2024 CROQUET NEWS VOLUME 1: US Solomon Win

CroquetNews The Official Magazine

of the United States Croquet Association

2024 VOLUME 1 | SPRING ISSUE

LIVE THE

CROQUET DREAM

IN BUCKHEAD Nestled in the heart of one of Atlanta’s most esteemed Buckhead neighborhoods, Peachtree Hills Place is a luxury 55+ community that caters to discerning adults who love croquet and other fine amenities.

At the heart of our community, you’ll find two immaculately manicured, regulation-sized natural turfgrass lawns that serve as the central hub for The Peachtree Hills Place Croquet Club.

If you envision an active lifestyle, fine dining in an elegant clubhouse, unparalleled service, and the opportunity to don your whites every day of the week, schedule your personal visit today.

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 PEACHTREEHILLSPLACE.COM or call 404.467.4900 229 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

courtside

USCA Management Committee ________________________

GC World Championship: Volunteers Welcome!

In the last edition, I detailed some events including the upcoming 2024 World Golf Croquet Championship that the USCA is hosting. This is a major undertaking and is already the focus of key individuals within the USCA and at the host venue Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Virginia. It is a tremendous opportunity to see the best GC talent in the world in our own country. It is also an opportunity for you to share with other croquet friends and a vehicle for the USCA to showcase “Croquet in America” to the entire world croquet community and beyond.

So, what can you do to help make this happen?

Support the event! Many opportunities are available.

You can volunteer to help manage match times, to referee, to assist the event hosts, to operate the scoreboard and to help manage equipment, which are some of the many areas where we need help.

(Michael Albert and Bev Cardo are event CoChairs, Jeff Soo is the Tournament Director, Cheryl Bromley is the Tournament Referee.) If you are able to lend your time and effort in making this a success, please let the appropriate person know. We encourage clubs to arrange times when their members could show their club colors and support/volunteer as a club group. Come and cheer on our U.S. players.

The last two World GC Champions are USCA players (Ben Rothman and Matthew Essick).

Clearly, we would enjoy a third consecutive U.S. Champion.

If you are unable to attend, you can still support the event with a financial, tax-deductible, donation. (Contact Ursula in the USCA office for details.) This tournament, the qualifier that immediately precedes the main event and our plans to include a daily livestream of key games all have significant overhead and expenses.

I invite you to be part of these events in any way you can. They will require significant volunteer and member support to be successful. Please consider ways you can participate in their success and your enjoyment by being part of the events.

I would also like to inform you that the new revised GC Skills Test is available. This allows clubs to administer this simple test and set initial handicaps for new players. This is another resource provided by the USCA to help our members and clubs enjoy the croquet experience.

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

Damon Bidencope

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

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

www.croquetamerica.com | 3

USCA Merchandise Is Now On the Website.

The USCA Storefront is open for business.

Need a mallet cover? Perhaps a hat or jacket, or surely one of the many shirt styles? The USCA website now has an operating storefront where you can find these items and many more like them.

The store also carries the Bob & Ted series of educational DVDs, as well as books and other materials to help you learn the game.

Wear your USCA merchandise proudly!

For details call 561-478-0760 United States Croquet Association 700 Florida Mango Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33406

Use your phone’s camera to scan this code and press the screen to go to the website.

You must log in as a member.

www.croquetamerica.com Look under the Members-Only tab under Merchandise..

CroquetNews 2024 Volume 1

2023 Solomon Trophy Page 16

Features

16 | 2023 Solomon Trophy 22 | 2023 Seniors/Masters 26 | 2023 Golf Croquet Club Teams 28 | 2024 Florida GC Regional

On The Cover

Team USA's Zack Watson in play at the 2023 Solomon Trophy test played in November at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla. Photo by Jeff Soo.

Above

Great Britain and US Solomon Trophy Teams.

Photo by Jeff Soo.

Publisher

Dylan Goodwin | croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Managing Editor

Julie Jantzer-Ward | uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com

Departments

03 | Courtside with Damon Bidencope 06 | The Clubhouse 10 | Inbox 31 | New Members 32 | Let’s Talk Tactics 34 | GC America 36 | Event Results 40 | Grand Prix Updates 43 | Events Calendar

Submissions

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

www.croquetamerica.com | 5

theclubhouse

Education Committee Announces New Instructor Procedures and Position

The goal of the Education Committee is for every club to have certified instruction available for players. Over the past two years, the committee has explored new ways to expand access to instructor certification. Multiple paths are now available to provide each club with instructors.

To become an American Six Wicket Certified Instructor applicants must meet the following requirements: • Must be a USCA member in good standing.

• Must be an American Six Wicket referee.

• Must have achieved a 6 handicap at some time in their croquet career.

Applicants will demonstrate knowledge of the various strategies of the game and the ability to successfully communicate with learners using various instruction methods. To achieve this requirement, applicants may use any of the following pathways:

6 | www.croquetamerica.com

• Attend a USCA American Six Wicket school as a student teacher.

• Work with a Class I National Instructor over an extended period, who will write a recommendation on behalf of the candidate.

• Submit a video demonstrating the required skills to the Education Committee.

• Attend and complete a USCA American Six Wicket School for Instructors (in development).

Designated Coach

In addition to the Certified Instructor programs, the Education Committee recognizes many members have been teaching in their clubs, but may not choose to pursue certification.

For those members, the Education Committee has created a Designated Coach position, which represents a new category of instructor.

The committee is encouraging its USCA affiliate clubs to nominate one or more of their members for the position of Designated Coach. These coaches would be available to offer instruction to local club members, especially players new to the sport. A variety of resources will be made available to the designated coaches through the USCA to support their instruction. They are also encouraged to be in contact with any Certified Instructors in their area.

A Designated Coach would be a member of the USCA who has been playing croquet for several years and enjoys working with new players. These coaches should have good croquet skills, experience participating in tournaments at various levels, exhibited good teaching and interpersonal skills and a working knowledge of the rules of the game.

To promote this program, the USCA will provide the Designated Coaches access to the organization’s online educational materials. These materials include the USCA library of instructional videos, curriculum guides and lesson plans. They will receive a Designated Coach Certificate and Badge.

These coaches should be nominated by their fellow club members. It is expected that players assuming these positions will be volunteers, but each club may offer to remunerate them in a manner that complies with their club bylaws. Each club and their Designated Coac will decide on whether they want the coaches to work with individuals and/or in small groups.

Álvarez-Sala is the New WCF President The World Croquet Federation (WCF) has announced the results of the 2023 elections, which saw the election of new leadership to steer the organization for the next four years. José Álvarez-Sala, from Spain, won the election for the position of WCF President with 36 votes. The election was closely contested, with Jeff Soo polling 25 votes and Andrew Hobbs securing two votes. Álvarez-Sala’s four-year term started on January 1, 2024.

The election also had three candidates run for two positions that were up for election on the Management Committee, with the following individuals emerging victorious: • Samir Patel (England) - 60 votes • Jeff Soo (USA) - 49 votes The other contender, Stephen Wright, received 15 votes.

ERRATA: Winter Issue The Winter 2023 Volume 4 issue of the Croquet News had a production error that resulted in Matt Baird’s writer credit for the 2023 USCA Midwest Regional appearing on the following page for the USCA 2023 MidAtlantic Regional. Additionally, this resulted in Loretta Cooper’s credit for the Mid-Atlantic Regional shifting out of position to the right column. We detected the issue not long after printing and it was corrected for the digital edition; however, it is in the print version. We have examined the cause of the issue and adjusted the layout process to minimize a re-occurrence of this type of error in future issues. I apologize to both writers and the USCA membership for any confusion the error might have caused.

—Dylan Goodwin, Croquet News Publisher

PASSAGES

To be nominated, the club should submit a letter indicating the person to be named as Designated Coach to the USCA, attention: Ursula Peck/ Education Committee. Be sure to include the nominee’s contact information. The club and nominee will be informed in writing as to their status.

The USCA will send the certificates and badges to the new Designated Coaches along with how to access the online resources and who to contact for additional support. There is a one-time fee, per coach, of $20.

Charles Duckett............................................. Arbor Acres Croquet

The committee wants to support croquet education in all our member clubs, large and small. Many resources are available on the USCA website, as well as a list of certified instructors. Please feel free to reach out to any member of the Education Committee with questions or concerns. The Education Committee is here to support you!

Dale Skoog.................................... Sarasota County Croquet Club

William “Bill” Duncan...............................Greenwich Croquet Club Duryea Lovejoy......................................Westhampton Mallet Club & National Croquet Club William (Billy) Mills.............................Useppa Island Croquet Club Linda Prickett...................................Croquet Club at PGA National & Delaware Croquet Club

www.croquetamerica.com | 7

theclubhouse WCF GOLF CROQUET WORLD CHAMPIONS 2022: Matthew Essick (USA) 2019: Ben Rothman (USA) 2017: Reg Bamford (South Africa) 2015: Ahmed El Mahdi (Egypt) 2013: Reg Bamford (South Africa) 2011: Mark McInerney (Ireland) 2008: Ahmed Nasr (Egypt) 2006: Mohammed Nasr (Egypt) 2004: Ahmed Nasr (Egypt) 2002: Khalid Younis (Egypt) 2000: Salah Hassan (Egypt) 1998: Khalid Younis (Egypt) 1997: Salah Hassan (Egypt) 1996: Khalid Younis (Egypt)

WORLD GC TEAM CHAMPIONS: TIER 1 2020: New Zealand | Nelson, New Zealand 2016: New Zealand | Surbiton, England 2012: Egypt | Johannesburg, South Africa

WORLD GC TEAM CHAMPIONS: TIER 2 2021: Spain | Cadiz, Spain 2016: Australia | Bath, England 2012: Wales | Cairo, Egypt

WORLD GC TEAM CHAMPIONS: TIER 3 2022: Mexico | Godalming, England 2016: Norway | Godalming, England

8 | www.croquetamerica.com

Golf Croquet Celebrates 90 Years

For long-time croquet enthusiasts, golf croquet seems like a relatively new sensation and certainly, the rapid world growth that tracks back roughly to the start of this century creates an aura of a game that is brand new. However, Chris Williams, Archivist for Croquet England, says the birth of the popular croquet version was documented in an issue of the Croquet Gazette that says the rules for golf croquet had been approved and were to “be embodied in the Laws of Croquet and Regulations for Official Tournaments and C.A. Year Book for 1934” during a Council meeting held on December 14, 1933.

While the 90th anniversary is notable, according to a 2015 article by Ray Hall, golf croquet was invented well before the formal laws in 1933. In the article, Hall indicates evidence that the version was developed in the 1890s. He also says references to the variation appear in the Croquet Gazette in advertisements in 1912 and later in 1913, Horace Crowther Smith produced a small book titled, “How To Win At Golf Croquet.”

For the most part, the version was played as an introductory game. However, in Egypt, it became the primary form of croquet and the Egyptians were responsible for developing the hard-hitting, fast-paced style that has attracted more than 20,000 players in more than 40 countries around the world.

According to the article by Hall, the sport’s big moment came in 1995, when Chris Hudson, as the Secretary-General of the WCF at that time, was invited by the Egyptian Croquet Association to visit Cairo. Hall says he saw how well they played golf croquet and concluded that something should be done about a world championship. In 1996, Hudson organized the first WCF Golf Croquet World Championship in Milan, Italy.

The rules have encountered many significant changes with current rules allowing for jump shots, which are often executed with perfection by players using carbon fiber mallets, through hoops with a 1/32-inch clearance.

The next WCF Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Hartfield, Va., October 18-26, 2024. Current Golf Croquet World Champion, Matthew Essick will get the chance to defend his 2022 World GC title on “home” soil. In a recent interview, the 24-year-old champion praised croquet for being more than just exciting and competitive, saying, “The unity within the community is different than in other sports,” and playing in the events is not just about competition, but about encouraging other players to succeed as well.

Nowhere but here.

Thursdays @ 4pm | BG Community Center Lawn Beginner Instruction & Boca Grande Croquet League March 21st @ 4pm | BG Community Center Lawn Island Croquet Carnival: Music, Food, and lots of Fun! ~ Visit bocagrandecroquet.com or contact us for more information ~ Sponsored in partnership with Friends of Boca Grande and Lee County Parks & Recreation

Here to help enrich your croquet lifestyle.

Venice | Boca Grande | Sarasota Hans Peterson, REALTOR® 978.929.9000

Rebecca Peterson, REALTOR® 978.844.3204

hanspeterson@michaelsaunders.com

rebeccapeterson@michaelsaunders.com

PO Box 208 | 420 E Railroad Ave | Boca Grande, FL 33921

www.croquetamerica.com | 9

TheInbox Croquet Break: Be Nice, Eh

By Sally Mills

I am one of the snowbirds from Canada who are fortunate to be able to spend the winter playing croquet at the beautiful and newly renovated Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla. As our busy season is just starting, I thought it might be a good idea to publish some etiquette reminders. I showed my "Etiquette for Croquet" list to our President, John Goldener, and he encouraged me to share the list with USCA’s weekly Croquet Break. Everyone enjoys playing croquet in a pleasant, supportive atmosphere. I hope you find the list helpful.

• Help set up courts before play.

• Greet your opponents and your own team members before the game, and congratulate or compliment them at the end of play.

• Compliment your opponent’s good shots.

• Admit a fluke shot with grace.

• Stand still and be quiet when someone else is taking their shot.

• Do your best to avoid entering or disturbing someone else’s court/game.

• Prevent your shadow from covering someone else’s ball or the hoop as they are taking their shot.

• Never criticize other players or the facility.

• Avoid negative comments or sarcasm. Focus on building camaraderie, encouraging good shots and complimenting opponents on their skills.

• Pay attention to the game and know when it is your turn.

• Play with dispatch; do not delay the game with extended discussions about strategy, etc.

• For safety purposes, any player about to deliver a strong takeout shot should warn other players.

• Learn and abide by the rules of the game. Read your rule book.

• The score is to be announced by the person who has just made the wicket.

• Declare your own faults immediately.

• Politely sharing knowledge encourages a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Be a gracious winner and a good loser. Treat others with respect and courtesy.

• Repair divots immediately and correctly. If you don’t know how, ask.

• Treat club equipment with care and respect, and put the equipment away properly.

• Be a pleasant partner and opponent and have fun!

Sally Mills opened the Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club in Ontario, Canada, in 2017, and spends her winters in Florida. She joined the Sarasota County Croquet Club in 2019 and enjoyed croquet so much that she started a croquet program at her Ontario bowls club in 2021. Thanks to a small government grant, equipment donations and coaching advice from other croquet players, the program has taken off. Mills does her best to provide a supportive, encouraging and enjoyable atmosphere for all participants.

Weekly CROQUET BREAK "Be Nice, Eh" 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. Writers and articles are scheduled according to a rotation that considers croquet games, subjects, USCA regions and writers.

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: Word

Length: Any length

Additional: Short bio (1-4 lines) and photo (.jpg) to appear with article

10 | www.croquetamerica.com

Lovejoy Duryea: 1944-2024 Lovejoy Duryea passed away on January 9, 2024. Lovejoy was the artist and writer who created the beloved character Harriet and the cartoon series featured in the Croquet Break weekly USCA newsletter. We will all miss her terribly.

—Sara Low, Croquet Break

CLOTHES THAT WORK WHILE YOU PLAY!

www.WhiteTieCroquet.com (415) 203-2794 www.croquetamerica.com | 11

theinbox

Momentum and Opportunity with Jiminy Wicket

Annual Youth Summit for Special Olympics of Florida, May 2023

In 2008, on the clifftops of Cornwall, England, I discovered a new connection with my father, Maxwell. He was living with the confusion and silence of Alzheimer’s disease. Many familiar activities were no longer possible for him. Golf had gone … too big; ping-pong … too fast; scrabble, chess, mahjong … all too complicated. But at the Nare Hotel, where we were staying, I discovered a croquet lawn, so we played together, and my father smiled. He smiled a lot! Inspired by this, I created Jiminy Wicket® to bring this same experience to people around the world.

The Jiminy Wicket playlist now includes people from 129 different countries, from three years old to 103 years old, with a wide range of physical and cognitive abilities. We all like to whack stuff — it just feels good — and croquet is simply the most agefriendly, gender-neutral and inclusive way to whack stuff.

For more than 12 years, Jiminy Wicket has trained and equipped high school students on both sides of the Atlantic to play croquet indoors in their gyms for an hour every two weeks. We’ve played with guests from memory care communities living with Alzheimer’s disease. When COVID-19 shut that down, Jiminy Wicket pivoted into the world of Special Olympics where we quickly learned that: “Over 160,000 students refuse to go to school each day for fear of being bullied” (National Education Association) and “57 percent of students with intellectual disabilities report being bullied” (Special Olympics, 2023).

12 | www.croquetamerica.com

Special Olympics promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing young people together, both with and without intellectual disabilities, to create school communities that are accepting of all students by using an inclusive sports model: Special Olympics Unified Sports®. Jiminy Wicket uses the power of play to create inclusion and friendships for people of all ages and abilities.

On November 15, 2023, after eight weeks of this school-based croquet program, the National Croquet Center became the host site for the first annual Jiminy Wicket & Special Olympics of Florida Invitational Croquet Tournament. Sixty-four of now 300-plus players from high schools in Jacksonville, Brooksville, Tavares, Wesley Chapel, Fort Meyers, Naples, Miami, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Port St. Lucie, Palm Beach Gardens and Vero Beach arrived at the NCC for their first-ever croquet tournament.

In May 2023, Jiminy Wicket and Bev Cardo, USCA Secretary Twelve NCC Club volunteers were referees and the grounds crew and member of the U.S. women’s team, hosted in a hotel ballroom set up the hoops making just two full-sized courts each into four in Orlando, Fla., at the Annual Youth Summit for Special small courts appropriate to the skill levels of the competitors.

Olympics Florida. Friends and family raised $7,500 through a GoFundMe campaign for Jiminy Wicket to make that Orlando It was pouring down rain as they arrived, but that did not stop event possible. Forty students had so much fun learning and them from getting out onto the lawns and playing. Trash bags playing croquet together that Sherry Wheelock, Special Olympics were utilized for those without rain gear and hair dryers were Florida’s President and CEO, asked Jiminy Wicket to bring this whirring on full throttle to dry out soaked clothing. Nothing program to 12 high schools across the state. could dampen their enthusiasm. After a few words of welcome from Meghan McLean, Special Olympics Florida’s Chief In September, I traveled 1,400 miles in six days to 12 high schools, gave away 22 croquet sets and trained 20 school teachers both how to play and how to teach golf croquet. Now there are more than 300 new young GC players in Florida enjoying this game that we love. Pam Enteman, at Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, says, “I have been a Special Education teacher for over 35 years. I have attended countless trainings and seminars.

This was simply the best one I’ve ever attended.”

Ready to Live the Croquet Lifestyle in Sunny Florida?

Some of these schools are now playing croquet on the laser-level, artificial turf of their football fields. Jiminy Wicket has a patent pending hoop base that makes it possible to secure hoops with zero ground penetration. More than 14,000 of these surfaces exist across the U.S. and as many as 1,500 new ones are being added every year. Every one of them could be a croquet lawn. This creates an enormous potential to grow youth croquet on ready-toplay, year-round surfaces at schools and colleges coast to coast.

Bobbi Shorthouse, whom I met at a USCA Board meeting 12 years ago, is my inspiration. She invited me to help referee Special Olympics croquet games with Stephen Morgan at the Ocean House hotel in Rhode Island. I thought I could apply some of my 12 years of teaching high school students on both sides of the Atlantic to teaching Special Olympics athletes and their Unified partners. It’s working! Friends and family raised $30,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to make it possible for Jiminy Wicket to provide all the training and equipment for each of these 12 schools to start this robust and inclusive croquet program for at least 16 players at each school.

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.

Cheryl Harders 561-351-5704 cl614@msn.com

Selling real estate is not only my job, it’s my passion www.croquetamerica.com | 13

theinbox

Special Olympics Unified Croquet at the National Croquet Center

Operating Officer and David McCoy, Chairman of the NCC and the Croquet Foundation of America, a window of less rain opened up and everyone was able to get in about 30 minutes of uninterrupted games before the next deluge arrived.

“As they played, the kids became so excited, engaged and happy that they did not want to stop even when rain completely soaked them,” says Tom Lindley, NCC Club President and volunteer at the event. “Sharing that joy was absolutely wonderful. I am thrilled and honored that our Club and the NCC could be their hosts. It was a community-wide effort with community-wide rewards."

At one point, one of the athletes took me aside saying, “I’ve tried flag football, volleyball, baseball, basketball and soccer, but they’re all too fast. I like croquet because it moves at the speed of me.”

Soggy but happy athletes with their partners and coaches

One young athlete told Suzanne Turner there was no reason to leave “because my group has a hotel room so we could all come back tomorrow and keep playing.” Everyone went home like little squirrels with cheeks bursting with smiles and wanting to come back for more. Speaking of which, more is around the corner.

Next year, the NCC could be hosting students for this second annual event from 100 or more schools across the state!

At a debrief meeting for the school coaches, Maria Gebhardt, from Central High School in Brooksville, says, “When we started out, I was expecting to have about six athletes and about six volunteer partners. Seeing this as they walked by, more students wanted to join in. We now have more than 60 Unified croquet players and that is more than our Unified flag-football program!

This is powerful and playful. I can’t say enough good things about it.”

14 | www.croquetamerica.com

“NCC is proud to have hosted the inaugural Jiminy Wicket and Special Olympics Florida Invitational. We look forward to many more in the years to come,” says McCoy. That evening, Jana Arnette, Senior Director, Unified Champion Schools® SOFL, said to me, “We are impressed with what you did today. Now we’re even more on board to grow this with you. You literally rolled out the red carpet for us. I’m beyond excited for this opportunity. In early 2024, we will offer this to our 250 Unified Champion High Schools and Middle Schools across Florida.”

Jiminy Wicket thanks: Special Olympics Florida and all their athletes, partners and coaches for some great games, the USCA, the NCC, their grounds crew and Club for their hospitality and volunteer referees, Sandy James for donating their delicious food and each of our GoFundMe donors for their generous support that has made all this possible so far.

About 500 Unified Champion Schools in Florida are already partnering with Special Olympics and some 6,500 across the United States. Creasey says, “Play is our passion and croquet is our game. Buckle up America, here we come!”

—James Creasey, Jiminy Wickets

Spanish GC Passion

Golf croquet has exploded in Spain as the country had 590 players participate in ranked GC games in 2023, according to the WCF Golf Croqeut database. Demonstrating their passion for the sport, five USCA members from Spain were on hand for the recent Women’s Golf Croquet tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla. In the photo: Jose Montojo, Dominique D. Aranda, Suna Cardoso, Luz Prado and Koti Pailos (left to right).

Here you can.

Our beautifully manicured, regulation Croquet Lawn is just one of the many reasons why engaged seniors are choosing Lenbrook, located in the heart of Atlanta's dynamic Buckhead community.

CroquetAtLenbrook.com | 404-537-4113

Give us a call to learn how you can Experience the Lenbrook Difference.

www.croquetamerica.com | 15

2023 Solomon Trophy Venice, Florida | November 7-12

Team USA Finishes Strong to Claim 2023 Solomon Trophy

By Todd B. Natenberg When players from the U.S. and Great Britain first created the Solomon Trophy nearly 40 years ago, the teams did so to give the Americans the opportunity to compete against one of the most experienced international teams in the world.

“It began as a friendly exchange, to serve as a development event for the less experienced U.S. players,” Damon Bidenscope, USCA president, says. “But the recent success is an indication of how the U.S. has developed in skill and knowledge of the game, while still maintaining the camaraderie and friendships.”

That development has been ongoing, but Team USA took another step forward this past November, claiming a 14-7 victory in the 2023 edition of the test series held at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla. The win represented just their third since the competition began in 1985 and the first since 2011. Notably, it was the youngest U.S. team to notch a victory in the series, which points toward a bright future for U.S. AC play on the international stage.

“I’m very excited for all of our guys that competed and all of the Croquet USA supporters that were rooting us on,” Matthew Essick, captain of the American team, says. “We had the right team, at the right time, and everyone gave it their all. I think I can speak for the whole team saying it was a very meaningful win for every one of us and the country we represent.”

Over the first two days, the test was surprisingly close as day two ended with a 5-5 score. As the favored team on home soil, the deadlock was a bit of a surprise, but the Americans came out strong on day three to win all five matches for a commanding 10-5 lead. That set up a final day with Team USA needing just one match win to claim the test.

Team USA went to work with Tom Balding claiming a 2-0 victory over Alain Giraud, Ben Rothman went 2-0 versus Debbie Lines and Stephen Morgan defeated Mark van Loon 2-1 to push the U.S. win total to 14. For Great Britain, Aston Wade defeated Kyle Maloof 2-0 and Stephen Mulliner took a 2-1 win over Essick.

PHOTOS BY JEFF SOO 16 | www.croquetamerica.com

TEAM USA WITH THE SOLOMON TROPHY

Matthew Essick, Tom Balding, Kyle Maloof, Stephen Morgan, Ben Rothman and Zack Watson (left to right) Photo by Andrew Moss.

www.croquetamerica.com | 17

2023 Solomon Trophy Venice, Florida | November 7-12

SERIES HISTORY 2023 USA

14-7

Venice, Florida

2019 GB

11-9

Pinehurst

2018 GB

12-5

Surbiton

2016 GB

17-4

Bowdon

2015 GB

15-6

Pinehurst

2013 GB

17-4

Hunstanton

2012 GB

13-8

Bald Head Island

2011 USA

11-6

Hamptworth

2009 USA

11-9

Palm Springs

2008 GB

21-6

Heaton Park

2005 GB

14-7

Palm Springs

2004 GB

17-4

Heaton Park

2002 GB

13-8

Palm Beach

2001 GB

20-0

Surbiton

1999 GB

15-6

Sonoma-Cutrer

1998 GB

14-7

Bowdon

1997 GB

16-4

Los Angeles

1995 GB

18-0

Nottingham

1994 GB

14-7

Palm Beach

1992 GB

19-2

Surbiton

1991 GB

14-7

Palm Beach

1990 GB

19-2

Roehampton

1989 GB

15-5

Palm Beach

Ben Rothman

Rothman, who was the only current member of Team USA to play on the winning teams from 2009 and 2011, says, “This was hopefully the beginning of a new era. This is a great accomplishment for Team USA and a sign of more success to come.”

Essick went on to say, “The Solomon Trophy (win) gives us confidence as a team and as individuals. Hopefully, it motivates others to continue to improve their game. It’s no secret that we’ve had very little success in world-class team events in the past. This success proves that the work and funding we’ve put into our team competitions is paying off.”

Reflecting on the match, Great Britain captain Debbie Lines says, “The American team played brilliantly.”

Additionally, Lines, who also serves in the key role of Secretary-General of the World Croquet Federation, notes the importance of international events in promoting the sport overall, “Croquet is a great sport for all ages that combines the strategy and deep thinking of chess with outdoor touch play skills such as in golf or lawn bowling. Croquet is a diverse sport that allows women to compete alongside men at the top level.”

For the Solomon Trophy, the series now stands at 23-3 in favor of Great Britain. After the first U.S. win in 2009, the team was able to follow up with a victory on British soil in 2011. That will be the challenge ahead for Team USA as the next test should be hosted by Great Britain. All of that leads up to preparing for the next MacRobertson Shield to be played in England in 2026.

Based on the Solomon performance, Essick feels U.S. croquet is on the right track in that preparation. “We had exceptional play from the team as a whole, which is what it takes to win this type of event,” he says. “We now have 6-10 players that can compete at a worldclass level. That depth bodes well for us in the future.”

18 | www.croquetamerica.com

Team USA Captain Matthew Essick

www.croquetamerica.com | 19

2023 Solomon Trophy Venice, Florida | November 7-12

SOLOMON FORMAT Dubbed the “Ryder Cup” of croquet, the Solomon Trophy features six-player rosters for both teams. The competition often referred to as a “test” includes 12 singles matches and nine doubles matches played over four days.

TEAM ROSTERS USA Matthew Essick (Captain) Tom Balding Zack Watson Ben Rothman Stephen Morgan Kyle Maloof Great Britain Stephen Mulliner Alain Giraud Gabrielle Higgins Debbie Lines (Captain) Mark van Loon Aston Wade

PEELING RESULTS TRIPLES: Balding (5), Rothman (5), Essick (4), Morgan (3), Wade (3), Watson (3), Maloof (2), Mulliner (2), Giraud (1).

TPO: Mulliner (1) OTP: Lines (1)

FINAL RESULTS

DAY ONE: NOVEMBER 9, 2023 GB: S. Mulliner/A. Wade (TP) beat M. Essick/Z. Watson 26tp-9 GB: G. Higgins/D. Lines beat S. Morgan/B. Rothman 26-0 US: T. Balding (TP)/K. Maloof beat A. Giraud/M. van Loon 26tp-14 US: M. Essick (TP)/Z. Watson beat S. Mulliner/A. Wade 26tp-0 US: S. Morgan (TP)/B. Rothman beat G. Higgins/D. Lines 26tp-9 US: T. Balding (TP)/K. Maloof beat A. Giraud/M. van Loon 26tp-9 (US 1-0) GB: G. Higgins/D. Lines beat S. Morgan/B. Rothman 26-0 (1-1) GB: S. Mulliner/A. Wade beat M. Essick/Z. Watson 26-24 (GB 2-1) US: S. Morgan/B. Rothman (TP) beat S. Mulliner/A. Wade 26tp-0 US: M. Essick/Z. Watson beat A. Giraud/M. van Loon 26-0 US: T. Balding/K. Maloof beat G. Higgins/D. Lines 26-11 US: S. Morgan/B. Rothman (TP) beat S. Mulliner/A. Wade 26tp-0 (2-2)

DAY TWO: NOVEMBER 10, 2023 US: T. Balding beat S. Mulliner 26tp-6 GB: A. Giraud beat M. Essick 26tp-5 US: K. Maloof beat M. van Loon 26tp-3 US: Z. Watson beat D. Lines 26otp-12 US: B. Rothman beat G. Higgins 26tp-25 US: S. Morgan beat A. Wade 26-21 US: M. Essick beat A. Giraud 26tp-1 GB: S. Mulliner beat T. Balding 26tp-9 US: Z. Watson beat D. Lines 26-15 (US 3-2) US: B. Rothman beat G. Higgins 26tp-7 (US 4-2) GB: M. van Loon beat K. Maloof 26-16 GB: S. Mulliner beat T. Balding 26tpo-14 (US 4-3) GB: A. Giraud beat M. Essick 26-9 (4-4) US: S. Morgan beat A. Wade 26-23 (US 5-4) GB: M. van Loon beat K. Maloof 26-23 (5-5)

DAY THREE, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 US: M. Essick/Z. Watson (TP) beat G. Higgins/D. Lines 26tp-1 US: T. Balding/K. Maloof beat S. Mulliner/A. Wade 26-3 US: S. Morgan (TP)/B. Rothman beat A. Giraud/M. van Loon 26tp-9 US: M. Essick/Z. Watson beat G. Higgins/D. Lines 26-1 (US 6-5) GB: S. Mulliner/A. Wade beat T. Balding/K. Maloof 26-16 GB: A. Giraud/M. van Loon beat S. Morgan/B. Rothman 26-9 US: T. Balding/K. Maloof beat S. Mulliner/A. Wade 26-0 (US 7-5) US: T. Balding/K. Maloof (STP) beat G. Higgins/D. Lines 26stp-0 (US 8-5) US: S. Morgan/B. Rothman beat A. Giraud/M. van Loon 26-13 (US 9-5) US: M. Essick (TP)/Z. Watson beat A. Giraud/M. van Loon 26tp-11 (US 10-5)

DAY FOUR, NOVEMBER 12, 2023 US: Z. Watson beat G. Higgins 26tp-0 US: T. Balding beat A. Giraud 26tp-0 US: M. Essick beat S. Mulliner 26tp-7 US: Z. Watson beat G. Higgins 26tp-0 (US 11-5) US: T. Balding beat A. Giraud 26tp-0 (US 12-5) GB: S. Mulliner beat M. Essick 26tp-0 GB: A. Wade beat K. Maloof 26tp-16 GB: M. van Loon beat S. Morgan 26-22 US: B. Rothman beat D. Lines 26-18 US: B. Rothman beat D. Lines 26tp-0 (US 13-5) GB: A. Wade beat K. Maloof 26tp-6 (US 13-6) GB: S. Mulliner beat M. Essick 26-20 (US 13-7) US: S. Morgan beat M. van Loon 26-12 US: S. Morgan beat M. van Loon 26tp-9 (US 14-7)

20 | www.croquetamerica.com

Great Britain Team Captain Debbie Lines

The Solomon Trophy

Kyle Maloof and Tom Balding

Great Britain’s Gabrielle Higgins

www.croquetamerica.com | 21

2023 USCA Seniors Masters West Palm Beach, Florida | November 8-12

Tis’ The Year Without a Final … Again?

By Doug MOORE & Carla Rueck Forty-five players in three flights competed in Singles and Doubles this year in sunny South Florida for the Seniors Masters Croquet Tournament at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Players came from all over the country to compete in five flights of singles and three flights of doubles. However, we usually have a better turnout; maybe last year’s rain scared players away? Maybe it was the Hall of Fame dinner being moved to March? Maybe it was just too close to Halloween and everyone was spooked?

Even with a smaller field, the play was intense and there was no shortage of drama.

Congratulations to Lynda Sudderberg with huge wins against Sherif Abdelwahab and Randy Cardo and a great effort losing by one point in the quarterfinals to Richard Sheely.

Calvert Chaney had similar accomplishments. Although Chaney is old enough to play in the Masters division, he signed up for the Seniors flight so he could beat up on some youngsters.

With a thrilling victory over Randy Cardo in the playoffs, he made it all the way to the semifinals.

That brings us to the finals between Sherif Abdelwahab and Danny Huneycutt. Very much like last year, this final was never played. Maybe our tournament directors Doug Moore and Carla Rueck are the problem? Regardless, we are all happy that Huneycutt is back to form as well as Frederick Beck. You both had us a little worried for a second there.

22 | www.croquetamerica.com

Seniors Singles Champion Sherif Abdelwahab

Masters Singles Champion Bob Van Tassell (center) with Carla Rueck and Doug Moore.

Championship Doubles winner Randy Cardo without partner Danny Huneycutt. Carla Rueck and Doug Moore presented the award.

Seniors First Flight Singles Champion Kat Robertson (center) with Carla Rueck and Doug Moore.

www.croquetamerica.com | 23

2023 USCA Seniors Masters West Palm Beach, Florida | November 8-12

Masters First Flight Singles Champion Yen Sullivan (center) with Carla Rueck and Doug Moore.

Second Flight Singles Champion Jennifer Joseph (center) with Carla Rueck and Doug Moore.

Second Flight Doubles winners Anne Licursi and Bill Sadowski with Doug Moore (left to right).

First Flight was interesting, both divisions were mixed for block play and separated for the playoffs. The women dominated this flight. In the Seniors division, Kat Robinson upset Mark Ski in the finals and Yen Sulivan prevailed over David Spivey in the Masters division. The women didn’t stop there. In the Second Flight finals, Jennifer Joseph prevailed over Sonia Alexandra in a great match 13-12.

Congratulations to this year’s Grand Master Champion David Ekstrom.

Great play, great food, fun times. We are looking forward to next year, and we’ll leave you with this fun quote: “I say, Billy, what’s the use in playing croquet when you’re doomed?”

He says, “Frankie, what’s the use of not playing croquet when you’re doomed?”

—Frank McCourt (Author)

First Flight Doubles winners Bill Trower and David Spivey with Doug Moore (left to right).

24 | www.croquetamerica.com

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT SINGLES

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

Seniors 01. Sherif Abdelwahab 02. Danny Huneycutt 03. Calvert Chaney 03. Richard Sheely 05. Lynda Sudderberg 05. Randy Cardo 07. Mike Weimerskirch 08. Bob Gannon

Seniors 01. Kat Robertson 02. Mark Ski

Masters 01. Bob Van Tassell 02. Randy Reid 03. David Ekstrom 03. Mike Todorovich 05. Bill Trower 05. Jeff Morrison 05. Scott Spradling 05. David McCoy 09. John Currington 10. Preston Stuart 10. Michael Gibbons

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES 01. Danny Huneycutt/Randy Cardo 02. Bob Van Tassell/Dick Sullivan 03. Rick Sheely/Mike Weimerskirch 03. Scott Spradling/David Ekstrom 05.Calvert Chaney/Preston Stuart 06. Lynda Suddeberg/Mark Ski 07. Mike Gibbons/David McCoy

Masters 01. Yen Sulivan 02. David Spivey 03. John Joseph 03. Stephen Grassbaugh 05. Suzanne Spradling 05. Sally McGrath 07. David Kepner

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

SECOND FLIGHT SINGLES 01. Jennifer Joseph 02. Sonia Alexandra 03. Richard Hayes 03. Tom Lindley 05. Alex Galasso 05. John McGrath 07. Frederick Beck 08. Jeffrey Cohen 09. Jean Lynch 10. Priscilla Flowers

01. Bill Trower/David Spivey 02. David Kepner/Kat Robinson 03. Jeff Morrison/Yen Sullivan 03. Sally McGrath/John McGrath 05. Bob Gannon/Stephen Grassbaugh 06. Missy Chilton/Suzanne Spradling

SECOND FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Bill Sadowski/Ann Licursi 02. John Joseph/Jennifer Joseph 03. Tom Lindley/Gerald Kagan 03. Fred Beck/Sonia Alexandra & Rick Hayes 05. Alex Galasso/Priscilla Flowers 06. Jeffrey Cohen/Jean Lynch

PFC HOOP MAKER CUSTOM MALLETS

Perfectly balanced, accurate and reliable, PFC Hoop Maker Mallets are made of steel alloy and carbon fiber to deliver more power with less effort.

Choose from: • Head length options: 11” or 9-⅝” • Overall weight choices: 2 lb.14 oz., 2 lb.11 oz., or 2 lb. 6 oz.

• 3 Face Plate options • 4 Grips, 6 Colors, Solid or Travel Shaft

Let us deliver the perfect mallet for you!

415-203-2794

Contact Vickie Johnston, USA Distributor HoopmakerUSA@gmail.com

www.croquetamerica.com | 25

2023 USCA Golf Croquet Club Teams Venice, Fla. | December 1-3

Thirty Teams Clash At GC Club Teams in Sarasota

By Tate Russack Let me say, WOW! The USCA 2023 Club teams Tournament was a rousing success! Sixty players, forming 30 teams, played 174 games of golf croquet over three days on the seven newly minted, beautifully flat and gorgeous Sarasota County Croquet Club (SCCC) lawns in Venice, Fla.

their team strategy with the precision of players with tens of years of experience. In the end, the Essick/Smith team prevailed over the White/Crouch duo with a final score of 10-7.

Each day started with fresh coffee provided by the wonderful SCCC members, then play started at 8:00 a.m. sharp. The players took to the lawns and battled each other for five games each day, completing nine block games the first two days and the first knockout game on Saturday afternoon. The competitors and the competition were fabulous, and all players completed their games with greater skills and endurance than their D-Grades indicated.

Well done all!

It was close play up to the last hoop! With Belleair Croquet Club and two Sarasota teams playing the finals in Second Flight, guaranteeing them four and five points, respectively, for first and second, the Tournament Director and the Florida Regional VP, Bill Simmons, who was also a player in the event, had to review how a tie in points might be resolved. Points are given out for first through fifth place and, prior to the finals, Belleair Croquet Club had already amassed five points and had a team in the finals in First Flight. Were the First Flight team of Jim Watrous and Joe Fairbanks to take second place to Hinden/Trimble, then a tie in points would require the Tournament Director to break the tie and pronounce a winner. After consultation between Tate and Cami Russack, the Tournament Directors, and Bill Simmons, it was determined that total wins would be the next determining factor. Sarasota had 22 victories over the total tournament and Belleair only had 20.

After three long days, in Second Flight, John Ayers and Joe Fairbanks, from Sarasota Croquet Club, prevailed with 10 wickets, in a 19-point final game over Debbie Martin and Louise Cardellini, from Sarasota.

In First Flight, Jim Watrous and Frank LaValla of theBelleair Croquet Club scored 10 wickets to The Little Club’s Bruce Hindin and Neil Trimble took home the First Flight finalist trophy.

The Championship Flight Battle of the Titans started just after noon on Sunday. Mathew Essick and Jeff Smith, from the Country Club of Orlando, prevailed against Grand Haven Croquet Club’s Macey White and Nancy Crouch.

The exceptional play by the less experienced half of both teams made these games exciting to watch. Crouch and smith executed

FINAL ORDER

CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

All eyes were on lawn 4 as the other competitors watched the players tie the game at wicket 16, 8-8. Ayers and LaValla were able to squeak through wicket 17 to advance to the lead. At wicket 18, the two teams battled back and forth clearing for the advantage, but in the end, Ayers and LaValla from Belleair secured the last wicket to capture the additional five team points for their club to prevail as the USCA 2023 Club Teams Winner.

Thank you all for attending and volunteering. It is always a great day to play croquet.

Champion Club: Belleair Croquet Club CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

FIRST FLIGHT

SECOND FLIGHT

01. Matthew Essick/Jeff Smith 02. Macey White/Nancy Crouch 03. Cecil Creasey/Susan Creasey 04. Marc Stearns/MaryCarol Stearns 05. Kendall Hendrick/Laura Hendrick 06. James Creasey/Bill Simmons 07. Tate Russack/Cami Russack 07. Matt Griffith/Ellie Griffith 09. Alex Galasso/Chris Weihs 10. Jack Rush/David Scott

01. Jim Watrous/Frank LaValla 02. Bruce Hindin/Neill Trimble 03. Brand Shank/Lori Matway 04. James Welch/Mike Hatcher 05. Caryl Firth/Mary Galasso 06. Priscilla Flowers/Tom Lindley 07. Suzanne Turner/Pam Groh 07. Phil Emond/Jo Hofmann 09. Karen Weihs/Arthur Olsen 10. Dana Beisheim/Anita Huber

01. Jon Ayers/Joe Fairbanks 02. Debbie Martin/Louise Cardellina 03. John Joseph/Jicham Zaatini 04. Jeanette Hodgkins/Donald Kent 05. Jake Walter/Carlos Ayala-Pagan 06. Christine Smith/Kathie Hart 07. Jennifer Joseph/Heidimarie Michitsch 07. Ned Sperry/Holly Sperry 09. George Howard/Anthony Furino 10. David Paukovich/Patricia Paukovick

26 | www.croquetamerica.com

NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER PRO SHOP

Whites

Brights

Gifts

Mallets

Visit our Pro Shop Website for All Things Croquet www.nationalcroquetcenterproshop.com 561-478-2300 ext 5

2024 USCA Florida Golf Croquet Regional Tournament Venice, Florida | January 4-7

Lozano wins florida gc regional

Championship Flight Singles Champion Brian Lozano with Florida RVP Bill Simmons and Finalist Hassan Raqem.

A total of 61 players in singles and doubles descended upon the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla., to kick off the first GC tournament of the 2024 season, the USCA Florida GC Regional.

A huge “thank you” to Nancy Hart, Tournament Manager, and her hospitality team of volunteers along with Jim Coling and his lawns’ team for taking such good care of the players and lawns. Everyone went above and beyond to make this event happen.

The USCA Regional featured doubles and singles matches starting with Block play, then Knock Out and Plate consolation events in two flights. The play was extraordinary and, despite torrential rains on Saturday morning, this hearty group of croquet aficionados could not be deterred.

28 | www.croquetamerica.com

TD Cheryl Bromley with Singles Plate Winner Helen Covington.

Doubles Finalists Brian Lozano and Amr Hamdy, TD Cheryl Bromley, Doubles Champions Kent Lovvorn and Matt Griffith and Florida RVP Bill Simmons.

Doubles Plate Winners Bo Prillaman and Billy Harper.

Scott Spoerl plowed through the field of competitors to capture both the First Flight Singles title and the First Flight Doubles title with his wife, Jan Spoerl.

www.croquetamerica.com | 29

2024 USCA Florida Golf Croquet Regional Tournament Venice, Florida | January 4-7

TD Cheryl Bromley with First Flight Plate Winner Priscilla Flowers

First Flight Doubles Plate winners Tim Wright and Julie Wright

FINAL ORDER CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES 01. Brian Lozano 02. Hassan Raqem 03. Ellie Griffith 03. Amr Hamdy 05. Ahab Abdelwahab 05. Billie Ray 05. Tamer Hatata 05. Peter Carlin 09. Gary Gamble 09. Billy Harper 09. Tate Russack 09. Kendall Hendrick 09. John Wight 09. Mike Hatcher 09. Debbie Davidoff 09. Chris Weihs 17. Helen Covington - Plate Winner 18. Gene Ratmond 19. Jack Rush 20. Matt Griffith 20. Kent Lovvorn 20. Laura Hendrick 20. Dennis Leddy 20. Alex Galasso 25. Doug Ledgett 25. Ellen Nielsen 25. Bo Prillaman 25. Jose Benjuma

30 | www.croquetamerica.com

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES 01. Scott Spoerl 02. Bruce Hindin 03. Tom Lindley 03. Jim Watrous 05. Tom Hennelly 05. Cami Russack 05. Julie Wright 05. John Grout 09. Bill Simmons 09. Caryl Firth 09. Michael Kukla 09. Lynda Bjorklund 09. Diane Walker 09. Jan Spoerl 09. Robert Smothers 09. Joe Fairbanks 17. Priscilla Flowers - Plate Winner 18. Kathie Gamble 19. Karen Weihs 19. Arthur Olsen 21. Chris smith 21. David Scott 21. Mary Galasso 21. Tim Wright 25. Anne Killilea 25. Judy Carlin 25. Mary Hennelly 25. Penn Pendleton

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES 01. Kent Lovvorn/Matt Griffith 02. Brian Lozano/Amr Hamdy 03. Debbie Davidoff/Cheryl Bromley 03. Hassan Raqem/Tamer Hatata 05. Billie Ray/Ellen Nielsen 05. Tate Russack/Cami Russack 05. Ahab Abdelwahab/Dennis Leddy 05. Jack Rush/David Scott 09. Billy Harper/Bo Prillaman - Plate Winners 10. Alex Galasso/Tom Lindley 11. Ellie Griffith/Priscilla Flowers 11. Gene Raymond/Jim Watrous 13. Helen Covington/Bill Simmons 13. Kendall Hendrick/Laura Hendrick 13. John Wight/Bruce Hindin 13. Peter Carlin/Gary Gamble

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Jan Spoerl/Scott Spoerl 02. Anne Killilea/Lynda Bjorklund 03. Jose Benjumea/Joe Fairbanks 03. Doug Ledgett/Michael Kukla 05. Tim Wright/Julie Wright - Plate Winners 06. Robert Smothers/Kevin Killilea 07. Chris Weihs/Karen Weihs 07. Caryl Firth/Mary Galasso 07. John Walker/John Grout 10. Judy Carlin/Kathie Gamble 10. Chris Smith/Penn Pendleton 12. Mary Hennelly/Tom Hennelly 12. Arthur Olsen/Michael Kolowich

newmembers ALABAMA

Mobile–At Large Member Judy Binion

CALIFORNIA

Chula Vista–Croquet Mexico Roberto Rivera Rancho Mirage–Mission Hills Croquet Club Robert Archibald Robin Archibald Brock Armstrong Lynn Armstrong Allison Cole Janet Fields Larry Ganzer Paulette Ganzer Gail Kantor Kelly Newby Marilyn Penn

CONNECTICUT

Greenwich–Greenwich Croquet Club Clawson Smith

FLORIDA

Belleair–Belleair Country Club Croquet Ellen Albrecht Tom Albrecht Karen Jackson Norwood Jackson Bonita Springs–Bonita Bay Club Mary Rothfus Delray Beach–At Large Member Nina Brown Naples–Naples Croquet Club of Florida Heidi Welch Newberry–At Large Member Johannes Louw Palm Beach–The Beach Club Rosemary McAllister Palm Coast–Grand Haven Croquet Club Martha Belica Ponte Vedra Beach– Ponte Vedra Croquet Club William Sims Saint Augustine– St. Johns Croquet Club, Inc. Harold Dockins Pamela Dockins Elaine Edgeworth Gudrun Gaar Cynthia Johnston Robert Laub Rhonda Myrick Laura Sobke Stuart Sobke Marilyn Tavoularis Sue Williams Tom Williams Mary Ellen Zydell Stuart–At Large Member Kathleen Nickles

Venice–Sarasota County Croquet Club Lori Ferraro Robert Ferraro Debra Kimless Dianne Lozier Bruce Miller Jeffrey Pearl Lauren Pearl Matthew St. Hilaire Laura Traeger Sally York Vero Beach–At Large Member Kathryn Raynor Kainoa Rosa Kathleen Walsh Daniel Will Vero Beach–The Moorings Club Philip Kinnicutt Marcia Schoeller Ronnie Sewards West Palm Beach–National Croquet Club Marlene Bogard Heather Cairns Lafayette Christine Casey Susanne Dansby Anne De Lisle Joanne Douglas Bradley Douglas Babetta Ferris James Ferris Gerry Gibian Mark Grandusky Melanie Harris Benedicte Jarlot John Johnston Stuart Katz Michael Lafayette Susan Langston Bettina Mamone Gordon Martin Cheryl Martin James Mitchell Jo Anne Mitchell Jo Anne Moeller Helen Mudrick Christina Paterno Bob Phillips Anne Romanoff Ilyinsky Richard Rose Renee Toto Diana Vought Marigil Walsh Charles Werner Shelby Werner Michael Whelchel Lorraine Winnerman Lawrence Winnerman Victoria Woodhull Marjorie Yashar John Young

GEORGIA

Atlanta–At Large Member Donna Hall Witt Hall

NEW CLUBS Bo(u)lder Croquet Club | Boulder, Colorado Six Wicket Vineyards Croquet Club | Myersville, Maryland Empire State Croquet Foundation | New York, New York North Toronto Croquet Club | Toronto, Ontario ILLINOIS

Glencoe–At Large Member Betsy Leibson Glencoe–Village of Glencoe Croquet Club Ann Reilly

MARYLAND

Annapolis–Ginger Cove Croquet Club Russell Smith

MASSACHUSETTS

Marion–Marion Mallet Club Inc. Wistar Wood Nantucket–The Westmoor Club Frank Herron Sandra Urie Sandwich–Sandwich Croquet Club Jean Dorcus Vineyard Haven–Edgartown Croquet Club Thomas Cox

MICHIGAN

Kalamazoo–At Large Member Larry Bell

NORTH CAROLINA

Asheville–At Large Member Roy Vandervoort Bald Head Island– Bald Head Island Croquet Club Steve Moff Theresa Moff David Wray Candler–At Large Member Heather Brannan Cashiers–Cedar Creek Club Louise Kohlheim Paul Kohlheim Cashiers– The Country Club of Sapphire Valley Austill Lott John Morrow Highlands–Highlands Strikers Croquet Club Edmund Fordyce Carlisle Overstreet Janet Overstreet Virginia Warner Wilbur Warner

Highlands–VZ Top Croquet Club Elena Magolnick Joel Magolnick Karen Miller Steve Miller Linville–Grandfather Golf & Country Club Nancy Rendleman Southport–The Clubs at St James Karen Gilbert Ronald Gilbert Michelle Haley Richard Haley Jane Morhard Bob Morhard Winston-Salem–Arbor Acres Croquet Bob Schwartz

OKLAHOMA

Bartlesville–Oklahoma Wesleyan University Nehemiah Mcfrederick Karen Taperia Hernandez

PENNSYLVANIA

Haverford-Merion Cricket Club, Anthony Salvo Lynn Salvo Meadville–At Large Member Samantha Blount

SOUTH CAROLINA

Aiken–Green Boundary Croquet Club Daphne Anthos

VIRGINIA

Hartfield–Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club William James

INTERNATIONAL CANADA, ONTARIO

Toronto–North Toronto Croquet Club John Miles

SPAIN, PONTEVEDRA

Vigo–At Large Member María Asuncion Cardoso Reguiro

www.croquetamerica.com | 31

let’stalktactics

Creating a Rush

By Jeff Soo

Abbreviations used: blUe, Red, blacK, Yellow In “One rule to ring them all” (Croquet News 2022, Volume 3), I posited a basic concept underlying 6W (and AC) tactics: always try to take croquet near the wicket you intend to score.

This is obvious when there’s already a ball at your wicket or you have a rush pointed there, but what if neither is available? In that article, I outlined some basic patterns but only hinted at the more advanced ones, where you use two or three of the other balls to “create” the rush to your wicket.

How would you play it? Think of a sequence before reading on.

Details matter, so be specific about each shot.

When discussing tactics, players often talk about the risk/reward ratio. The Figure 1 scenario gives a clear example. K’s best play is to rush Y to its wicket. But Y plays next and has no deadness. If K fails the wicket, there’s a good chance Y will have an easy shot at K. K will be three-ball dead (and U is already partner-dead), putting RY into a very strong position. That is, K’s play carries significant risk.

But K’s play also offers potential rewards: scoring one or more points, splitting up the opponents and keeping R partner-dead, and a chance to solve the problem of U’s partner-deadness by setting U up with R (or peeling it through 4). The goal is not to eliminate risk, which is impossible, but to balance risk and reward.

Risk is inevitable because we don’t have perfect control over the outcome of a shot. This variability is based on several factors, including correctness of aim, accuracy of force and direction when striking the ball, judgment of distance and the effects of wind and unevenness of the court surface. All these factors have something in common: their effects grow with distance. Long shots have more variability than short shots. One of the best ways to reduce risk is to shorten your shots, putting special emphasis on the most critical shots.

You can also reduce risk by choosing targets that are more forgiving. The reason it’s generally a bad idea to try to set up inches from the wicket is that a tiny error can result in complete failure; such a target fails to account for the expected variability of the shot.

FIGURE 1: R has just failed 6, with K for 3 and alive on all balls

In Figure 1, R has just failed 6, leaving it dead on Y and out of position to run the wicket next time. Y, also for 6, has a fairly easy play to nudge R back into position, then Irish peel both balls through the wicket on the croquet stroke. Even without that threat, this is still a position K should play aggressively. It’s a good chance to combine offense and defense in one play; a chance U won’t have because of its deadness. Depending on your skill set, you can play this different ways, but in all cases, the immediate goal should be for K to rush Y to 3 (R can’t be rushed to 3 because 6 is in the way).

32 | www.croquetamerica.com

Taking croquet near the wicket, especially if you do so from the playing side, reduces risk in both ways. The shot is short, reducing the effect of variability. And, by approaching from the playing side, you make the shot more forgiving: you can underor over-hit it somewhat and still end up in position for a fairly straight wicket shot.

We can apply the same principles to rushing. The best way to get into position for a precise rush is to take croquet from another ball near the ball we want to rush.

Back to Figure 1, because R is already close to Y, we have an easy play to take croquet close to Y. Just as when approaching a wicket, we want to approach a rush straight on. That is, we want to approach Y along the rush-line. Figure 2 shows how this might look:

FIGURE 2: making use of rush-lines

Again, the goal is to rush Y close to wicket 3 so that we can take croquet from a position close to the wicket, shown here as point 5 (the rush on Y will be the fifth shot of the sequence). Sticking with the principle of keeping shots short, to set up this rush we want to take croquet from R at point 3: close to Y and along Y’s rush-line. From here, the fourth shot (not pictured) is very forgiving, because we only need to move K a foot or so to get excellent position for the rush.

To rush R to point 3 we want K to finish the second shot near point 2. Applying the rush-line principle yet again, we approach point 2 from point 1. By approaching R along its rush-line, we can afford to under-hit or over-hit somewhat and still have a rush in the correct direction. Hence the target for the first shot of the sequence, rushing U to point 1.

Point 1 is a good target for the rush on U for another reason: if you just tap U, wickets 3 and 6 are both potential obstacles as you approach R. Note that I’ve described this sequence in reverse: starting from point 5 and working backward to point 1. Thinking through a sequence this way is an invaluable problem-solving technique. In this case, the crux of the problem is rushing Y accurately. Starting there and thinking back shot by shot can give you a much clearer sense of where each ball needs to go.

The rush on R is much less critical than the rush on Y, because R is already fairly close to Y. But never settle for “fairly close” when you have a good chance for something better. Many similar positions require greater accuracy, so when making a break, it pays to get into the habit of choosing shots and targets that minimize risk, even in relatively easy positions. This subset of tactics is known as break management (another name for it is ball movement).

More advanced readers will have already seen the opportunity for a four-ball break here, and most will have picked a different target for the initial rush on U. Figure 3 shows two additional options:

FIGURE 3: playing for a four-ball break

For a four-ball break, the problem with rushing U to point 1 is that this leaves a very wide-angle split shot to send U down to 4 while K approaches R. Some players will prefer to rush U directly to pioneer position, shown as point 1A. From here, it is a simple take-off back to R, more or less along R’s rush-line. There are drawbacks, though. The sequence starts with a long cut-rush followed by a fairly long take-off, and, as we saw above, variability increases with distance. If the rush is either over or under cut, U will be in poor position as a pioneer (remember that undercutting the rush will send it too far and over-cutting too short), and K probably won’t be able to do much to correct U’s position while taking off to R. This is why advanced players will often prefer something like point 1B. From here the split shot to send U down to 4 is a manageable angle and can be played as a drive or third-roll shot. For most players, this will be a more consistent way to get a workable pioneer at 4.

It's often said that good players make the game look easy. Part of that is playing accurate strokes, of course, but break management is just as important: finding ways to play shorter shots, to use rushlines and to approach wickets from close and in front. In other words, the secret to making the game look easy is to actually make it easy, or at least easier, by thinking before you shoot. www.croquetamerica.com | 33

gcamerica

The Golf Croquet Pyramid

By Cheryl Bromley

With the 2024 croquet season getting underway, here are a few ideas to try in upcoming practice sessions that are designed to fortify the basics, expand your comfort zone and challenge you to improve and reach the next level. These suggestions are focused specifically on shot-making and will look at three areas to build upon: the Base, the Middle and the Top. Some days you might practice shots from all three zones, or some days you might focus solely on improving one area of the pyramid.

As we all know, the base of a pyramid is the solid foundation of everything that is built or layered upon it.

The Base Consistency is the foundation in croquet and a fair amount of time should be focused on developing consistency in many areas of your game.

• Pre-shot routine: everyone has a unique pre-shot routine. Pay attention to repeating your same pre-shot process each time to allow your shots to build consistency. This should include stalking (Don’t Walk Backward!) and checking that your feet are parallel to the centerline of your mallet for alignment.

• Tempo: a slow, rhythmic tempo is something to strive for.

Even though you will need to adjust the length of your backswing and follow-through depending on the shot you are attempting, developing a slow and smooth tempo is a good route to go for consistency.

• Placement Shots: statistically, placement shots are used the most in golf croquet. Pick out a specific target on each shot that you hit aiming for a blade of grass where you want the ball to land. Use a relaxed grip and tune in to the “feel” of the shot to recognize how far your ball will roll. A snuggle shot and “Jawsing” a ball in the hoop are simply gentle placement shots hit with considerable care to a specific distance.

• Foundational shots should include one- to two-yard straight and angled hoop shots, stop shots, two- to three-yard short roquets, the beginnings of a jump shot and placement shots to all hoop distances.

the hoop, move back to the next marker. If you miss, take one “chance” shot and, if you happen to miss, move forward one marker. Variation: if you miss on a second chance shot, go all the way back to the beginning. This can also be used for increasing the distance on roquets or clearing shots. Try to increase to five yards. Use this drill to expand the range on jump shots.

• Score and Set Up: Practice on all the odd-numbered hoops to score your hoop shot and have your ball continue down to set up for the next hoop. Determine what your comfort zone is to score the hoop and keep your ball rolling to the next.

• Center Ball shots: You will be able to control your striker ball the most when you can hit the center of your ball into the center of a target ball. Start with shorter stop shots one to three feet apart and then increase the distance you can hit the center of an opponent’s ball. Work up to five yards apart.

• To Cast or not to Cast: fine tune when and if you use continuous casting for all shots, certain shots or not at all.

The Top Elite Play. With the development of a solid base of consistent shots combined with increasing the distances you can successfully execute those shots, you are now to the top of the pyramid where you will be tested again and again.

Expanding your Range and Comfort Zone is the mid-section of the croquet pyramid. This is where using progressions in your practices will help increase the distances and help build confidence.

• At the top level, you should expect to be able to clear balls consistently from seven yards away. At the elite level, players will often need to clear balls 10-14 yards away or further.

• A 21-foot hoop attempt from the boundary is not out of the ordinary. Jump shots are a regular occurrence and a onebounce, long-range jump shot is a fun shot to develop.

• Placement shots are more precise and used to “wire,” or hide, from opponents. Strategies such as promoting your partner ball into position are often considered. Cannon shots (hitting your striker ball at a target ball into another target ball) sometimes must be used.

• Clearing balls out of or near hoops with precise accuracy to leave your striker ball in a protected spot are often necessary.

• Progression Drill for hoop shooting: Place five markers in one-yard increments straight back from a hoop. If you make

Make the most of your practice sessions by practicing shots in all three areas of the pyramid. Good luck!

The Middle

34 | www.croquetamerica.com

eventresults 3rd Annual Women's Golf Croquet Open January 18-21, 2024 National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Desert Classic January 8-13, 2024 Mission Hills Country Club Rancho Mirage, California

The Beach Club GC Invitational December 15-17, 2023 The Beach Club Palm Beach, Florida

Championship Singles

Championship Flight

Championship Flight

01. Maria Jose Pailos 02. Dominique Aranda 03. Lisa Maloney 04. Helen Covington 05. Ellie Griffith 06. Cami Russack 07. Laura Hendrick 07. Priscilla Flowers 09. Jodie Rugart 10. Jane Beharriell 11. Jan Spoerl 11. Dana Beisheim 13. Barbara Jamison 14. Luz Marie Prado 15. Debbie Davidoff 15. Cheryl Bromley 17. Anne Killilea 18. Suzanne Spradling 19. Lynda Forbes 19. Caryl Firth 19. Lynda Bjorklund 19. Jeanne Branthover 19. Vickie Johnston 19. Jo Hofmann

01. Brian Cumming 02. Patrick Sweeney 03. Paul Bennett 03. Doug Grimsley 05. Peter Bach 05. Steve Scalpone 05. Chris Percival-Smith 05. Pierre Dunn 09. Charlie Smith 09. Dawn Jupin 11. Rory Kelley 11. Jim Hermann

01. Randy Cardo 02. Billy Harper 03. Caryl Firth 03. Alex Galasso 05. Bob Van Tassell 05. Jodie Rugart 05. Tate Russack 05. David Ekstrom 09. Christopher Olsen 09. Cami Russack 09. Priscilla Flowers 09. Conrad Rugart 13. Sandra Knuth

First Flight Singles 01. Mary Galasso 02. Kathie Gamble 03. Adrienne Lucke 04. Maria Jose Montojo 05. MaryCarol Stearns 06. Mary Hennelly 07. Pam Groh 07. Janet Schwartz 09. Sue Emond 10. Ellen O'Brien 11. Suzanne Turner 11. Mary Anne Hamilton 13. Amy Hempt 14. Nancy Sansalone 15. Maria Asuncion Cardoso Reguiro 15. Susan Langston 17. Gay Cinque 18. Liddy Chaney 19. Karen Connery-Albert 19. Anne Carr 19. Lorie Tarver 19. Karen Heckman

First Flight 01. Curtis Toops 02. Tony Simmonds 03. Jane Beharriell 04. Donna Dixon 05. Nick Gray 05. Peter Woolley 07. Mary Rodeberg 08. Bill Sullivan

Western Golf Croquet Regional Championship December 28-29, 2023 Mission Hills Country Club Rancho Mirage, California Championship Flight

First Flight 01. Jeanne Branthover 02. Anne Carr 03. Mary Galasso 03. George Claffey 05. Vickie Johnston 05. Tom Tribby 05. Jeff Scholz 05. Sonia Alexandra 09. Jay Carey 10. Violet Frizell 11. Mary Jacobson 11. Fei Fei Williams

01. Brian Lozano 02. Josh Freeth 03. Rich Lamm 04. Paul Bennett 05. Rick Zazueta 06. Karl-Heinz Kempher First Flight 01. Gregory Fisher 02. Donna Dixon 03. Justin Fields 04. Barbara Wills 05. Roberto Rivera 06. Susan Wall

www.croquetamerica.com | 35

eventresults Sarasota Holiday Invitational December 15-17, 2023 Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, Florida

NCClub 6W Doubles Championship December 8-10, 2023 National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Ponte Vedra Seahorse Tournament November 2-5, 2023 Ponte Vedra Croquet Club Ponte Vedra, Florida

Championship A Singles

Championship Flight

Championship Singles

01. Adam Lassiter 02. John Brown 03. Gene Raymond 03. Russ Cuccia 05. Matt Griffith 05. Lynda Sudderberg

01. Jeff Morrison/Clint Fowlkes 02. Robert Pulitzer/Lucas Van Alen 03. David Ekstrom/Tom Cooper 03. Mark Ski/Cheryl Harders 05. Calvert Chaney/Larry Lynch 05. Lynda Sudderberg/Randy Reid 05. Loretta Cooper/Steven Mednick 05. David Spivey/William Trower

01. Kendall Hendrick 02. Chris Barley 03. Caryl Firth 03. Conrad Rugart 05. Alex Galasso 05. Dana Beisheim 05. Phil Emond 05. Bobby Greene 09. Helen Covington 10. Jim Welch 11. James Creasey 11. Clint Dawkins 13. Jim Podraza 13. John Curington 13. Laura Hendrick DNF Bill Simmons

Championship B Singles 01. George Peterkin 02. Rick Watson 03. Brian Zindel 03. Stephen Grasssbaugh 05. Ron Eccles 05. John Craddock First Flight 01. William Todd 02. Marsha Cargill 03. Ellie Griffith 03. Roger Vorraber 05. Jim Watrous 05. Ken Deason 05. Christine Smith 05. Christof Weihs Second Flight 01. George Quallich 02. Dean Ricci 03. Georgia Carter 03. Robert Funk 05. Mary Craddock 05. Lester Taufen 05. Jeanette Hodgkins 05. Karen Weihs Third Flight 01. Connie Coling 02. Kathie Hart 03. Hillary Lassiter 03. Toni Marie Gelineau 05. Shirley Ricci 05. Debbie Martin 05. Patricia Peterkin 05. Jeffery Cohen

36 | www.croquetamerica.com

First Flight 01. Jan Fisher/Yen Sullivan 02. Kat Robertson/David Kepner 03. Devin Burress/George Claffey 03. Tom Lindley/Allison Worthington 05. John Bannister/Gerald Kagan 05. Bill Sadowski/Anne Licursi 05. Priscilla Flowers/Alex Galasso 05. Liddy Chaney/Tina Hinckley

US Open November 14-18, 2023 Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, Florida Singles 01. Tom Balding 02. Alain Giraud 03. Stephen Morgan 03. Debbie Lines 05. Brian Cumming 05. Steve Scalpone 05. Patrick Sweeney 05. Macey White 09. Doug Grimsley (Plate Winner) 10. Stuart Lawrence 11. Jim Bast 12. Michael Albert 13. Rich Curtis 14. Lynda Sudderberg 15. Sandy Knuth 16. Gene Raymond 17. Michael Todorovich 18. Hans Peterson 19. Erv Peterson 20. Rory Kelley

First Flight Singles 01. Mike Hatcher 02. Mary Galasso 03. Mary Hennelly 03. Gail Barley 05. George Claffey 05. Susie Day 05. Susu Day 05. Judy Carlton 09. Jodie Rugart 10. Anita Huber 11. Jim Hardy 11. Ellen O'Brien 13. Paulette Blackmer 13. Joe Fairbanks DNF Kathie Gamble DNF Geri O'Neill Second Flight Singles 01. Robert Hamilton 02. Billy Byrnes 03. Mary Ann Hamilton 03. Kathy Brown 05. Jeff Stevenson 05. Cindi Callahan 05. Sarah Persons 05. Jeff Smith 09. Tom Hennelly 10. Hardy Littleton 11. Kimberly Hagan 11. Jo Hoffman 13. Shelly Laird 13. Judy Murray 13. Damon Hagan 13. Annie Littleton

4 Champions

TM

A 3-D A Y G O L F C R O Q U E T A C A D E M Y

April 23-25 $1,450

NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER

Glow-in-the-Dark Croquet

Tabletop Croquet YOUR INSTRUCTORS:

MATTHEW ESSICK World Champion 2022 Team USA 2023

BRIAN LOZANO

KYLE MALOOF

Mexico National Champion 2023 Team Mexico 2023

US Doubles Champion 2023 Team USA 2023

ZACK WATSON

US Doubles Champion 2020 Team USA 2023

Learn and practice: the 7 Skills to Play Like a Champion to improve your game and track your progress, the 5 Strategies to devastate your opponents, and the 5 Tactics to win your games.

You will play with clearer strategic insights and hit the ball with deeper self-confidence.

TM

Our Day-1 evening strategy session involves tabletop croquet and Glow-in-the-Dark Croquet!

On Day-2 groups of 4 spend 90mns with each instructor; a 3-game tournament kicks off Day-3 with a champion as coach on each of 4 courts; after lunch our 4 champions don microphones so we can listen in on their world-class exhibition match as they debate and decide their next plays.

For dates and details email: Info@JiminyWicket.org ©2023 Jiminy Wicket

Limit 16 guests. Proceeds support our work with Special Olympics.

Plateau Open November 2-5, 2023 Highlands Falls Country Club Highlands, North Carolina

Houston Invitational November 2-5, 2023 Memorial Park Croquet Lawns Houston, Texas

Championship Singles

Championship Singles

01. Dallas Denny 02. Dick Boger 03. Dan Horton 04. Darin Guffey 05. Mark Kucharski 06. Sherm Rounsville 07. John Rymer 08. Gil Flowers

01. Bob Hafner 02. Bob Pulitzer 03. George Peterkin III 04. John Dill 05. Mary Rodeberg 06. Dale Jordan 07. Scott Kennedy 08. Lee Hamel

First Flight Singles

First Flight

01. Lee Robinson 02. Rick Greer 03. Jim Pierce 04. Deborah Jacobson 05. Adrienne Lucke 06. Lynda Bjorklund 07. Gene Lockard 08. Jim Turner

01. Charlotte Pulitzer 02. Georgia Carter 03. Penny Pressler 04. Boyd Parker 05. Rick Hayes 06. Kevin Fasano 07. Christine Smith 08. Gray Muzzy

Second Flight 01. Mary Craddock 02. Bass Wallace 03. Debbie Hafner 04. Patricia Peterkin 05. Mary Jo Chapoton 06. Donna Hamel

West Indies Invitational November 2-5, 2023 Tennis Club of St. Croix St. Croix, US Virgin Islands Doubles 01. Doug Moore/Norma Jean Brent 02. Flavia Logie/Tyson Roberts 03. Karen Heckman/Jessica Cuyler 04. Whitney Young/Pat Richmond

www.croquetamerica.com | 37

eventresults Snowbirds/Flamingos November 1-2, 2023 National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

NC Club GC Doubles Championship October 20-22, 2023 National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Final Order

Championship Doubles

01. Sandra Knuth/Stephen Morgan 02. David Ekstrom/Tom Cooper 03. David McCoy/Jay Carey 04. Bettina Hinckley/Sally Ohrstrom 05. Nanci Hunt/Bob Van Tassell 06. Cami Russack/Tate Russack 07. Lenore Orlowska-Warren/Geoffrey Johnson 08. Bob Smith/Jane Louise Smith 09. Barbara Weltner/Herb Libowitz 10. Lynn Epstein/Michael Miller 11. Fiona D'aguilar/Diane Waterfall 12. Diane Pelletier/Karen Black 13. Suzanne Turner/Tom Lindley 14. Marie Rittman/Shari Gallucci 15. Nancy Sansalone/Jim Sansalone 16. Phil Robinson/Camille Catania 17. Vicki Naranjo/Janet Schwartz 18. Anne Carr/Gerry Kagan 19. Jane Grandusky/Mark Grandusky 20. Lynn Foley/Bob Broadway 21. Sheila Peterson/Don Whalen 22. Flossie Napolitano/Beth Estes 23. Carla Rueck/Bill Rueck 24. Susan Langston/LaNeil Gregory

01. Bob Van Tassell/David McCoy 02. Tom Cooper/David Ekstrom 03. Bev Cardo/Chris Morris 04. Bruce Hindin/Neill Trimble 05. Bill Trower/David Spivey 06. Tate Russack/Cami Russack 07. Priscilla Flowers/Brian Mitchell 08. Alex Galasso/Jay Carey

FOLLOW THE USCA FACEBOOK

First Flight Doubles 01. Terry Howatt/Tom Lindley 02. Caryl Firth/Mary Galasso 03. Cheryl Harders/Kat Robinson 04. Lois Clay/Trudy Crowitz 05. Vicki Naranjo/Lin Irey 06. Suzanne Turner/Pan Groh 07. Nancy Sansalone/Jane Grandusky 08. Lynn Foley/Camille Catania

INSTAGRAM

Second Flight Doubles 01. Phil Robinson/Bob Broadway 02. FeiFei Williams/Barbara Bielenberg

NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER PRO SHOP

Wickets Deadness Boards Dawson Balls Sunshiny Balls Pegs Flags Clips & MALLETS Galore

Visit our Pro Shop Website for All Your Equipment Needs www.nationalcroquetcenterproshop.com

| www.croquetamerica.com 38 2 | croquetamerica.com

Expanded Reach 2022 Volume 1

CroquetNews The Official Magazin

e

of the United States

GC CLUB TEAMS USCA'S BIGGEST 2021 EVENT

Croquet Association

PLUS: SENIORS MASTE RS | FLORIDA GC REGIONAL NINE WICKE T NATION ALS | RYAN THOM PSON

Four Issues to Deliver Maximum Impact The USCA’s full-color Croquet News magazine is now quarterly with all four issues released in print + the interactive digital edition. Since the Croquet News digital magazine was launched, it continues to set new standards for reader engagement and advertiser click-throughs. Plus, the digital edition goes beyond the USCA membership and offers a global reach of more than 4,000 total readers per issue for the print + digital editions.

Each issue of the magazine includes tactics columns, tournament dates, news, results, national event coverage and features full of the best croquet photography. The print version of the Croquet News is a core attraction for USCA members and still boasts a print circulation of roughly 2,000 copies per issue and reaches over 3,000 croquet players and fans.

Get Started

For a full 2024 Croquet News media kit, contact Dylan Goodwin at croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Upcoming Ad/Copy Deadlines 2024 May Issue (Summer) – 4/19/24 2024 August Issue (Fall) – 7/19/24 2024 November Issue (Winter) – 9/27/24 2025 February Issue (Spring) – 1/17/25

grandprixstandings 2023 A6W OVERALL GP FINAL STANDINGS # Player Singles Doubles 01 Randy Cardo 16350 10560 02 Robert Van Tassell 13000 9600 03 Danny Huneycutt 12152 9466 04 Adam Lassiter 13018 4376 05 David Ekstrom 10800 6310 06 Conner L. Helms 12772 3794 07 David Isaacs 7000 7760 08 John O. Brown 6876 6294 09 Mark Fields 9870 3030 10 Stuart Lawrence 6300 5100 11 Rodney Lassiter 5974 4908 12 George Cochran 7208 3372 13 Ronald L. Eccles 3312 6670 14 Brian D. Hovis 5207 4508 15 Gene Raymond 4040 5400 16 Brian Cumming 4200 5100 17 Jeff Morrison 3900 5398 18 Linda Trifone 2364 6614 19 Lynda P. Sudderberg 3900 4730 20 Patrick Sweeney 7430 600 21 Macey W. White 5000 2838 22 Jodie Rugart 5550 2090 23 Richard Sullivan 400 7100 24 Kevin Hansley 900 6470 25 Scott Spradling 3418 3732 26 Matthew Griffith 6101 800 27 Beverley Cardo 4620 2200 28 Paul Neubecker 5072 1120 29 Alex Muradian 3400 2460 30 Calvert Chaney 3625 2220 31 Webster Bull 3798 2000 32 Mary Rodeberg 2030 3650 33 Arthur Olsen 2600 3020 34 Richard G. Curtis 2900 2550 35 Michael Todorovich 5400 0 36 Zack Watson 4200 1200 37 Paul T. Bennett 4220 1100 38 Britt Ruby 2708 2582 39 Mike Taylor 3034 2252 40 Mark Ski 1894 3280 41 Richard E Laging 3095 1996 42 Brian Zindel 2683 2392 43 Robert Pulitzer 1510 3550 44 Ed Becker 3025 1970 45 Thomas Cooper 2208 2700 46 Douglas P. Moore 2500 2310 47 Nancy Crouch 3310 1430 48 Stephen Errickson 3255 1350 49 Randy W. Reid 4100 450 50 Bob Worrell 3600 800 51 David McCoy 2300 1910 52 Courtney Green 3680 510 53 Neil Houghton 3800 300 54 Doug Grimsley 2250 1800 55 Loretta Cooper 1300 2700 56 Templeton Peck 100 3900 57 Matt Baird 2106 1880 58 Chris Barley 3260 400 59 Michael Gibbons 3432 200 60 Carl A. Archiniaco 1489 2021 Total players: 466. Updated 12/31/2023.

40 | www.croquetamerica.com

Total 26910 22600 21618 17394 17110 16566 14760 13170 12900 11400 10882 10580 9982 9715 9440 9300 9298 8978 8630 8030 7838 7640 7500 7370 7150 6901 6820 6192 5860 5845 5798 5680 5620 5450 5400 5400 5320 5290 5286 5174 5091 5075 5060 4995 4908 4810 4740 4605 4550 4400 4210 4190 4100 4050 4000 4000 3986 3660 3632 3510

2023 A6W WOMEN'S GP FINAL STANDINGS # Player Singles Doubles 01 Linda Trifone 2364 6614 02 Lynda P. Sudderberg 3900 4730 03 Jodie Rugart 5550 2090 04 Beverley Cardo 4620 2200 05 Mary Rodeberg 2030 3650 06 Nancy Crouch 3310 1430 07 Courtney Green 3680 510 08 Loretta Cooper 1300 2700 09 Donna Dixon 2670 400 10 Danna Huneycutt 285 2264 11 Yen Sullivan 1162 908 12 Jane C. Helms 803 1249 13 Jeanne Branthover 889 979 14 Sally McGrath 1056 692 15 Deborah Millican 981 724 16 Ellie Griffith 1230 416 17 Patricia Spratt 980 580 18 Christine Smith 566 977 19 Elaine Moody 306 1152 20 Janet K. Fisher 566 814 21 Karen Heckman 214 1137 22 Missy Ramey 490 700 23 Kat Robertson 597 530 24 Sandra Knuth 600 300 25 Georgia Carter 425 302 26 Sandy Janitz 262 446 27 Allison C Worthington 237 455 28 Jennifer Joseph 265 408 29 Yvette Donato Selby 656 0 30 Cheryl Harders 120 500 31 Beatty Cramer 0 600 32 Missy Chilton 139 452 33 Trula Myers 8 520 34 Bess Gallanis 526 0 35 Anne Licursi 0 522 36 Vickie Johnston 200 319 37 Mary Craddock 126 371 38 Inez D Cancienne 48 429 39 Teresa Errickson 306 137 40 Lovejoy R. Duryea 283 149 41 Kathleen Green 329 96 42 Suzanne Spradling 270 145 43 Sonia Alexandra 213 170 44 Susan Creasey 103 273 45 Penny P. Pressler 360 0 46 Marsha Cargill 320 0 47 Lone P Schweitzer 0 280 48 Denise Ireland 4 270 49 Rita McNamara 90 182 50 Victoria Albrecht 256 0 51 Anne Frost Robinson 240 12 52 Kathie Hart 131 104 53 Priscilla M. Flowers 21 192 54 Anne Carr 176 18 55 Eileen Cornacchia 0 193 56 Becky Essick 30 162 57 Katie Bull 153 36 58 Charlotte Pulitzer 180 0 59 Mary Cassidy 0 176 60 Karen M. Weihs 93 76 Total players: 177. Updated 12/31/2023.

Total 8978 8630 7640 6820 5680 4740 4190 4000 3070 2549 2070 2052 1868 1748 1705 1646 1560 1543 1458 1380 1351 1190 1127 900 727 708 692 673 656 620 600 591 528 526 522 519 497 477 443 432 425 415 383 376 360 320 280 274 272 256 252 235 213 194 193 192 189 180 176 169

2023 AC OVERALL GP FINAL STANDINGS # Player Singles Doubles 01 Stephen Morgan 3465 801 02 Brian Cumming 3098 618 03 Matthew Essick 2407 1252 04 Tom Balding 2986 411 05 Doug Grimsley 2651 618 06 Steve Scalpone 2775 411 07 Stuart Lawrence 2549 618 08 Zack Watson 2566 0 09 Kyle Maloof 1096 1252 10 Patrick Sweeney 1978 0 11 Chris Barley 1432 411 12 Sherif Abdelwahab 976 801 13 Shane Hettler 1096 618 14 Leo McBride 1143 411 15 Macey White 1063 411 16 Danny Huneycutt 1061 411 17 Chris Percival-Smith 1417 0 18 Gene Raymond 1004 411 19 Lynda Sudderberg 977 187 20 Ron Eccles 697 411 21 Matt Smith 768 139 22 Jim Bast 748 139 23 Matt Griffith 592 139 24 Tom Cooper 725 0 25 Sandy Knuth 468 187 26 Michael Todorovich 611 0 27 David Druitt 595 0 28 Randy Cardo 520 0 29 Peter Bach 516 0 30 Mike Taylor 464 0 31 Paul Bennett 420 0 32 David Isaacs 367 0 33 Rich Lamm 363 0 34 Michael Albert 362 0 35 Paul Neubecker 346 0 36 Pierre Dunn 342 0 37 Rich Curtis 321 0 38 Arlene Parker 230 62 39 Martyn Selman 280 0 40 Brian Wasylyk 265 0 41 Preston Stuart 243 0 42 Curtis Toops 241 0 43 Mike Sully 227 0 44 Dawn Jupin 227 0 45 Rodney Lassiter 222 0 46 Adam Lassiter 222 0 47 Tony Simmonds 217 0 48 Timothy Williams 213 0 49 Hans Peterson 207 0 50 Randy Reid 129 62 51 Arthur Olsen 165 0 52 Gary L Anderson 156 0 53 Gil Rocha 141 0 54 John Osborn 0 139 55 Webster Bull 134 0 56 David Ekstrom 134 0 57 John Graney 129 0 58 Christine Smith 62 62 59 Robert Smothers 124 0 60 Donna Dixon 120 0 Total players: 86. Updated 12/31/2023

Total 4266 3716 3659 3397 3269 3186 3167 2566 2348 1978 1843 1777 1714 1554 1474 1472 1417 1415 1164 1108 907 887 731 725 655 611 595 520 516 464 420 367 363 362 346 342 321 292 280 265 243 241 227 227 222 222 217 213 207 191 165 156 141 139 134 134 129 124 124 120

2023 AC WOMEN'S GP FINAL STANDINGS # Player Singles Doubles 01 Lynda Sudderberg 977 187 02 Sandy Knuth 468 187 03 Arlene Parker 230 62 04 Dawn Jupin 227 0 05 Christine Smith 62 62 06 Donna Dixon 120 0 07 Loretta Cooper 0 101 08 Mary Rodeberg 93 0 09 Tracey Roche 54 0 10 Teresa Errickson 52 0 11 Becky Essick 52 0 12 Danna Huneycutt 52 0 13 Barbara Wills 22 0 Total players: 13. Updated 12/31/2023.

Total 1164 655 292 227 124 120 101 93 54 52 52 52 22

Reach Your Target 2022 Volume 1

CroquetNews The Official Magazine

of the United States

GC CLUB TEAMS USCA'S BIGGEST 2021 EVENT

Croquet Association

PLUS: SENIORS MASTERS | FLORIDA GC REGIONAL NINE WICKET NATIONALS | RYAN THOMPSON

The USCA’s full-color Croquet News magazine is now quarterly with all four issues released in print + the interactive digital edition. Since the Croquet News digital magazine was launched, it continues to set new standards for reader engagement and advertiser click-throughs. Plus, the digital edition goes beyond the USCA membershipand offers a global reach of more than 4,000 total readers per issue for the print + digital editions.

Upcoming Ad/Copy Deadlines 2024 May Issue (Summer) – 4/19/24 2024 August Issue (Fall) – 7/19/24 2024 November Issue (Winter) – 9/27/24 For a full 2024 Croquet News media kit, contact Dylan Goodwin at croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Visit

www.croquetamerica.com for more news.

www.croquetamerica.com | 41

grandprixstandings 2023 GC OVERALL GP FINAL STANDINGS # Player Singles Doubles 01 Marc Stearns 4023 2574 02 Billy Harper 5937 591 03 Tamer Hatata 4656 1782 04 Brian Lozano 4019 791 05 Kent Lovvorn 3319 1362 06 Sherif Abdelwahab 3602 1024 07 Jim Teel 3194 1404 08 Tate Russack 2871 1681 09 Matthew Essick 2569 1951 10 Billie Ray 2022 2360 11 Alex Galasso 3174 1181 12 Darin Guffey 1826 2355 13 Bill Simmons 2156 1907 14 Kyle Maloof 2598 1440 15 Debbie Davidoff 3615 264 16 Blake Fields 2193 1563 17 Tom Balding 1834 1885 18 Cami Russack 2023 1681 19 Jim Jamison 2061 1613 20 Bo Prillaman 2440 1221 21 David Maloof 1842 1762 22 Kendall Hendrick 2534 944 23 Caryl Firth 2233 1133 24 Adam Barr 2791 485 25 Amr Hamdy 2482 757 26 Dan Horton 2041 1177 27 Jack Rush 1865 1211 28 Mary Galasso 1769 1281 29 Steve Jackson 1314 1736 30 Randy Cardo 2771 270 31 Ellie Griffith 2383 625 32 Beverley Cardo 2443 532 33 Dallas Denny 1885 1061 34 MaryCarol Stearns 1521 1303 35 Nancy Crouch 1802 1011 36 Lisa Maloney 2281 506 37 Bruce Hindin 1040 1741 38 Kim Allen 1348 1432 39 Ahab Abdelwahab 980 1782 40 Laura Hendrick 1654 944 41 Danny Huneycutt 1974 495 42 Cecil Creasey 1527 919 43 Lynda Bjorklund 1274 1156 44 Jim Podraza 1609 779 45 Cheryl Bromley 2273 81 46 Matt Griffith 1717 604 47 Steve Thurston 1897 408 48 Rick Zazueta 1493 791 49 Bob Van Tassell 1054 1225 50 David McCoy 758 1516 51 Steve Tasker 1611 613 52 Ryan Eberlein 1160 1054 53 Jeff Soo 1754 447 54 James Creasey 1593 519 55 Robert Turner 1017 1055 56 Christof Weihs 1197 842 57 Jimmy Huff 1467 571 58 Shep Slater 1207 769 59 Dennis Leddy 1219 738 60 David Scott 1550 388 Total players: 468. 12/31/2023

42 | www.croquetamerica.com

Total 6597 6528 6438 4810 4681 4626 4598 4552 4520 4382 4355 4181 4063 4038 3879 3756 3719 3704 3674 3661 3604 3478 3366 3276 3239 3218 3076 3050 3050 3041 3008 2975 2946 2824 2813 2787 2781 2780 2762 2598 2469 2446 2430 2388 2354 2321 2305 2284 2279 2274 2224 2214 2201 2112 2072 2039 2038 1976 1957 1938

2023 GC WOMEN'S GP FINAL STANDINGS # Player Singles Doubles 01 Debbie Davidoff 3615 264 02 Cami Russack 2023 1681 03 Caryl Firth 2233 1133 04 Mary Galasso 1769 1281 05 Ellie Griffith 2383 625 06 Beverley Cardo 2443 532 07 MaryCarol Stearns 1521 1303 08 Nancy Crouch 1802 1011 09 Lisa Maloney 2281 506 10 Kim Allen 1348 1432 11 Laura Hendrick 1654 944 12 Lynda Bjorklund 1274 1156 13 Cheryl Bromley 2273 81 14 Helen Covington 1247 599 15 Pam Groh 1024 770 16 Karen Weihs 948 805 17 Priscilla Flowers 1155 512 18 Ellen Nielsen 1447 125 19 Sandra Knuth 293 1265 20 Susan Creasey 581 919 21 Christine Smith 763 713 22 Nancy Sansalone 531 868 23 Barbara Jamison 891 436 24 Sandy Janitz 719 593 25 Suzanne Turner 681 586 26 Kathie Gamble 564 504 27 Janalyn Spoerl 778 286 28 Susu Day 724 315 29 Lynda Sudderberg 1036 0 30 Jodie Rugart 998 0 31 Trudy Crowetz 504 445 32 Mary Hennelly 949 0 33 Lois Clay 495 445 34 Gail Barley 360 515 35 Geri O'Neill 412 429 36 Jane Smith 144 668 37 Sarah Persons 595 201 38 Anne Carr 606 164 39 Susie Day 423 315 40 Anne Killilea 438 284 41 Cynthia Fowler 635 84 42 Jennifer Joseph 451 191 43 Vicky Naranjo 376 258 44 Vickie Johnston 634 0 45 Cori Campbell 630 0 46 Jeanne Branthover 569 0 47 Mona Hadary 555 0 48 Kathleen Brown 550 0 49 Gay Cinque 452 96 50 Diane Walker 0 548 51 Lorie Tarver 541 0 52 Lynn Foley 346 192 53 Kathleen Skoog 99 429 54 Jane Grandusky 42 485 55 Karen Connery-Albert 510 0 56 Tina Hinckley 0 491 57 Sally Ohrstrom 0 491 58 Lynn Epstein 133 347 59 Linda Trifone 182 297 60 Brooklyn Ellenburg 0 472 Total players: 205. Updated 12/31/2023

Total 3879 3704 3366 3050 3008 2975 2824 2813 2787 2780 2598 2430 2354 1846 1794 1753 1667 1572 1558 1500 1476 1399 1327 1312 1267 1068 1064 1039 1036 998 949 949 940 875 841 812 796 770 738 722 719 642 634 634 630 569 555 550 548 548 541 538 528 527 510 491 491 480 479 472

uscasanctionedevents February

2/28/24 - 3/3/24

2/10/24 - 2/11/24

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Bill F Sadowski | 631-834-7176 | wsadowsk@optonline.net

Belleair Croquet Club | Belleair, FL Damon Bidencope | 704-488-7915 | damonbidencope@bidencope.com

2/29/24 - 3/3/24

2/12/24 - 2/18/24

Gasparilla Mallet Club | Boca Grande, FL Bob Worrell | 402-677-2683 | rgworrell@hotmail.com

Mission Hills Country Club | Rancho Mirage, CA Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

March

Steuber Classic 6W & GC | US & GC

USCA Belleair 6W Croquet School | US

USCA National GC Championship | GC 2/15/24 - 2/18/24

West Indies Invitational 6W | US

St. Croix Tennis Club | St. Croix Karen Heckman | 340- 690-6577 | kmhstx@aol.com

2/23/24 - 2/25/24

Blaine Davis Invitational 6W | US

3/1/24 - 4/30/24

Grand Haven American 6W Challenge | US

Grand Haven Croquet Club | Palm Coast, FL Dorothy Silliman | 561-676-7152 | dmsilliman@hotmail.com

3/1/24

GC Shootout | GC

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 | nh13sc@gmail.com

Croquet Hall of Fame Gala

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

3/5/24 - 3/6/24

2/24/24 - 2/25/24

Grand Haven Loggerhead Open GC Tournament | GC

USCA GC School | GC

Grand Haven Croquet Club | Palm Coast, FL Dorothy Silliman | 561-676-7152 | dmsilliman@hotmail.com

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

2/27/24 - 3/2/24

3/5/24 - 3/7/24

Mission Hills Country Club | Rancho Mirage, CA Nicholas Gray | 760-770-2052 | nickgray723@comcast.net

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA American 6W School | US

Mission Hills Invitational | US

,

CAN YOU THINK of a LONGER LASTING MORE MEANINGFUL GIFT for that SPECIAL SOMEONE or perhaps even yourself?

The ‘Evolution’ $390 delivered 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.

WWW.SHOPCROQUET.COM

ANNOUNCEMENT!!

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

(978) 502Ͳ5999

www.croquetamerica.com | 43

uscasanctionedevents March (continued)

4/11/24 - 4/14/24

3/7/24 - 4/30/24

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA GC Eights | GC

Dogwood Spring 6W Tournament | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club| Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

4/11/24 - 4/13/24

3/8/24 - 3/10/24

Bonita Bay Country Club | Bonita Springs, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA Croquet Week GC | GC

USCA Florida SW District GC Tournament | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

4/16/24 - 4/17/24

3/8/24 - 3/10/24

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

SCCC Club Singles 6W | US

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 | ledgett@bellsouth.net

3/14/24 - 3/17/24

USCA GC School | GC 4/20/24 - 4/21/24

USCA Collegiate Championship | GC & US

Merion Cricket Club | Haverford, PA Justin Berbig | (845) 616-0769 | Justin.berbig@gmail.com

USCA Club Teams 6W | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

3/18/24 - 3/24/24

USCA Association Laws National Championship | AC

4/25/24 - 4/28/24

The Grand Cup (GC) | GC

The Lakewood Club | Fairhope, AL Larkin Harris | 251-209-9787 | Larkin.Harris@grand1847.com

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

4/25/24 - 4/28/24

3/22/24 - 3/23/24

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA Belleair 6W Croquet School | US

Belleair Croquet Club | Belleair, FL Damon Bidencope | 704-488-7915 | damonbidencope@bidencope.com

3/22/24 - 3/24/24

USCA Florida SE District GC Tournament | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

April

USCA Florida Regional 9W Championship | 9W

May 5/1/24 - 5/5/24

Southeast 6W Regional | US

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

5/7/24 - 6/30/24

Stingray Golf Croquet Tournament | GC

4/5/24 - 4/7/24

National Croquet Club GC Singles | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Priscilla M Flowers | 828-421-3543 | pmflowers375@gmail.com

5/9/24 - 5/12/24

4/5/24 - 4/7/24

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC Mike Taylor | 910-986-3343 | mrtaylor1022@gmail.com

USCA Florida Treasure Coast District GC Tournament | GC The Moorings Yacht & Country Club | Vero Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

NC Open AC | AC 5/16/24 - 5/19/24

Croquet by The Bay 6W | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

5/29/24 - 6/1/24

USCA 9W National Championship | 9W

Kathleen F. Chace Sales Associate 2000 PGA Blvd, # 2100 Palm Beach Gardens FL 33408 m 518.524.5658 | o 561.210.7766 kathleen.chace@corcoran.com www.corcoran.com

In Memorium: Pat Chace Supper & Papa Fred Supper

44 | www.croquetamerica.com

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

June 6/1/24

National Croquet Day

Your Club | Anytown, USA

6/6/24 - 6/9/24

Albemarle GC Invitational | GC

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

Castles & Croquet

TM

5-STAR LUXURY CROQUET TRIPS IN ENGLAND

The Gravetye Manor

6 days/5 nights June 3-8 July 22-27 $9,950

700yr old Hever Castle

Cliveden House

Stay in the Elizabethan splendour of the Gravetye Manor with their Michelin Star restaurant and the outrageous, palatial elegance of Cliveden House. Play at 700yr old Hever castle, Downton Abbey and visit Sir Winston Churchill’s country home then play on his croquet lawn. Compete in our international Tell ‘em that the Yanks are Coming tournament with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club and much more!

Learn the 7 Skills to Play Like a Champion as taught by Jiminy Wicket® and celebrate your wins with a Roaring ’20s awards dinner (stripey blazers, bow ties, flapper dresses and fascinators).

And all this with door-to-door transport by Range Rover.

All proceeds support our work with Special Olympics. Limit 4 - 8 guests.

©2023 Jiminy Wicket

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

6/13/24 - 6/16/24

September

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

9/4/24 - 9/8/24

6/20/24 - 6/23/24

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

Woodlawn Invitational 6W | US

Berkshire Invitational 6W | US

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

Lenox Croquet Club | Lenox, MA Stuart Lawrence | 646-483-3000 | plus26tp@gmail.com

9/12/24 - 9/15/24

July

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

7/4/24 - 7/7/24

9/12/24 - 9/15/24

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

New York Croquet Club Central Park | New York City, NY Mark Ski | 917-494-8827 | markski125@gmail.com

Rockfish GC Tournament | GC

August 8/8/24 - 8/11/24

Vacationland Golf Croquet Tournament | GC

Woodlawn Croquet Program | Ellsworth, ME Timothy McCormick | 207-329-5343 | tmccorm1@gmail.com

8/9/24 - 8/11/24

Rochester Invitational 6W | US

Blue Crab 6W Tournament | US

Osborn Cup 6W | US 9/17/24 - 9/21/24

USCA Selection Eights AC | AC

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

9/25/24 - 9/29/24

Pinehurst Invitational 6W | US

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC Elaine Moody | 910-986-3164 | halliburton_2@msn.com

Rochester Croquet Club | Rochester, NY Denise Ireland | 585-287-4531 | hutchisondenise@gmail.com

www.croquetamerica.com | 45

uscasanctionedevents October

November

10/1/24 - 11/30/24

11/1/24 - 11/3/24

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 | medstone100@me.com

Autumn GC Challenge | GC

NCC Club GC Doubles | GC

10/1/24 - 10/5/24

11/6/24 - 11/10/24

Linville Ridge &;two others | Linville, NC Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA Southeast Regional GC Championship | GC

USCA Seniors Masters 6W | US

10/6/24 - 10/12/24

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

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

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 | nh13sc@gmail.com

10/8/24 - 10/11/24

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 | medstone100@me.com

10/8/24 - 10/9/24

11/21/24 - 11/24/24

USCA American 6W National Championship | US

Women's GC Friendship Cup | GC

Sharktooth GC | GC

NCC Club American 6W Doubles | US

USCA GC School | GC

USCA GC Masters Tournament | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

10/11/24 - 11/30/24

December

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey W White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

12/3/24 - 12/4/24

10/14/24 - 10/17/24

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

Fall GC Challenge | GC

WCF World GC Championship Qualifier | GC

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

12/6/24 - 12/8/24

10/17/24 - 10/20/24

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

NC State Singles Championship 6W | US

Albemarle Croquet Club | Belvidere, NC Mike Taylor | 910-986-3343 | mrtaylor1022@gmail.com

10/18/24 - 10/26/24

WCF 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 - 11/3/24

USCA GC Club Teams | GC 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

January 2025 1/9/25 - 1/12/25

USCA Florida Regional GC Championship | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

PVCC Seahorse GC Tournament | GC

Ponte Vedra Croquet Club | Ponte Vedra, FL Marc H Stearns | 562-762-5400 | mstearns2@bellsouth.net

Visit www.croquetamerica.com for more news.

46 | www.croquetamerica.com

USCA SCHOOLS AT THE NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER

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)

March 5, 2024 October 29, 2024

GOLF CROQUET (2 days)

February 7, 2024 March 5, 2024 April 16, 2024 October 8, 2024 December 3, 2024

ASSOCIATION (2 days)

October 15, 2024

USCA SCHOOLS INCLUDE:

5 hours/day of on-court instruction Use of equipment Official Rulebook (New A6W or GC members USCA Shot-making Manual (1st time A6W))

United States Croquet Association 700 Florida Mango Rd, West Palm Beach, FL. 33406

Daily Continental Breakfast and Lunches Certificate of Completion & Photograph Wine and Cheese Graduation Party.

www.croquetamerica.com 561.478.0760

Oakley Woods Croquet The new ultimate in precision and performance... mallets, balls, wickets, accessories, videos

Gryphon 2-piece travel shaft mallet • easily fits in a suitcase • assembles effortlessly in seconds • no tools needed • alignment pin keeps everything in perfect position

Predator

bent shaft mallet • 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

visit us online at croquetstore.com or call toll-free at 1-866-364-8895