club’s (MHCC) most loved club members, had his first experience with croquet while playing in the novice/ first flight in the 1999 GC Nationals. Riddell hosted an annual golf croquet club tournament yearly in Palm Springs at Mission Hills MHCC. The majority of MHCC club members enjoy the game of GC on a weekly basis as is true for many clubs around America.

In First Flight Doubles, Shep Slater and Robert Smothers dominated the Draw and Process by winning the Draw against Barbara Wills and Susie Wall, and winning the Process against Greg Fisher and Donna Dixon. As a consequence, Dixon and Fisher played and won a game against Wills and Susie Wall for Second Place Doubles.

The winners in the First Flight Plate event were John Shanholt and Gail Kern, from the Mountain Mallets croquet club of Scottsdale, Ariz., who defeated Sarah Persons and Bill Simmons. In Championship Doubles Plate, Brian Cumming and Paul Bennett defeated Billie Ray and Highland Falls pro Darin Guffey.

The 2024 GC Nationals included 48 players in doubles and 46 players in singles. The 24 teams competed in doubles play the first three days of the event. Each block of eight had seven games of doubles followed by single-elimination knockout ladder play held Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday. In Championship Flight, half the teams advanced and the other half played in a plate event. In First Flight, all the teams advanced to a Plate and Draw elimination format with early teams dropping into a Plate event.

In Championship Doubles, Matthew Essick and Ben Rothman lost to David and Kyle Maloof in the finals. Kyle won his first GC Championship Doubles with his father David back in 2022 while playing in the Highlands of North Carolina. Kyle teaches croquet and tennis.

The trophies for doubles were handed out at the mid-week Toast and Tally dinner. Thursday and Friday were seven rounds of singles block play for Championship and First Flight. Players advanced from block play into doubles by their number of victories, net points, gross points and finally head-to-head results. But, championship singles was resolved with a playoff if two or more players were tied with the same number of wins to advance into the main playoff. One resolution round between Brian Cumming and Kyle Maloof was needed in Block A. Maloof won that game 7-3 forcing Cumming to the Singles Plate.

Several notable block results are available on the Croquet Scores website at www.croquetscores.com/2024/gc/usca-nationals/. Greg Fisher, one of Mission Hills’ newest members, went undefeated in block E. In Blocks A-D, Matthew Essick, David Maloof, Ben Rothman and Sherif Abdelwahab all went undefeated in block play.

Championship Singles progressed into a best-of-three knockout ladder starting on Saturday and ending Sunday afternoon. In the first round, Kent Lovvorn, Brian Lozano, Mohammad Kamal, Kyle Maloof, Paul Bennett, Jeff Soo and Henry Smith got knocked out in two games while Edmund Fordyce got out after

Matthew Essick during semifinals play

25 YEARS AGO

The first GC national championship was held in Palm Springs in 1999. The final was played at the Merv Griffin Hotel. The Mission Hills croquet courts were not used. The championship featured four participants, Sherif Abdelwahab, Bill Martin, Mik Mehas and myself. We competed in block play of double round-robin, best-of-three matches for placement with all four advancing to the semifinal where first played fourth and second played third. After Abdelwahab defeated Martin and I beat Mehas, we met in a best-offive final and I prevailed three games to one.

The doubles championship was won by Abdelwahab and Mehas who defeated me and Martin 2-0. It was Mehas who managed to convince Dan Mahoney, the USCA president at the time, to hold the first GC national championship. A year earlier in 1998, Mehas had reached the final of the world championship in Brighton, England, and lost to Khaled Younis. In 2000, I organized the Beverly Hills International (BHI) GC Tournament, the first international GC event in North America. Twelve Egyptian players participated in the event, which was won by Younis over me in the final. Other American participants included Abdelwahab, Mehas and Jacques Fournier. The 1999 nationals and the 2000 BHI are considered the watershed moments for GC in America.

The following two years of GC national championships (2000 and 2001) were played in Palm Beach and were won by two Egyptians: Younis and Yasser Esmat, respectively. This Egyptian presence was a big factor in showcasing GC to Americans and played a big role in increasing interest in this new version of croquet.

Twenty-five years later, the 2024 USCA GC National Championship Final was played between the current and former GC National and World champions. GC is now the main version played in most clubs. The game is attracting many young players, which makes me personally feel great about the future of the game in America.

—Mohammad Kamal, Winner of the first USCA GC Championship 2024

the third game. Six of these players played in the Bowl championship and Brian Lozano won it against Fordyce in the final game.

This left the quarterfinals with an all-American field. Blake Fields and Tom Balding succumbed in their third games to Matthew Essick and David Maloof, respectively, while Sherif Abdelwahab and Stephen Morgan fell to Tamer Hatata and Ben Rothman in two games, respectively.

In the semifinals, Tamer Hatata lost to Matthew Essick in three games and David Maloof lost in two against Ben Rothman. Essick, the reigning WCF champ, and Rothman, a former WCF champion, met in the finals!

The finals went to the third game with Essick winning the first and final game. This is Essick’s second National GC Singles title.

Brian Lozano, currently playing for Mexico and coaching croquet, won the Championship Bowl 7-2 against Fordyce, from New Zealand. Joshua Freeth, playing for New Zealand and coaching croquet, won the Championship Plate over Mike Hatcher 7-5.

In First Flight, all 15 players advanced to the Draw and Process ladder playoff. Robert Smothers defeated Shep Slater 7-6 in the Draw and Stephen Jackson defeated John Shanholt 7-2 in the Process setting up a finals game where Jackson beat Smothers 7-3. In the First Flight plate, Betty Teoman defeated Sarah Persons 7-3.

And before closing, I would like to thank all the founders of this sport, those who helped establish the GC Nationals, those that played in those Nationals and everyone that promotes the game daily.

Thanks to Nick Gray, who managed the tournament, collecting team members together for their various functions and supporting me during the event. Thanks to all the members who helped set up the lawns: Ted, Stanley, John, Dick and Jean, Justin, Joshua, Nick, Bill, Chris, Jose and those that cut the lawns as the dawn of sun arose. Thanks to all the hosts that put players up for the week. Thanks to Donna for lending us a set of Dawson balls and beverage coolers. Thanks to Johnny Mitchell, Ursula Peck and Jeff Soo for handling entries, numerous emails, processing and collecting entry fees, and handling the allocation process. Thanks again to Jeff Soo and all the other referees for their professional service. And a special thanks to Jeff for teaching a great director class.

Get your district representative to work with your regional director to schedule your next regional; this will allow those players to have a better chance of playing in the Nationals.

As to the future of GC? Ben Rothman, Matthew Essick, Blake Fields and Joshua Freeth held a clinic on Sunday prior to the tournament highlighting three new versions of Golf Croquet by Howard Sosin. It was well attended by club members and positive comments received by the attendees. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, and thank you all for playing!

First Flight Singles Champion Stephen Jackson with presenter Paul Bennett

First Flight Singles Plate winner Betty Teoman with presenter Paul Bennett

Championship Doubles winners David and Kyle Maloof

First Flight Doubles winners Robert Smothers and Shep Slater

Barbara Wills and Donna Dixon

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. Matthew Essick

02. Ben Rothman

03. Tamer Hatata

03. David Maloof

05. Blake Fields

05. Sherif Abdelwahab

05. Stephen Morgan

05. Tom Balding

09. Brian Lozano

09. Edmund Fordyce

09. Kent Lovvorn

09. Mohammad Kamal

09. Paul Bennett

09. Jeff Soo

09. Henry Smith

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES BOWL

01. Brian Lozano

02. Edmund Fordyce

03. Jeff Soo

03. Kent Lovvorn

05. Paul Bennett

05. Henry Smith

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES PLATE

01. Joshua Freeth

02. Mike Hatcher

03. Eileen Soo

03. Hammond Rauers

05. Brian Cumming

05. Dallas Denny

05. Darin Guffey

05. Billie Ray

09. Dick Boger

09. Karl-Heinz Kempfer

09. Justin Fields

09. Jack Rush

09. Bill Simmons

09. Rick Zazueta

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Stephen Jackson

02. Robert Smothers

03. John Shanholt

03. Shep Slater

03. Crayton Morrow

06. Betty Teoman

06. Donna Dixon

06. Sarah Persons

06. Greg Fisher

06. John Grout

11. Lynda Bjorklund

11. Gail Kern

11. Susan Wall

11. Kory Teoman

11. Barbara Wills

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES PLATE

01. Betty Teoman

02. Sarah Persons

03. Lynda Bjorklund

03. Barbara Wills

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

01. Kyle Maloof/David Maloof

02. Ben Rothman/Matthew Essick

03. Sherif Abdelwahab/Stephen Morgan

03. Joshua Freeth/Edmund Fordyce

05. Kent Lovvorn/Dick Boger

05. Mohammad Kamal/Brian Lozano

05. Tom Balding/Blake Fields

05. Ahab Abdelwahab/Tamer Hatata

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES PLATE

01. Paul Bennett/Brian Cumming

02. Darin Guffey/Billie Ray

03. Dallas Denny/Hammond Rauers

03. Mike Hatcher/Karl-Heinz Kempfer

05. Justin Fields/Rick Zazueta

05. Eileen Soo/Henry Smith

05. Jack Rush/Bill Simmons

05. Rich Lamm/Jeff Soo (declined)

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Shep Slater/Robert Smothers

02. Donna Dixon/Greg Fisher

03. Barbara Wills/Susie Wall

04. Stephen Jackson/Crayton Morrow

04. John Shanholt/Gail Kern

06. John Grout/Lynda Bjorklund

06. Sarah Persons/Bill Sullivan

06. Betty Teoman/Kory Teoman

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES PLATE

01. John Shanholt/Gail Kern

02. Sarah Persons/Bill Sullivan

03. John Grout/Lynda Bjorklund

03. Betty Teoman/Kory Teoman

05. Stephen Jackson/Crayton Morrow

First Flight Doubles Plate winners Gail Kern and John Shanholt with presenter Paul Bennett

Clayton Morrow

Ben Rothman during the singles semifinals

Wright Rises to the Top at Bonita Bay

USCA Southwest Florida District Tournament Bonita Springs, Fla. | April 11-13, 2024

The second edition of the USCA Southwest Florida District GC Tournament proved to be a success. The festivities began on April 10 with players from all over Southwest Florida coming to the beautiful Bonita Bay Club to practice on the croquet lawns to prepare for the next three days of competition.

In true Bonita Bay Club form, commencing at 4:00 p.m., the club put on a lavish cocktail and heavy hors d’oeuvres party. A round of applause went to the club and members for hosting this magnificent event. When the players received their schedules, they were beyond delighted to receive the swag bag that included a monogrammed blanket and two crystal monogrammed wine glasses. More to come as to how those blankets were quite needed! On each morning, the club provided freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee and a delectable breakfast buffet, all courtside. The players enjoyed the chef’s cooking at lunchtime.

On April 11, the four blocks of six players began competing. While competition can be tough in any sport, it was quite a surprise to the players to be competing in 35- to 40-mile-perhour wind gusts! While they prevailed, there was plenty of talk about possibly wearing weight belts next year so that some of the players did not land in the Gulf of Mexico. A special shout out to everyone’s favorite player Mary Hennelly, for bringing fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies every day for an afternoon snack.

On April 12, the forecast guaranteed beautiful warm, sunny weather. And yes, while it was beautiful, it was certainly not warm, and the players who had immediate access to those monogrammed blankets were grateful they could bundle themselves up while they waited their turns on the lawn.

By the end of April 12, with the blankets still in use under the tents, John Joseph and Spike Gonzales were both undefeated in every game they played. Quite an accomplishment! However, the last day of the tournament, April 13, was a one-game knockout. With the players all divided into two categories, First Flight and Championship, the play resumed until 6:00 p.m. until the winners for each flight were determined.

Anne Killilea of Wyndemere Country Club took First Flight and the winner of Championship Flight was Tim Wright of Bonita Bay.

Harper Claims Treasure Coast GC Win

USCA Florida Treasure Coast District GC Tournament Vero Beach, Fla. | April 5-7, 2024

The Treasure Coast District with Vero Beach, Fla., at its center, held its inaugural tournament on the weekend of April 5-7, 2024, at The Moorings Yacht and Country Club in Indian River County. Their two, level lawns were in excellent condition.

This tournament was created to focus on croquet players from the district who had never played in a USCA-sanctioned tournament. These new USCA members had first-hand experience playing against seasoned players and they did amazingly well. Some of the newbies reached the championship playoffs, with many close matches along the way. Regional VP Bill Simmons believes many will play in future tournaments, having enjoyed the competition.

Croquet has become very popular in Vero Beach, with eight clubs (Vero Beach Country Club, Riomar, Windsor, Oak Harbor, Quail Valley, John’s Island, The Moorings and Indian River Estates) having lawns and active programs. Orchid Island Club is building a lawn this year and will become the ninth club in the area. Being the first-ever tournament in the area, the field was small but enthusiastic this year and will grow by next year’s event.

Billy Harper, from Hobe Sound, won Championship Flight in an exciting final against Bo Prillaman (the Tournament Manager) from Vero Beach. David Scott, also from Vero Beach, won first flight honors defeating Laura Hendrick from Ponte Vedra, Fla.

Harper got off to a fast start in the Championship Flight final 19-point game, with strong steady clearings and precise hoop shooting, running up a 7-2 lead. Prillaman woke up at Hoop 10 and subsequently tied up the match at 8-all. Harper scored Hoop 17 and Prillaman got in the super-hoop jaws at 18 but with a slight offset on the left wire with Red. Harper had just enough room to precisely hit Black into the right wire and carom off Red for the 10-8 win.

Tournament Director Tom Cooper would like to thank the referees Billy Harper and Laura and Kendall Hendrick for their assistance in helping to teach the newer players the rules and etiquette of tournament play.

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. Billy Harper

02. Bo Prillaman

03. Kendall Hendrick

04. Robert Smith

05. Lynda Bjorklund

06. Billie Ray

07. Linda Merk

08. John Dillon

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. David Scott

02. Laura Hendrick

03. Les Gwyn-Williams

04. Sandy Leary

05. Thomas Lobsitz

06. Sanford England

07. Melissa England

08. David Lewis

09. Daniel Will

ARIZONA

Scottsdale – Mountain Mallets

Matthew Santiago

CALIFORNIA

Rancho Mirage –

Mission Hills Croquet Club

Mike Davis

Kathryn Miller

Lisa Quateman

Neil Quateman

FLORIDA

Belleair – Belleair Country Club

Michael Andriola

Priscilla Castellano

Sammy Castellano

Margaret Greenlees

Christopher Hodgkins

James Ingersoll

Clark Lea

Judith Sullivan

Boca Grande –

Gasparilla Inn Mallet Club

Sara Atherholt

Gail Barnett

Ginny Bell

Randy Bell

Tanny Clark

Lucy Commoner

Gay Darsie

Charles Davis

Sue Eddy

Roland Emanuel

Lisa Erdekian

Vah Erdekian

Louis Gilligan

Robbin Gilligan

John Guido

Katie Guido

John Handal

Margaret Handal

Steve Humphrey

MaryLou Humphrey

Marcia Knapp

Robert Knapp

Gap Kovach

Karen Kovach

Jeff Lehrian

Deborah Lilly

Genie Lyman

Dennis Maloomian

Loulie Mauran

Gina McFadden

Marty McFadden

James McGowan

Mary Ann McGowan

Eric Nelson

Libby Nelson

Barb Powers

Bruce Powers

Lucy Rose

Carol Smith

David Smith

Jeff Swift

Lizabeth Swift

Richard Taylor

Dan Wiggin

Linda Wiggin

Susan Zug

Thomas Zug

Delray Beach – At Large Member

Lee DiGiacomo

Wendy Stober

Delray Beach – St. Andrews Club

Laura Barney

Lake Wales –

Mountain Lake Croquet Club

Lisa Hatch

John Kell

Gabriella Maloof

Naples – Audubon Croquet

Association

Joelle Roussel

Anne Tews

Steven Tews

Morgen Tuerk

Naples – The Club Pelican Bay

Charles Kochakian

Susan Woodall

Newberry – At Large Member

Johannes Louw

Orlando –

The Country Club of Orlando

Richard Fender

Palm Beach – Everglades Club, Inc.

Jerry Bitting

Susan Connor

Phillip Fusz

Gib Harris

Pamela Harris

Mimi Matthews

Christy Pope

Roger Powers

Sonia Reese

Tom Wynne

Sophie Wynne

Palm Beach Gardens –

Croquet Club at PGA National

Karen Shea

Palm Coast –

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Mike Debitetto

Stacy Nelson

Ponte Vedra Beach –

The Club of Ponte Verda

Kathryn Fitzgibbons

Ponte Vedra Beach –

The Plantation of Ponte Vedra

Waleed Abdelrauf

Sebastian – At Large Member

Alexandre Mabred

Stuart –

Mariner Sands Country Club

Sheila Tincher

The Villages –

The Villages Croquet Club

Paul Badura

Lynn Dodd

Mary Lou Drake

Venice –

Sarasota County Croquet Club

John Leibert

Deborah Sanders

Arthur Schwartz

Vero beach – At Large Member

Sharon Harpin

William Harpin

Dawn Reichard

Vero Beach – The Moorings Club

Thomas Duff

Sara Duff

Vero Beach –

Vero Beach Country Club

Thomas Lobsitz

Robert Smith

West Palm Beach –

National Croquet Club

Mark Bailey

Ellie Bailey-Patterson

Bruce Berry

James Bowers

Hunter Craig

Jamie Dinan

Christopher Ford

Schuyler Ford

Marc Glasberg

Robert Glass

Patricia Gorman

Greg Hubert

Carl Johnson

Steve Johnson

Susan Johnson

Elizabeth Miller

Sandra Pew

Diane Rose

Robert Treuhold

Simone Williams

Winter Park –

Interlachen Country Club

Peter Maresco

GEORGIA

Sky Valley – Sky Valley Club, Inc.

C. Martin Greene

KENTUCKY

Morehead – At Large Member

Dean Rowland

MASSACHUSETTS

Sandwich –

Sandwich Croquet Club

Carolyn Sartory

Thomas Sartory

MICHIGAN

Ann Arbor – At Large Member

John Kwant

MISSISSIPPI

Jackson –

The Country Club of Jackson

Michael Kavanaugh

NEW CLUBS

Belfair | Bluffton, South Carolina

Texas A&M University | College Station, Texas

NEW JERSEY

Spring Lake – Green Gables

Croquet Club

Sheila Goggins

NORTH CAROLINA

Bald Head Island – Bald Head

Island Croquet Club

Susan Kelly

Tim Kelly

Harrison Locke

Cashiers – High Hampton

Ann Wrobleski

Sam Yocum

Charlotte – At Large Member

Claude Moorman III

Highlands –Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, Inc

Ryan Clark

Pinehurst –

Pinehurst Croquet Club

Charles Rivers

Mary Rivers

Eric Vanderpool

Jenna Vanderpool

Pittsboro –

Fearrington Swim & Croquet Club

Deborah Thornton

Southport – The Clubs at St James

Jesse Camacho

Lisa Kombrink

Helene Mawyer

Catherine Miller

Michael Miller

Winston-Salem –

Arbor Acres Croquet

Donald Eppert

OKLAHOMA

Bartlesville –

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Luka Nettleton

Evan Rogers

Asher Scantlin

Lane Wyatt

SOUTH CAROLINA

Aiken –

Green Boundary Croquet Club

Nina Milton

Bluffton – Belfair

Jill Bronsky

Diane Robinson

Charleston – Bishop Gadsden

Elsa McDowell

Dataw Island –Croquet Club of Dataw Island

Jayne Krebs

Bill Krebs

TEXAS

College Station –

Texas A&M University

Seth Allen

Miahna Fallentine

Maggie Kenjura

Austin Ratcliff

Houston –

Houston Croquet Association

Joan Mauel

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

Christiansted –

Bombay Mallet & Wicket Croquet Club

Frank Colangelo

John Heppe

VERMONT

Manchester –Ekwanok Country Club

Mark Tatusko

A Matter of Time

By Jeff Soo

Abbreviations used: blUe, Red, blacK, Yellow

A couple of issues back, we looked at an end-game “puzzle,” where the goal was to make the most of a small lead in last turns. Games often finish with this type of puzzle, making the end game a distinctly fun and interesting subset of American Six-Wicket tactics. That’s equally true for the opponent, who may need to make a desperation shot at a wicket or at a boundary ball from long range and may still need more good play if the shot works. It’s fun to take on such shots knowing that, given the situation, it is tactically correct to do so. And, on those rare occasions when the play succeeds and you snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, you won’t soon forget it.

But there’s a different type of end game that players outside Championship Flight rarely experience: winning by finishing (i.e. staking out with both balls to score 26 points and win the game outright). The usual 75- to 90-minute time limit isn’t enough for most players to get that far. Indeed, a remarkable number of players have never staked out even one ball, nor had much, if any, experience of rover play.

Figure 1 shows a Championship Flight game with a tie score and UK is making a break with U and is ball-in-hand on K at 4-back.

Both balls are for this wicket and UK had hoped to peel K, which is three-ball dead, but has failed to rush it into peeling position. When U scores 4-back, UK will have a one-point lead. What is UK’s best chance of winning from this position? As usual, the reader is encouraged to think through some possible plays before reading on.

Thoughtful readers may notice that I just asked a trick question (I’m writing this on April Fool’s Day, after all) because I’ve left out one vital piece of information: the amount of time left on the game clock. If U is first ball in last turns or is about to become so, UK is in the driver’s seat, and without too much difficulty can get to a very strong position. (Can you think of what this play might look like? I’ll give my answer later in the article.)

But if more time is on the clock, enough that R is assured of being able to play a shot before time runs out, it is a very different picture and UK is faced with difficult choices. What should you do if you know R will have at least one minute to play after U’s turn ends? Would you give the same answer if R had at least five minutes?

To understand UK’s dilemma, consider RY’s situation. If U scores at least two more points on this turn, which it can easily do, R must score a point to give RY any chance of winning (Y is a rover ball and can only score one point for itself). But if R can play a turn before time runs out, Y will have a chance to pick up K (or play a croquet-out) and set R for the winning three-ball break. That’s true even if U stakes out on this turn for a four-point lead. (Yes, U could stake out Y, but that is a chancy play to pull off from this position.) The more time RY has to join up and set a rush for Y, the stronger RY’s position becomes.

First let’s look at what UK should do if U can run out the clock on the turn in Figure 2

U has simply finished its break, leaving R behind at penult, then placing K hidden from R, before staking out (hence the traditional indication of “box” as where to place U’s clip). R must roquet Y and then score at least three points on this turn, a desperately hard play. (If you’ve never made the Figure 2 leave before, practice it, starting from the Figure 1 position: with two wickets and the stake as possible obstacles, it is quite easy to get R wired from K.)

If U can’t run out the clock and R can fire off a shot before time is called, this play probably still gives UK the advantage, but far from the overwhelming advantage UK would have if R doesn’t get that extra turn. If there’s only a minute or so left when R starts its turn, R should try to give Y an in-court rush, so that Y can attack. K should then play into corner IV (taking care to get right into the corner) to make R’s pickup from a croquet-out as difficult as possible.

FIGURE 1: The score is tied; U is ball-in-hand on K

And the more time on the clock, the stronger RY’s position becomes. The beauty of having extra time for the end game is that it encourages players to go for the finish, adding another dimension to the game. For example, with a lot of time left in the game, U might try for the position in Figure 3 instead: That is, score 4-back, rush K back into position, take off to R, then score penult and retire to corner IV. U might be able to wire R from K while approaching penult, but if not, it is worth taking the

deadness on R to get the wiring right (or to send R much farther from K). Even with the wiring this position still gives a slight advantage to RY, but with more time in the game it is essential for UK to get K clear. This makes for a much more interesting end game than the Figure 2 scenario.

FIGURE 2: U has pegged out, first ball in last turns

FIGURE 3: U has wired K from R

Alternatively, U can attack to set up a potential finishing break for K, by placing K in position and scoring penult as in Figure 4, but then rushing R toward corner II and picking up Y:

Of course, this gives R a choice of shots. Y is deliberately placed well east of penult to avoid giving R too short a shot. (UK could swap the positions of Y and U, giving a better chance of wiring the penult pioneer from R, but at the cost of making it nearly impossible for K to finish and quite hard for K to make a strong leave.) Even if R hits, the position isn’t as strong for RY as it might seem; R needs some good play to pick up a break, and UK will get a clearance if R scores 1-back but then breaks down. If R misses, K will try for the finish. But if K can’t get U into good position for the rover peel, K can try for a leave analogous to the Figure 2 leave (except with U in better position at rover).

A great way to increase the chance of getting to this kind of extended end game is to play the 14-point game. This is an official American Six-Wicket variation, in which 4 is the clearing wicket and a ball becomes a rover after scoring 6. With a time limit in the 60-75 minute range, players have a good chance to experience rover tactics and to finish games by staking out both balls, and this includes non-Championship players. I had the opportunity to play this version of the game at the 2023 President’s Matches, the American-Rules prelude to the Solomon Trophy. It is not just a shorter game with quicker breaks and hence less waiting, but also one where two-ball breaks become more of a threat. Plus, the clearing at 4 tends to reward more aggressive play. Give it a try!

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FIGURE 4: U attacks Y to set up a finishing break

The Upside of Making Mistakes on the Croquet Lawn

By Cheryl Bromley

When we play croquet, we are obviously trying to keep our mistakes to a minimum, but unfortunately, they creep in from time to time. If we can maintain a positive outlook, we can see the upside to making a mistake, which is — hindsight.

During a game, a mistake can be a mental error or an unfortunate result of a shot we’ve just taken. The good news is, that these kinds of moments present scenarios we can work on and improve, which might actually lead us to discovering a new tactic or trying a different technique.

• Mental errors essentially are caused by a loss of focus. Loss of focus can occur because:

• Not hydrating or eating properly before, during or after a match

• Not getting enough rest before or after a match

• Rushing and not considering various options before taking a shot and/or being uncommitted to the shot

• Inexperience

• Negative self-talk

Shot execution mistakes can happen for basic reasons such as:

• Not using a pre-shot routine consistently for each shot

• Not considering or playing a higher percentage shot instead of attempting one that is clearly not beneficial to the situation

• Peeking or looking up too soon when striking the ball

• Overhitting or underhitting

• Setting up too close to the opponent ball

• Lack of practice

How to Positively Turn It Around During a Game

Using the examples above, you can do several things while playing a game to get back on track. Below are just a few simple solutions.

1. At a minimum, stay hydrated. This means being prepared ahead of time with a water bottle that you have courtside. When you feel something slipping away, take a few sips of water while your opponent is hitting their shot to give yourself a mini-break and reset.

2. Commit to your shot and positively tell yourself that you can make it. Hindsight will reveal whether it was the best tactic or technique, and this information can be tucked away for future reference in the game or for an upcoming practice session.

3. Pay attention. Each shot you hit provides valuable feedback. Each player you play against allows you to learn new things.

4. Get over it quickly. This means that, yes, you need to acknowledge your error and even though you may not be happy about what just occurred, work on disciplining yourself to quickly dispense of it and focus on the next shot at hand.

5. Remember, it’s never over until it’s over. You always have a fighting chance to get back into a match. Stay positive and encourage yourself to hang in there! Momentum can change and swing back in your favor. No one makes 100 percent of their shots 100 percent of the time!

GC Scenarios: When to Play it Smart and When to Take a Risk

Scenario 1: It is Blue to shoot, and it is quite a distance from the hoop with Red set up nearby. If Blue sets up in front of the hoop, Red will clear it away on the next shot. If Blue sets up behind Red, Red will clear it and send it down the lawn to the other end.

The smarter choice is to set up toward the side near the “short” boundary leaving itself a potential hoop shot but not being as much of a juicy target for Red.

Scenario 2: It is Blue to shoot, and even though it is a difficult distance from the hoop, its partner Black is farther away and not in a good position to help. Clearing the Red danger ball still leaves Yellow with an upcoming hoop shot. In this case, it is wise for Blue to take a risk and try to score the hoop as it is outnumbered with two opponent balls in scoring position to only one for the Blue/ Black team.

USCA Florida SE District GC Championship

March 22-24, 2024

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Ahab Abdelwahab

02. Lynda Sudderberg

03. Bruce Hindin

04. Tate Russack

05. Conrad Rugart

05. Cami Russack

05. Linda Merk

05. John Strasser

09. David McCoy

First Flight

01. Michael Kolowich

02. Rich Rose

03. Franck Meunier

04. Sarah Persons

05. Gay Cinque

05. Neill Trimble

05. Diane Rose

05. Richard Allen

09. Sheila Peterson

USCA Club Teams

March 14-17, 2024

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Lyons Trophy

Division 1 - Houston Croquet Association

Division 2 - Belleair Croquet Club

Division 3 - West River Wickets

Championship Flight

01. Bob Van Tassell/Dick Sullivan

02. John Brown/Robert Pulitzer

03. Danny Huneycutt/Bev Cardo

03. Randy Cardo/Kevin Hansley

05. John Young/Doug Moore

05. Jim Erwin/Lucas Van Alen

First Flight

01. Ron Eccles/Jeanne Branthover

02. Brand Shank/Lori Matway

03. John Warlick/Steve Tasker

03. John Craddock/Mary Craddock

05. Jim Watrous/Frank LaValla

05. Charles Alexander/Tim McCormick

05. Mark Ski/Cheryl Harders

05. Larry Lynch/Karen Heckman

09. John Grabow/Missy Chilton

10. Richard Carlson/Stuart Baker

10. Vickie Johnston/Craig Coats

10. Lee Hamel/Bass Wallace

Second

Flight

01. Richard Brinkley/Michael Jeary

02. Penny Pressler/Charlotte Pulitzer

03. Alex Galasso/Priscilla Flowers

03. Jeanette Hodgkins/Chris Hodgkins

05. George Claffey/Rita McNamara

05. Jeffery Scholz/David Beccia

05. Boyd Parker/Joe Leary

05. Allison Worthington/Richard Corey

09. Bill Sadowski/Anne Licursi

10. Gail Warlick/Flavia Logie

10. Rick Hayes/Liddy Chaney

10. Sonia Alexandra/Linda Merk

Third Flight

01. Don Chapoton/Mary Jo Chapoton

02. Jay Graham/Stephen Graham

03. Eileen Cornacchia/Laura Warner

03. Donald Kent/Nancy Hunt

05. Anthony Sessa/Donna Sessa

05. Donna Hamel/Jackie Wallace

05. Dan Lawrence/Pat Richmond

05. Jessica Beccia/Judy McDermott

09. Susan Koepp/Susan Sergeant

10. John Morgan/Ralph Worthington

10. Tom Hadlock/Ralph Confessore

10. Maude Carter/Mathilde Hoefer

USCA Croquet Week GC Tournament March 8-10, 2024

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Chris Barley

02. Tate Russack

03. James Welch

03. Cami Russack

05. James Podraza

05. John Strasser

05. Bo Prillaman

05. Jay Carey

09. Caryl Firth - Plate Winner

10. David McCoy

11. Jim Sansalone

11. Daniel Horton

13. Alex Galasso

13. John Warlick

First Flight

01. Juan Milciunas

02. Spike Gonzales

03. Jeff Smith

03. Conrad Rugart

05. Mary Churchill

05. Pamela Groh

05. Lynda Bjorklund

05. George Claffey

09. Vicky Naranjo - Plate Winner

10. Asher Scantlin

11. Mary Churchill

11. Fred Heald

13. Wendall Thompson

13. Nicholas Capobianco

13. Franck Meunier

13. Luka Nettleton

Second Flight

01. Bob Smith

02. Tom Eggleston

03. Steve Fisher

03. Richard Rendleman

05. Richard Hayes

05. Trudy Crowetz

05. Susu Day

05. Lee Robinson

09. Jane Louise Smith - Plate Winner

10. Susie Day

11. Nancy Sansalone

11. Lynn Foley

13. Gregory Presley

13. Joyce Eggleston

15. Stanley Fisher

15. Bess Gallanis

15. Thomas Wilson

15. Jane Grandusky

Sarasota County CC 6W Club Singles

March 8-10, 2024

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Neil Houghton

02. Matt Griffith

03. Gene Raymond

03. Donald Parker

05. Bob Worrell

05. Arthur Olsen

07. Walt Janitz

First Flight

01. Roger Vorraber

02. Sandy Janitz

03. Ellie Griffith

04. Ken Deason

04. George Quallich

06. Christine Smith

07. Christof Weihs

08. Cathleen Rivers-Carroll

Second Flight

01. Mervyn Harvey

02. Dean Ricci

03. Rusty Rose

04. Bob Taber

04. Karen Weihs

04. Katie Bull

07. Lester Taufen

Third Flight

01. Linda Taber

02. Kathie Hart

03. Debbie Martin

04. Connie Coling

04. J.R. Rowell

06. Toni Marie Gelineau

06. Pauline Harvey

Blaine Davis Invitational

February 29 - March 3, 2024

Gasparilla Croquet Club

Boca Grande, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Matt Griffith

02. Lynda Sudderberg

03. Oakley Johnson

04. Conrad Rugart

05. Donald Parker

06. Stephen Grassbaugh

07. Jodie Rugart

07. Bob Worrell

First Flight

01. Cecil Creasey

02. Karen Heckman

03. John Joseph

04. Christof Weihs

05. Ted Welsh

06. Bob Bake

07. Christine Smith

07. Rob Franks

Second Flight

01. Lauren Trowell

02. Jennifer Joseph

03. Lauren Weihs

04. Katie Bull

05. Kathie Hart

05. Steve Brink

07. Susan Creasey

Steuber Classic

February 28 - March 3, 2024

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

American 6W

Championship Flight Singles

01. Bob Van Tassell

02. Dick Sullivan

03. Danny Huneycutt

04. Randy Cardo

05. Scott Spradling

06. Norris Settlemyre

07. David Ekstrom

08. Kevin Hansley

09. Jim Erwin

10. Randy Reid

First Flight Singles

01. Nancy Crouch

02. Mark Ski

03. Yen Sullivan

04. Yvette Donato Selby

05. Steve Thurston

06. Ron Eccles

07. Jeff Morrison

08. Anne Frost Robinson

Second Flight Singles

01. Carl Archiniaco

02. David Kepner

03. George Claffey

04. Richard Hayes

05. Jan Fisher

06. Melissa Nelson

07. Sonia Alexandra

08. Ralph Worthington

Championship Waterford Doubles

01. Jeff Morrison

02. Nancy Crouch

03. Dick Sullivan

04. Steve Thurston

05. David Ekstrom

06. Bob Van Tassell

07. Macey White

08. Scott Spradling

09. Mark Ski

10. Doug Moore

11. Norris Settlemyre

12. Jim Erwin

First Flight Waterford Doubles

01. Yvette Donato Selby

02. Allison Worthington

03. Rick Hayes

04. George Claffey

05. Jan Fisher

06. Ralph Worthington

07. Alex Galasso

08. David Kepner

09. Anne Frost Robinson

10. Dick Corey

11. Melissa Nelson

12. Yen Sullivan

Golf Croquet Championship Flight Singles

01. Tamer Hatata

02. Macey White

03. Adam Barr

04. Christopher Olsen

05. Marc Stearns

06. Amr Hamdy

07. Billy Harper

08. James Creasey

09. Jim Jamison

10. Kendall Hendrick

11. Bev Cardo

12. Daniel Horton

First Flight Singles

01. Chris Morris

02. Tom Lindley

03. Bill Simmons

04. David McCoy

05. Alex Galasso

06. Ned Sperry

07. Cami Russack

08. Laura Hendrick

09. Dick Corey

10. Suzanne Spradling

11. Barbara Jamison

12. Brian Brittain

Second Flight Singles

01. Michael Kolowich

02. Mike Hoggatt

03. Don Allison

04. Janet Allison

05. Mary Galasso

06. Doug Moore

07. Linda Merk

08. Jay Carey

09. Mary Carol Stearns

10. Phil Robinson

11. Holly Sperry

12. Bess Gallanis

Championship Waterford Doubles

01. Daniel Horton

02. Laura Hendrick

03. James Creasey

04. Randy Cardo

05. Adam Barr

06. David McCoy

07. Amr Hamdy

08. Ned Sperry

09. Tom Cooper

10. Carl Archiniaco

11. Bev Cardo

12. Jim Jamison

13. Billy Harper

14. Cami Russack

15. Kendall Hendrick

16. Chris Olsen

First Flight Waterford Doubles

01. Michael Kolowich

02. Mike Hoggatt

03. Ron Eccles

04. Tom Lindley

05. Linda Merk

06. Brian Brittain

07. Holly Sperry

08. Chris Morris

09. Jay Carey

10. Mary Galasso

11. Bill Simmons

12. Barbara Jamison

13. Suzanne Spradling

14. Bess Gallanis

Mission Hills Invitational

February 27 - March 2, 2024

Mission Hills Country Club

Rancho Mirage, California

Championship Flight

01. Steve Scalpone

02. Patrick Sweeney

03. Peter Bach

03. Donna Dixon

05. Mary Rodeberg

05. John Watson

07. George Peterkin

First Flight

01. Charlotte Pulitzer

02. Penny Pressler

03. Nick Gray

03. Bill Sullivan

05. Georgia Carter

05. Lee Hamel

Second Flight

01. Tish Peterkin

02. Spencer Hood

03. David Collins

03. Doris Priddle

05. Donna Wilson Hamel

05. Nora Watson

Championship Doubles

01. George Peterkin/John Watson

02. Peter Bach/Tracey Roche

03. Donna Dixon/Bill Sullivan

03. Patrick Sweeney/Lee Hamel

First Flight Doubles

01. Georgia Carter/Tish Peterkin

02. Doris Priddle/Ted Kalmon

03. Penny Pressler/Charlotte Pulitzer

03. David Collins/Spencer Hood

05. Marty Ormsby/Ray Ogden

05. Donna Hamel/Nora Watson

Grand Haven Loggerhead Open GC Tournament

February 24-25, 2024

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Palm Coast, Florida Championship Flight

01. Macey White

02. Gary Gamble

03. Dorothy Silliman

04. Nanct Crouch

05. Tate Russack

06. Steve Thurston

07. Anne Killilea

08. Cami Russack

First Flight

01. Jim Hester

02. Kathie Gamble

03. Howard Chodak

04. Linda Merk

05. Susu Day

06. Kevin Killilea

07. George Claffey

08. Dana Silliman

09. Lynda Bjorklund

10. Craig Sellner

11. David Paukovich

12. Susie Day

13. Lisa Chodak

14. Judy Sellner

GC Shootout | February 23-25, 2024

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

Championship A Flight

01. Adam Barr

02. J. Billie Ray

02. Gene Raymond

04. Peter Carlin

04. Kendall Hendrick

06. Mervyn Harvey

06. Jose Benjumea

08. Christof Weihs

Championship B Flight

01. Michael Kukla

02. Doug Ledgett

03. Diane Walker

03. Bill Simmons

05. Joe Fairbanks

05. Sally Mills

07. Brian Brittain

08. John Rymer

First Flight A

01. Gene Lockard

02. Graydon Bell

02. Sandy Janitz

02. Christine Smith

05. Roger Vorraber

05. Karen Weihs

05. Pauline Harvey

08. Bob Merritt

First Flight B

01. Lee Robinson

02. Debbie Martin

03. Penn Pendleton

04. Judy Carlin

04. Rita McNamara

04. Jon Ayers

04. Alex Feinstein

08. Carl Caruso

Second Flight

01. Walt Janitz

02. John E Walker

03. Bob Taber

03. Katie Bull

05. Gillian Merritt

06. Arlene Stevens

06. Linda Kemerer

08. Jane Crossland

Third Flight

01. Kathie Hart

02. Matthew St. Hilaire

03. Robert Ferraro

04. Jason Collins

04. Linda Taber

06. Russell Grace

06. Theresa Chick

08. William Jackson

West Indies Invitational

February 15-18, 2024

St. Croix Tennis Club

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Championship Flight

01. Ron Eccles/Tyson Roberts

02. Dan Lawrence/Gail Warlick

03. Doug Moore/Karen Heckman

03. John Warlick/Cheryl Harders

First Flight

01. Whitney Young/Nancy Hasoon

02. Flavia Logie/John Heppe

03. Ann Margret Nagel-Gutierrez/James Gutierrez

03. Pat Richmond/Jessica Cuyler

05. Carla Rueck/Norma Jean Brent

05. Perry Sheraw/Tony B. Tender

2024 Sarasota CCC Club 6W Doubles

February 9-11, 2024

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Walt Janitz/Michael Kukla

02. Matt Griffith/Lynda Sudderberg

02. Webster Bull/Gene Raymond

04. Arthur Olsen/Robert Worrell

First Flight

01. Ellie Griffith/Bob Gelineau

02. Roger Vorraber/Christine Smith

03. Brand Shank/Lori Matway

04. Ken Deason/Sue Williams

04. George Quallich/Christof Weihs

04. Lee Anderson/Rita McNamara

04. Sandy Janitz/Kathleen Rivers-Carroll

08. Nancy Hart/Trudy Harris

Second Flight

01. Mervyn Harvey/Rusty Rose

02. Robert Merritt/Gillian Merritt

03. Bob Taber/Linda Taber

04. Dean Ricci/Shirley Ricci

04. Linda Orff/Debbie Martin

04. Katie Bull/Kathie Hart

04. Toni Marie Gelineau/Connie Coling

08. Camilia Monteforte/Nona McGinnis

Flagler Cup

February 3-4, 2024

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Palm Coast, Florida

Championship Singles

01. Macey White

02. Brian Zindel

03. Nancy Crouch

04. Michael Kukla

05. William Todd

06. Steve Thurston

07. John Curington

First Flight Singles

01. Gary Gamble

02. Howard Chodak

03. James Podraza

04. David Paukovich

05. Devin Burress

06. Noreen Rice

07. Bill Sims

The Beach Club Invitational

February 1-4, 2024

The Beach Club

Palm Beach, Florida

Championship Singles

01. John Brown

02. David Isaacs

03. Tom Cooper

03. Preston Stuart

05. Randy Cardo

05. David Ekstrom

05. Bev Cardo

05. Alex Muradian

09. Michael Todorovich

09. Robert Pulitzer

09. David McCoy

09. Thomas Hughes

09. Randy Reid

09. Bill Hartmann

09. Linda Trifone

09. Ron Eccles

17. Jim Erwin

17. Mary Rodeberg

First Flight Singles

01. George Peterkin

02. Yvette Donato Selby

03. Mark Ski

03. John Craddock

05. Courtney Green

05. John Watson

05. Thomas Tribby

05. John Grabow

09. Jeanne Branthover

09. David Kemper

11. Sally McGrath

11. Richard Carlson

Second Flight Singles

01. Cheryl Harders

02. Jan Fisher

03. Georgia Carter

03. Jane Casey

05. Karen Heckman

05. Penny Pressler

05. Richard Corey

05. Richard Hayes

09. Danna Huneycutt

09. John McGrath

11. Anne Carr

11. Joe Leary

Whisky & Wickets

5-STAR LUXURY CROQUET TRIPS IN SCOTLAND

6 days/5 nights

June 10-15

July 15-20

$9,950

Castles, kilts and bagpipers, Georgian streets and Gothic alleys are all part of the vitality and romance of Edinburgh. We’ll scour the city for the best Cranachan, experience 6 days of croquet, fine dining and luxurious accommodations; enjoy tours of an Iron Age Fort, the 900yr old Edinburgh Castle and 3 of the oldest distilleries in the land. Stay in the Edwardian splendour of the Balmoral Hotel and the 5-Star luxury of the Gleneagles resort.

Tour the Royal Yacht Britannia and spend an unforgettable night aboard her sistership MV Fingal. Play croquet at Gleneagles, the Meadows Croquet Club and the National Croquet Centre of Scotland; then wrap all this up with a fun Roaring ’20s Awards Ceremony and dinner. Door-to-door by Range Rover. All proceeds support our work with Special Olympics. Limit 4 - 8 guests.

Third Flight Singles

01. Charlotte Pulitzer

02. Kathleen Green

03. Alex Galasso

03. David Beccia

05. Alan Lazarescu

05. Kit Detering

07. Mary Craddock

Fourth Flight Singles

01. Carl Detering

02. Scott McMurray

03. Tish Peterkin

03. Jessica Beccia

05. Nora Watson

05. Fei Fei Williams

Championship Waterford Doubles

01. David Ekstrom

02. Mark Ski

03. Preston Stuart

04. Ron Eccles

05. David Isaacs

06. John Brown

07. Courtney Green

08. George Peterkin

09. Tom Cooper

To register or for more information: info@JiminyWicket.org

10. Bev Cardo

11. Alex Muradian

12. John Watson

13. Randy Cardo

14. Thomas Hughes

15. Mary Rodeberg

16. Jeanne Branthover

17. Robert Pulitzer

18. Jim Erwin

19. Bill Hartmann

20. Vickie Johnston

21. David McCoy

22. Linda Trifone

First Flight Waterford Doubles

01. Sally McGrath

02. Danna Huneycutt

03. Richard Carlson

04. Karen Heckman

05. John Grabow

06. David Kepner

07. Jan Fisher

08. Missy Chilton

09. Thomas Tribby

10. Anne Carr

11. John Craddock

12. Cheryl Harders

Second Flight Waterford Doubles

01. Allison Worthington

02. Alex Galasso

03. Penny Pressler

04. Joe Leary

05. John McGrath

06. Jane Casey

07. Richard Hayes

08. Kathleen Green

09. Richard Corey

10. Georgia Carter

11. Alex Lazarescu

Third Flight Waterford Doubles

01. Kit Detering

02. Carl Detering

03. Charlotte Pulitzer

04. Mary Ann Mathys

05. Eileen Cornacchia

06. Tish Peterkin

07. Scott McMurray

08. Nora Watson

09. Mary Craddock

10. Jessica Beccia

11. David Beccia

©2024 Jiminy Wicket

The Croquet Lawn at Gleneagles Resort

Edradour Distillery est.1825

2024 Jones Invitational

January 25-28, 2024

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Rodney Lassiter

02. Matt Griffith

03. Gene Raymond

04. Lynda Sudderberg

05. Bob Worrell

06. Arthur Olsen

07. Matt Smith

07. Brian Hovis

First Flight

01. Brian Zindel

02. Robert Gannon

03. Linda Trifone

04. Oakley Johnson

05. Stephen Grassbaugh

05. Ron Millican

07. Mary Rodeberg

07. Deborah Millican

Second Flight

01. Roger Vorraber

02. John Steninger

03. Bob Gelineau

04. William Todd

05. David Kepner

05. Ken Deason

07. Ellie Griffith

07. Sally McGrath

Third Flight

01. Steve Berry

02. Christof Weihs

03. George Quallich

04. Sandy Janitz

05. Jan Fisher

05. Stephen Jackson

07. Christine Smith

07. Dean Ricci

Fourth Flight

01. Rusty Rose

02. Bob Taber

03. Richard Hayes

04. Robert Funk

05. Mervyn Harvey

06. John McGrath

07. Judith McKeon

Fifth Flight

01. Karen Weihs

02. Shirley Ricci

03. Ellen Goldener

04. Todd Marshall

05. Linda Orff

06. Linda Taber

06. Kathleen Lomas

DNF Mark Klein

Sixth Flight

01. Cynthia Chess

02. Kathie Hart

03. Jeffery Cohen

04. Kathleen Bull

05. Debbie Martin

05. Alex Feinstein

07. Lynn Lomas

07. Cindy Duranko

May

05/02/24 - 05/05/24

USCA Southeast Regional 6W Championship| US

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

05/02/24 - 05/05/24

USCA Florida 6W Regional | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

05/07/24 - 06/30/24

Stingray Golf Croquet Tournament | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey W White | 804-694-9771 maceywhite@gmail.com

05/09/24 - 05/12/24

NC Open AC | AC

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC

Mike Taylor | 910-986-3343 | mrtaylor1022@gmail.com

05/16/24 - 05/19/24

Croquet by The Bay 6W | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey W White | 804-694-9771 maceywhite@gmail.com

05/16/24 - 05/19/24

Texas State Championship 6W | US

Memorial Park | Houston, TX

Paul Chan | 713-864-1120 | chanpaul@swbell.net

05/24/24 - 05/27/24

Indian Territory Open | US & GC

LaFortune Park | Tulsa, OK

Bob Baker | 918-688-7777 | bobbaker688@gmail.com

05/30/24 - 06/02/24

USCA 9W National Championship | 9W

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

June

06/01/24

National Croquet Day Your Club

06/06/24 - 06/09/24

Albemarle GC Invitational | GC Albemarle Croquet Club | Belvidere, NC Adam Lassiter | 252-326-1231 adamllassiter@gmail.com

06/07/24 - 06/09/24

Western NC GC Open | GC Highlands Falls Country Club | Highlands, NC Lynda Bjorklun | 407-273-8835 | lyndab.nc@gmail.com

, Our most popular custom hand made mallet by George Wood, of New Zealand, & largest quality mallet producer in the world! Choose 10 or even more options for your custom personal mallet which we then send to your door with FREE AIR SHIPPING in 8 –10 days.

DEMO DAYS

We have lots of mallets for you to “Try & Buy” at our Boca Grande, Florida location. Or contact us if you would like to hold a free Demo Day at your club.

06/12/24 - 06/15/24

USCA Western 6W Regional | US

Denver Croquet Club - Washington Park | Denver, CO

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

06/13/24 - 06/16/24

NC State Singles Championship 6W | US Albemarle Croquet Club | Belvidere, NC Mike Taylor | 910-986-3343 | mrtaylor1022@gmail.com

06/13/24 - 06/16/24

Woodlawn Invitational 6W | US Woodlawn Croquet Program | Ellsworth, ME Perry A Mattson | 207-667-9335 newburyneckshore@gmail.com

06/13/24 - 06/16/24

ScissorTail Championship 6W | US Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club | Nichols Hills, OK Suzanne Spradling | 405-590-7264 sshawsprad@cox.net

06/20/24 - 06/23/24

Berkshire Invitational 6W | US Lenox Croquet Club | Lenox, MA Stuart Lawrence | 646-483-3000 | plus26tp@gmail.com

06/20/24 - 06/23/24

USCA Midwest 6W Regional | US

Memorial Park & The Bayou Club | Houston, TX Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

SIZES & SHAPES of our mallets are now available to TRY & BUY at Macey White’s Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA maceywhite@gmail.com

06/21/24 - 06/23/24

NY State GC Championship | GC

New York Croquet Club | New York City, NY

Mark Ski | 917-494-8827 | markski125@gmail.com

06/27/24 - 06/30/24

Greenwich Invitational | US

Greenwich Croquet Club | Greenwich, CT

Bill Miller | 203-530-6788 | billmiller8@snet.net

July

07/04/24 - 07/07/24

Rockfish GC Tournament | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

07/14/24 - 08/30/24

CBCC Summer Challenge GC | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

07/20/24 - 07/21/24

Massachusetts State 6W Tournament | US

Hazelwood Park & Community Center | New Bedford, MA

Courtney Green | 978-407-3553 cgreen@begleycompanies.com

07/25/24 - 07/28/24

USCA North Carolina Club Teams GC | GC

Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Linville Ridge, Linville Golf Club | Linville, NC

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

August

08/01/24 - 08/04/24

Buffalo Invitational 6W | US

Buffalo Croquet Club | Buffalo, NY

Robert Gannon | 716-432-1500 thehangmen@msn.com

08/08/24 - 08/11/24

Vacationland Golf Croquet Tournament | GC

Woodlawn Croquet Program | Ellsworth, ME

Tim McCormick | 207-329-5343 | tmccorm1@gmail.com

08/09/24 - 08/11/24

Rochester Invitational 6W | US

Rochester Croquet Club | Rochester, NY

Denise Ireland | 585-287-4531 hutchisondenise@gmail.com

08/16/24 - 08/18/24

The Prosser Cup GC | GC

Ocean House Mallet Club | Watch Hill, RI

Patricia K Spratt | 860-227-7297 | psprattct@aol.com

08/30/24 - 09/02/24

Tulsa Classic | US & GC

LaFortune Park | Tulsa, OK

Bob Baker | 918-688-7777 | bobbaker688@gmail.com

September

09/04/24 - 09/08/24

Woodlawn Big Lobster 6W & 9W | US & 9W

Woodlawn Croquet Program | Ellsworth, ME

Perry A Mattson | 207-667-9335 newburyneckshore@gmail.com

09/12/24 - 09/15/24

Blue Crab 6W Tournament | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

09/12/24 - 09/15/24

Osborn Cup 6W | US

New York Croquet Club | New York City, NY

Mark Ski | 917-494-8827 | markski125@gmail.com

09/17/24 - 09/21/24

USCA Selection Eights AC | AC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

09/20/24 - 09/21/24

Merion Cricket Club 6W & GC Interclub | US & GC

Merion Cricket Club | Haverford, PA

Whitney Thain | 610-642-5800 | wthain@merioncricket.com

09/25/24 - 09/29/24

Pinehurst Invitational 6W | US

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC

Elaine Moody | 910-986-3164 | halliburton_2@msn.com

09/27/24 - 09/29/24

Cape Cod 6W Invitational | US

Sandwich Croquet Club | East Sandwich, MA

Kathleen Green | 617-877-1879 | kmcginnis94@gmail.com

October

10/01/24 - 11/30/24

Autumn GC Challenge | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

10/01/24 - 11/05/24

USCA SE Regional GC Championship | GC

Linville Ridge, Linville Golf Club & Grandfather Linville, NC

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/06/24 - 10/12/24

USCA American 6W Nationals | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/08/24 - 10/09/24

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/13/24 - 10/16/24

WCF World GC Championship Qualifier | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/14/24 - 10/16/24

Big Oyster GC Tournament | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

10/15/24 - 10/16/24

Association Laws Croquet School | AC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/18/24 - 10/26/24

2024 World GC Championship | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/29/24 - 10/31/24

USCA American 6W School | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/31/24 - 11/03/24

PVCC Seahorse GC Tournament | GC

Ponte Vedra Croquet Club | Ponte Vedra, FL

Marc H Stearns | 562-762-5400 mstearns2@bellsouth.net

November

11/01/24 - 11/03/24

NCClub GC Doubles | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 | medstone100@me.com

11/06/24 - 11/10/24

USCA Seniors Masters 6W | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

Sharktooth GC | GC

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL

Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 | nh13sc@gmail.com

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

NCClub 6W Doubles Championship | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

11/21/24 - 11/24/24

USCA GC Masters Tournament | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

December

12/03/24 - 12/03/24

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

12/06/24 - 12/08/24

USCA GC Club Teams | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

12/11/24 - 12/12/24

Snowbirds & Flamingos GC | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 | medstone100@me.com

12/13/24 - 12/15/24

Beach Club GC Invitational | GC

The Beach Club | Palm Beach, FL

Thomas Tribby | 561-308-9447 | thomastribby@gmail.com

USCA SCHOOLS

Our schools are taught by top USCA-certified instructors who are qualified and experienced players selected by our staff because of their croquet expertise and ability to communicate to those who wish to learn to play the game correctly. Students will have the opportunity to play croquet in a structured environment. Classes are small (8:1 or less student-to-teacher ratio) and are tailored to the specific playing levels of the participants.

AMERICAN 6W (3 days)

October 29, 2024

GOLF CROQUET (2 days)

October 8, 2024

December 3, 2024

ASSOCIATION (2 days) October 15, 2024

5 hours/day of on-court instruction

Use of equipment

Official Rulebook (New A6W or GC members

USCA Shot-making Manual (1st time A6W)) Daily

Certificate of Completion & Photograph Wine and Cheese Graduation Party.

Gryphon

2-piece travel shaft mallet

• easily fits in a suitcase

• assembles effortlessly in seconds

• no tools

• alignment pin keeps ever ything in perfect position

• ergonomic design

• reduces hyper-extension of wrist joints

• allows for relaxed grip

• single or double bend for different grip styles

• bigger back swing for greater control