Courtside with Sara Low

CroquetNews 2020 Volume 1

Features 10 | Alfred W. "Fred" Jones 14 | Seniors Masters Championship 17 | Nat'l American 6-W Championship 20 | Leroy Niemen's Brush with Croquet 24 | Club Profile: Sky Valley Croquet Club 26 | Member Profile: Don Oakley 33 | Event Reports

Departments 03 | Courtside with Sara Low 04 | The Clubhouse 07 | Who Am I? 29 | Let’s Talk Tactics 30 | GC America 31 | 9W Roundup 38 | 2019 Grand Prix Update 40 | Events Calendar 42 | New Membership On The Cover: Photo of Fred Jones taken by Johnny Mitchell.

Publisher: Dylan Goodwin | uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com Managing Editor: Julie Jantzer-Ward Editor: Darin Watson Art Director Brandy Ferguson Inquiries Please submit all inquiries and stories to uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com. Text should be submitted as a Microsoft Word file and photos need to be FULL resolution (300 dpi). All content may be edited for length and photos will be adjusted appropriately. 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 expressed permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USCA. © 2020 United States Croquet Association

As evidenced by the cover of this magazine and the required scramble to alter plans, the news of the passing of Fred Jones hit the croquet community hard. A legendary figure in our world, Fred touched us all in so many different ways. He played the game well. He taught skills and rules well. He ran tournaments. He was the USCA Handicap Chair. He was inducted into the US Croquet Hall of Fame. His wife, Jackie, is a top croquet player, instructor and innovator. Basically, Fred did everything croquet very well. And he left us in the best way possible – after a croquet clinic and game. Whether one met him in person or knew him from afar, every member of the USCA was touched by Fred Jones. I first met Fred 24 years ago when I travelled from New York City to Newport, R.I., for one of his tournaments, which was my first American 6-Wicket Tournament away from the comfort of my home croquet club. I registered to play only in the doubles format as I was not sure of all the rules of the game and had not played a singles match. I needed a partner to tell me what to do at every step. Fortunately, I thought, this was a tournament for beginners so everyone would understand. I was wrong about the players being exclusively beginners. The Tournament Director, Fred Jones, had signed me up for both doubles and singles formats, explaining that this would make for a good learning experience. At the cocktail party on the evening before the event, he told me what he had done. I vowed to myself that I would not cry and then spent the night watching the only Bob and Ted video I owned. I think I lost all of my games, but don’t really remember this. I remember playing in a croquet tournament, a little bit of a couple games, my doubles partner, the evening parties and Fred checking on me regularly – not because I was a rank beginner, but because I was a tournament player. He checked on everyone… always. He was a dedicated commander in croquet. Fred loved the game and cared about his players. Because of Fred, many people have tried playing or competing in croquet and most have continued with the sport. I know I did. Loved and appreciated, Fred Jones made a significant mark on croquet: the game, the players, the leadership and its history. Thank you, Fred. Remembering Fred Jones

Sara Low USCA President | president@uscroquet.com