When you see the two immaculately manicured croquet lawns at the heart of Peachtree Hills Place, it’s easy to understand why croquet enthusiasts love this luxury Life Plan community in the heart of Atlanta.
Here you’ll find elegant homes, upscale dining, attentive staff, fitness center with resort-style pool, and an on-site Wellness Center...all in an historic Buckhead neighborhood. Visit us to meet a lively group of friends you can don your whites with every day.
“Victory is in the quality of the competition and not the final score.” Mike Marshall (Mike Marshall was MLB outfielder for the Dodgers from 1981-1991)
Summer came early in Florida, with our GC National Championships played in May at the National Croquet Center. The heat was turned up and our players showed up to compete. Anyone fortunate enough to be there witnessed world-class play among our very finest in the game. When the players were asked by our Tournament Directors, Elaine and Rocky Smith, if they would like to play best-ofthree or best-of-five matches for the semifinals and finals, all players opted to play best-of-five in untimed matches. Matthew Essick and Tom Balding advanced to the finals, and Essick played an impressive match, winning in three straight games. It was an inspiring treat for spectators as they observed the skill, stamina and competitive drive of these two superior athletes.
While tournaments in the Florida and the Southeast regions quiet down for a couple of months, activity abounds in our other regions through the summer and fall. Our Regional Vice Presidents (RVP) are working toward getting dates on the calendar for regional tournaments. They are also focused on networking with District Presidents (DP) to strengthen croquet at clubs around the country. Is your club seeking to energize its croquet program? Contact your RVP and/or DP to review the obstacles you face and discuss fresh ideas and new ways to move forward.
Another world championship is coming to the United States this October! The USCA is proud to be hosting the WCF Association Laws World Championship at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Our committee is dedicated to planning a firstclass tournament for the best AC players in the world. Would you like to take part as a sponsor of this exciting event as we welcome our international friends? Please reach out if you are interested in helping us provide a lasting impression on all who attend.
One last special highlight to share is that we are gearing up for a milestone celebration in 2027, with the USCA’s 50 Year Anniversary! USCA Secretary, John Craddock, has enthusiastically agreed to chair this committee. We have been saying for a while that we need to record the history of croquet in the United States and this gives us the perfect opportunity to capture the history and take a nostalgic look back at the game and the people. I have had the pleasure of working with Jim Bast as we begin to collect pictures, interesting articles, and even a few entertaining oral histories. We want your stories too. Do you have any old photos or personal anecdotes that you would like to share? Let’s make this a memorable tribute to the history of the sport and those who have helped to shape it.
Bev Cardo
USCA
President
President@croquetamerica.com / www.croquetamerica.com
USCA Management Committee
President Beverley Cardo president@uscroquet.com
First Vice President John Brown firstvp@uscroquet.com
Second Vice President Adam Lassiter secondvp@uscroquet.com
Treasurer Douglas Moore treasurer@uscroquet.com
Secretary John Craddock secretary@uscroquet.com
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
Florida Alex Galasso floridarvp@uscroquet.com
Mid-Atlantic Chris Morris midatlanticrvp@uscroquet.com
Midwest Scott Spradling 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 Brian Hovis tournament@uscroquet.com
Tournament & Schools Adam Peck usca@uscroquet.com
Membership Coordinator Stephanie Lutge croquetoffice@uscroquet.com
United States Croquet Association
700 Florida Mango Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406
www.croquetamerica.com Tel. (561) 478-0760 Fax (561) 686-5507
The
Ben
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Managing
Submissions
Submit inquiries and articles to uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com. Text should be submitted as a Microsoft Word file and photos should be submitted as separate individual high resolution (300 dpi) files. All content may be edited for length and photos will be adjusted appropriately. Croquet News is produced four times per year and is distributed as a benefit to USCA membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USCA.
The USCA video team continues to develop our live streaming capabilities and recorded video. So far the results have been excellent. Now, we are excited to announce the new USCA YouTube channel, @uscroquetassociation, which will incorporate new recordings as well as important events from the recent past. Consider it the center for all USCA broadcasts and recordings.
In the future, your Youtube channel will provide an array of new content that caters to both newcomers and seasoned players of the game. Here you will find instructional videos that cover the basics of croquet, advanced techniques and strategic insights, making it easier for players to improve their skills. Additionally, the USCA channel often features highlights from national tournaments, offering you a chance to witness high-level play and still stay connected with the competitive community.
To view the channel, you can visit YouTube and search for @uscroquetassociation. Check out the channel and be sure to hit the subscribe button.
We hope each of you will view and subscribe to the channel (it’s free), and continue to watch for new content as the channel grows with new recordings, social media posts and fun videos. And, if you’re into video recording and production, we welcome volunteers!
Under the direction of newly elected USCA President Bev Cardo, a new USCA Committee has been formed with the goal of advancing women in all versions of croquet. The first objective will be to establish USCA Women’s nationally titled events in all game codes, including golf croquet, American Six-Wicket and Association Croquet. These events will be in addition to the national events that are open to both men and women.
The committee is made up of players representing each of the regions of the USCA, including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Florida, Midwest and Western. Cheryl Bromley has been selected to chair the committee.
The World Croquet Federation (WCF) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 class of the World Croquet Hall of Fame. Submissions will be accepted through September 30, 2025, allowing Member countries and individuals to recognize those who have left a lasting impact on the sport.
Since its establishment in 2006, the WCF Hall of Fame has welcomed 53 distinguished inductees. The list includes some of the most accomplished players in croquet history, along with dedicated administrators, influential coaches and generous benefactors. Many honorees have contributed to the game in multiple roles throughout their careers.
Nominations should be submitted to the WCF Secretary-General and must include a citation of no fewer than 500 words detailing the nominee’s achievements and contributions to croquet. A high-quality photograph or two should also accompany the submission for use on the WCF website if the nomination is successful.
Submissions may be made by individuals or by national Member organizations. Full details on the nomination process, selection criteria and current Hall of Fame members can be found on the WCF website at www.worldcroquet.org/world-croquetfederation/hall-of-fame/.
Brian Brittain North Toronto
Club at PGA National
The Tulsa Croquet Club launched a fresh new era over Memorial Day weekend with the hosting of the 2025 Indian Territory Open American Six-Wicket tournament that featured the grand opening of a new clubhouse. Centrally located with two courts to the south and two to the north, the spacious covered patio offered an ideal vantage point for watching matches and relaxing over lunch or dinner, while the large interior provided room for equipment storage, player gatherings and a dedicated private restroom. Public restrooms, accessible outside the club’s fenced area, added further convenience for spectators and players.
On the court, George Cochran delivered a dominant performance in the Championship Flight, finishing with a perfect 8-0 record and five pegouts. Scott Spradling of Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club took second place and had a brief window in the final when Cochran’s second break faltered. However, Spradling couldn’t capitalize, and Cochran closed out the match with a 22-8 victory.
fending off a late rally by Deborah Millican to complete a strong first showing. Fisher also partnered with Peter Sherer to win the First Flight doubles title.
In First Flight Singles, Steve Fisher impressed in his American Six-Wicket debut, taking the title with a 21-18 win in the final,
Championship doubles featured a tightly contested Championship Flight final, with Dylan Goodwin and Jon Spaulding edging out Cochran and Art Parsells 16-14.
Congratulations to all who played in the 2025 Rockfish GC Tournament July 3-6, 2025, at Chesapeake Bay in Hartfield, Va. The weather was good with highs in the 80s and no rain. The Blue Crab Arts & Crafts Festival was going on during the tournament and had about 2,000 visitors, many of which got a
chance to learn to play croquet and watch the tournament games. On July 5, the players were treated to an all-you-can-eat steamed crabs, pulled pork and southern fried chicken dinner.
We were excited to have the Hawkins family, from West Virginia, join us for doubles. Father Jim Hawkins and sons Jimmy, Alex and Charles had only played two or three games before the tournament and were brave enough to enter. Doubles was highlow, so Jim, Jimmy, Alex and Charles were paired with the four best players in the tournament. This turned out to be a great way for them to learn and improve. And they did get better with every game. Jimmy Hawkins was paired with Marc Stearns, and they came in second. Gil Goetz and John Woods won the doubles in a close match with Jimmy Hawkins and Stearns.
Championship Singles was won by Marc Stearns with Jeff Taylor coming in second. First Flight was won by Gil Goetz with his doubles partner, John Woods, coming in second.
The tournament was directed by Macey White and managed by Julie Woods. Referees were Macey White, Marc Stearns and Nancy Crouch.
I attended my 50th undergraduate college reunion on a lark. I swore I would never do that, but it only comes around once so off I went to Blacksburg, Va. The planned activities at Virginia Tech involved a lot of eating and drinking and viewing countless classrooms and dorms, campus tours, memorials, etc.; few of which I was particularly excited about.
As it was National Croquet Day that weekend, I felt it my duty as USCA Virginia District President to introduce (or re-introduce) croquet to the 1,000 or so former students attending. I asked for and received permission from the alumni “admin” to set up wherever I could find a spot, provided it didn’t interfere with the other planned activities. They graciously offered me a blank signboard, some corner flags and encouragement.
So off I went in search of a flat spot of grass to set up a lawn, something not easily found in hilly western Virginia. I located an area on campus that was flat enough. I then saw a maintenance man on a giant mower nearby and, $20 later, he dropped his mowing deck down an inch or so to make VT’s first croquet lawn. Thanks to the wonderful volunteer golf cart taxi drivers who helped with some creative routing as they ferried alums about campus (unnecessarily going by my lawn in some cases).
I carry around a few mallets, balls and hoops in my trunk, so I had enough equipment to get started with my introduction. The day was alternatively blistering hot with a few brief showers (or threatening storms). I set up a sign, a chair and an umbrella, and waited for the hordes of curious. Sadly, I was not on the main beat, so the passerbys were few. But 20 or so showed up, despite the weather.
I hit some balls around by myself and discovered that the grass being so high, I could set up on Hoop 1 from corner 4 only if I hit with everything I had in the bag. Knowing that it would likely take a newbie three turns to get across, I thought it best to invent a new ad-hoc game that I dubbed Hokie-Crokie, which turned out to be far more fun than regular GC.
The rules are simple: golf croquet with the roquet, croquet and continuation opportunities made available as soon as Blue hit in. This gave one a chance to set up or set a leave by using those advantages from the get-go. As no one I met knew anything about “real” croquet (many could vaguely remember playing the backyard game at grannie’s house), the rules seemed easy for newbies to understand as there were no preconceptions.
—Bo Prillaman
Scoring and basic rules are the same as GC, EXCEPT: One may roquet (hit) any other ball and receive additional shots while a hoop is being contested
Either ball may go out of bounds on that stroke without penalty (like AC) and the roqueted ball is placed a ball’s width in bounds. Striker is ball-in-hand and takes croquet and continuation strokes.
Either ball going out on the croquet shot ends the turn (like AC). Once “dead” on a ball, the striker may hit it again during the turn (like AC), but no additional strokes are gained.
Once the hoop is scored by any ball (struck, peeled, cannoned, roqueted, etc.) the hoop is counted for that team. No continuation shot occurs and all balls are once again “alive” and for the next hoop.
Wiring occurs only if the opponents are responsible for the position and no part of any other ball can be hit – a true rarity. The wired striker ball may be lifted to one foot from the peg and the shot taken from there.
I tried this game with my local group, and all agreed it was more fun, more strategic and challenging than GC. Seven shots are the most any turn can have, so no other players have to sit down and watch for 30 minutes (unlike AC). It really is fun and promotes exploration into the other croquet games (A6W, AC, 1-ball, 9w), which broadens one’s horizons.
—Bo Prillaman
From July 10-13, 2025, North Toronto proudly hosted the 2025 Canadian National Golf Croquet Championship, welcoming 26 players from 15 clubs across Canada, the United States, England, Spain and Egypt.
With top-tier competitors in both the Championship and First Flight divisions, the four-day tournament delivered exceptional play and memorable moments.
Adam Barr retained his national title, solidifying his status as one of Canada’s premier croquet players. In a thrilling final match, Barr defeated Macey White of Chesapeake Croquet Club in three closely contested games: 7-4, 5-7, 7-4.
Nancy Crouch of Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club captured the Championship Plate with excellent play against Bill Simmons Jr., Sarasota Country Croquet Club. In the First Flight, North Toronto’s KS Tsang emerged victorious after a tightly fought match with Don Oakley. Despite intense heat — where the index soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on three of the four days — players delivered some of the finest croquet seen in recent memory.
A particularly touching moment came on day one, when players and volunteers gathered for a group photo with Elizabeth Randall, who brought Brian Brittain’s tall colorful mallet in his memory – a heartfelt tribute to a beloved friend.
This successful event would not have been possible without the leadership of Tournament Director Adam Barr and Event Coordinator Naomi Fisher, as well as the dedication of an outstanding team of volunteers. Special thanks go to Alain Giraud, who prepared the lawns and arrived each morning to assist Barr with hoop setting — critical to maintaining top-tier playing conditions.
In recognition of this event the club received letters from:
• Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who welcomed participants and commended North Toronto Croquet for advancing the sport in Canada.
• Member of Parliament Vince Gasparro, who expressed his full support for the National Championship and praised North Toronto’s exceptional commitment to croquet.
The 2026 Canadian National Championship is set to return to North Toronto in July 2026. North Toronto Croquet is the home club for nine of the top 12 players in Canada. To receive event information for next year's edition, contact adam@croquet.ca.
Following the second day of play at the 2025 U.S. Golf Croquet Classic held July 10-12, 2025, at the Denver Croquet Club in Washington Park, Ron Eccles invited players to visit the Colorado Croquet Club for drinks and courtside grilling at his new croquet venue, which features a 45 by 60-foot mini-court on artificial turf. The facility features plenty of amenities and shaded patio areas for socializing and is focused on being a rental space for special
occasions. The U.S. GC Classic had 13 participants with Matt Smith getting a 7-4, 7-5 victory over Daniel Pailas to claim the Pro Division title. Shane Eckert took the Gold Division title with a 7-6, 7-6 victory over Dylan Goodwin. It was the third edition of the Classic, with previous events being held in Tulsa in 2019 and Kansas City in 2024.
The annual ScissorTail Oklahoma Championship, held June 5-8, 2025, at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, was a fun and challenging tournament. Players came from Houston and Tyler, Texas, Memphis, Tenn., Naples, Fla., and Seattle, Wash., to compete with the ScissorTail Croquet Club members. In addition to the stiff competition among the players in the Championship and First Flights, the weather offered its own challenges. Heavy rain each night along with steady rain on the morning of June 7 turned the lawns into a squishy, muddy bog. The players trudged through it all like the seasoned competitors that they are. They were rewarded the final morning for the semifinals and finals with bright sunshine and courts that had dried off considerably. This meant that now they were playing on a different surface from the days before.
The tournament was a double-elimination format beginning with the playoffs, so everyone came out of block. There were eight participants in each flight that had two chances to advance to the finals. The competition was stiff!
First Flight finalists were Tish Peterkin and Gene Bryan. Peterkin had worked her way through the playoffs to the finals with no losses. Bryan had one loss and had to play his way through the consolation bracket. That meant that Bryan would have to beat Peterkin twice to win, which he did. Both matches were nail-biters with heroic shots from each player.
Championship Flight ended up in a similar situation. Britt Ruby played his way through playoffs to the finals with no losses. John Brown had one loss and then fought his way to the finals through the consolation bracket. So, now he had to beat Ruby twice to win. And he did! Both of their matches were exciting with incredible shots executed by both players.
It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved member Carla Rueck passed away on July 21, 2025, after a long illness. A graduate of St. John’s University, Carla had a long and active professional career as a school teacher in the Port Washington School District, where she also served as a union representative.
Post retirement, Carla virtually had a second career in the croquet world as a player, as an organizer and as an official. She was actively involved in a number of clubs, including the New York Croquet Club, PGA National, the National Croquet Center, Bombay Mallet & Wicket Croquet Club and the Westhampton Mallet Club, where she served as a Board Director and in June was elevated to the status of “Honorary Member.”
She was also a prominent figure within the United States Croquet Association (USCA) where she held the position of Secretary at one point followed by her most recent role as Second Vice President. In addition, she was also chair of the Education Committee from 2022-2025.
Her contributions to the sport earned her numerous honors from the USCA. Most notably, Carla was selected for induction into the USCA Hall of Fame, with the ceremony scheduled for February in West Palm Beach, Florida. This honor caps a distinguished career that also included receiving the coveted Ambassador Award in 2025, recognizing her exceptional dedication to promoting and advancing the sport of croquet.
Carla’s presence on the croquet courts in New York and in Florida was legendary so much so that her voice mail message indicated that if she didn’t answer, she was probably playing croquet! In addition to competing in numerous croquet tournaments and winning more than her fair share of them, Carla was a whirlwind organizer of croquet games from simple club events to complex USCA-sanctioned tournaments.
Carla was predeceased by her husband Bill, who passed away in April. She is survived by her son Billy, her daughter-in-law Addy and her granddaughter Louise of Portland, Ore. Carla will be dearly missed and long remembered fondly by all who met her.
—Dennis Amato, Westhampton Mallet Club
Montgomery–At Large Member
James Locke
Diane Locke
Greenwich–Greenwich Croquet Club
Madeline DeVries
Wayne DeVries
Patricia Johnson
Lois Mallin
Washington–At Large Member
Val Pehrson
Delray Beach–St. Andrews Club
Richard Goldman
JoEllen Goldman
Jensen Beach–At Large Member
Cheryl Fisher
Lake Wales–Mountain Lake Croquet Club
Linda Trower
Carlos Trower
Osprey–The Oaks Club
Gary McKinley
Vero Beach–At Large Member
Linda Barbeti
Vero Beach–Oak Harbor Club
Michael Pou
West Palm Beach–
National Croquet Club
Letty Aronson
Betsy Boggs
Maryann Gordon
James Hawkins
Tom Hunt
Donna Lloyd George
Cynthia Rice
Blair Trimble
Clarkesville–At Large Member
Elaine Scialo
Newnan–At Large Member
Luke Johnson
South Bend–At Large Member
Alexander Kwilinski
Annapolis–St. Johns College
Charlie Aspillaga
Ben Dahlgren
Ben Ginnebaugh
Isaac Hartland
Steven Kendall
Magnus Oberg
Dalton Olsson
Liam Olsson
Angus Preston
Sara Ramirez-Pombo
Willa Rothenberg
Leo Schumwinger
Ben Shelsby
Henry Stockman
Clare Sullivan
Duxbury–At Large Member
Morton Fearey
Sharon Fearey
Sandwich–Sandwich Croquet Club
Phyllis Welby
Spring Lake–Green Gables Croquet Club
JoEllen Goldman
Richard Goldman
Brian McIndoe
John Mulhall
Maureen Mulhall
Judith Stach
Paul Stach
Dina Zallo-McIndoe
Bald Head Island–Bald Head Island Croquet Club
Judy Boreham
Brian Herrie
Myra Herrie
Ann Nichols
Jim Nichols
Stuart Wing
Belvidere–Albemarle Croquet Club
Mike Hewitt
Black Mountain–Black Mountain Croquet Club
Joe Miniot
Cashiers–Cedar Creek Club
Donald Calvert
Cashiers–The Country Club of Sapphire Valley
Diane Mcelheny
Linville–Linville Ridge Croquet Club
Thomas Daniel
Pinehurst–Pinehurst Croquet Club
Jane Barton
Renee Ference
Theresa Roach
Tulsa–Tulsa Croquet Club
Michael Sharp
Memphis–University Club of Memphis
Milner Stanton
Houston–Houston Croquet Association
Alan Chambers
Anna Chambers
Seattle–Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Club
Deborah Priest
Milwaukee–Milwaukee Croquet Club
Maggie Leyes
Age: 60
Years playing croquet: 25
Home base: Portland, Oregon
Home club: Portland Croquet Club
Grip: Solomon
Mallet:
Timmer, 11 inch, 2.75, 36 inch
Favorite croquet venue: Mission Hills Country Club
Favorite tournament: Desert Classic
How did you get into the game: Played backyard 9 Wicket throughout college and took to 6W/AC after law school as I always enjoyed it.
Croquet highlights/tourney wins:
USCA Western Regional AC Championship (2x), USCA Western Regional 6W Championship (3x), Pacific Cup (5x), Croquet Fools (4x), Seattle Open (3x), Dessert Classic.
Favorite sports to follow? Basketball
Pop culture favorites: 80s hard rock and heavy metal
What is the best thing the USCA has done for croquet? Keeping recreational croquet active.
What would you like to see happen in the sport over the next 10 years?
More 6W events and more lawns in public spaces.
What have you learned from croquet? Patience.
Quick croquet tip: Practice the little things.
2025 WCF Association Croquet World Championship
13-26, 2025
WITH THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 12 MONTHS, THE USCA PREPARES TO COMPLETE A TRIPLE BY HOSTING THE 2025 WCF AC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN WEST PALM BEACH THIS FALL.
This October, the eyes of the croquet world will turn to West Palm Beach, Fla., as the National Croquet Center (NCC) once again welcomes the 19th edition of the prestigious World Croquet Federation Association Croquet World Championship hosted by the USCA and the WCF. This will be the third time the NCC has hosted the “AC Worlds,” which are considered by many croquet players and fans to be the pinnacle of competitive croquet, where skill, strategy and dedication converge in a tradition that has showcased the game’s greatest talents competing for one of the sport’s highest honors.
The genesis of AC Worlds can be traced back to the late 1980s, born from a collective desire among the sport’s leading nations to establish a true international governing body and a flagship individual competition. The World Croquet Federation was officially formed in 1986, driven by an ambition to elevate croquet’s profile on the global stage.
The inaugural WCF AC World Championship was held July 15-23, 1989, at the historic Hurlingham Club in London, England, in conjunction with the Open Championships. The landmark event marked a new era for international croquet, setting the precedent for a championship that would draw players from across continents. The
first champion to etch his name into history was Joe Hogan from New Zealand, as he notched a +3, +3tp win over Mark Avery from England in front of 250 spectators.
Since then, the AC World Championship has traveled the globe, showcasing the beauty and complexity of AC in various esteemed venues. From forgotten locations like Newport, R.I., which hosted the first championship on U.S. soil in 1992, and Fontenay-leComte, France, which hosted in 1995, to the southern hemisphere destinations of New Zealand and Australia, each host nation has contributed to the championship’s rich tapestry.
The event typically runs every two to three years, allowing for robust qualification processes and ample preparation for the world’s elite. Over the decades, the tournament has witnessed legendary rivalries and the emergence of multiple champions, each leaving their mark on the sport. England’s Robert Fulford stands at the top of the mountain, having won six titles with his first coming in 1990 and his most recent 33 years later in 2023. Reg Bamford of South Africa follows closely with five titles, having earned his first win in 2001 over Fulford, while claiming his most recent championship in 2020. England’s Chris Clarke is the only other player to have won multiple titles with wins in 1995 and 2008.
2025 WCF Association Croquet World Championship
West Palm Beach, Florida | October 13-26, 2025
The 2025 WCF AC World Championship will take place between October 13-26 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Qualifying Competition
The qualifier will be held at the same venue between the three days of October 14-16. There are 24 places available. The top four finishes will go through to the Main Championship.
Welcome Ceremony, Registration and Practice
The welcome ceremony will be on Friday, October 17, 2025. Players should plan to arrive soon after lunch for registration. Practice will be available on this day.
Social
There will be an opening reception on October 17 and a reception for the draw on October 21.
Balls and Hoops
Invictus primary and secondary colors. Hoops are expected to be Quadways.
American players have knocked on the door a few times, with Jerry Stark making the last four in the second edition at Hurlingham in 1990, before falling to the eventual champion Fulford +24tp, -16, +26tp. Jaques Fournier (1999 WCC champion) took a run to the semifinals in 2001, where he also fell to the eventual winner Bamford +16tp, +26tp, +25. The NCC first hosted the AC Worlds in 2009, and it was a young Ben Rothman who made a deep run, getting all the way to the final before falling to Bamford +13tp, +22, +18tp.
When the event returned to the NCC in 2016, it was David Maloof who carried the American flag again to the finals, where he was took part in an epic 11 and a half-hour battle against England’s Stephen Mulliner before falling -4, -17, +5, +7, +26tp under the lights in West Palm Beach.
In 2020, AC Worlds was fortunate to be held in Cairnlea, Australia, just before the global shutdown for COVID-19. There croquet fans saw Matthew Essick make his first run to a world championship final, where he faced Bamford, who came out on top +14tp, -12, +17tp, +26tp. Most recently, the 2023 event saw two Americans fight their way into the last four at Hurlingham. Tom Balding announced his presence on the world stage with a -19tp, +3, +5tpo victory over Mulliner in round one. He continued the winning ways to extend to an eight-game win streak on his way to the semifinals. There he faced Fulford, who proved to be a bit too much as he won +5, -19, +3tp, +26tp.
On the other side of the knockout, Essick was back and looking stellar in the midst of his own seven-game win streak. So Fulford and Essick would square off in a rematch of sorts after the two met one year earlier in the 2022 GC World Championship final. Essick won that one in four games and looked strong early as the 2023 AC final rolled out. He struck early to extend his win streak to nine straight games with a pair of triples. But Fulford fought back in a thrilling battle to claim a record sixth title by a final of -17tp, -17tp, +4tp, +26tp +8otp.
As we look ahead to West Palm Beach in October, the Americans will look to defend their title, and croquet fans across the world are sure to be entertained with another exciting edition of the QC World Championship. Join us in celebrating the legacy of this event and the incredible talent it brings to the fore.
Venue: The Hurlingham Club, London, England
Winner: Joe Hogan (Ireland)
Runner-Up: Mark Avery (England)
This was the inaugural WCF Association Croquet World Championship, a landmark event that established the premier individual competition for the sport. Held at the historic Hurlingham Club, it set the stage for future world-class croquet. Hogan became the first-ever champion, marking a significant moment in the sport’s international development.
Venue: The Hurlingham Club, London, England
Winner: Robert Fulford (England)
Runner-Up: Mark Saurin (England)
Held again at Hurlingham, this championship saw the emergence of a future legend, Robert Fulford, who claimed his first World Championship title at a young age. This victory marked the beginning of Fulford’s remarkable dominance in Association Croquet for years to come.
Venue: The Hurlingham Club, London, England
Winner: John Walters (England)
Runner-Up: David Openshaw (England)
For the third consecutive year, the championship remained at the Hurlingham Club. This edition saw another English champion crowned, John Walters, who defeated David Openshaw in an all-English final, continuing the strong presence of English players at the top of the sport.
Venue: Newport, R.I., USA
Winner: Robert Fulford (England)
Runner-Up: John Walters (England)
This championship was significant as it marked the first time the WCF Association Croquet World Championship was held outside of England, specifically in the United States. Robert Fulford reclaimed the title, defeating John Walters in a repeat of the previous year’s finalists, solidifying his early dominance in the sport.
Venue: Carden Park, Cheshire, England
Winner: Robert Fulford (England)
Runner-Up: Chris Clarke (England)
This championship saw Robert Fulford secure his third World Championship title, once again demonstrating his formidable skill. The final was an allEnglish affair, highlighting the depth of talent within English croquet at the time. Carden Park provided a new English venue for the prestigious event.
Venue: Fontenay-le-Comte, France
Winner: Chris Clarke (England)
Runner-Up: Robert Fulford (England)
This marked a significant moment as the championship ventured to continental Europe for the first time, hosted in France. Chris Clarke, who had been runner-up the previous year, triumphed over his compatriot and rival, Robert Fulford, to claim his first World Championship title.
Robert Fulford (ENG) – 6
Reg Bamford (RSA) – 5
Chris Clarke (ENG) – 2
Stephen Mulliner (ENG) – 1
Robert Fletcher (AUS) – 1
Paddy Chapman (NZL) – 1
Joe Hogan (NZL) – 1
John Walters (ENG) – 1
Reg Bamford (RSA) – 228
Robert Fulford (ENG) – 218
Stephen Mulliner (ENG) – 175
David Maugham (ENG) – 156
Chris Clarke (ENG) – 122
David Openshaw (ENG) – 106
James Death (ENG) – 104
Robert Fletcher (AUS) – 93
Paddy Chapman (NZL) – 86
Mark Avery (ENG) – 78
Jenny Clarke (NZL) – 72
Samir Patel (ENG) – 71
Stephen Forster (AUS) – 70
Ian Burridge (WAL) – 68
Pete Trimmer (ENG) – 67
Keith Aiton (SCO) – 66
Kevin Beard (AUS) – 62
Marcus Evans (ENG) – 62
Bob Jackson (NZL) – 56
Aaron Westerby (NZL) – 56
Source: www.croquetrecords.com
Venue: Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia
Winner: Robert Fulford (England)
Runner-Up: Stephen Mulliner (England)
The championship moved to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time, showcasing the global reach of Association Croquet. Robert Fulford reasserted his dominance, winning his fourth World Championship, defeating fellow Englishman Stephen Mulliner in the final.
Venue: The Hurlingham Club, London, England
Winner: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
Runner-Up: Robert Fulford (England)
After a break of several years, the World Championship returned to its spiritual home at the Hurlingham Club. This event was notable for the victory of South Africa’s Reg Bamford, who defeated multiple-time champion Robert Fulford in a highly anticipated final, signaling a shift in the top ranks of the sport.
Venue: Wellington, New Zealand
Winner: Robert Fulford (England)
Runner-Up: Toby Garrison (New Zealand)
This marked the championship’s return to New Zealand, having been held in Australia previously. Robert Fulford secured his fifth AC World Championship title, demonstrating his continued prowess. He defeated New Zealand’s Toby Garrison in the final, in what was a significant moment for the host nation to have a player reach the final.
Venue: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Winner: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
Runner-Up: Robert Fulford (England)
Returning to English soil, this championship featured a highly anticipated final between two of the sport’s titans: Reg Bamford and Robert Fulford. Bamford emerged victorious, winning his second World Championship by defeating Fulford in straight games, a notable achievement against the multiple-time champion.
Venue: Christchurch, New Zealand
Winner: Chris Clarke (England)
Runner-Up: Stephen Mulliner (England)
The championship returned to New Zealand once more in Christchurch. Chris Clarke, a previous champion, added another title to his name, defeating fellow Englishman Stephen Mulliner in the final. This marked Clarke’s second World Championship victory.
Venue: National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach, Fla., USA
Winner: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
Runner-Up: Ben Rothman (USA)
This was a significant championship for American croquet, as it was the first time the AC World Championship was held at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach. Reg Bamford claimed his third World Championship title, defeating American hope Ben Rothman in the final. Rothman’s run to the final was a strong showing for the host country.
NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER I WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
WCF AC WORLDS | OCTOBER 18-26, 2025
LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE: YOUTUBE CHANNEL
SUPPORT PROVIDED BY US CROQUET ASSOCIATION
Stephen Mulliner (ENG) – 17
Reg Bamford (RSA) – 16
David Maugham (ENG) – 16
Robert Fulford (ENG) – 15
David Openshaw (ENG) – 14
Ian Burridge (WAL) – 13
Chris Clarke (ENG) – 11
Chris Williams (WAL) – 11
Jerry Stark (USA) – 10
Keith Aiton (SCO) – 10
Steve Jones (NZL) – 10
Stephen Forster (AUS) – 10
Kevin Beard (AUS) – 10
Brian Cumming (CAN) – 10
James Death (ENG) – 10
Robert Fulford (ENG) – 6/3/2 – 11
Reg Bamford (RSA) – 5/1/2 – 8
Stephen Mulliner (ENG) – 1/2/3 – 6
Robert Fletcher (AUS) – 1/1/3 – 5
Chris Clarke (ENG) – 2/1/1 – 4
David Openshaw (ENG) – 0/1/2 – 3
John Walters (ENG) – 1/1/0 – 2
Paddy Chapman (NZL) – 1/1/0 – 2
Matthew Essick (USA) – 0/2/0 – 2
Aaron Westerby (NZL) – 0/0/2 – 2
Andrew Johnston (IRL) – 0/0/2 – 2
David Maugham (ENG) – 0/0/2 – 2
Source: www.croquetrecords.com
Venue: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Winner: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
Runner-Up: Robert Fletcher (Australia)
This championship saw Reg Bamford continue his impressive run, securing his fourth World Championship title. He defeated Australia’s Robert Fletcher on home soil in a competitive final.
Venue: London, England (various clubs including Surbiton, Hurlingham and Roehampton)
Winner: Robert Fletcher (Australia)
Runner-Up: Paddy Chapman (New Zealand)
Australia’s Robert Fletcher avenged his 2012 loss by winning his first World Championship title. This victory was particularly notable as he became the youngest ever winner of the AC World Championship at the time (20 years old) and the first player to win the event without dropping a single game throughout the tournament.
Venue: National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach, Fla., USA
Winner: Stephen Mulliner (England)
Runner-Up: David Maloof (USA)
The championship returned to the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach for the second time. England’s Stephen Mulliner claimed his first AC World Championship title in a marathon five-game final against American David Maloof. This final was notable for its length (11.5 hours) and for both players, at 62 years old, making history as the oldest finalists, with Mulliner becoming the oldest champion. Maloof’s strong performance was a highlight for the host nation.
Venue: Wellington, New Zealand
Winner: Paddy Chapman (New Zealand)
Runner-Up: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
Paddy Chapman, who was runner-up in 2013, secured his first AC World Championship title on home turf in New Zealand. He defeated multiple-time champion Reg Bamford in a hard-fought final, marking a significant victory for New Zealand croquet.
Venue: Victorian Croquet Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Winner: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
Runner-Up: Matthew Essick (USA)
Despite being the “2020” championship, this event was held in February 2020, just before the widespread global impact of the pandemic. Reg Bamford continued his exceptional legacy, winning his record-equaling fifth AC World Championship title, putting him alongside Robert Fulford. He defeated a strong challenger in American Matthew Essick in the final, showcasing the emerging talent on the world stage.
Venue: Various clubs in South West London, England (with the final at the Hurlingham Club)
Winner: Robert Fulford (England)
Runner-Up: Matthew Essick (USA)
The championship returned to England, utilizing multiple prestigious clubs around London. In a highly anticipated final, Robert Fulford clinched a remarkable sixth AC World Championship title, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players of all time. He overcame American Matthew Essick in a thrilling five-game match, a repeat of the 2020 Golf Croquet World Championship final, which Fulford also won. Essick’s continued strong performances in world finals highlighted his consistency at the elite level. 2025 WCF Association Croquet
Player / MaxDG / Type of place
01. Robert Fletcher (AUS) / 2772 / RKP
02. Robert Fulford (ENG) / 2680 / RKP
03. Reg Bamford (RSA) / 2650 / RKP
04. Mark Avery (ENG) / 2609 / RKP
05. Logan McCorkindale (NZL) / 2579 / RKP
06. James Death (ENG) / 2578 / RKP
26. Callum Hyland (AUS) / 2374 / RKP
27. Debbie Lines (ENG) / 2369 / RKP
28. Duncan Reeve (SCO) / 2367 / RKP
29. Nick Parish (ENG) / 2325 / RKP
30. Lachlan Berryman (AUS) / 2321 / RKP
31. Aston Wade (ENG) / 2320 / RKP
51. Mike Town (ENG) / 2127 / REP
52. Patrick Sweeney (USA) / 2123 / REP
53. Jarrod Coutts (NZL) / 2117 / MBP
54. Rich Lamm (USA) / 2114 / MBP
55. Shane Hettler (USA) / 2106 / REP
56. Andrew Symons (SCO) / 2099 / MBP
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WE HAD A WONDERFUL NUMBER OF CROQUET PARTIES HOSTED BY USCA CLUBS THIS YEAR. HERE ARE THE THEMES, IMAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
Croquet Chair Jane Casey inspired members of the club to come out and learn the game they often see being played on the beautiful lawns. A great number of regular players and eager students attended. Chair: Jane Casey. Croquet Coordinator: Danny Huneycutt
We celebrated “Beach Day Croquet” by bringing Clearwater Beach inland to the BCC croquet court. More than 30 enthusiastic members dressed in their surf styles and came out to enjoy a morning on the courts. The day started with a “beach ball cast-off” before the players got down to some serious fun of Golf Croquet. The party continued well into the evening with a buffet dinner, live music and dancing the night away. Everyone who drove by the courts on Saturday stopped to check out the fun and chase down a run-away beach ball. Croquet Chair: Barbara Ann Busch
More than 70 members of our community celebrated “Olympic Croquet” on National Croquet Day at Grand Haven Club. Croquet Chair: Nancy Crouch.
On National Croquet Day, Brian Hovis visited Stamping Ground, Ky., where Hall of Fame member Archie Burchfield played croquet. Thanks Brian, for sharing these wonderful photos. Hopefully, we will all have a trophy case in a museum one day.
A little cloudy rainy weather did not deter Green Gables from hosting another well attended National Croquet Day celebration. Club members mingled with the novice players for fun and entertainment. Please note the new Gazebo’s the Club erected last year coming in very handy in 2025! Croquet Chair: Scott McMurray.
Eighteen members of the croquet group signed up for an introduction to American Six Wicket Croquet. Ron Huxtable, the Club’s best player and an accomplished Championship Level USCA American Six Wicket Player and National Instructor provided a tutorial to and participated in a demonstration game. Although American Six Wicket rules are somewhat complicated, Ron, an excellent tutor, made the game understandable for all present.
It is hoped that through his efforts, interest will grow and the American Six Wicket game will increase in popularity and be played on our beautiful Oceanside courts along with Golf and Aussie Croquet. Ron plans on providing additional lessons and I encourage members to sign up to learn this competitive and fun game.
Club President: David Davis Club Instructor: Ron Huxtable
Celebrating National Croquet day at The Club at High Hampton. The theme was “Golf Croquet
Croquet Coordinator: T Crayton Morrow
The Highlands Country Club Strikers sponsored another outstanding, well-attended celebration of National Croquet Day, in picturesque Highlands, N.C. Already comprised of 262 members, the Strikers promoted the celebration for several weeks. As a result, 25 newbies turned out for the event, along with at least 35 existing Strikers. As in years past, participants were encouraged to wear blue, red, black or yellow tops.
The celebration kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with a clinic for new players taught by our Director of Croquet, Edmund Fordyce, current USCA National Doubles Champion.
Following a sumptuous cookout lunch served at our croquet pavilion, participants competed in a skills challenge. Stations were set up around the lawn to test set-up, clearing, blocking and hoop running skills. The highest scoring participants were awarded Strikers apparel, such as logo shirts, hats and belts. A great time was had by all, as evidenced by numerous Newbies joining the Strikers in the course of the event.
Croquet Chair: Matt Calvert. Croquet Coordinator: Edmund Fordyce.
Teaching brand new players is at the heart of National Croquet Day. Here we see resident club pro Darin Guffey illustrating proper technique. Always begin your croquet career with good habits! Croquet Coordinator: Darin Guffey
The club opted for a theme of Pirates of the Caribbean this year. The committee did a fantastic job including getting the whole staff into costume. Once again, visitors flocked to the courts and many members were there to teach and introduce croquet. Club President: John Strasser. Croquet Coordinator: Zack Watson.
The Lenox Croquet held a celebration of National Croquet Day with playing and a potluck, attached is a picture of the group. Croquet Chair and Coordinator: Stuart Lawrence.
National Croquet Day was celebrated with several other area clubs participating, including Pelican Bay, Wilderness, Bonita Bay and Naples Croquet Club. The day began with heavy rain, which scared off a few participants, but the hale and hearty stuck it out and were rewarded with a fun day of golf croquet, skills games and even a surprise birthday party for our own Fred Heald — aka Uncle Fred, guest columnist for the USCA and resident croquet sage! Our theme was ‘silly hats’ and as you can see from the photo, Fred celebrated his birthday with fanfare and what was easily the best silly hat of the group! Despite the inclement weather, spirits stayed high, mallets stayed dry and Golf Croquet continued to gratify!
Croquet coordinator: Fred Heald.
Croquet coordinator: Henry Smith
The Field Club had a great turnout for their first year having a Croquet Day event. It helps when you have World Champion Ben Rothman as your new Club Pro. The newbies are outperforming many of us mere mortals already!
The Croquet Coordinator: Ben Rothman.
Our National Croquet Day celebration was just groovy! Wyndemere Country Club and local croquet friends embraced a “Love, Peace & Croquet” theme, and the 60s attire added to the fun. We saw some truly amazing wickets scored, had lots of laughs and everyone truly enjoyed the day!
Croquet Coordinator: Heidi Michitsch.
Croquet Coordinator: Matthew Essick.
The phrase “cooler heads prevailed” was never truer than at this year’s GC National Championship. It was not due to arguments or frustration; Tournament Directors Elaine and Rocky Smith kept a controlled, guiding hand on all play. But with temperatures steadily in the 90s, clear thinking and chill shot-making combined with an ever-present water bottle won the day. World Champion and defending National Champion Matthew Essick won the Singles title as well as the Doubles title with partner Edmund Fordyce, without showing a hint of sweat.
The National Croquet Center (NCC) played host to the tournament in typical all-out style. Eleven lawns, with tight hoops and surrounded by drainage pipes (thank goodness), provided a true test for all 67 participants. Priscilla Flowers and David Maloof oversaw officiating, with Laura Hendrick handling most of it throughout the week.
In the Doubles competition, 16 Championship teams and 11 First Flight teams competed in block play. After the block stage, eight Championship teams were in a knockout playoff. In the final, we saw Essick and Fordyce take on Tamar Hatata and Sherif Abdelwahab in a best-of-three match, with Essick and Fordyce the winners.
First Flight had a knockout of six teams. The final had Alex Galasso and Priscilla Flowers playing Jose Benjumea and Tom Eggleston in a 19-point match with Galasso and Flowers taking the win for the title.
In plate play (those who didn’t make it to the knockout), Ahab Abdelwahab and Tom Cooper were Championship winners, and Kim Jones and Jay Carey won First Flight.
Singles play began immediately after the Doubles competition with 32 Championship players and 30 in First Flight. When the humid haze cleared, there was a knockout of 16 Championship players. Finally, Tom Balding and Matthew Essick were left standing, and Essick won in the best-of-five contest.
After a Draw and Process with 16 First Flight players, four players remained for a knockout ending. In the final, it was Adam Peck playing Ron Taylor with hometown favorite Peck coming out on top.
2025 USCA Association Croquet National Championship West Palm Beach, Florida | March 17-23, 2025
Various mini affairs took place for players not making it to the knockout and at later stages. Results were:
Championship Plate winner: Randy Cardo
Championship Bowl winner: Brian Lozano
Championship Shield winner: Shane Hettler
First Flight Plate winner: Sarah Persons over MaryCarol Stearns
The playoffs were live-streamed from an upper window. Great thanks to Sherif Abdelwahab and his traveling studio. The NCC’s streaming was also available for a wide view of play. Thank you to Abdelwahab, Kyle Maloof and Tom Balding for excellent commentary during many of the matches.
Trophies were given out by newly elected USCA President Bev Cardo, who played beautifully in the singles event, and Elaine and Rocky Smith, who did an excellent job keeping a complicated tournament on time and on track.
FLIGHT SINGLES
01. Matthew Essick
02. Tom Balding
03. Darin Guffey
03. Kyle Maloof
05. Shane Hettler
06. Tamer Hatata
06. Stephen Morgan
06. Ahab Abdelwahab
09. Brian Lozano
10. Kent Lovvorn
11. Sherif Abdelwahab
11. Bev Cardo
11. Mohammad Kamal
11. Cami Russack
11. Jack Rush
11. Amr Hamdy
17. Randy Cardo
18. Kendall Hendrick
19. Alex Galasso
19. Jimmy Huff
21. Mike Hoggatt
21. Mike Hatcher
21. Jim Jamison
24. David Maloof
24. Tate Russack
24. Shep Slater
24. Charles Stovall
28. Tom Cooper
28. Robert Smothers
28. Brett Stovall
31. Marc Stearns
FLIGHT DOUBLES
01. Matthew Essick/Edmund Fordyce
02. Tamer Hatata/Sherif Abdelwahab
03. Brian Lozano/Randy Cardo
03. Tom Balding/Stephen Morgan
05. Darin Guffey/Shane Hettler
05. Kyle Maloof/David Maloof
05. Macey White/Nancy Crouch
05. Kent Lovvorn/Jimmy Huff
09. Tom Cooper/Ahab Abdelwahab
10. Mike Hoggatt/Sandy Knuth
11. Kendall Hendrick/Mike Hatcher
12. Mohammad Kamal/Amr Hamdy
12. Brett Stovall/Charles Stovall
12. Shep Slater/Robert Smothers
15. Bo Prillaman/Bill Simmons
15. Tate Russack/Cami Russack
01. Adam Peck
02. Ron Taylor
03. Tom Eggleston
04. Dick Rendleman
04. Nancy Rendleman
06. Jose Benjumea
06. Joe Fairbanks
06. Michael Kolowich
06. Jeff Morrison
06. Bill Simmons
06. Bob Smith
12. Britt Bell
12. Caryl Firth
12. Mary Galasso
12. Sandy Knuth
12. Thomas Lobsitz
17. Sarah Persons
18. MaryCarol Stearns
19. Priscilla Flowers
21. Tony Watts
22. Jay Carey
22. John Grout
22. Rich Rose
25. Frances Alexakos
25. Kim Beaty
25. Trevor Head
25. Kim Jones
29. Rick Pratt
01. Alex Galasso/Priscilla Flowers
02. Jose Benjumea/Tom Eggleston
03. Caryl Firth/Jeff Morrison
03. Dick Rendleman/Tony Watts
05. Adam Peck/Rick Pratt
05. Kim Beaty/Ned Fleming
07. Kim Jones/Jay Carey
08. Thomas Lobsitz/Bob Smith
09. Nancy Rendleman/Sarah Persons
10. Michael Kolowich/John Grout
11. Britt Bell/Frances Alexakos
HELD IN THE OUTFIELD OF A FLORIDA BALLPARK, THE EVENT REMINDED PLAYERS OF CROQUET’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WHILE SHOWCASING TOP-TIER PLAY AND COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
By Tom Cooper
Some of us got our start in the world of croquet playing in an annual backyard affair. All of us played at one time or another in the backyard with family and friends. A 9-Wicket tournament is an event that links that backyard childhood fun to greensward seriousness. Such was the case in Palm Coast, Fla., where the 9-Wicket Nationals were held in late May.
Situated in the outfield of the Palm Coast Little League Park, 16 intrepid players faced off. After sorting out the rules (which are always in contention), the biggest complaint was that the grass was too short, with not enough hills, thus being too fast. Imagine that!
Grand Haven member Nancy Crouch and her able assistant Macey White were our hosts for the tournament and did a wonderful job providing equipment and setup each day. One thing about 9-wicket events, you must carry all the equipment to the venue each day, set it up and then take it down. Ron Eccles was the Tournament Manager and kept things running smoothly. During the tournament, the players were treated to a lovely evening at the Grand Haven Club for dinner and more croquet.
In Championship Flight doubles, first-timer Tom Cooper and partner Doug Moore got past Bill Trower and Jeff Morrison for the finals victory. And in First Flight, Brett Fullerton and Gail Warlick beat George Claffey and Todd Marshall for the victory. By the time singles started, players were getting used to the pace and tilt of the courts. This resulted in several 32-point games that pegged out.
First Flight singles saw Brett Fullerton against Dean Rowland. Fullerton was a newcomer to tournament play and Rowland is a wily, long-time player using a historic 24-inch roque mallet to get the job done. In the end, it was Fullerton’s time to shine.
In Championship Flight, the winner was Brian “Steamroller” Hovis in a seesaw battle with Macey White. You’d think the game was played on a manicured pool table the way these boys were making their shots.
This is a unique event and well worth the effort to participate. It’s a journey back to the roots of the game and that’s something worthy of rediscovery!
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
01. Brian Hovis
02. Macey White
03. Doug Moore
03. Bill Trower
05. Tom Cooper
05. John Warlick
05. Jeff Morrison
05. George Claffey
09. Ron Eccles
09. Nancy Crouch
FIRST FLIGHT
01. Brett Fullerton
02. Dean Rowland
03. Todd Marshall
03. Mike Debitetto
05. Gail Warlick
05. Dorothy Silliman
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES
01. Tom Cooper/Doug Moore
02. Bill Trower /Jeff Morrison
03. Macey White / Nancy Crouch
03. Brian Hovis / Dean Rowland
05. Ron Eccles /John Warlick
01. Brett Fullerton/Gail Warlick
02. George Claffey / Todd Marshall
03. Mike Debitetto / Dorothy Silliman
The seven-yard hoop shot is a game changer, a backbreaker, a Hail Mary to steal a hoop at the last minute. That is how tournament manager Barbara Wills began the 2025 Western Regional Golf Croquet Championships. The Oakland Croquet member drained a seven-yard hoop shot to steal Hoop 1 as the Red ball with the first hoop shot of the tournament.
Fellow club member Rob Sinclair made a 40-degree angled hoop and Mission Hills member Greg Fisher made Hoops 1 and 2 on consecutive shots to start the tournament with four made hoops out of four shots! The hoops proved to be more difficult than they let on in that first 10 minutes, but the players were resilient in the beautiful spring weather in downtown Oakland, Calif.
Fifteen players competed in singles and doubles, allowing for two flights of singles on three medium-paced, lush, green lawns. This public club shares space with lawn bowlers, geese and any Oakland resident who wanders through the park (often with a dog, or a speaker blaring music or both). It makes for a unique and eclectic background for a tournament, with a stunning view of Lake Merritt and the Oakland skyline.
Four relatively new players competed in their first sanctioned event. They formed two doubles teams and at the end of block play, they played each other for the fourth and final spot in the doubles knockout. It was a back-and-forth game with Rick Smith and Mark Isaacs ahead 5-3, only to fall behind Brad Itokazu and Sherry LaVars 6-5. LaVars, a local sports photographer, lagged too hard to Hoop 12 but managed to run the hoop from 40 feet to win the game and earn the final playoff spot.
In Championship singles, the top two seeds played each other in the last round of block play, with Karl-Heinz Kempfer needing to beat Ben Rothman to keep his playoff hopes alive. Rothman took a 5-4 lead with a crucial jump shot at Hoop 9 only to drag jump Kempfer through Hoop 10 and even the score. Kempfer got great position at Hoop 11 and Rothman unintentionally blocked his own clearance shot. Out of desperation, Rothman shot the hoop from six yards north of Hoop 10 and ran Hoop 11 down past Hoop 12 for the 6-5 lead. Kempfer wasted no time and imitated LaVars with a gentle lag through Hoop 12 from Hoop 11 to tie the game 6-6 and
send it to the hook at Hoop 13. Rothman persevered and earned the #1 seed in the best-of-three knockout ladder while also eliminating the highest-ranked challenger in one fell swoop.
After a lovely Toast and Tally Thursday night, players enjoyed a late start for the semifinal matches. Barbara Wills and Susi Wall came out swinging and took a 2-0 lead over Greg Fisher and Donna Dixon. The SoCal team then rallied and, while each hoop was a lengthy battle, Fisher and Dixon went on a 14-0 streak to make the finals. There they ran into a buzzsaw, the top-ranked doubles team of Rob Sinclair and Kempfer. The local pair won the finals 7-2, 7-1 and took the doubles Championship with an undefeated 10-0 record.
Bill Sullivan from Mission Hills also went undefeated, despite facing a jump shot from phenom Barbara Wills in the finals. Sullivan went 9-0 and capped his tournament with an in-off at Hoop 12. The 80-degree angled hoop would have been impossible without Wills’ near miss, giving Sullivan a backboard to avoid the playoff hoop in game two and win First Flight.
Not to be outdone, World Champion Ben Rothman went 11-0 to win the Championship flight. Sinclair defeated newcomer Itokazu in the semifinal and threatened to jump every hoop that Rothman managed to block. Rothman’s luck at Hoop 10 proved vital, including a 40-foot hoop shot to win game one after Sinclair’s position offered a double target of the clearance and the hoop. In game 2, Rothman scored hoop 9 all the way down to position at hoop 10. Sinclair managed to hit the ball from 40 feet, but only promoted it into the jaws, allowing Rothman to go halfway to Hoop 11 with his other ball. He then went from level at 4-4 to win game two 7-4 and became the Western Regional Golf Croquet Champion for the 5th time (2011, 2013, 2018, 2019).
A big thanks to Barbara Wills and all the volunteers from the Oakland Croquet Club for making this a high-quality event. Other regions of the USCA would be lucky to have such passionate advocates who ensured that the Western Region had multiple variations to choose from in AC and GC Regional Championships this year.
01. Ben Rothman
02. Rob Sinclair
03. Brad Itokazu
03. Jim Hanks
05. Karl-Heinz Kempfer
05. Donna Dixon
07. Greg Fisher
08. Mark Isaacs
01. Bill Sullivan
02. Barbara Wills
03. Rick Smith
03. Jeff Hill
05. Susan Wall
06. Sherry LaVars
www.sixwicketvineyards.com
By Jeff Soo
Abbreviations used: blUe, Red, blacK, Yellow
A peel is when you cause a ball other than the striker ball to run its wicket*. Peeling is an important part of advanced tactics, but even beginners sometimes have opportunities to try it, most obviously when both your balls are for the same wicket. Peeling a ball just before you score the same wicket with your own ball is known as a straight peel (the term has nothing to do with the angle of the shot).
If you are ball-in-hand directly in front of the wicket, you can peel partner ball through the wicket on the croquet shot, then run the wicket with the continuation shot. Or you can put both balls through on the croquet shot, known as an Irish peel.
If, instead, your partner ball is already in the jaws and you are to the playing side of the wicket, you can peel it on the roquet shot, known as a rush peel. (It’s also possible to rush peel a ball that isn’t in the jaws, but this becomes exponentially more difficult the farther the ball is from the wicket.)
Both peels have risks. If a straight peel fails with partner ball in the jaws, the only way you can score the wicket with your own ball is to jump over the partner ball without touching it. This can be a disaster if the hot ball (the opponent ball that plays next) is also for this wicket.
If you rush peel your partner ball, you are now ball-in-hand on the non-playing side of the wicket. Approaching the wicket from that position requires taking off to just barely miss the wicket, which often results in a long and angled wicket shot. Or even worse, no shot at all if the takeoff comes up short or hits the wicket.
When partner ball is already in the jaws, the ideal method is to roquet it gently enough that it stays in the jaws. This allows a nearly foolproof Irish peel. (I say nearly because less-experienced players often make the mistake of getting both balls through but without leaving an easy shot to roquet partner ball again.) Of course, you must be very close to the ball to have a reasonable chance to roquet it that gently.
When peeling with a croquet shot, the key factors are aligning the balls correctly and striking the ball cleanly. It is a good idea to check the alignment from the non-playing side of the wicket. This takes extra time, though, so if you don’t have a partner to help you with this, you may need to take a timeout to get it right. With more experience, you can learn to sight the balls accurately from the playing side.
Twisting the mallet or striking the ball off center tends to drag the balls off-line, which can cause the peel to fail, the striker ball to end out of position or both. A good pre-shot routine for a croquet-shot peel is to think of it as though it were a normal wicket shot: pretend the croqueted ball isn’t there, aim as you would for a plain wicket shot, focus on the striker ball and play a smooth and relaxed swing.
Remember that it is not a fault if the striker ball catches up to the croqueted ball and hits it on the croquet shot. This is one reason to prefer the Irish peel when you are close enough to the wicket: if the peel sticks in the jaws your ball can then bump it through; if you struck the ball cleanly, the striker ball should end up in the jaws. With practice, Irish peels become quite reliable up to about a foot away from the wicket or up to a foot and a half or so for more advanced players.
A more subtle danger with straight peels is reducing the chance of a useful rush after the wicket. In Figure 1, you have rushed Y to perfect peeling position. But playing the peel makes it very unlikely you will get an eastward rush after the wicket, and for many players, this could make the difference between glorious success and disastrous failure if the obvious 3- (or 4-) ball-break is attempted. If Y is partner dead, this risk may be worth taking, but if Y is clean, it is a fool’s bargain.
We’ll continue with some more advanced peeling situations in the next article.
* The term credits Walter Peel, one of the early stars of croquet and a noted proponent of the maneuver.
By Cheryl Bromley
In the scenario below, the tactic you select will be based on which ball is to shoot and your capabilities of executing the shot you choose. The four-point checklist can assist in prioritizing your decision.
• Can I score the hoop?
• What about the Danger Ball, i.e., the ball that shoots directly after me?
• Can I help my partner?
• Are there any other Threats, i.e. the other opponent ball?
What would you do in each instance?
• SCENARIO I: It is Blue to play. Blue is four feet directly behind the Red ball.
• SCENARIO II: It is Red to play. Red has entered the hoop from the scoring side.
• SCENARIO III: It is Black to play. Black is behind Hoop 2, three feet back on an angle. Black is wired from Yellow.
• SCENARIO IV: It is Yellow to play. Yellow is wired from Black and nine feet away from Blue.
SCENARIO I: It is Blue to play. Blue is four feet directly behind the Red ball.
• Beginner Level: Many players just starting out might opt to snuggle up behind Red to prevent Red from being able to score if they don’t yet have a jump shot.
• Intermediate Level: Hit a jump shot over Red to score the hoop. Four feet is a manageable distance for a jump shot.
• Advanced Level: Jump shot all day long!
SCENARIO II: It is Red to play. Red has entered the hoop from the scoring side.
• Score the hoop at all levels!
• Here’s a twist: what if Red had come from the non-scoring side and was not yet through the hoop?
SCENARIO III: It is Black to play. Black is behind Hoop 2, three feet back on an angle. Black is wired from Yellow.
• Beginner Level: Players at this level might choose to snuggle up behind Red to prevent Red from being able to score or potentially causing Red to double tap if trying to score.
• Intermediate Level: Aim to clear Red out of the hoop using a firm shot.
• Advanced Level: Clear Red out of the hoop and send it rolling toward Hoop 1. With the right contact, Black might even roll through the hoop into a scoring position.
SCENARIO IV: It is Yellow to play. Yellow is wired from Black and nine feet away from Blue.
• Beginner Level: Many players at this level seem to be intimidated to hit a nine-foot clearing shot on Blue. Another option would be to block Blue from jumping over Red.
• Intermediate Level: Clear the Blue ball.
• Advanced Level:
º Option A: Clear the Blue ball with a center-to-center contact to keep the striker ball Yellow under control.
º Option B: Clear the Blue ball hitting it on the left side to advance Yellow to Hoop 3.
º Option C: Glance off Red to peel it through to score Hoop 2 resulting in advancing Yellow to Hoop 3 legally.
2025 US Golf Croquet Classic
Denver Croquet Club
Denver, Colorado
July 10-12, 2025
Pro Division
01. Matt Smith
02. Daniel Pailas
03. Carter Harrison
03. Steve Berry
05. Ned Sperry
05. J. Josh Still
07. Dylan Goodwin
07. Shane Eckert
09. Justin Marciniak
09. Ron Eccles
09. Gwendolyn DeSilva
09. Chad Mahan
Gold Division
01. Shane Eckert
02. Dylan Goodwin
03. Justin Marciniak
03. Ron Eccles
05. Gwendolyn DeSilva
05. Chad Mahan
Zed
01. Steve Berry
02. Judy McKeon
03. Gwendolyn DeSilva
Rockfish GC Tournament
Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club
Hartfield, Virginia
July 3-6, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Marc Stearns
02. Jeff Taylor
03. Nancy Crouch
03. Lisa Maloney
05. MaryCarol Stearns
First Flight
01. George Goetz
02. John Woods
03. Rick Pratt
03. Greg Presley
05. Steve Shultz
Championship Flight Doubles
01. George Goetz/John Woods
02. Marc Stearns/Jimmy Hawkins
03. Penn Pendleton/Rick Pratt
03. Lisa Maloney/Steve Shultz
05. Macey White/Jim Hawkins
05. MaryCarol Stearns/Greg Presley
05. Nancy Crouch/Alex Hawkins
05. Jeff Taylor/Charles Hawkins
2025 Greenwich Invitational
Bruce Park
Greenwich, Connecticut
June 27-29, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Courtney Green
02. Bill Miller
03. Erv Peterson
03. Quinn Reinhardt
05. Mary McCarthy
06. Neville Boschert
07. Dave Kepner
07. Kathleen Green
2025 Berkshire Invitational
Lenox Croquet Club
Ellsworth, Maine
June 19-22, 2025
Championship Flight Singles
01. Stuart Lawrence
02. Courtney Green
03. Jim Erwin
03. Bob Gannon
05. David McCoy
06. David Ekstrom
07. Patricia Spratt
First Flight Singles
01. Sally McGrath
02. George Claffey
03. Doug Greeff
03. Michael Jeary
05. Kathleen Green
05. Bob Taber
Second Flight Singles
01. Michael Kolowich
02. Debbie Martin
03. Linda Taber
03. John McGrath
Championship Flight Waterford Doubles
01. Bob Gannon/Courtney Green
02. David Ekstrom/David McCoy
05. Stuart Lawrence
06. Jim Erwin
07. Patricia Spratt
First Flight Waterford Doubles
01. Sally McGrath/Bob Taber
02. George Claffey/Michael Jeary
05. John McGrath
06. Michael Kolowich
07. Doug Greeff
07. Kathleen Green
09. Debbie Martin
09. Linda Taber
2025 Woodlawn Invitational Woodlawn Croquet Program
Ellsworth, Maine June 19-22, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Bob Worrell
02. Bob Van Tassell
03. Perry Mattson
04. Don Parker
05. Neil Houghton
First Flight
01. Fred Beck
02. James Peasley
03. Janet Pearson
04. Tina Hinckley
05. Tim McCormick
Highlands Falls GC Elite Invitational
Highlands Falls Country Club
Highlands, North Carolina
June 12-15, 2025
Final
01. Matthew Essick
02. Darin Guffey
03. Edmund Fordyce
03. Tom Balding
05. Sherif Abdelwahab
05. Brian Lozano
05. Jim Jamison
05. Jim Teel
09. Crayton Morrow
10. Jimmy Huff
11. Shane Hettler
11. Jack Rush
13. Simon Dentchev
13. Dallas Denny
13. Curtis Drake
13. Scott Spoerl
Texas State Championship - A6W
Houston Croquet Association
Memorial Park
Houston, Texas
June 12-15, 2025
Championship Flight
01. John Brown
02. Stuart Coco
03. Charlotte Pulitzer
04. Bob Hafner
05. Britt Ruby
06. George Peterkin III
07. Scott Kennedy
First Flight
01. Kevin Fasano
02. Bas Wallace
03. Joe Leary
04. Mary Craddock
05. Lee Hamel
06. Don Chapoton
2025 Scissortail Invitational
Oklahoma City Croquet Club
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 5-8, 2025
Championship Flight
01. John Brown
02. Britt Ruby
03. Conner Helms
04. Scott Spradling
05. Tim Rapuano
05. Carl Archiniaco
07. John Watson
07. George Peterkin
First Flight
01. Gene Bryan
02. Tish Peterkin
03. Georgia Carter
04. Suzanne Spradling
05. Lee Hamel
05. Ron Rapuano
07. Nora Watson
07. Donna Hamel
2025 N.C. GC State Championship
Albemarle Croquet Club
Belvidere, North Carolina
May 29-June 1, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Cecil Creasey
02. Adam Lassiter
03. Randy Lassiter
03. Billy Harper
05. Danny Huneycutt
06. Rodney Lassiter
07. John Lassiter
07. Robb Turner
09. Josh Lassiter
10. Susan Creasey
10. Lynda Bjorklund
12. Mike Taylor
12. Adrienne Lucke
12. Robert Hamilton
12. Billie Ray
12. Craig Sellner
17. Elaine Moody
First Flight
01. Thomas Wolford
02. Mary Hamilton
03. Elaine Smith
03. Rocky Smith
05. Betty Robinson
05. Sybil Turner
05. Tom Mullen
05. Janet Mullen
2025 Indian Territory Open
Tulsa Croquet Club
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 23-26, 2025
Championship Flight Singles
01. George Cochran
02. Scott Spradling
03. Dylan Goodwin
03. Ron Millican
05. Kevin McQuigg
05. Greg Clouse
05. Joe Steiner
05. Jon Spaulding
First Flight Singles
01. Steve Fisher
02. Deborah Millican
03. Suzanne Spradling
03. Peter Sherer
05. Greg Adams
05. Jodi Adams
Championship Flight Doubles
01. Dylan Goodwin/Jon Spaulding
02. George Cochran/Art Parsells
03. Matt Baird/Kevin McQuigg
03. Ron Millican/Greg Clouse
05. Scott Spradling/Joe Steiner
First Flight Doubles
01. Peter Sherer/Steve Fisher
02. Deborah Millican/ Suzanne Spradling
03. Greg Adams/Jodi Adams
04. Bob Baker/Andrew Kwateng
2025 Six Wicket Vineyards Tournament
Six Wicket Vineyards
Myersville, Maryland
May 17-18, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Adam Lassiter
02. Gil Rocha
03. George Claffey
03. Alexis Gagne
05. Ed O’Laughlin
First Flight
01. Francisco Echeverria
02. Isaiah Winger
03. Hillary Lassiter
03. Marie Richardson
05. Laura O’Laughlin
05. Rodney Calver
North Carolina AC Open
Pinehurst Croquet Club
Pinehurst, North Carolina
May 8-11, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Wy Louw
02. Thomas Balding
03. Stuart Lawrence
03. Sherif Abdelwahab
05. Jeff Soo
05. Chris Barley
05. Matt Smith
05. Brian Hovis
09. Shane Hettler
09. Mike Taylor
09. Lynda Sudderberg
09. Stephen Errickson
13. Drake Curtis
14. Tom Cooper
14. Mike Todorovich
14. Sandy Knuth
17. Kenster Rosenberry
First Flight
01. Tim Williams
02. Rick Hayes
03. Ralph Curtis
03. Teresa Errickson
05. Becky Essick
05. Christine Smith
07. John Graney
2025 Stingray Challenge
Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club
Hartfield, Virginia
May 7-June 30, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Jeff Taylor
02. Lisa Maloney
03. Doug Murphy
04. Brian Midkiff
05. Michael Heath
06. Rick Pratt
07. Sarah Persons
08. Penn Pendleton
First Flight
01. John Woods
02. Joe Ward
03. Russ Brudnicki
04. Wayne Maloney
05. Kimberly Leedy
06. Doug Fowler
07. Cynthia Fowler
08. Alan Cole
2025 Western GC Regional Oakland Croquet Club
Oakland, California
May 6-10, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Ben Rothman
02. Rob Sinclair
03. Brad Itokazu
03. Jim Hanks
05. Karl-Heinz Kempfer
05. Donna Dixon
07. Greg Fisher
08. Mark Isaacs
First Flight
01. Bill Sullivan
02. Barbara Wills
03. Rick Smith
03. Jeff Hill
05. Susan Wall
06. Sherry LaVars
Championship Doubles
01. Rob Sinclair/Karl-Heinz Kempfer
02. Greg Fisher/Donna Dixon
03. Susan Wall/Babara Wills
03. Brad Itokazu/Sherry LaVars
05. Mark Isaacs/Rick Smith
05. Jim Hanks/Jeff Hill
07. Bill Sullivan/Vick Till
2025 Midwest GC Regional
Tulsa Croquet Club
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 2-4, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Steve Fisher
02. John Brown
03. Mary Hennelly
04. Vanessa Fernandez
05. Luka Nettleton
06. Evan Rogers
07. Kevin McQuigg
08. Mike Sharp
2025 Southeast Regional A6W
Albemarle Croquet Club
Belvidere, North Carolina
May 1-4, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Brian Hovis
02. Rodney Lassiter
03. Danny Huneycutt
03. Damon Bidencope
05. Brian Zindel
05. Mark Fields
05. Cecil Creasey
05. Gil Rocha
09. Marc Campbell
09. Stephen Errickson
11. Joshua Lassiter
12. Linda Trifone
12. Steve Thurston
First Flight
01. Randy Lassiter
02. Richard Greulich
03. Teresa Errickson
03. James Podraza
05. Danna Huneycutt
05. Jon Spaulding
05. Becky Essick
05. Susan Creasey
Second Flight
01. Marc Blumberg
02. Wyck Knox
03. Scott Brown
03. Rocky Smith
05. Hillary Lassiter
05. Daniel Phelan
05. Elizabeth Robinson
05. Elaine Smith
09. Janet Mullen
Championship Flight Doubles
01. Brian Hovis/Brian Zindel
02. Rodney Lassiter/Joshua Lassiter
03. Damon Bidencope/Linda Trifone
03. Mark Fields/Steve Thurston
05. Danny Huneycutt/ Danna Huneycutt
06. Stephen Errickson/Teresa Errickson
First Flight Doubles
01. James Podraza/Wyck Knox
02. Cecil Creasey/Susan Creasey
03. Marc Campbell/Becky Essick
03. Gil Rocha/Jon Spaulding
05. Randy Lassiter/Elizabeth Robinson
06. Scott Brown/Mac Blumberg
07. Richard Greulich/Hillary Lassiter
08. Elaine Smith/Rocky Smith
09. Daniel Phelan/Janet Mullen
USCA Collegiate Championship
Merion Cricket Club
Haverford, Pennsylvania
April 26-27, 2025
College Championship
01. Oklahoma Wesleyan
02. St. Johns
03. Naval Academy Doubles
01. Luka Nettleton/Asher Scantlin
02. Evan Rogers/Karen Hernandez
03. Grant Bartuska/Andrew Wilkinson
03. Angus Preston/Ben Dahlgren
04. Henry Stockman/Dalton Olsson
04. Caden Marshall/Magnus Oberg
04. Sara Ramirez-Pombo/ Charlie Aspillaga
04. Niam McFrederick/Lane Wyatt
05. Ben Ginnebaugh/ Leo Schumwinger
05. Clare Sullivan/Willa Rothenberg
05. Ben Shelsby/Isaac Hartland
05. Julia Mamiya/Emma Magness
2025 Albemarle Croquet Club GC Open
Albemarle Croquet Club
Belvidere, North Carolina
April 24-27, 2025
Championship Flight
01. Cecil Creasey
02. Rodney Lassiter
03. Jose Benjumea
03. Josh Lassiter
05. Ned Sperry
05. Susan Creasey
05. Caryl Firth
05. Randy Lassiter
09. Adam Lassiter
10. Alex Galasso
11. Priscilla Flowers
12. Lisa Maloney
13. Mary Galasso
14. Bob Natole
15. Michael Kukla
16. Dick Rendleman
First Flight
01. Lee Robinson
02. Gil Goetz
03. Nancy Rendleman
03. Rick Pratt
05. Kim Beaty
06. Rocky Smith
07. Wayne Maloney
08. Mike Hewitt
Championship Flight Doubles
01. Susan Creasey/Cecil Creasey
02. Adam Lassiter/Lee Robinson
03. Randy Lassiter/Rodney Lassiter
03. Priscilla Flowers/Alex Galasso
05. Nancy Rendleman/ Dick Rendleman
06. Jose Benjumea/Gil Goetz
07. Caryl Firth/Mary Galasso
08. Bob Natole/Josh Lassiter
First Flight Doubles
01. Ned Sperry/Holly Sperry
02. Rick Pratt/Rocky Smith
03. Mike Hewitt/Tom Mullen
03. Anne Kukla/Michael Kukla
05. Jennifer Falchi/Rick Greer
06. Lisa Maloney/Wayne Maloney
07. Kim Beaty/Renee Seblatnigg
07. Debra Boyce/Janet Mullen
2025 Country Club of Jackson A6W Invitational
Country Club of Jackson Jackson, Mississippi April 24-27, 2025
Championship Flight
01. George Cochran
02. Mark Fields
03. Bill Trower
03. Britt Ruby
05. Bob Hafner
05. Joe Yoder
05. Linda Trifone
05. Nancy Crouch
09. Ed Becker
First Flight
01. Warwick Alley
02. Neville Boschert
03. Gene Bryan
03. Sally McGrath
05. David Trigiani
05. Jan Fisher
05. Jon Spaulding
05. Mark Saxon
Second Flight
01. Kim Reniska
02. Inez Cancienne
03. Debbie Hafner
03. Jeff Cohen
05. Margaret McLarty
06. John Welch
Championship Doubles
01. George Cochran/Nancy Crouch
02. Britt Ruby/Ed Becker
03. Mark Fields/Michael McRee
04. Bob Hafner/Linda Trifone
05. Bill Trower/Joe Yoder
First Flight Doubles
01. Warwick Alley/Kim Reniska
02. Sally McGrath/Margaret McLarty
03. Jan Fisher/Debbie Hafner
04. Neville Boschert/Mark Saxon
05. Gene Bryan/Jeff Cohen
06. Jon Spaulding/Inez Cancienne
06. David Trigiani/John Welch
2025 A6W OVERALL GP STANDINGS
01 Cardo, Randy 4870 6650 11520 02 Brown, John O 801 7930 8731 03 Cochran, George 2920 5200 8120 04 Green, Courtney 2800 5280 8080 05 Ruby, Britt 1830 6040 7870
Gannon, Robert 4400 3200 7600 07 Stuart, Preston 2821 4400 7221 08 Ekstrom, David 1001 6000 7001
Hovis, Brian D. 2652 3968 6620
Zindel, Brian 4752 1233 5985
Lassiter, Rodney 1428 3452 4880
Fields, Mark 1212 3518 4730
Eccles, Ronald L. 1575 3115 4690
Helms, Conner L. 420 4200 4620
Trifone, Linda 1613 2954 4567 16 Lassiter, Adam 0 4550 4550
Fletcher, Robert 0 4500 4500 18 Pulitzer, Charlotte 3570 852 4422 19 Spradling, Scott 520 3800 4320 20 Pulitzer, Robert 800 3400 4200
Total players:
9/3/205 - 9/7/25
Woodlawn Big Lobster 6W & 9W
Woodlawn Croquet Program
Ellsworth, Sorrento, & SW Harbor, ME
Perry A Mattson | 207-667-9335 newburyneckshore@gmail.com
9/11/25 - 9/14/25
Osborn Cup 6W
Central Park, NYC
New York, NY
Douglas P Moore | 646-322-1742 douglaspmoore@gmail.com
9/11/25 - 9/14/25
Blue Crab 6W Tournament
Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA
Macey W White | 804-694-9771 maceywhite@gmail.com
9/11/25 - 9/14/25
USCA SE GC Regional
Albemarle Croquet Club
Belvidere, NC
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
9/15/25 - 9/18/25
The Little Rhody 6W
Ocean House
Watch Hill, RI
Patricia K Spratt | 860-227-7297 psprattct@aol.com
9/16/25 - 9/17/25
USCA Association Laws School
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
9/18/25 - 9/21/25
USCA GC Eights
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
9/19/25 - 9/19/25
Heritage Classic
Sandwich Croquet Club
East Sandwich, MA
Robert Kroeger | 617-413-3316 Bobkroeger@aol.com
9/20/25 - 9/21/25
2025 Merion Cricket Cub 6W & GC Invitational
Merion Cricket Club
Haverford, PA
Whitney Thain | 610-642-5800 wthain@merioncricket.com
9/24/25 - 9/24/25
Palm Beach County Special Olympics
National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL
John Bannister | 561-339-2081 johnbannister1977@gmail.com
9/24/25 - 9/28/25
Pinehurst Invitational 6W
Pinehurst Country Club
Pinehurst, NC
Elaine Moody | 910-986-3164 halliburton_2@msn.com
October 2025
10/1/25 - 11/30/25
Autumn Leaves GC Challenge
Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA
Macey W White | 804-694-9771 maceywhite@gmail.com
10/2/25 - 10/5/25
USCA Selection Eights AC
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
10/7/25 - 10/8/25
USCA GC School
National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
10/9/25 - 10/12/25
2025 North American Open AC-GC Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA
Macey W White | 804-694-9771 maceywhite@gmail.com
10/14/25 - 10/16/25
WCF Association Laws World Qualifier
National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL
Jeff Soo | 919-419-3165 jeff@ipsedixit.net
10/14/25 - 10/16/25
WGCA Women’s Doubles Open Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC
Cheryl Bromley | 954-242-8601 bromleycroquet@gmail.com
561-351-5704
cheryl.l.harders@gmail.com
10/31/25 - 11/2/25
Green Boundary Club Invitational
Green Boundary Club
Aiken, SC
Marc Blumberg | 404-229-7052 ppimab@aol.com
November 2025
11/5/25 - 11/9/25
USCA Seniors Masters 6W
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
11/14/25 - 11/16/25
The Shark Tooth Open GC
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com
11/16/25 - 11/22/25
USCA 6W National Championship
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, CA
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
11/20/25 - 11/23/25
USCA GC Seniors/Masters
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
December 2025
12/2/25 - 12/6/25
US Open AC
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, CA
Doug Grimsley | 703-591-0813 dgrimsley37@aol.com
12/2/25 - 12/3/25
USCA GC School
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
10/16/25 - 10/19/25
Houston Invitational A6W Memorial Park Houston, TX
Paul Chan | 713-864-1120 chanpaul@swbell.net
10/18/25 - 10/26/25
2025 WCF Association Laws World Championship
National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL
Jeff Soo | 919-419-3165 jeff@ipsedixit.net
10/24/25 - 10/26/5
Paradise Coast A6W Invitational Wyndemere Country Club Naples, FL
Jennifer Joseph | 614-288-6098 jandjoseph@aol.com
10/28/25 - 10/30/25
USCA American 6W School
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
12/5/25 - 12/7/25
USCA GC Club Teams
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
12/12/25 - 12/14/25
Seahorse GC Tournament
The Beach Club Palm Beach, FL Jane Casey | 203-570-1866 rjntkc@gmail.com
12/12/25 - 12/14/25
The Holiday Classic
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com
1/10/26 - 1/11/26
NCC Club A6W Singles
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 medstone100@me.com
1/14/26 - 1/15/26
Handicap Adjuster
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
1/15/26 - 1/18/26
Women’s Annual GC Open
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
Priscilla M Flowers | 828-421-3543 pmflowers375@gmail.com
1/22/26 - 1/25/26
The Jones Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
1/28/26 - 2/1/206
Beach Club Invitational
The Beach Club
Palm Beach, FL
Jane Casey | 203-570-1866 rjntkc@gmail.com
February 2026
2/9/26 - 2/9/26
US Open GC Pro-Am
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
2/10/26 - 2/14/26
US Open GC
National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL Billy J Simmons | 908-625-9189 billyjoesimmonsjr@comcast.net
2/20/26 - 2/22/26
The GC Shootout
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
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2/26/26 - 2/28/26
SCCC Club A6W Doubles Championship
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
March 2026
3/13/26 - 3/15/26
SCCC Club A6W Singles Championship
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
3/13/26 - 3/15/26
USCA Croquet Week GC Tournament
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
3/19/26 - 3/22/26
USCA Club Teams 6W
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
3/27/26 - 3/29/26
SCCC Club AC Singles Championship
Sarasota County Croquet Club
Venice, FL
Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
April 2026
4/11/26 - 4/12/26
NCC Club GC Singles
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 medstone100@me.com
4/12/26 - 4/18/26
USCA Association Laws National Championship
Sarasota County Croquet Club
Venice, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
May 2026
5/21/26 - 5/24/26
Blue Crab A6W Tournament
Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA
Macey W White maceywhite@gmail.com
September 2026
9/13/26 - 9/19/26
USCA Golf Croquet National Championship
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
October 2026
10/4/26 - 10/10/26
USCA 6W Nationals
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
10/24/26 - 10/27/26
USCA Selection 8s
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
November 2026
11/4/26 - 11/8/26
USCA Seniors & Masters
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
11/13/26 - 11/15/26
The GC Shark Tooth Open
Sarasota County Croquet Club
Venice, FL
Douglas A Ledgett | 910-367-9927 ledgett@bellsouth.net
11/19/26 - 11/22/26
USCA Seniors & Masters GC
National Croquet Center
West Palm Beach, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
December 2026
12/3/26 - 12/6/26
USCA GC Club Teams
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
USCA Tournaments | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com
12/11/26 - 12/13/26
The Holiday Classic
Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL
Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com
Our schools are taught by top USCA-certified instructors who are qualified and experienced players selected by our staff because of their croquet expertise and ability to communicate to those who wish to learn to play the game correctly. Students will have the opportunity to play croquet in a structured environment. Classes are small (8:1 or less student-to-teacher ratio) and are tailored to the specific playing levels of the participants.
AMERICAN 6W (3 days)
October 28-30, 2025
GOLF CROQUET (2 days)
October 7-8, 2025 Dec 2-3, 2025 ASSOCIATION (2 days) September 16-17, 2025
5 hours/day of on-court instruction
Use of equipment
Official Rulebook (New A6W or GC members
USCA Shot-making Manual (1st time A6W)
