John Warlick

Age: 74

Home base: West Palm Beach, Florida

Home club: National Croquet Club

Grip: Standard

Mallet:

Dave Trimmer Kevlar mallet 11.5” head, 2” high and 2 3/8” wide with a 36” carbon fiber Airline shaft. The mallet head has composite faces with a total weight of 2 lb.13 oz.

Years playing croquet:

Most of my life. My first recollection is playing backyard (nine wicket) around five years old at a Fourth of July picnic in Balboa Park, San Diego.

Favorite croquet venue:

Of course, the National Croquet Center is so great. I really like all the outstanding clubs and courts around Cashiers, N.C. It is so beautiful and peaceful there. The Warlick family were among the first settlers in central North Carolina just before 1750.

Favorite tournament:

USCA Club Teams. I have been lucky to have been on many Bombay and NCC winning club teams. I first played in the 1994 tourney at the PGA and won fourth flight with Bernie “The Attorney” Pattie.

How did you get into the game:

I first played American Six-Wicket in 1989 in a Bombay Croquet Club doubles tournament next to the beach at Duggan’s Reef in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Croquet highlights/tourney wins:

Happily, I have had more than my share of tournament victories. Inaugural tournament wins such as the West Indies Invitational 6W and the John’s Island 6W are memorable. I’ve managed Florida Regional wins in 6W singles, 9W singles and doubles and in GC doubles (some multiple). I have had nine National Nine Wicket Doubles Championship wins. Representing croquet players as the Florida Regional VP and NCC Club President for two terms each was an honor. I’m also a nine-wicket instructor and former or current certified regional referee and instructor in 6W and golf croquet.

Do you play other sports?

Chess (I have been fortunate to have played in seven Chess Olympiads). I used to run track.

Favorite sports teams?

University of Texas teams and the Dallas Cowboys.

Pop culture favorites:

TV: “Survivor;” Movie: “Run Silent, Run Deep;” Book: “The Little Engine That Could” (a good read); Musicians: Roy Orbison, Anna Gabriel and Nana Mouskouri.

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

The USCA has helped organize clubs and promote tournaments all over the United States. I have played at so many terrific clubs and met such great people from all over the country,

What is the USCA’s greatest weakness?

In recent years, I feel the USCA has fallen short in their support for nine wicket croquet. Supposedly more than four million backyard croquet players are in the U.S. This is where our future members and the youth we need in croquet can be found and nurtured.

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

I am hopeful that more appreciation for, and focus on, backyard croquet will encourage the youth (as well as others) in the U.S. to get more involved in croquet and see it as a lifetime sport. I expect that golf croquet will continue to expand around many more golf clubs and grow nationally.

What have you learned from croquet?

Croquet is an outstanding sport that can be played throughout one’s lifetime. So many interesting individuals are sharing one commonality of enjoying this beautiful outdoor sport. Most players have some competitive aspect to their personality. Croquet and the USCA allow for players to be as competitive as they like while still allowing others to enjoy fun play and camaraderie. It is a sport where you can make lifelong friends and travel to such lovely venues. I am still trying to learn to slow my backswing.

Quick croquet tip:

Practice, practice, practice. Generally, keep your head down and follow through. No matter what — have fun and enjoy the day!