2020 Croquet News Volume 1

2020 Volume 1

CroquetNews The Official Magazine

R E M E M B E R I NG

FRED JONES

of the United States Croquet Association

Made in Australia

THE PFC HOOP MAKER ZELATRON STRIKING FACE MALLET Today’s technology has enabled the manufacture of the ZELATRON striking face mallet using a compound formulated by a croquet playing chemical engineer early in 2018.

Being a little ‘softer’ than other striking faces it ‘grips’ the ball better enabling more predictable rolls, passing rolls and rushes in Six Wicket American and more predictable distance strokes and jumps in GC Croquet.

AND With SHOCK ABSORBING TECHNOLOGY – to make each stroke more of a pleasure.

With IMPACT SENSITIVITY – to give you maximum feel in each stroke.

With SWEET SPOT IMPACT SOUND – to tell you have hit the ball in the centre of the mallet,

your croquet game will reach a new level of pleasure.

All these features are possible only using UNIQUE ALLOYS, UNIQUE STRIKING FACES and our patented INTERNAL DESIGN, made on a quarter of a million-dollar machine to within 1,000th of an inch tolerance, to give you the possibility of far greater control over your game

9 5/8 STANDARD

11” COMPETITION

Both mallets are available weighing 2lbs. 6ozs or 2lbs. 14.9ozs. (with a 36” handle) For folk with Arthritis or problematic hands, arms, shoulders or backs we strongly recommend you consider the lighter mallet. The really are wonderful solution for these problems.

All PFC Mallets are finely engineered using weather and moisture impervious Alloys so they come with a 5-year parts and labour guarantee (grips excluded) For more details please visit our web site www.croquetmalletmetal.com

The National Croquet Centre has stock so please contact Vickie Johnston: TEL 561 478 2300

CroquetNews 2020 Volume 1

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

Departments 03 | Courtside with Sara Low 04 | The Clubhouse 07 | Who Am I? 29 | Let’s Talk Tactics 30 | GC America 31 | 9W Roundup 38 | 2019 Grand Prix Update 40 | Events Calendar 42 | New Membership

On The Cover:

Photo of Fred Jones taken by Johnny Mitchell.

Publisher:

Dylan Goodwin | uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com

Managing Editor: Julie Jantzer-Ward

Editor:

Darin Watson

Art Director

Brandy Ferguson

Inquiries

Please submit all inquiries and stories to uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com.

Text should be submitted as a Microsoft Word file and photos need to be FULL resolution (300 dpi).

All content may be edited for length and photos will be adjusted appropriately. Croquet News is produced four times per year and is distributed as a benefit to USCA membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USCA.

courtside

Remembering Fred Jones As evidenced by the cover of this magazine and the required scramble to alter plans, the news of the passing of Fred Jones hit the croquet community hard.

A legendary figure in our world, Fred touched us all in so many different ways.

He played the game well. He taught skills and rules well. He ran tournaments.

He was the USCA Handicap Chair. He was inducted into the US Croquet Hall of Fame. His wife, Jackie, is a top croquet player, instructor and innovator.

Basically, Fred did everything croquet very well. And he left us in the best way possible – after a croquet clinic and game.

Whether one met him in person or knew him from afar, every member of the USCA was touched by Fred Jones. I first met Fred 24 years ago when I travelled from New York City to Newport, R.I., for one of his tournaments, which was my first American 6-Wicket Tournament away from the comfort of my home croquet club. I registered to play only in the doubles format as I was not sure of all the rules of the game and had not played a singles match. I needed a partner to tell me what to do at every step. Fortunately, I thought, this was a tournament for beginners so everyone would understand.

I was wrong about the players being exclusively beginners.

The Tournament Director, Fred Jones, had signed me up for both doubles and singles formats, explaining that this would make for a good learning experience.

At the cocktail party on the evening before the event, he told me what he had done. I vowed to myself that I would not cry and then spent the night watching the only Bob and Ted video I owned.

I think I lost all of my games, but don’t really remember this. I remember playing in a croquet tournament, a little bit of a couple games, my doubles partner, the evening parties and Fred checking on me regularly – not because I was a rank beginner, but because I was a tournament player. He checked on everyone… always. He was a dedicated commander in croquet. Fred loved the game and cared about his players. Because of Fred, many people have tried playing or competing in croquet and most have continued with the sport. I know I did.

Loved and appreciated, Fred Jones made a significant mark on croquet: the game, the players, the leadership and its history. Thank you, Fred.

Sara Low

USCA President | president@uscroquet.com

© 2020 United States Croquet Association croquetamerica.com | 3

TheClubhouse USA WOMEN PLAY IRELAND Danny Huneycutt had a dream for a US team of ladies to compete in croquet in an international challenge with other women from around the world. At the request of Mary Rodeberg, a player from Palm Springs, Calif., Huneycutt held his first AC Boot Camp in 2017 with a select group of women and began to teach them the international game. Interest in the AC game grew among these women who were dubbed “Danny’s Dames,” and it inspired others to get on board. With the help of Jodie Rugart as Team Captain, Huneycutt’s dream was realized this August when his team of 11, comprised of women from New York to Florida to California, traveled to Ireland to compete in the Croquet Championships of Ireland at the Carrickmines Croquet & Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland.

Croquet in Ireland has been recorded as early as 1838 and the first championship held at Carrickmines was in 1911.

The "team" shows their appreciation for Danny Huneycutt

The group from the USA that competed in the Irish Championships included 11 women (Jeanne Branthover, Bev Cardo, Loretta Cooper, Vickie Johnston, Dawn Jupin, Toni Kemp, Sandy Knuth, Mary Rodeberg, Jodie Rugart, Lynda Sudderberg, Val Terry) and four men (Randy Cardo, Tom Cooper, Danny Huneycutt, Rich Schiller). It was an exceptional week of challenging games and the extended hours of daylight (sunset at 9:15 p.m.) enabled games to continue from morning to night with quick bites of lunch in between and, of course, the four o’clock tea. The lawns rolled perfectly and the sun came out most days, as did the wind and the rain. The days were long and exacted the best level of croquet from each of the players. Those Americans who placed among the finishers were: • Handicap Doubles Finalists: Randy Cardo (NY, FL) and Tony Allwright (Ireland) (defeated by Andrew Johnston, Daniel Herlihy)

BURRIDGE IS NEW WCF PRESIDENT Ian Burridge of Wales won the recent World Croquet Federation (WCF) election for the position of WCF President and will serve from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2023. Burridge received 42 votes over 18 votes for Australia’s Mike Cohn to win the election. The WCF reported that 60 of a possible 62 votes were cast.

Samir Patel, Harold Denton and Amir Ramsis were elected to the serve on the WCF Management Committee for the same time period. Of 186 possible votes, 158 were cast in the management committee election. The voting totals are as follows: • Samir Patel (England) 44 votes

• Silver Salver Cup Winner: Vickie Johnston (NY, FL)

• Harold Denton (USA) 41 votes

• Green Cup Winner: Rich Schiller (MI)

• Amir Ramsis (Egypt) 37 votes

• Green Cup Finalist: Bev Cardo (NY, FL)

• Begona Elzaburu (Spain) 36 votes

• Championship Doubles Finalists: Danny Huneycutt (NC) and Andrew Johnston (Ireland), (defeated by Alison and David Maugham, England)

4 | croquetamerica.com

USCA Management Committee ________________________ President Sara Low president@uscroquet.com First Vice President Damon Bidencope firstvp@uscroquet.com Second Vice President Don Oakley secondvp@uscroquet.com Treasurer David Isaacs treasurer@uscroquet.com Secretary Carla Rueck secretary@uscroquet.com

US players enjoy the nightlife in Dublin

Following the week-long Irish Championships, a two-day competition took place between the American women’s team and the Irish women’s team. The tournament consisted of 31 handicapped games, including both singles and doubles matches. The USA had an overwhelming victory over Ireland with a 24-7 record. It was an inspiring experience for all, with outstanding croquet and team camaraderie at its best. Per Jodie Rugart, “We laughed, we cried, we learned, we drank, we cheered, we explored, we lived croquet . . . and then some!”

The women’s team returned to the US on a high with a greater understanding of the AC game and an appreciation for what was learned from our Irish friends. The best take-away, and one that was agreed should be instituted back in the States, is that winners always buy their opponents a drink after each individual match. It is common for others to follow along and a party ensues at the bar . . . that is, until your next scheduled match.

United States Croquet Association (USCA) 700 Florida Mango Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406 Tel. (561) 478-0760 Fax (561) 686-5507 Email: usca@msn.com Website: www.croquetamerica.com ________________________ REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS Florida Gene Raymond (919) 612-3366 floridarvp@uscroquet.com Mid-Atlantic Timothy Rapuano (201) 887-0787 midatlanticrvp@uscroquet.com Midwest Russell S. Dilley (317) 903-6852 midwestrvp@uscroquet.com Northeast Patricia Spratt (860) 227-7297 northeastrvp@uscroquet.com Southeast Macey White (804) 832-2824 southeastrvp@uscroquet.com Western Rory Kelley (602) 686-3941 westernrvp@uscroquet.com ________________________ USCA STAFF Membership Coordinator Ursula Peck membership@uscroquet.com

US women players

Tournament & Schools Johnny Mitchell tournament@uscroquet.com www.CroquetAmerica.com croquetamerica.com | 5

theclubhouse

NEW PRO CROQUET TOUR: PCA What do you get when you have a group of top players sitting courtside at a recent Nationals in lovely Palm Springs, asking themselves, “what’s next? What else can we do for this fascinating sport of ours?” You get the Professional Croquet Association (PCA) and ideas for a series of events called the “PCA Tour.”

Knowing that the PCA would be a complement to the USCA rather than a competitor, its primary goals include the development of exciting, newsworthy, sponsored events in competitive croquet, and to create an opportunity for competitors to earn money playing the game.

In fact, the goals of the PCA go well beyond the monetary aspects including increasing the competitiveness of American players, raising awareness of the sport by developing events that are highly publicized and sponsored and helping host clubs drive new membership by drawing prospective players from the community to view top-level play.

According to PCA board member Macey White, “these tour events will be different from the average croquet tournament. For most of the PCA Tour events there will be live-streaming of games, a media presence and players who will not be wearing all white but colors representing their sponsorships or other affiliations. The games will be announced and open for the media and spectators who will be encouraged to applaud great play.”

Players are selected for the tour based on their performances in regional and national USCA competitions and a full list of all tour-eligible players can be found on the PCA website https://professionalcroquetassociation.com/. In addition to these tour-eligible players, each club that hosts a PCA Tour event will be given four wild card spots in that tournament to be distributed at that club’s discretion.

All competitors in these tournaments will receive prize money. The winner will receive half of the purse, second place will receive half of what the winner receives, third place will receive half of what the second place receives and so on right down to the last-place finisher.

Purse money is a combination of endorsements, sponsorship money and a portion of the entry fees. The purse for the first two events is guaranteed to be at least $2,000 each and the purse will increase by $100 for every player who enters the tournament over 20 entries and will increase with sponsorship, endorsement and advertising revenue.

PCA

In addition to prize money, each toureligible player who participates in a tour event will receive a PCA Tour Card that they can wear on their clothing.

The PCA is advised by a who’s who of top US players who include Danny Huneycutt, Sherif Abdelwahab, Randy Cardo, Mohammad Kamal, Steven Morgan, Brian Cumming, Doug Grimsley and Leo McBride. The PCA organizational officers, who have agreed not to take financial compensation, are Macey White, Tom Cooper, Russ Dilley, Conner Helms and Shane Hettler.

The full details of the 2020 tour are still being formulated, however the first two tour events scheduled are an American 6-Wicket PCA Tour event at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club on May 1-3 and an Association Croquet PCA Tour event at Pinehurst on June 26-28. A 2020 Golf Croquet Tour event is also in the planning stages.

The PCA is accepting sponsorships and advertising.

Most of the advertising and sponsorship money will go into the tour event purse and some will help defray PCA event operating and advertising costs.

Businesses or individuals who want to help sponsor or advertise through the PCA Pro Tour have several sponsorship package options. Depending on the package, sponsors can have advertising placed in the tour printed programs, signage at the events and even have tournaments or the entire tour named after them.

The PCA Tour, with broad support and a viewpoint of expanding the sport, promises to help promote Croquet with exciting streamed events, increased media attention and top-level players battling it out on the courts. It should be a great show for the participants and spectators alike.

PCA supporters show off their banner and donation check.

6 | croquetamerica.com

WHO AM I? I got my start in croquet playing the 9-wicket game with my grandmother in her chicken yard in the deep south. Her cruelty in beating me every time hurt my sixyear-old feelings.

As an adult in Manhattan in the early ‘70s, I and all my colleagues were fired one gloomy morning in May, when the company was sold.

We didn’t know what to do. So, I borrowed a couple of backyard sets from my consultant at NYU, and after lunch we all went to Central Park to play croquet. Our game was televised on the six o’clock news.

?

?

After I moved to San Francisco, I met a future US Croquet Hall-ofFamer in a party at my flat in the Haight-Ashbury. We co-invented “guerrilla croquet” and played it regularly with our group.

In San Francisco, working for Werner Erhard, founder of est, was one of the best work experiences I ever had. Erhard was fond of advising, “Create your future from your future, not your past.” I designed a business card around that idea, listing my various interests: writer/editor; group travel consultant; entrepreneur; libertarian; tenor; croquet player; and yes, bon vivant; at the end was an empty box to be filled in with “future possibilities.”

My first experience with the sport of croquet was a visit to the fledgling San Francisco Croquet Club (SFCC) in the early 1980s.

I thought the membership fee was high for that one bumpy court, but my guerilla croquet friend talked me into joining.

I became a respectable player and occasionally beat some elite-level players. But most of my croquet fame comes from organizing and promoting the sport and my prodigious output as a croquet journalist.

Along the way, I ruffled some feathers. I was once famously referred to by USCA founder Jack Osborn as a “Western Killer.”

One of my proudest achievements was developing the first two-court croquet club in a public park—a distinction that stood for more than a decade.

I later moved to West Palm Beach, Fla., where I continued my involvement in croquet along with writing and performing poetry and playing piano.

I’ve come a long way in my croquet journey, from an Alabama chicken yard to New York to San Francisco and now South Florida. My attitude toward croquet has matured. As a croquet evangelist, I preach that croquet really is the cruelest of sports, and slowly killing your opponent, shot by shot, is the fun of the thing. And there doesn’t need to be guilt attached because after the game, everyone instantly resurrects.

Can you guess, Who am I?

ORDER THE GEAR The NCC Pro Shop is now offering the Team USA croquet gear to supporters. It is embroidered with the USCA CROQUET logo and 100% of all USCA profits on this gear will go to benefit the Lee Olsen Fund. The options include shirts, ball caps, sun hats and rain gear. This is a wonderful way to show your support for our international teams and players. To order, contact Vickie Johnson (561-478-2300) at the NCC Pro Shop.

Visit croquetamerica.com for more news.

croquetamerica.com | 7

NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER PRO SHOP

NOLAW BLE :

AVAI am USA Te r! a Logo Ge

Whites

Brights

Gifts

Mallets

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

PASSAGES Arnhilt Buelte

Piping Rock Club

Pat Garner

Tulsa Croquet Club

Thomas Gilbert

Huston Huffman

Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club

Fred W. Jones

Sarasota County Croquet Club; Hall of Fame

Patricia Lloyd

Mary Louise Whitmarsh

William Prentice

Walter L. Williams

National Croquet Club

CroqCan

Piping Rock Club

Houston Croquet Association

Lenox Croquet Club

“WHO AM I?” ANSWER I am . . . Bob Alman.

Alman teaches the National Croquet Center’s (NCC) Public Introduction to Croquet every Saturday and still tells novices that the intrinsic cruelty of the game comes from its relatively slow pace.

That’s why he often describes it as “the ultimate social callisthenic.”

His first real job was as an editor for a small and prestigious publishing firm in Manhattan. One May morning, the owner announced that the company had been sold, it was moving to Boston and almost everyone (including Alman) was fired. He suggested they play croquet in Central Park, where a local TV reporter saw the group and decided to film them for a one-minute story on the local evening news.

Freelancing in Manhattan was no fun, so Alman moved to San Francisco, where he knew his free-spirit would be appreciated. He worked for Werner Erhard in San Francisco as a writer with future Hall-of-Famer Mike Orgill on a book project. Being on that staff and in that environment for several years helped to shape Alman’s future life.

In their spare time, Alman and Orgill also collaborated on croquet.

Not yet aware of the USCA, they created guerrilla croquet, in which a group of people wearing all white played croquet in places they did not belong: the historic Spreckles Mansion, a military base parade ground and the Hewlett-Packard headquarters.

Orgill later asked Alman to join him for a visit to the SFCC in the early 1980s. They both were hooked on the more sophisticated version of the game. Alman became heavily involved in the administration of the SFCC, including his master-stroke of negotiating with the City Parks and Recreation Department to allow the club to build two entirely new courts, which were only a couple of hundred yards from the old court. The SFCC became the first two-court croquet club within a public park and the only such one for the next 10 years.

To help other croquet groups navigate the difficulties of starting clubs, Alman wrote the three-volume “Monograph Series” for the Croquet Foundation of America, with the support of his longtime patron, Ellery McClatchy, who also financed the design and

development of the USCA website and Croquet World Online Magazine. At the age of 80, Alman still manages Croquet World, waiting for a successor editor to show up.

USCA founder Jack Osborn grew to believe that Alman and the SFCC, despite the club’s enormous influence and popular annual Open, were a menace to the sport, and labeled him and the players in the West agitating for the play of Association Croquet, “Western Killers.”

Alman later moved to South Florida, where he has continued promoting croquet. Chuck Steuber hired Alman to organize, develop and manage the new NCC—beginning in mid-1999 and ending in the first of many financial crises in the middle of 2003.

Alman’s local publicity for the NCC was enough to have him voted Broward-Palm Beach’s “Best Croquet Evangelist” in 2004.

For more details on Alman’s life and achievements, see his memoirs, which were written by him but in the third-person. Part I is at www.croquetworld.com/People/alman-memoir1.asp. Part II is at www.croquetworld.com/People/alman-memoir2.asp. Parts III and IV are on the way.

croquetamerica.com | 9

Alfred W. “Fred” Jones 1927–2019

F

By Webster Bull

Fred Jones didn’t run four-ball breaks usually.

His three-ball was so precise, so deadly, that “why bother?” A master of the American 6-wicket game, Fred said that carrying a fourth ball around the lawn only increased the risk-reward ratio. If you broke down, worse news. Except that Fred never broke down. Not against this writer, anyway.

Last winter, the co-founder of the largest public croquet club in America sidled up to me and, with his customary combination of sass and tenderness, said, “You know, you never beat me.” By then, it was too late for revenge. Going on 92, undergoing dialysis nine hours a night but still vital, Fred played only doubles in competition during his last years. In tournaments they entered together, Fred was happy to let Jackie drive. His wife and co-founder of the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla., Jackie Jones told Fred Jones what to do and Fred Jones did it. Perfectly.

Fred Jones died on November 26, 2019, on an otherwise perfect day for him. He was at the club, taught a clinic in the morning, played a little and presided over the weekly Attitude Adjustment meeting, where he was his usual sharp, witty self. He had dinner at home with his bride of 33 years and died peacefully while watching a movie on TV. At the memorial service the following week, scores of fellow croquet players showed up in white.

Mourning on the inside, they expressed joy and solidarity on the outside, remembering Fred Jones as a championship croquet player, teacher, model and beloved friend.

Alfred W. Jones was born in New Bedford, Mass., and graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Tufts University College of Engineering. He served on active duty in the US Navy during the Korean War, and after 31 years of service, retired from the US Naval Reserve with the rank of Captain. In the Reserves, he had command of a training ship and headed Reserve Mine Division 21. As a civilian, he retired from the Micro Switch Division of Honeywell.

Fred discovered the American game in the 1980s in Newport, R.I. Jackie has the story: Still dating, not married to Jackie yet, Fred played backyard 9-wicket with Jackie’s two sons, who, she says, were constantly changing the rules on Fred. Certain there must be

10 | croquetamerica.com

Photo provided by Johnny Mitchell

a rulebook somewhere, Fred attended a tournament with Jackie at the Newport Casino Croquet Club, where they walked in on Deb Prentis taking on Bob Kroeger, which impressed Jackie as much as Fred. Soon Fred was taking lessons from Kroeger.

Fred, Kroeger said, was a natural: “He had one of the best singleball shots of anyone; he could make roquets like it was going out of style.” Fred became involved helping Foxy Carter, then regional vice-president of the USCA and later its second president. Fred put up a shingle as a croquet pro and began running a popular Labor Day tournament at the Casino Club. In time, Fred would become deeply involved with the USCA and its management, serving on the tournament committee and as chairman of the American-rules handicapping committee.

Photo provided by Nancy Hart

croquetamerica.com | 11

Photo provided by Johnny Mitchell

were kind to all comers, but neither brooked nonsense. For many female croquet players, Jackie Jones has been a role model: feisty and brilliant in competition, gracious in victory or (less often) defeat. Especially in his last years, Fred seemed to be happy letting Jackie lead both on the court and off. But so many players relied on Fred’s encouragement and counsel, and the all-volunteer leadership of the club knew that Fred could be counted on for both direction and quips.

Hans Peterson, president of the club today and Fred’s eulogist at the memorial service, recalled Fred’s leadership:

Photo provided by Nancy Hart

In the 1990s, the Joneses began spending winters in Venice, Fla., while continuing their summer presence in Newport. In Venice, they bought one of the first houses at a development called Waterford, where Fred convinced the developer to build two croquet courts by offering to contribute $10,000 of his own money. When Fred started hosting tournaments on the Waterford courts, he quickly grew tired of player requests not to be paired in doubles with so-and-so. Fred threw up his hands and said that nobody would have an individual doubles partner in the Waterford tournament; everyone would play with everyone else, including that miserable so-and-so. The winner would be the one who the won most games with a variety of partners.

Thus, Fred Jones begat Waterford Doubles.

Fred won many tournaments and spent much of his senior life teaching and promoting the sport he loved. He directed many tournaments in Florida and across the US and Canada. He was inducted into the USCA Hall of Fame, and Jackie followed him three years later.

With Jackie in 2004, Fred partnered with the city of Venice and Sarasota County to put down the first three courts (now six courts) on county land along Pinebrook Road. In the 15 years that followed, Sarasota County Croquet Club rightly honored Fred and Jackie Jones as its founding king and queen. The Joneses

12 | croquetamerica.com

“Fred excelled in helping others enjoy the sport through teaching, coaching, refereeing and directing tournaments.

He was always looking for ways to bring more people to the game and the club. One afternoon, we were sitting around talking about how to better promote our tournaments, and Fred pulled out a blue cloth bag with the club logo on it. He said, ‘Why don’t we get some of these to give out? They’re less than a dollar each.’ We discussed the idea, agreeing that it had potential. To which Fred replied, ‘Good, I bought five hundred of them. Let me know when you need some.’”

One of the great measures of an organization is how it prospers after the passing of its founders. Hopefully, Jackie Jones will be with us for a good many more years, but already her and Fred’s legacy is proven. In late March 2019, the start of Fred’s last spring, the Sarasota County Croquet Club hosted the National Association Croquet Championships, the first national championship to be held on the Venice lawns, but certainly not the last. Most of the best players in the northern hemisphere were on hand to compete.

One and all, they commented on the quality of the lawns, the crisp conduct of the tournament, and the kindness of some of the 200+ members of SCCC who hosted them, served them meals and volunteered to make sure every aspect of the tournament ran smoothly. Under a new generation of leadership, headed by Hans Peterson, the future is bright at Sarasota County.

Thanks to Fred and Jackie Jones, first of all.

Reach Your Target Grand Prix

CroquetN

CroquetNews

s CroquetNew

ews

Winner

rdo

Randy Ca

THE

SKISSILUELS · 24 Quick Croquet Tips · New Nine Wicket Column · Return of GC Strategy · Let's Talk Tactics

The Official

ed States e of the Unit

Magazin

Croquet

on | 201

Associati

8 Volume

1

The Official Magazine of

the United States Croquet

Association | 2018 Volume

2

The Offi cial Ma

gazine

of the

United

States

Croque t Associ

ation |

2017 Vol um

e3

2020 Per Issue Advertising Rates Inside Front Cover (8.5” W x 11” H)...................................$850 Inside Back Cover (8.5” W x 11” H)...................................$850 Full Page (8.5” W x 11” H)................................................$700 Half Horizontal Island (4.875” H x 7.38” W).............................$475 Quarter Page (3.62” W x 4.875” H)...................................$295 One Sixth Page (2.34” W x 4.875” H)................................$150

Upcoming Ad/Copy Deadlines Summer Issue: April 17, 2020

For a full 2019 Croquet News media kit, contact Dylan Goodwin at uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com

2019 USCA Seniors Masters Championships November 20-24, 2019 | National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, Florida

Singles Titles for Sheely, Sullivan at Seniors Masters

A

lways one of the largest and most enjoyable events on the USCA calendar, this year’s Seniors Masters lived up to all expectations. Held over the span of five days, 10 courts were utilized to host the 80 enthusiastic competitors. The weather was amiable throughout and a standard blockto-ladder format was in use. Matches were timed at 75 minutes, the courts were in fine shape and play ran smoothly throughout.

While singles action, except for the Second Flight, divided participants into Senior (6069) and Masters (70 and above) divisions, the three flights of doubles combined players of all ages. In the Second Flight, John Grabow and David Kepner took a victory lap after a well-played victory over Lovejoy Duryea and Sally McGrath, both teams having finished with 4-1 records after Block play. First Flight ended with a minor upset when local favorites Larry McDermott and Dick Scherf overcame the previously undefeated duo of Steven Grassbaugh and John Schoo. Lastly, within the Championship Flight, no one chose to make wagers as the pre-tournament top two seeds faced off in the Finals. When a late charge from Randy Cardo and Bob Chilton failed, Matt Griffith and Rick Sheely went home with top honors.

In the combined Second Flight Singles, Christine Smith found her groove and, after having been seeded seventh after Block play, won her three playoff matches by a total of four points. She eventually outdueled Terry Cassidy in the 14-13 Final. Yen Sullivan, improving with lightening speed, captured

14 | croquetamerica.com

Randy Cardo

the First Flight Seniors over the struggling but resilient Jeff Morrison. Meanwhile, within the First Flight Masters division, Ted Thelin looked much the best with a deliberate 18-5 victory over Bill Sadowski.

The entertaining Championship Seniors Singles Final found bubbly Jodie Rugart, having already defeated Randy Cardo and Matt Griffith, facing off against the steady Rick Sheely. In his methodical fashion, Sheely backed up his 2017 victory by capturing this year’s title, a nice bookend to match his Doubles success.

Dick Sullivan, in the Masters portion of the Flight, also found an enthusiastic opponent, Ken Scoggins, in the Finals.

And, again, slow and deliberate tactics prevailed, Sullivan joining his wife as a 2019 Singles winner. Larry McDermott was honored as the “Grand-Master” for displaying the best performance by a player above the age of 80.

The Seniors Masters, as always, brought with it a great sense of camaraderie throughout. Play was competitive, but the social affairs may have been the most enjoyable portion of the tournament.

Thanks go out to the USCA staff for the hard work and to Sandy James for the wonderful food and festivities. I am certain everyone is already looking for next year’s event!

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT SENIORS SINGLES

FIRST FLIGHT MASTERS SINGLES

01. Rick Sheely

02. Bill Sadowski

02. Jodie Rugart 03. Ron Huxtable 03. Matt Griffith 05. Randy Cardo 05. Bob Hafner 05. Kevin Hansley 05. Lynda Sudderberg Rick Sheely: Seniors Championship Singles Winner

09. Colin Irwin 09. Linda Huxtable 09. Missy Ramey 12. Kevin McQuigg CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT MASTERS SINGLES 01. Dick Sullivan 02. Ken Scoggins 03. Scott Spradling 03. Bob Chilton

Dick Sullivan: Masters Championship Singles winner

05. David Ekstrom 05. Dick Scherf 05. David McCoy 05. Bill Trower 09. Mike Gibbons 10. Gene Raymond 10. Mary Rodeberg 10. Matt Baird 13. Michael Todorovich 13. John Curington 15. Peter Just 15. Steve Warner

Yen Sullivan: First Flight Seniors Singles Winner

FIRST FLIGHT SENIORS SINGLES 01. Yen Sullivan 02. Jeff Morrison 03. Steve Grassbaugh 03. David Spivey 05. Pat Spratt 05. Mark Ski 07. Ron Millican 08. Nancy Hart 09. Sally McGrath

01. Ted Thelin 03. Ron Eccles 03. John Grabow 05. John Schoo 05. Merle Berkshire 05. Michael Kukla 05. Rita McNamera 09. Martie Ekstrom 09. Clint Fowlkes 09. David Kepner 12. Richard Carlson 12. Betty Whitlow 12. Thomas Tribby 12. Suzanne Spradling 12. Lovejoy Duryea SECOND (COMBINED) FLIGHT SINGLES 01. Christine Smith 02. Terry Cassidy 03. Arlene Stevens 03. Bobbie Duryea 05. Anne Kukla 05. Sam Hansley 05. Charles Reynolds 05. Randy Reid 09. Nanci Hunt 09. Sheila McCauley 11. John McGrath 11. Freer Pollard CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Matt Griffith/Rick Sheely 02. Randy Cardo/Bob Chilton 03. David Ekstrom/Dick Sullivan 03. Bob Hafner/Scott Spradling 05. Ron Huxtable/Linda Huxtable 05. David Spivey/Bill Trower 07. Stewart Jackson/Peter Just 07. Jodie Rugart/Lynda Sudderberg 09. Missy Ramey/Conrad Rugart 09. Mike Gibbons/David McCoy 11. Colin Irwin/Gene Raymond

Ted Thelin: First Flight Masters Singles Winner

11. Matt Baird/Kevin McQuigg

croquetamerica.com | 15

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Larry McDermott/Dick Scherf 02. Steve Grassbaugh/John School 03. Mark Ski/Pat Spratt 03. John Curington/Randy Reid 05. Merle Berkshire/Ted Thelin 05. Nancy Hart/Yen Sullivan 07. Josie Jackson/Jennifer Williams 07. Kevin Hansley/Sam Hansley 07. Beatty Cramer/Jeanette Bair Tribby

Second Flight Singes Champion Christine Smith

07. Ron Eccles/Ron Millican

Rick Sheely and Matt Griffith: Championship Seniors Doubles Winners

11. Richard Carlson/Kevin Moran 11. Clint Fowlkes/Jeff Morrison SECOND FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. John Grabow/David Kepner 02. Lovejoy Duryea/Sally McGrath 03. Martie Ekstrom/Rita McNamera 03. Missy Chilton/Anne Licursi 05. Michael Kukla/Anne Kukla 05. Charles Reynolds/Christine Smith 07. Bill Sadowski/Arlene Stevens 08. Carla Rueck/Suzanne Spradling 08. Sheila McCauley/Freer Pollard 10. Tina Hinkley/Hildegard Jones 10. Bobbie Duryea/John McGrath 12. Peggy Matthews/Jeanette Tribby 12. Bob Williams/Nanci Hunt BEST PREFORMANCE

BY A GRAND-MASTER (80+): Larry McDermott

Missy Chilton

Jodi Rugart

Second Flight Doubles Champions John Grabow and David Kepner

16 | croquetamerica.com

Grand Master Larry McDermott

2019 USCA National American 6-Wicket Championship November 3-9, 2019 | Rancho Mirage, California

Cardo Wins First National Singles Title; Abdelwahab, Morgan Untouchable in Doubles

By Jeff Soo

From left going clockwise: Randy Cardo (photo by Jeff Soo), Noe Jimenez (photo by Beverley Cardo) and Sherif Abdelwahab (photo by Beverley Cardo)

croquetamerica.com | 17

Shane Hettler (photo by Jeff Soo)

Nick Gray and Merle Berkshire (photo by Jeff Soo)

Sherif Abdelwahab and Stephen Morgan finished a clean sweep of the doubles, winning the double-elimination final in a single game, 26-3 over Rich Lamm and Jeff Soo, to cap a run of 10 straight games in which they pegged out for 26 points. Three of those victories were against former champions Lamm and Soo. Abdelwahab and Morgan become the only pair to win USCA national doubles titles in all three versions of the game.

Abdelwahab then met Randy Cardo in the best-of-three singles final. Cardo used a croquet-out to take the initiative in all three games. In Game One, his break ended with a hampered position after 1-back, allowing Abelwahab to attack and take control to close out the game 26-11.

In Game Two, Cardo’s first break ended when he ran 2-back off the court. Again, this gave Abelwahab the opening to attack and take control. He went around with Blue, leaving Black in position at H2, and Cardo missed. But Abdelwahab’s shot through H2 barely cleared the hoop, forcing him to retire. Cardo soon had a break and pegged out Blue with Black for H3. He nearly came to grief by momentarily forgetting that Red was for 3-back, not 4, but realized his error in time to clear the hoop. Still, this gave Abdelwahab a short hit-in and an attempt at a massive rollup to create a match-winning break. But he failed to reach position at H3, allowing Cardo a comfortable finish after regulation time to win 23-15 and level the match.

In the decisive game, Cardo used another aggressive croquet-out to attack. He controlled the entire game, preventing Abdelwahab from ever taking croquet, winning 26-2 and claiming his first national singles title. He adds this to the two American-rules doubles titles he won with Danny Huneycutt in 2015 and 2016.

18 | croquetamerica.com

Abdelwahab has had a most impressive year, winning all three national doubles titles along with the GC singles title.

Neither player had a particularly strong start to the event.

Abdelwahab lost two block games, then lost his first playoff game to Dick Sullivan, knocking him into the losers‘ bracket, AKA “the jungle.” Cardo barely qualified for the playoffs with a 4-3 record.

Abdelwahab then won six straight games to reach the final, including wins over former champions Huneycutt, Doug Grimsley and Soo. Cardo had a shorter but no less difficult path to the final.

His first game was against Morgan, who had been playing the most consistent croquet of the field. He then knocked off Lamm and Grimsley, leading to a double-elimination semifinal against rising star Shane Hettler. Cardo won that game 18-14.

The Championship Singles Plate had excellent participation, with 17 of 22 eligible players taking part. The format was a modified Draw & Process, modeled after the Association Plate used in the British Open. Steve Scalpone had a remarkable run, winning seven straight games and giving him two chances to beat Macey White to claim the Plate. But White survived a scrappy first game, 17-15, and then won the Plate by winning the grand final 26-8.

In First Flight, Steve Grassbaugh took top honors in both singles and doubles (partnered with Yen Sullivan). The singles format was a full block of 11, with only the top two advancing to the final.

Grassbaugh’s only block loss was to Merle Berkshire, by one point.

Grassbaugh returned the favor in the final, beating Berkshire 15-14.

Donna Dixon won the Peyton Ballenger Award for top female singles finish.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT SINGLES 01. Randy Cardo

16. Richard Sheely

02. Sherif Abdelwahab

16. Britt Ruby

03. Jeff Soo

18. Noe Jimenez

03. Shane Hettler

19. Thomas Cooper

05. Doug Grimsley

20. Donna Dixon

05. Rich Lamm

21. Beverley Cardo

07. Simon Jenkins

21. David Ekstrom

07. Stephen Morgan

21. Paul Neubecker

09. Macey White

21. Bob Chilton

10. Steve Scalpone

25. J. Gary Bennett

11. Richard Sullivan

25. Richard Curtis

12. Paul Bennett

25. Peter Bach

13. Danny Huneycutt

28. Lynda Sudderberg

14. Matthew Griffith

28. Steve Mossbrook

15. Arthur Olsen

30. Mary Rodeberg

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Sherif Abdelwahab/Stephen Morgan

01. Stephen Grassbaugh

02. Rich Lamm/Jeff Soo

02. Merle Berkshire

03. Richard Curtis/Doug Grimsley

03. Yen Sullivan

04. Simon Jenkins/Paul Neubecker

03. Carl Archiniaco

05. J. Gary Bennett/Paul Bennett

05. Nicholas Gray

05. Shane Hettler/Noe Jimenez

06. Ellie Griffith

07. Randy Cardo/Danny Huneycutt

06. Martie Ekstrom

07. Matthew Griffith/Richard Sheely

06. Missy Chilton

09. Peter Bach/Steve Scalpone

06. Dale Jordan

10. David Ekstrom/Arthur Olsen

10. Christine Smith

11. Bob Chilton/Britt Ruby

10. Patrick Dugan

Christine Smith (photo by Jeff Soo)

11. Donna Dixon/Richard Sullivan 11. Lynda Sudderberg/Macey White 11. Thomas Cooper/Mary Rodeberg Doug Grimsley (photo by Jeff Soo)

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Stephen Grassbaugh/Yen Sullivan 02. Merle Berkshire/Nicholas Gray 03. Missy Chilton/Martie Ekstrom 04. Ellie Griffith/Christine Smith 04. Carl Archiniaco/Dale Jordan 06. Judy Dahlstrom/Patrick Dugan

Steve Scalpone (photo by Jeff Soo)

croquetamerica.com | 19

LEROY NEIMAN’S

Brush with Croquet Unique images tie one of America’s most well-known impressionist painter to American croquet history

By Jim Bast

20 | croquetamerica.com

croquetamerica.com | 21

Leroy Neiman LeRoy Neiman was an American artist well-known for brilliantly colorful paintings of sports events and musicians. His career took off after he met Hugh Hefner while working as a freelancer in Chicago. Hefner engaged Neiman as an illustrator for Playboy Magazine where he focused on illustrations depicting leisure around the world. He provided images for the Olympics in 1960 and that relationship continued through 1984. He produced art for many of the major sporting events of the world, including Super Bowls, Wimbledon, PGA, the Kentucky Derby and the World Series. He was born in 1921 in St. Paul, Minn., and married Janet Byrne in 1957. After living and working in New York City for most of his career, he passed away in 2012.

Neiman’s Fuller Court painting appeared in the July 1973 issue of Playboy Magazine.

Image of Leroy Neiman provided by Wikimedia Commons/Creative Stuff

W

hen I began playing tournament croquet in 1981, I was not thrilled about the requirement to wear white. Because I had to comply, I had some plus-fours made so I would at least be in a different white. In those days nobody had or wore plus-fours, which are the baggy knickers generally associated with golf. Of course, now they are everywhere.

In 1982, during the National Championship held in Central Park in New York, I was wearing them and noticed during one of my games that my colleague from the Arizona Croquet Club, Stan Patmor, was leaning on the fence chatting with a man nearly the entire game.

22 | croquetamerica.com

Afterward, I asked Stan, “Who were you talking to?” He replied, “Don’t you know who that was? It was LeRoy Neiman.”

“Really? What was he doing here?”

“Sketching you,” says Patmor.

Several years later, I began searching Neiman catalogs in the vain hope that he had developed the sketch into a painting.

However, no painting was found. Then, assuming he never threw anything away, I began a clueless quest to contact his agents, and eventually, his estate (Neiman passed in 2012) to try and verify the sketch existed and to locate it. Frankly, I had given up.

Last year on our spring break trip to New York, my wife Cynthia and I did our usual wandering into random galleries to enjoy the works. The Franklin Bowles Gallery had several Neiman pieces and I told them my story. Their gallery happens to have a relationship with the Neiman Foundation, which supports many worthy causes, especially lesseradvantaged youth in art causes. Their curator was meeting with the Foundation in just a few days. That meeting produced the sketch we were after.

In the faded, camera snapshot that was taken almost certainly on the same day the Neiman sketch was made, you can see Kiley Jones and Jack Osborn on the right.

The recovered LeRoy Neiman sketch.

Jim Bast in play in Central Park in 1982. Photo provided by Bast.

After our find at the Franklin Bowles gallery in New York, I thought to share the image of a Neiman print we had acquired around 2010. Considering that there were few known Neiman images of croquet, I was interested in their feedback.

I did already have some background as I had emailed Ted Prentis right after purchasing the piece. At that time, he had immediately replied that it was Andy Fuller’s court on First Neck Lane in Southampton, N.Y. He also said he was there the day Neiman created the image and met the artist. We knew we almost certainly had an inexpensive reproduction (since verified) and at the time I did not pursue any further information with Prentis. Alas, I now regret that.

Additional research revealed that Andy Fuller was a US Croquet Hall of Fame member and had been an oil man from

Texas and Princeton. He had strong ties to the Bermuda Croquet Club and some of the people I contacted for feedback feel the image bears a connection to that club.

It seems unlikely that anyone shown in the image is still living, but I was wellacquainted with many players from that era. The man at front right resembles Dick Pearman and the distinctive patterned jackets he was known to wear with his whites. The man at the back right resembles John Young, ascot and all, and his grandson, John Young III, concurs that it could be his grandfather. The beautiful, seated woman with a poodle is intriguing, as is the man smoking a pipe while playing in non-whites.

Soon, the Franklin Bowles gallery discovered and relayed further information. The painting first appeared in the July 1973 issue of Playboy Magazine

as part of a six-page piece by Neiman called “Summer of ‘72.” The article features a series of “Quick sketches…” of leisure time in the Hamptons. And the notation under the croquet image in the magazine clearly identifies it as the Fuller Estate in Southampton.

For me, 1972 would fit the puzzle nicely.

Prentis would have been 23 or 24, extremely involved with croquet, and working on Wall Street, quite possibly for Al Heath. That, of course, predates the formation of the USCA, but the seeds were sprouting already, and Bermuda Croquet Club was one of the original USCA clubs.

Efforts are underway to locate the original art, if it still exists. Meanwhile, if anyone thinks they have clues about the history or content of this piece, please contact the Croquet News at uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com. croquetamerica.com | 23

clubprofile

Sky Valley Croquet Club Year founded: 2018

Type of grass: A-1 Bent grass.

Interestingly enough, we had a meeting in 2017 with about 40 people attending, and by the end of it, we had enough money pledged to build our lawns. After architectural plans were drawn, construction began soon after.

Number of members: 130

Overview of club schedule: Our season starts off with a big party in the beginning of June, followed immediately by twice weekly Wine and Wickets Social Croquet, plus Men’s Play and Ladies’ Play once a week each. We have our closing party mid-October, but our lawns are open all year, weather permitting. We play in 6-7 InterClub matches each year, we have a three-day Club Championship each year and we participate in the Mountain Challenge, a 2-3 day tournament between 11 clubs in the mountain area.

Number of courts: Three 3/4 courts or they can be made into one regulation and one half size.

Open tournaments: We don’t have anything like that, but it’s a good idea and something for us to think about in the future.

Location: Sky Valley, Ga.

24 | croquetamerica.com

Scoggins also conducts clinics on Strategy, Croquet 101 for new members and Skills Clinics.

Approach to growing membership: We feel our social activities attract a lot of attention to club members who didn’t join croquet right away. We also have a mentoring program where croquet board members “adopt” new players and meet them on the lawn to play a few games.

We offer Introduction to Croquet, led

by Ken Scoggins, for anyone who thinks they might be interested in trying out the game before they commit to joining.

And everyone is so friendly and welcoming, most nights after playing croquet, a few dozen players will head over to the clubhouse for a cocktail and/ or to have some dinner on the patio.

Are USCA members welcome? Yes welcome! No fees to play. Please contact our Pro Shop at 706 846-5303 to reserve a lawn.

Website: We don’t have one specific to croquet.

Do you use social media? We use Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/219006645379756/ What makes this club special? We have great involvement from our members:

Every Wednesday and Friday from June until the end of October we have Wine and Wickets Social Croquet.

Once a month during the season we have big parties after Wednesday’s Wine and Wickets.

Last year, we had Croquet Olé, a Mexican-themed dinner and party, a Croquet Beach Party complete with a giant lit-up surfboard, our Club Manager dressed as a lifeguard, beach umbrellas in sand buckets and seashell table decor, plus a DJ, buffet dinner and dancing. Our End-of-the-Year Party was a buffet dinner served under the pavilion at the croquet lawn. We had fun contests on the lawn and awards were given. Some awards were serious, such as “Most Improved” while others were funny, like “Most Likely to Play in the Wrong Direction” and “Spends the Most Time at the Bar.” We even had a Tailgate Croquet night where you wore your favorite football team’s colors and ate true tailgate food.

Ken Scoggins, our Director of Croquet, starts off every Wine and Wickets with a mini-lesson for us to work on while we’re playing.

Best restaurants to visit in the area? Three miles down the mountain is Julep Farm, a great place for lunch, dinner and/or a cocktail, plus a great coffee bar and snacks. A few miles past that is Clayton, Ga., which has Fortify and Universal Joint.

Ten miles up the mountain is Highlands, N.C., which has a plethora of great places to eat, including Old Edwards Inn, Meritage and Wild Thyme.

Best places to stay? Julep Farm rents beautifully-appointed Tiny Home Cottages. Old Edwards Inn is an award-winning hotel.

There’s also 200 Main and The Park on Main in Highlands.

Clayton, a 15-minute drive, boasts the Beechwood Inn with a charming coffee shop attached.

Other than the club, what do you have to go see in Sky Valley? Sky Valley has one of the top public golf courses in the country.

We have a beautiful waterfall hike that is an easy stroll. Just outside of the neighborhood, there are too many hiking places to count, from easy to strenuous, many ending with a beautiful waterfall or a stunning Mountain View. Or sitting on the deck of a rental cabin in Sky Valley looking at long range mountain views is something hard to beat. Most every visitor spends time shopping in Highlands and/or Clayton, and Sky Valley is conveniently situated right in the middle of those two towns, about 10 miles either way.

croquetamerica.com | 25

memberprofile

26 | croquetamerica.com

Don Oakley Age: 62 Home base: Brighton, Ontario, Canada Home club: Brighton Lawnbowling & Croquet Club Grip: Standard; Mallet (manufacturer, head size/weight, shaft length):; Oakley Woods Croquet Predator 38-1/2” tall, 11” head, 2lb - 9oz, straight shaft Years playing croquet: 27 years Can you tell us about Oakley Woods and how you got started in the mallet business?

In 1991, a friend asked me to replace some tired, old backyard mallets. Building them from plans in a woodworking magazine, I had no idea of this ‘other world’ of croquet outside the backyard.

The mallets attracted the attention of a couple of local croquet players who commissioned me to make two ‘tournament’ mallets.

As a result of making those mallets, I met Bill Langstroth, founding president of Croquet Canada. It was with his help that I developed our Brighton mallet. From that modest beginning, people began asking for balls, hoops, clips and other related items. I started spending more time at tournaments, meeting more players and listening to what they wanted in mallets. The increased mallet sales quickly lead to hiring extra help. Over the next 25 years of customer feedback, product development and circumstance lead to the full range of croquet equipment we have now. With many of the top players in America using our mallets, I couldn’t have imagined then what our team is doing today at Oakley Woods Croquet.

What is the key to a top-quality mallet?

The first thing is to get the height, weight and head length right for each player. Higher performance comes from using the right combination of materials to ensure the weight is in the right place in the mallet. For the most part, mallets should be weighted peripherally, that is, mostly toward their striking face. Shaft rigidity is also a very personal choice. While some like more flex, others (like myself ) lean toward a more rigid handle. The use of carbon fiber in the handle has allowed us the ability to provide that choice. A further benefit is a lower center of gravity.

What is your key challenge in dealing with croquet customers?

I thrive on feedback. Communication is critical to know what we’re doing right and where we can improve. Sometimes I’ve discovered a player is no longer using our mallet. It’s important to learn why.

Often, we could have fixed the problem, like swapping out the handle for one with the right height or rigidity. If a player decides on another mallet maker’s design, I like to know what drew them to it. Although it’s easier to work with the player on the court to fit them properly, the process can be talked through by phone as well.

It just takes a bit more time to get it right.

Favorite part about working with croquet players?

There is a wonderful satisfaction in seeing the looks on players’ faces when we put the right mallet in their hands. They surprise themselves by making improved shots. I love teaching new players and watching their reactions when they successfully execute new techniques or strategies.

Favorite croquet venue: My wife Diana and I have been visiting croquet clubs for more than 20 years, providing mallets, teaching and “spreading the word.” High on my list are the many retirement communities we visit. There is an enthusiasm for the sport that seems to permeate through their residents. As for a favorite venue, we have been to too many clubs to single out one. They all have their inherit and unique beauty, whether it’s a mountain vista, ocean front view or a comfortable clubhouse setting for après-croquet.

Favorite tournament: This one ends up in a tie for favorite. The Bayfield Croquet Club and the Audubon Club host great tournaments. At both, I valued the well-oiled tournament organizing (Audubon’s by the late Fred Jones), camaraderie of the players, the food and the post-game activities. Many other tournaments are still on my bucket list that come with high recommendations from fellow players. If only my day job didn’t get in the way.

How did you get into the game?

In 1992, Croquet Canada’s founding president, Bill Langstroth, encouraged me to make the trip to Palm Beach Gardens for the 1993 Club Teams. While there, Langstroth and then president of Croquet Canada, Dave Lewis, convinced me that I needed to play to lend credibility to my mallet-making skills. Langstroth provided a solid hour of instruction a week before the event. Lewis helped to secure a place in ‘C’ Flight. I was bitten by the croquet bug after the first game and have loved playing ever since. Over the years, I’ve played American 6-Wicket, Association Rules, Golf Croquet, 9-Wicket (backyard), Ricochet and other variations.

Croquet Highlights/Tourney Wins?

In 2011, Diana and I traveled to Mission Hills, Calif., to play in the US Nationals. It was our first ever trip to California. Along with playing, we re-kindled old friendships, built new ones and tacked on a week of hiking the beautiful surrounding mountains. In 2016, we hiked and kayaked in New Zealand. There, we were surprised to see croquet clubs in almost every small town. With the help of new friends, Jenny and Chris Clarke in Christchurch, I took in some play. It seems that wherever we travel, croquet is the best way to connect with people. I find croquet players are a friendly and easygoing lot.

Do you play other sports?

I am very passionate about my paddling sports. Diana and I have been wilderness paddlers for more than 40 years. It doesn’t matter if it’s canoeing or sea kayaking, just to be on the water and in the wilderness, brings an inner peace. I’ve also been a motorcyclist since I bought my first bike at 15. croquetamerica.com | 27

Favorite sports teams: I can’t say I have a favorite sports team. Watching professional sports isn’t on my “preferred list” of things to do. That said, I have been known to get caught up in the playoff fever around just about any sport.

Pop culture favorites: A small but helpful book is “Golf is not a game of perfect.”

Although it is written as a golf psychology book, its teachings can be directly applied to croquet.

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

The organization has brought the sport to many players around the country. It is also responsible for teaching croquet skills to thousands of players who then go back to their home clubs to share their enthusiasm. The USCA has also brought the international world of croquet (WCF, Golf Croquet, Association Croquet) to America. This has added a great diversity to our sport and shown that we can compete on the international stage.

What is the USCA’s greatest weakness?

We could do much more in marketing toward golf clubs, hotels, retirement communities, schools and backyard players. I don’t feel we make enough strategic use of mass media and social media in promoting our events and the results of our titled events.

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

I’d love to see our sport televised on news and sports reporting, highlighting some major events. If poker can be made interesting enough to televise, then why not croquet?

What have you learned from croquet?

Patience, slow and steady, focus, keep your head down, swing smoothly and follow through.

Focus, keep your head down, swing smoothly and follow through.

Along with that, take some lessons from a professional.

Closing remark: Croquet is a sport run through the volunteerism of many. While serving on the boards of Croquet Canada and the USCA, I’ve seen many enthusiastic players give freely of their time. It is important that we take the opportunity to give back to a sport that gives us so much.

28 | croquetamerica.com

let’stalktactics

Build a Break From a Difficult Position

By Bob Kroeger and John C. Osborn

In this column, we wanted to cover how to build a three-ball-break from a difficult position. Out of curiosity, we wanted to know if it had been covered previously. And it has…in 2005! The text below has been slightly modified.

It’s quite common for the striker to have access to two other balls but have those balls be in awkward positions (not set up in a standard three-ball-break configuration). Diagram 1 shows such a situation with Blue in hand on Black going for the 5th wicket. The problem here is that Red is poorly positioned as a pioneer for #6.

Assuming the striker has good command of croquet shots, it’s quite reasonable to call this a potential three ball break. The solution will be to score the 5th wicket and attain a reverse rush on Black to the southeast (backward and to the right) landing the rush of Black in a position where the peg and Red are not obstacles to send Black to

1-back as a pioneer. Additionally, it is advisable for the striker to try to create an opportunity to use a reliable stop or drive shot to send Black there while attaining a rush on Red to #6. Diagrams 2 - 5 show this, and in Diagram 6, Blue makes a good rush to #6.

Conversely, if the striker does not have good command of croquet shots, it would be best to simply take off from Black to get a rush on Red to #6 or do nothing but shoot out of bounds and out of harm’s way. On the other hand, if Black and Red’s positions were reversed at the beginning of this sequence (Diagram 1), it would make sense for a lesser experienced break player to still try the croquet shot seen in Diagrams 4 and 5 because if the rush was not attained on the ball to get to #6 (here it would be the Black ball), Blue wouldn’t have to take the rush and would only be dead on opponent, remaining alive on partner. Reverse rushes are critical to master to give one more offensive opportunities.

Bob Kroeger’s newly released USCA American Rules 6 Wicket Croquet Strategy Videos Series is available at https://bobcroquet.com/strategy_info.htm. For questions, email Bobkroeger@aol.com.

croquetamerica.com | 29

gcamerica

Hoop Setup: Response Options

By Cheryl Bromley What to Do Against a Player Who Sets Up in a Great First Position at the Hoop Here’s a familiar scenario: You’ve just scored a hoop. Your opponent now has the first shot to the next one and has put the ball in a good position to score. You might think there is nothing you can do, but you may be surprised at the number of options you have.

How many can you think of? Below are eight options, listed in no particular order, worth considering.

• Get in front of the opponent’s ball: hit your ball closer to the hoop than your opponent’s. You might be able to land a block if all goes right. This applies pressure to the opponent’s hoop shot.

• Snuggle up behind the opponent’s ball: rolling up behind the opponent’s ball may prevent he/she from taking a good backswing and may hinder the shot.

• Clear the opponent’s ball: depending on your position and distance, you may be able to shoot and clear or move the opponent’s ball out of a scoring position.

• Go behind the hoop: setting up on the non-scoring side of the hoop is a defensive play that will allow you to clear their ball out on your next turn in the event they get stuck in the jaws. This also works well if you think they might be considering “jawsing” their ball on an odd-numbered hoop.

• Set up for a jump shot: this is another way of putting pressure on your opponent’s hoop shot because he/she will realize that if the shot isn’t hit well, you’ll be jumping over his/her ball on the next one.

• Promote your partner ball: by advancing your partner closer, it will shoot before the first player and can clear it out of the way.

• Look for an opportunity to glance off an opponent ball and go more than halfway: if the other opponent ball is near you and positioned in such a way that you can make contact, you can glance off of it and put yourself in a good position toward the next hoop without being offside. Note: if the first ball doesn’t score on the opponent’s next shot, you will need to get onside with your ball on your next shot.

R "glances" off K to legally go offsides near H6

30 | croquetamerica.com

• Give up and go halfway to the next hoop: use this as a last resort when none of the other options will seem to work.

2020 USCA GOLF CROQUET GRAND PRIX Rank Player Points 01 Sherif Abdelwahab 10435 02 Macey White 6978 03 Danny Huneycutt 6285 04 Jeff Soo 6258 05 Cheryl Bromley 5895 06 Ahab Dincer 5676 07 Stephen Jackson 5384 08 David Maloof 5301 09 Matt Griffith 4855 10 Blake Fields 3966 11 Richard Dell 3600 12 Bo Prillaman 3564 13 Eileen Soo 3329 14 Stephen Morgan 2970 15 Peter Carlin 2969 16 Jimmy Huff 2677 17 Billy Joe Simmons 2639 18 Leo McBride 2582 19 Brian Cumming 2532 20 Donna Dixon 2364 21 Ellie Griffith 2314 22 Priscilla Flowers 2288 23 Gil Flowers 2229 24 Todd Russell 2223 25 Harold Denton 2201 26 Michael Albert 2080 27 Hesham ElZoghby 1919 28 John Osborn 1908 29 Richard Boger 1879 30 Sandra Knuth 1853 31 Helen Covington 1799 32 Justin Fields 1728 33 Ben Rothman 1688 34 Ahmed Alshurafa 1615 35 Randy Cardo 1546 36 Jim Teel 1543 37 Amr Hamdy 1488 38 Clint Dawkins 1433 39 Paul Fecteau 1346 40 Nazmi Nazmi 1332 41 John Priest 1303 42 Helena Jansson 1160 43 Robert Clark 1096 44 Rick Darnell 1087 45 Dave Widdison 983 46 Peggy Fox 977 47 Cody Kittle 969 48 Amr Hamdy 969 49 George Enochs 960 50 Russell Cuccia 878 Updated January 19, 2020

9wroundup

Active Year for 9W Committee

By Paul Bennett Annual report to USCA President Sara Low covering the 9W Committee activities for 2019.

Website I “got elected as committee chair” after I took over the responsibility of editing and overseeing the 9-wicket website for the USCA. Jeff Soo made these pages separate and distinct from the USCA main website. This allows us complete freedom to introduce our own set of articles, rules and tactics sections. We can post pictures, articles and announcements. I received several good ideas from Michael Rumbin and Dylan Goodwin. I have included a couple of historical articles about croquet from the middle 19th century.

Last year, we held one regional in Virginia on the border of the SE and Mid-Atlantic regions. This regional held a clinic to introduce players to the sport of 9-wicket croquet using advanced options, like the 6-wicket USCA version of the game: rotation, deadness and out-game.

The players in this year’s National came from a mixture of existing players and those that started in the regionals earlier in the year.

The turnout this year was twice as good as last year. The lesson learned here is to offer more regional events to introduce players to our sport of croquet and to schedule tournaments well enough in advance to allow players to plan their schedules.

Rules One of these articles mentions the development of “scientific In the 1987-1988 USCA rulebook, the laws of American Six Wicket, croquet” where folks began showing up at cocktail parties with American Nine Wicket and Golf Croquet were all combined into the “custom-made mallets.” The game had evolved into two orthogonal same bound book (50 pages total). Shortly after, these were separated paths: one being based upon its social aspects of enjoying and into individual rule books. Once the WCF formed, it took ownership meeting folks with an excuse to interact in a game of croquet and of Golf Croquet and Association Laws, leaving another being seriously based upon the sport American and 9-wicket to the USCA’s of croquet, its tactics, rules and “scientific” The lesson learned here 6-wicket exclusive domain. refinements. is to offer more regional Under Michael Rumbin’s leadership, the latest set events to introduce play- of 9-wicket rules were adopted in 2016. This set Events As committee chair, I listen to, observe and ers to our sport of croquet of rules encompass a diverse set of options that describe a variety of playing rules from basic to sometimes stir up my own ideas as to why and to schedule tourvery advanced expertise. and what our committee exists to do. One of naments well enough in the largest croquet events in America is the There has been some criticism of the rules as they St. John’s Naval Academy annual 9-wicket advance to allow players stand, but most on the committee believe that Annapolis Cup. It is filled with ceremony, they work well and allow tournament directors to plan their schedules. pomp and tradition. The St. John’s team appropriate options that depend upon the court captain is referred to as the Imperial Wicket. surface and expected player abilities. A few years This tradition has been held for more than 38 ago, some ideas as to how to reword and clarify some rules were years. Their rules, as stated on the website, are handed down from beginning to take hold under committee emails, but nothing the Imperial Wicket to the Wicket in Holding on an informal basis. happened at that time.

Another organization holds corporate events for a group in the Northeast, drawing well over 100 participants. The format was developed with Teddy Prentis to end up with a winner after only a few rounds of play. Many corporate events are held for team building development; others are aimed at raising money for a worthy charity.

A motion to visit a set of rule options that would be mandated by the committee during the play at the Nationals (and possibly regionals) was not seconded and the motion failed to gain any support.

croquetamerica.com | 31

The rules are probably the most viewed section on the website. For good reason, this is the area that attracts the most visitors to the USCA 9-wicket site. A refresh of the rules might generate some additional traffic.

the name allows us to remain attached to the long history of the American game while bridging the gap between golf croquet players and the more challenging skills required in the 6-wicket game.

Name Change

In 2020, we look forward to having four regional tournaments and the Nationals in Louisiana near or on the LSU campus. I would like to see if 9-wicket can re-awaken in our players another way to think about croquet and how to develop it for fun and enjoyment.

An idea was proposed by Bob Kroeger to change the name of the committee, and thus we present this to the Management committee to decide between “USCA Nine Wicket and Long Grass Croquet Committee” or “9-Wicket/Long Grass Croquet.”

I’ve held corporate events at the Wigwam on their grand lawn.

We set up four 6-wicket long-grass courts, and it would be great to acknowledge that the USCA supports this way to introduce the sport of croquet. We set up using the best equipment, mallet and balls. And we always tell them how the English play on wellmanicured putting-green like surfaces. I suspect that this is done by other groups on an occasional basis as well. Why not promote this activity to sports and recreation directors across the country?

Two country clubs are looking to develop 9-wicket croquet on their established lawns as a gateway from golf croquet to learning and developing the basics skills required in our beloved 6-wicket croquet.

“Long grass” in the name allows us to introduce folks to the sport of golf croquet and/or 6-wicket croquet. Having “9-wicket” in

Near Future

Personally, I do not believe that serious “scientific” players should partake in this version of the game, unless their goal is to help develop and groom a new set of players that they intend to introduce to our other USCA games, played on good courts, by exacting rules and in tournament conditions.

Otherwise, I look at 9-wicket and long-grass croquet to connect with the “social” players, the fun-loving group looking away from their iPhones and toward connecting with a charming partner as a team against another couple. The older groups may enjoy some networking time and a reason to raise some money for their cause. Either way, don’t take it too seriously and don’t swing the mallet in anger.

The USCA can help us maintain professionalism, a network for communication and connection to all our member clubs and individuals.

Prize Possessions

Official Trophy Provider of the

Industry Leader in Personalized Awards and Recognition Items

A proud sponsor of the United States Croquet Association In-house state of the art engraving and etching facility Wide variety of inventory to meet any budget Direct one on one contact with our customer service specialists Rush services available

Contact your Account Manager, John Kelly - johnk@prizepossessions.com t: 800-283-1166 | f: 800-762-1729 | 340R Vanderbilt Avenue, Nowood, Massachusetts 02062

32 | croquetamerica.com

eventreports

USCA Florida Golf Croquet Regional January 9-12, 2020 Venice, Florida

By Cheryl Bromley The 7th annual Florida GC Regional was held this year for the first time at the Sarasota County Croquet Club (SCCC) in Venice, Fla., setting a regional record with 50 players participating in singles and doubles. Players traveled from all over Florida as well as from California, Toronto, Atlanta, North Carolina, New Jersey and the Midwest.

Linda Schiesel and Ray Liberti took out Chris and Karen Weihs in a third/fourth playoff match to reach the top three in first flight doubles action.

Day Two saw the start of the singles block matches in all three flights with players battling to secure a top-four spot in their respective blocks to earn a place in the quarterfinal knockouts. At the end of the day, players The Championship Flight Doubles Final ran headed to a catered BBQ dinner to relax and out of daylight after completing just one game enjoy more fantastic southern hospitality. on the first day in a two-out-of-three game match and went the distance taking three days Day Three featured impressive matchups in to complete. In the end, it was Matt Griffith block play and the start of the quarterfinals and Steve Jackson who prevailed with terrific for Championship Flight. The order of finish shooting to take out Macey White and Cheryl in the blocks was based on win/loss records, Bromley 4-7, 7-4, 7-4. then by net points and, if necessary, by head-

Prior to the start of the event, a complimentary strategy and shot-making clinic was held on Wednesday afternoon with 30 local players and event participants. The clinic was taught

by Matt Griffith, Macey White, Ellie Griffith and Cheryl Bromley.

A total of 250 matches were played during the four-day tournament and the dedicated members of the SCCC volunteered their time to make sure all players were well taken care of by providing daily breakfasts, lunches, refreshments and the popular “attitude adjustment” social time every afternoon. Another hard-working crew of volunteers saw to it that all six courts were ready for play as soon as the sun came up.

Day One was all about doubles with matches in Championship and First Flight that included consolation rounds.

Doubles Champions (left to right): Steve Jackson, Matt “Mahomes” Griffith, Cheryl Bromley and Macey White

croquetamerica.com | 33

eventreports to-head results. (All results can be found on www.croquetscores.com.)

all managed to make their way into the semifinals. In Second Flight, Jim Potts, Phil Emond, Jeff Hill and J. Billie Ray also Macey White secured his spot as the top seed notched quarterfinal wins to advance into with an impressive 5-0 record in his block their semifinal showdown. while Jim Teel played stealth-like to get to the top in his block. In the quarterfinals, Teel Potts and Ray ousted their semifinal rivals to continued to connect on his clearing shots to face each other in the Second Flight Finals take out Bromley 7-4, 7-6 while at the same with Jim Potts claiming the regional title time, Colin Irwin was able to get past Gil with a 7-2 victory.

Flowers with identical scores of 7-4, 7-6.

In First Flight, Dell and E. Griffith got to At the top of the bracket, White calmly work taking out their respective opponents disposed of John Warlick, while Amr Hamdy to meet in the final. Dell and Griffith are of Toronto and Matt Griffith of Missouri both rising stars with Dell the current First put on an exhibition of hard-hitting clearing Flight National Doubles title holder and and long-distance hoop shooting. Hamdy Griffith the current First Flight National prevailed in a career-high victory with 7-4, Singles Champion. Dell prevailed with a 5-7, 7-2 to send him into the semifinals. solid 7-4 victory to add the Florida Regional title to his accomplishments.

Heading into the last day, early morning block matches still needed to be completed In Championship Flight, Steve Jackson in First Flight and Second Flight, and it was captured the Plate title with a win in the uncertain at that point which players would playoffs against Steve Thurston. advance into the knockouts. But, after some impressive play and careful calculations, the In the semifinals, Irwin made an impressive comeback to defeat Teel 0-7, 7-4, 7-6. In the stage was set. other semi, Hamdy got off to a tough start With a couple of tight 7-6 games in the 1-7 and was able to battle to win the second First Flight quarterfinals, Debbie Davidoff, game 7-4, but it was Macey White who shut Rich Dell, Ellie Griffith and Jim Coling the door with a 7-4 final game.

Championship Flight: Macey White and Colin Irwin

White continued his patient play to win the Championship singles title with a 7-2, 7-6 victory over Irwin.

Overall, the depth of the tournament was quite impressive with many more players

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

| croquetamerica.com 34| croquetamerica.com 2

getting into the tournament scene. After four days of tough competition, everyone seemed to have walked away having left all they had on the courts. A huge “Thank You” to Florida District President Gene Raymond and the SCCC for all the hard work!

Championship Singles 01. Macey White 02. Colin Irwin 03. Amr Hamdy 03. James Teel 05. Matthew Griffith 05. Cheryl Bromley 05. Gil Flowers 05. John Warlick 09. Stephen Jackson 10. Steve Thurston 11. Hisham El Zoghby First Flight Singles 01. Richard Dell 02. Ellie Griffith 03. Debbie Davidoff 03. James Coling 05. Priscilla Flowers 05. Robert Clark 05. Clint Dawkins 05. Eugene Raymond 09. Gail (Rubin) Warlick 09. Douglas Ledgett

Whether buying or selling, trust the largest transaction of your life to a proven professional.

Linda Grady, PA 561-512-0852

lindagradyrealtor@gmail.com

11. Russell Rose 11. Webster Bull 13. Kevin Gralton 13. Theodore Thelin 15. Billy Joe Simmons 15. Rick Alderson 17. Virginia Combs 17. Christopf Weihs Second Flight Singles 01. Jim Potts 02. J. Billie Ray 03. Jeff Hill 03. Phillip Emond 05. Ray Liberti 05. Earle Mauldin 05. Tate Russack 05. Dennis Howard 09. Karen Weihs 09. Cami Russack 11. Caryl Firth 11. Linda Schiesel 13. Connie Coling 13. Peter Woolley 15. Kate Foster 15. John Rundell 17. Maria Petrola 17. Luella Rundell Championship Doubles 01. Matthew Griffith - Stephen Jackson 02. Macey White - Cheryl Bromley 03. Amr Hamdy - Hesham Elzoghby 03. Peter Carlin - Robert Clark 05. Gil Flowers - Richard Dell 06. James Teel - Eugene Raymond 07. James Coling - John Warlick 08. Theodore Thelin - Webster Bull First Flight Doubles 01. J. Billie Ray/Don Eastman 02. Clint Dawkins/Dennis Howard 03. Linda Schiesel/Ray Liberti 04. Christopf Weihs/Karen Weihs 05. Ellie Griffith /Gail Warlick 06. Douglas Ledgett/Rick Alderson 07. Priscilla Flowers/Caryl Firth 08. Debbie Davidoff/Earle Mauldin 09. Billy Joe Simmons/Phillip Emond 09. Jeff Hill/Jim Potts 11. Virginia Combs/Maria Petrola 11. Luella Rundell/John Rundell 11. Cami Russack/Tate Russack

2019 USCA GC Club Team Championships December 6-8, 2019 West Palm Beach, Florida

By John C. Osborn If you are enthusiastic about great weather and truly competitive Golf Croquet, you would have loved this year’s USCA Club Teams.

Forty players, representing six clubs and competing within two flights, found balanced and well-fought matches throughout. Block play led to playoffs, and with four courts and onehour time limits in play, the outcome for the Team Championship went right down to the wire.

Within the Championship Flight, Roy Gee and Jimmy Huff (Carroll County Croquet Players) worked hard to make the Finals by sneaking past Cheryl Bromley and Lynda Sudderberg (Milwaukee Croquet Club/ National Croquet Club) in an exciting 6-7, 7-2, 7-4 battle. While Sherif Abdelwahab and Hal Denton (NCC) had an easier time defeating (7-2, 7-4) Dick Brackett and John Warlick (NCC) in the other semifinal, the Finals themselves would let no one take a breath. Every shot might have changed the outcome, but in the end Abdelwahab and Denton handled the pressure best with their 7-6, 7-6 victory.

While the National Croquet Club put some nice points on the board trying to capture the Club Championship Title, the real action took place in First Flight. Come the last day, the Plantation Ponte Vedra club found a doubles team in each semifinal, with each facing off against representatives from the Florida Yacht Club. This gave both clubs a chance to guarantee the title if both doubles teams were victorious.

As opposed to the Championship Flight, the playoffs for the First Flight consisted of 90-minute long, 19-point games. And time would be of importance. In one semi, Debbie Davidoff and Earle Mauldin (Plantation) had a nail biter against the determined Yacht Club duo of David Walker and Brad Martens, winning the game 8-7 in last turns. On the other side of the draw, Florida Yacht’s Shepard Foster anbd Peggy Fox clung to hope against Plantation’s Billy Joe and Dorthy Simmons. And yet, again in last turns, the Simmons duo prevailed (6-5),

croquetamerica.com | 35

eventreports thus securing the team title for Plantation.

The Final itself, relaxed in nature, found another game to be decided by one point.

Davidoff and Mauldin took away personal honors in a well fought 7-6 victory.

Overall, this year’s tournament probably saw the best caliber of play to date. While the event is billed as a no-frills adventure, the relaxed nature of play did nothing to diminish enthusiasm. The USCA cannot guarantee the wonderful weather found this year, but the feeling is that this tournament will continue to grow each year. Thanks to all who participated this year and congratulations to all the winners!

Championship Flight 01. Sherif Abdelwahab/Hal Denton 02. Roy Gee/Jimmy Huff 03. Dick Brackett/John Warlick 03. Cheryl Bromley/Lynda Sudderberg 05. Clint Dawkins/Victor Fransen 05. Johnny Mitchell/Priscilla Flowers 07. Kent Lovvorn/Allen Griffin Dnf: Stephen Morgan/Bea Raymond

Matthew Essick. Photo by Reba Priscilla.

First Flight 01. Debbie Davidoff/Earle Mauldin 02. Billie Joe Simmons/Dorothy Simmons 03. David Walker/Brad Martens 03. Shepard Foster/Peggy Fox 05. Bartie Cole/Charlie Cole 05. Marion DeGroff/April Wilson 05. George Mason/Pam Wilson 05. Phil Emond/Sue Emond First Flight Plate 09. Bill Harrison/Irving DeGaris 10. Jack Davis/Mike Shad 11. Bob Graham/Mona Long 11. Bob Feind/Mary Feind Team Champion The Plantation Ponte Vedra National Croquet Club Carroll County Croquet Players Florida Yacht Club Milwaukee Croquet Club The Hillsboro Club

7 5.5 3 2 0.5 0

2019 USCA Selection Eights October 24–27, 2019 West Palm Beach, Florida First Eight

Fourth Group

01. Matthew Essick 01. Zack Watson 03. Ben Rothman 04. Brian Cumming 05. Stephen Morgan 06. Stuart Lawrence 07. Doug Grimsley 08. Sherif Abdelwahab

01. Dawn Jupin 02. Gene Raymond 03. Lynda Sudderberg 04. Ron Eccles 05. Webster Bull 05. Jodie Rugart 07. Loretta Cooper

Second Eight

01. Merle Berkshire 02. Beverly Cardo 02. Jeanne Branthover 04. Jeff Morrison 05. Michael Kukla 05. Mark Ski 07. Matthew Harders DNF: Vickie Johnston

01. Charles Xavier 02. Randy Cardo 03. Tom Balding 03. Simon Jenkins 05. Macey White 06. Leo McBride 07. George Cochran 07. Peter Bach

Fifth Group

Third Eight 01. Shane Hettler 02. Chris Barley 02. Rick Sheely 04. Patrick Sweeney 05. Michael Todorovich 06. David Druiett 06. Jay Hughes 08. Erv Peterson

Zach Watson. Photo by Reba Priscilla.

36 | croquetamerica.com

SHOP

USCA

Whatever the occasion think USCA for those special gifts Books

Croquet the Sport - By Jack Osborn (Hard Cover) ...................................$24.95 Croquet the Sport - By Jack Osborn (Paperback).....................................$15.95 Croquet - By J.W. Solomon..........................................................................$25.00 It’s a Wicket Kitchen Cookbook....................................................................$12.00 Monograph Series On Club Building Vol.1, 2 or 3 @$9.95 or all three for $25.00................................................$25.00 USCA Croquet Shot-Making Manual..........................................................$15.95 USCA Rulebook (revised 2013 edition)....................................................... $ 7.00 International Rules -The Laws of Association Croquet.............................$12.00 Golf Croquet Rulebook................................................................................... $7.00 A Guide to Croquet Court Planning, Building & Maintenance..................$39.95

CD’s

Bob & Ted’s Strategy CD & Bound Books (Beg/Interm/Adv).......................................................$124.95 Bob & Ted’s Strategy CD & Unbound Books (Beg/Interm/Adv)..............................................................$72.95 Bob & Ted’s Strategy CD (Advanced).........................................................$29.95 Bob & Ted’s Strategy CD (Beg/Interm).......................................................$29.95 Bob & Ted’s Strategy CD (Beg/Interm/Advanced).....................................$39.95 Bob & Ted’s “Know the Rules” CD Understanding the USCA Rules .................................................................$24.95

DVD’s

2004 USCA National Singles Final DVD....................................................$10.00 Bob & Ted’s “Mastering Croquet Shots” DVD............................................$29.95 Bob & Ted’s “Excellent Croquet” DVD.........................................................$49.95 Bob & Ted’s “Most Wanted Croquet Strategy” 2 Disc DVD......................$64.95 Bob & Ted’s “Break Play - What You Need to Know” DVD......................$29.95 Bob & Ted’s “Staying Alive” DVD - Winning Croquet Tactics....................$39.95 Bob & Ted’s “You Make the Call” DVD........................................................$29.95 Bob & Ted’s “Excellent” & “Most Wanted” DVD set...................................$99.95 Bob & Ted’s “Staying Alive” and “You Make the Call” DVD set................$64.90 Bob & Ted’s “Excellent”, “Most Wanted”,“Staying Alive” 3 DVD set.......$140.95 Bob & Ted’s Four DVD set..........................................................................$170.00 Bob & Ted’s Five DVD set..........................................................................$185.00 Kamal vs Rothman - GC Pasadena Playoff...............................................$19.95 USCA Historical Video DVD.........................................................................$15.95

CDs & DVDs are not returnable.

Defective disks may be replaced within 2 weeks of purchase.

Clothing

USCA Logo Hats - Brim: S/M L/XL Baseball: One Size...........................$20.00 USCA Jacket with Logo on front..................................................................$80.00 USCA Shirts (USCA Logo or Croquet Week)............................................$40.00 USCA Logo Long-Sleeve Shirts..................................................................$50.00 USCA logo Ladies Sweater..........................................................................$70.00

Misc.

Large Mallet Cover with USCA Logo.................Up to 12” mallet head – $52.95 Small Mallet Cover with USCA Logo....................Up to 9” mallet head – $49.95 Note Cards or Croquet Party Invitations (10/pk).......................................... $5.00 Croquet Paper Placemats (24/pk)...............................................................$10.00 USCA Patch Small.......................................................................................... $5.00 USCA Ballmarkers (dozen)............................................................................ $1.00 USCA Cufflinks (USCA shield).....................................................................$29.95

Prices subject to change

USCA Website Resources CLUB DIRECTORY

croquetamerica.com/usca/directory/clubs/

TOURNAMENTS

croquetamerica.com/calendar/tournaments/

HANDICAPS

croquetamerica.com/usca/handicaps/

GRAND PRIX

croquetamerica.com/usca/grandprix/

USCA MEMBERS AREA

croquetamerica.com/members/announcements/

CROQUET RULES

croquetamerica.com/croquet/rules/

AMERICAN RULES (SIX WICKET)

croquetamerica.com/croquet/rules/american/synopsis/

ASSOCIATION RULES

croquetamerica.com/croquet/rules/international/synopsis/

GOLF CROQUET RULES

croquetamerica.com/croquet/rules/golf/synopsis/

NINE WICKET RULES (BACKYARD)

croquetamerica.com/croquet/rules/backyard/synopsis/

CROQUET NEWS DIGITAL EDITIONS (Members Only) croquetamerica.com/members/magazines/

Have you ever walked on the croquet court and wondered what to do?! It’s not uncommon! Over the years, as a Croquet Tournament Director and Instructor, I have watched many games which have informed me what to teach when working with aspiring players.

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AT:

HTTPS://BOBCROQUET.COM/STRATEGY_INFO.HTM

HERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD FOR FREE (YOU BET - FREE!) TWO OF THE 12 VIDEOS IN THE SERIES IN ADDITION TO THE FREE PDF USER GUIDE WHICH SHOWS THE SETUP FOR EACH VIDEO.

Contact the USCA at 561-478-0760; fax: 561-686-5507; email usca@msn.com or mail to

USCA, 700 Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406

croquetamerica.com | 37

usgrandprix

THREE STRAIGHT FOR CARDO

Powered by his singles victory at the 2019 USCA 6-Wicket National Championship in November, Randy Cardo went on to claim his third straight USCA Grand Prix Open title, which also comes with three straight men’s titles as well. The three-peat is the first since John C. Osborn took three straight titles from 1991-1993. Osborn also won four straight titles from 1984-1987 and Cardo will now have the chance in 2020 to try to match that feat.

Cardo’s win now puts him in a select group of five players that have won the USCA GP three times or more overall.

He joins Osborn (9), Ben Rothman (3), Jeff Soo (3) and Danny Huneycutt (3).

While Cardo finished with a solid gap, just more than 6,000 points, second place through seventh featured a range of just more than 5,000 GP points. Stephen Morgan made the late push to reach 26,585 GP points and snag second place from his previous position of fourth at the start of November. Sherif Abdelwahab closed from eighth in the same time frame to snag the final “podium” spot and third place just 985 points off Morgan’s pace.

FAST MOVERS: Several other players surged as well in November with Matt Griffith moving from 11th to reach a spot in the top 10 with fifth place. Rick Sheely was just a bit better as his single and doubles Seniors wins helped him move from 12th to grab a fourth-place finish. Notably, Griffith helped the cause as Sheely’s partner in for the Seniors doubles title. Former GP Champion Doug Grimsley (2008) jumped from 19th in November to claim ninth place.

WOMEN’S GP: SUDDERBERG HOLDS OFF RUGART

Lynda Sudderberg led the Women’s GP pretty much from the start in 2019, but a couple of players continued to keep just close enough to make it interesting. In the end, it was defending champion Jodie Rugart positioned in third place at the start of November that claimed a big batch of points in the Seniors singles event with a second-place finish.

Sudderberg tied for fifth in the event and that was just enough to hold on as she tallied 16,180 GP points. Rugart was just 192 points off that pace. Notably, the GP rivals were partnered together in the Seniors doubles event, so neither player gained an advantage.

Beverley Cardo was strong enough to hold on for third place at 12,629 points as the top three were the only women’s players to finish above 10,000 points.

FAST MOVERS: Overall, the top 10 didn’t have much change in the final segment of the year. Mary Rodeberg moved from eighth place to sixth, but the biggest jump was Linda Huxtable moving from 11th to eighth to get into the top 10.

38 | croquetamerica.com

2019 US GRAND PRIX OVERALL TOP 60 # Player Handicap Singles 01 Randy Cardo -3 20900 02 Stephen Morgan -2.5 13580 03 Sherif Abdelwahab -3 14720 04 Richard Sheely -2 15424 05 Matthew Griffith -2 11790 06 Chris Patmore -2.5 15500 07 Macey W. White -2 11984 08 Richard Sullivan -1.5 13800 09 Doug Grimsley -3 13400 10 Shane Hettler -1.5 16220 11 Danny Huneycutt -4 13564 12 Matthew Essick -1.5 14610 13 Stuart Lawrence -2.5 15100 14 Bob Chilton -1 10750 15 Jeff Soo -3.5 10052 16 Lynda P. Sudderberg -1 8125 17 Jodie Rugart -1 11430 18 Brian Cumming -3.5 12400 19 David Ekstrom -1.5 9000 20 Simon Jenkins -1 8850 21 Webster Bull -1 8556 22 Scott Spradling -1 8280 23 Beverley Cardo 1 5438 24 David McCoy 0 4200 25 James M. Spoonhour -0.5 5290 26 Paul T. Bennett -2.5 9324 27 Chris Barley -1.5 9806 28 Timothy Rapuano -1.5 9110 29 Rich Lamm -2.5 7000 30 Thomas Cooper -1.5 6540 31 Richard G. Curtis -1.5 4500 32 Zack Watson -0.5 9750 33 Mike Taylor -2 7261 34 Thomas C. Balding 3 7374 35 Preston Stuart -0.5 4112 36 Paul Neubecker 1 2210 37 Gene Raymond 0 5430 38 Kevin Hansley 0 5050 39 Conner L. Helms -0.5 3560 40 Bob Worrell -1.5 7800 41 Rob Byrd 0.5 4701 42 Mark Fields 0.5 3730 43 George Cochran -2 4123 44 Arthur Olsen -0.5 5420 45 David Isaacs -1 3050 46 Jay Hughes -0.5 5510 47 Conrad Rugart -0.5 4910 48 Loretta Cooper 2 3911 49 Britt Ruby -1.5 5650 50 Horace W. Hayworth -0.5 2950 51 John C. Osborn -2.5 3600 52 Michael Albert 4.5 5552 53 Norris Settlemyre -1.5 4700 54 Dawn Jupin 1 3870 55 Charles Xavier 0 5900 56 William B. Trower 1.5 4840 57 William C. Rinaman 0.5 2400 58 Matt B. Smith -2 4000 59 Ron Huxtable -0.5 2950 60 Lee C. Jorde 4 4474 Updated January 2020.

Doubles Total Points 12866 33766 13005 26585 10880 25600 8596 24020 10962 22752 6785 22285 9552 21536 6980 20780 7200 20600 3600 19820 4958 18522 3222 17832 2400 17500 6348 17098 6707 16759 8055 16180 4558 15988 3300 15700 6180 15180 6100 14950 5808 14364 4791 13071 7191 12629 8330 12530 6868 12158 2600 11924 2014 11820 2100 11210 4200 11200 4620 11160 6570 11070 1200 10950 3314 10575 2557 9931 5272 9384 6750 8960 3460 8890 3833 8883 4922 8482 600 8400 3108 7809 3732 7462 3330 7453 1960 7380 4298 7348 1560 7070 1788 6698 2680 6591 912 6562 3536 6486 2800 6400 732 6284 1548 6248 2340 6210 0 5900 832 5672 3200 5600 1568 5568 2401 5351 690 5164

2019 US GRAND PRIX TOP 30 MEN # Player Handicap Singles 01 Randy Cardo -3 20900 02 Stephen Morgan -2.5 13580 03 Sherif Abdelwahab -3 14720 04 Richard Sheely -2 15424 05 Matthew Griffith -2 11790 06 Chris Patmore -2.5 15500 07 Macey W. White -2 11984 08 Richard Sullivan -1.5 13800 09 Doug Grimsley -3 13400 10 Shane Hettler -1.5 16220 11 Danny Huneycutt -4 13564 12 Matthew Essick -1.5 14610 13 Stuart Lawrence -2.5 15100 14 Bob Chilton -1 10750 15 Jeff Soo -3.5 10052 16 Brian Cumming -3.5 12400 17 David Ekstrom -1.5 9000 18 Simon Jenkins -1 8850 19 Webster Bull -1 8556 20 Scott Spradling -1 8280 21 David McCoy 0 4200 22 James M. Spoonhour -0.5 5290 23 Paul T. Bennett -2.5 9324 24 Chris Barley -1.5 9806 25 Timothy Rapuano -1.5 9110 26 Rich Lamm -2.5 7000 27 Thomas Cooper -1.5 6540 28 Richard G. Curtis -1.5 4500 29 Zack Watson -0.5 9750 30 Mike Taylor -2 7261

Doubles Total Points 12866 33766 13005 26585 10880 25600 8596 24020 10962 22752 6785 22285 9552 21536 6980 20780 7200 20600 3600 19820 4958 18522 3222 17832 2400 17500 6348 17098 6707 16759 3300 15700 6180 15180 6100 14950 5808 14364 4791 13071 8330 12530 6868 12158 2600 11924 2014 11820 2100 11210 4200 11200 4620 11160 6570 11070 1200 10950 3314 10575

2019 US GRAND PRIX TOP 30 WOMEN # Player Handicap Singles 01 Lynda P. Sudderberg -1 8125 02 Jodie Rugart -1 11430 03 Beverley Cardo 1 5438 04 Loretta Cooper 2 3911 05 Dawn Jupin 1 3870 06 Mary Rodeberg 0.5 2460 07 Patricia Spratt 4.5 952 08 Linda Huxtable -0.5 2400 09 Sandra Knuth 2 1218 10 Vickie Johnston 3.5 2200 11 Yen Sullivan 4.5 1482 12 Jeanne Branthover 4 1827 13 Donna Dixon 0 1624 14 Audrey M. Wille -0.5 2080 15 Elaine Moody 3 1186 16 Martie Ekstrom 6 622 17 Arlene Stevens 8 349 18 Roni Brazell 5 1130 19 Carla P. Rueck 7 538 20 Sam Orleans Hansley 10 32 21 Jackie Jones -2 1363 22 Victoria Albrecht 3.5 950 23 Missy Chilton 7 616 24 Thelma Lyle 5 339 25 Brett Stovall 4 1032 26 Linda Trifone 6 484 27 Linda R. Dos Santos 2.5 1119 28 Jane C. Helms 7 140 29 Missy Ramey 0.5 456 30 Mijai Pagano 4.5 369

Doubles Total Points 8055 16180 4558 15988 7191 12629 2680 6591 2340 6210 2224 4684 3648 4600 2000 4400 3158 4376 1520 3720 2040 3522 1282 3109 1156 2780 500 2580 714 1900 950 1572 1176 1525 364 1494 947 1485 1395 1427 0 1363 331 1281 574 1190 840 1179 126 1158 672 1156 0 1119 938 1078 594 1050 654 1023

US GP CHAMPIONSHIP B TOP 15 (3-5H) # Player Handicap Points 01 Thomas C. Balding 3 9931 02 Michael Albert 4.5 6284 03 Lee C. Jorde 4 5164 04 Stephen P. Grassbaugh 3.5 4861 05 Patricia Spratt 4.5 4600 06 Jeff Morrison 3.5 4451 07 Richard Boger 3 4098 08 Vickie Johnston 3.5 3720 09 Yen Sullivan 4.5 3522 10 Lawrence R. Cranfield 3.5 3500 11 Ronald L. Eccles 4.5 3449 12 John L. Schoo 3 3400 13 Merle Berkshire 4 3354 14 David Spivey 3.5 3284 15 Jeanne Branthover 4 3109

US GP FIRST FLIGHT TOP 15 (6-9H) # Player Handicap Points 01 George Saad 6 2160 02 David Kepner 8 1853 03 Martie Ekstrom 6 1572 04 Arlene Stevens 8 1525 05 Carla P. Rueck 7 1485 06 Patrick Dugan 8 1464 07 Quinn Reinhardt 6 1211 08 Missy Chilton 7 1190 09 Linda Trifone 6 1156 10 Jane C. Helms 7 1078 11 Carl A. Archiniaco 7 1063 12 Hal Denton 7 1040 13 William F. Sadowski 7 1005 14 Karl-Heinz Kempfer 8 942 15 Karen Heckman 7 908 US GP SECOND FLIGHT TOP 15 (10-13H) # Player Handicap Points 01 Sam Orleans Hansley 10 1427 02 Noreen Rice 11 679 03 Cynthia Chess 10 365 04 Terry Cassidy 10 290 05 Freear Pollard 10 280 06 Mary Cassidy 10 255 07 John Rice 12 223 08 Leanne L. Rodick 10 204 09 Jeanette Bair Tribby 10 203 10 Charles H. Reynolds 11 200 11 Bill Fraser 10 194 12 Linda Pike 12 180 13 J. Clayton Kingsbery 10 169 14 Rodney Calver 10 140 15 Mary-Stewart Regensburg 10 129

US GP THIRD FLIGHT TOP 10 (14-20H) # Player Handicap Points 01 Cheryl Bromley 20 609 02 Peter Carlin 20 457 03 George O'Neill III 20 375 04 Blake Fields 20 370 05 Jim Teel 20 312 06 Todd Russell 20 234 07 Amr Hamdy 20 206 08 Robert V. Clark 20 136 09 Paige Brown 14 106 10 Priscilla M. Flowers 18 98

croquetamerica.com | 39

USCA 2020 Sanctioned Events Entry forms to USCA events will now be emailed to members and can also be found on the USCA website at: www.croquetamerica.com/members/forms/ or call the USCA office (561) 478-0760 for a copy. For the most up-to-date calendar, please check www.croquetamerica.com/calendar/tournaments/

February 2/4/20 - 2/8/20

Peyton Ballenger Invitational | US

Croquet Club at PGA National | Palm Beach Gardens Ann Licursi | 516-353-3311 | annelicursi@gmail.com

2/15/20 - 2/23/20 | AC

WCF World Championship

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

2/19/20 - 2/23/20

The Steuber Classic 2020 | US, AC, GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Mike Gibbons | 917-873-0311 | MGibbons9577@gmail.com

2/25/20 - 2/29/20

Mission Hills Invitational | US

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

2/27/20 - 3/1/20

Sarasota Doubles Championship | US

Sarasota CCC at Wellfield Park | Venice, FL Gary Anderson | 352-568-5099 | gmaretired@gmail.com

March 3/5/20 - 3/8/20

Blaine Davis Invitational | US

Gasparilla Mallet Club | Boca Grande, FL Bob Worrell | 402-677-7683 | rgworrell@hotmail.com

3/10/20 - 3/12/20

USCA Croquet School American Rules | US

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

3/11/20 - 3/12/20

USCA Golf Croquet School | GC

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

3/13/20 - 3/15/20

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

3/14/20 - 3/16/20

USCA Tournament Play School American Rules | US National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

3/18/20 - 3/22/20

USCA Club Team Championships | US

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

3/23/20 - 3/29/20

Sarasota Singles Championship | US

4/2/20 - 4/5/20

Sarasota Association Invitational | AC

Sarasota CCC at Wellfield Park | Venice, FL Hans Peterson | 978-929-9000 | hpete8000@hotmail.com

4/16/20 - 4/19/20

USCA Golf Croquet Eights | GC

Sarasota CCC at Wellfield Park | Venice, FL Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

4/24/20 - 4/26/20

The Plantation Foundation Invitational Benefit | GC

The Plantation of Ponte Vedra | Ponte Vedra, FL Bill Simmons | 908-625-9189 | billyjoesimmonsjr@comcast.net

4/25/20 - 4/26/20

USCA Collegiate Championship | US, GC

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

May 5/1/20 - 5/3/20

PCA American 6-Wicket Pro Croquet Tour Tournament | US Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

5/7/20 - 5/10/20

USCA Southeast Regional American 6-Wicket Croquet Tournament | US Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

5/17/20 - 5/23/20

USCA Association Laws National Championship | AC Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 | tournament@uscroquet.com

5/25/20 - 5/28/20

USCA Croquet School American Rules | US

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

5/28/20 - 5/31/20

Rockfish Croquet Tournament (6W or GC) | US, GC Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

5/30/20 - 5/31/20

Piping Rock Invitational | US

Piping Rock Club | Locust Valley, NY Jane Simonds | 516-384-6203 | jfspainter@gmail.com Limited to 24 players - Singles Only

June 6/4/20 - 6/7/20

NC Open | AC

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

Sarasota CCC at Wellfield Park | Venice, FL Gary Anderson | 352-568-5099 | gmaretired@gmail.com

6/4/20 - 6/7/20

April

Lenox Croquet Club | Lenox, MA David Ekstrom | 413-443-4957 | drekstrom@hotmail.com Limited Space

4/1/20 - 4/3/20

USCA Croquet School American Rules | US

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

40 | croquetamerica.com

25th Berkshire Invitational | US

6/6/20 - 6/6/20

USCA National Croquet Day

6/10/20 - 6/14/20

9/17/20 - 9/20/20

The Chattooga Club | Cashiers, NC Dawn Jupin | 828-743-1360 | dawnj@chattoogaclub.com

New York Croquet Club | New York, NY Peter Timmons | 646-642-6601 | nycroquetclub@yahoo.com

Mountain Laurel Invitational | US

The Osborn Cup | US

6/11/20 - 6/14/20

9/17/20 - 9/20/20

Woodlawn Croquet Club | Ellsworth, ME Perry Mattson | 207-664-4822 | newburyneckshore@gmail.com

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

Woodlawn Invitational Tournament | US

Blue Crab Tournament | US, GC

6/11/20 - 6/14/20

9/17/20 - 9/20/20

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

Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club | Nichols Hill, OK Suzanne Spradling | 405-590-7264 | sshawaprad@cox.net

USCA Southeast Regional Golf Croquet Tournament | GC

The Scissor Tail Oklahoma Championship | US

6/19/20 - 6/21/20

9/23/20 - 9/27/20

New York Croquet Club | New York, NY Peter Timmons | 646-642-6601 | nycroquetclub@yahoo.com

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC Elaine Moody | 910-986-3343 | haliburton_2@msn.com

New York State Golf Croquet Championship | GC 6/24/20 - 6/28/20

Westhampton Mallet Club Invitational | US

Westhampton Mallet Club | Westhampton, NY Randy Cardo | 631-902-5678 | randy.cardo@gmail.com

6/26/20 - 6/28/20

Pinehurst PCA Association Croquet Pro Tour Tournament | AC

30th Pinehurst Croquet Club Invitational | US

October 10/1/20 - 10/4/20

NC State Golf Croquet Championship | GC

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

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

10/1/20 - 10/4/20

July

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

USCA Southeast Regional AC Tournament | AC

7/10/20 - 7/12/20

10/3/20 - 10/4/20

Westhampton Mallet Club | Westhampton, NY Carla Rueck | 516-480-9930 | cprueck@aol.com Singles Only

Rumson Country Club | Rumson, NJ Tom Cooper | 212-696-2512 | tom@coopergroupnj.com

Westhampton Mallet Club Singles Championship

7/13/20 - 7/17/20

North American Amateur | AC

Sonoma Cutrer Winery | Windsor, CA Mike Orgill | 707-547-7146 | morgill@sonic.net Dynamic Grade less tha 1700

August

New Jersey State Championship | US 10/7/20 - 10/9/20

PCC Club Singles Championship | US

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC Elaine Moody | 910-986-3343 | haliburton_2@msn.com

10/11/20 - 10/17/20

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

8/1/20 - 8/2/20

10/22/20 - 10/25/20

New York Croquet Club | New York, NY Tim Rapuano | 551-207-0313 | nyccmini@gmail.com

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA Macey White, Cheryl Bromley | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com Women Only

The Tiger Wicket | US 8/7/20 - 8/9/20

Westhampton Mallet Club Doubles Championship

2020 Women's International Friendship Cup | GC

10/29/20- 11/1/20

Westhampton Mallet Club | Westhampton, NY Carla Rueck | 516-480-9930 | cprueck@aol.com Doubles Only

USCA Selection Eights | AC

8/21/20 - 8/23/20

November

USCA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship AC | AC Green Gables Croquet Club | Sea Girt, NJ Tim Rapuano | 551-207-0313 | midatlanticrvp@uscroquet.com

September

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

11/3/20 - 11/7/20

USCA Golf Croquet National Championship | GC

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

9/10/20 - 9/10/20

11/11/20 - 11/15/20

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

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

9/10/20 - 9/13/20

December

Woodlawn Croquet Club | Ellsworth, ME Perry Mattson | 207-664-4822 | newburyneckshore@gmail.com

12/4/20 - 12/5/20

NC State Singles Championship | US

Woodlawn Mini Lobster Tournament | US

USCA Seniors Masters Championships | US

NCC Club Doubles | US

Natoional Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL Tim McCormick | 207-329-5343 | tmccorm1@gmail.com

croquetamerica.com | 41

newmembers NEW CLUBS Pine Valley – Baltimore, Maryland Ekwanok Country Club – Manchester, Vermont

NEW MEMBERS ARKANSAS

Hot Springs Village–At Large Member

Darin Watson

CALIFORNIA

Rancho Mirage–Mission Hills Croquet Club

Wendy Clarke David Clarke Elizabeth Guber Gary Hufford Brenda Wohlstadter Don Zavodnik

FLORIDA

Atlantic Beach–Fleet Landing Croquet Club

Geraldine NoGeld Belleair–Belleair Country Club Croquet

Patricia Ryan Key Largo–Ocean Reef Club

Kendall Hendrick Laura Hendrick Stephen Wood Naples–At Large Member

Judy Shanley Ocean Ridge–At Large Member

Timothy Cassidy Carolyn Cassidy Orlando–At Large Member

Tamer Hatata Orlando–Country Club of Orlando

Walter Currie Holly Hatcher Mike Hatcher Margie Spraggins Mike Spraggins James Welch Rebecca Welch Palm Coast–Grand Haven Croquet Club

Pauline Jutras William Jutras David Praisler Tod Quirk Paul Tetredult Brahmananda Yadlapalli

Palm Coast– Hammock Dunes Croquet Association

Jean Armstrong Maureen Delk Vaughn Delk Rene Dixon Barbara Fliessner Chris Fliessner Kevin Friend Stephanie O'Leary Katherine Thomas Ponte Vedra Beach– Plantation of Ponte Vedra, The

Susan Garvey Ponte Vedra Beach–Ponte Vedra Croquet Club

JoAnn Hofmann Venice–Sarasota County Croquet Club

Anna Campbell Sheldon Campbell Carol Doherty Bob Gelineau Laurie Holder Sally Mills Elsa Priestley Kathleen Skoog Dale Skoog West Palm Beach–National Croquet Club

Larry Lynch

LOUISIANA

NORTH CAROLINA

VERMONT

Clyde Anderson Arthur Metrailer

Dorothy Walden Steve Walden

Wenke Sterns William Sterns

MARYLAND

Ashville–At Large Member

Manchester–Ekwanok Country Club

Art Meyer Cathy Meyer

Frank Bonte Wenke Sterns William Sterns

Baton Rouge–Red Stick Croquet Club

Annapolis–Ginger Cove Croquet Club

Barbara Bellinger Barbara Copper Margarete Hitzrot Joyce Holcombe Frances Jackson Charles Kinzer William Land Carolyn Mills Patricia Mosunic Richard Murchake Jane Sammons Harold Smith John Snyder Galesville–West River Wickets

Carl Buchheister, II

NEW JERSEY

Kenvil–Roxbury Croquet Club

Kate Foster

NEW YORK

New York–At Large Member

Dorothy Lewis New York–New York Croquet Club

David Goddard Trula Myers

42 | croquetamerica.com

Asheville–Deerfield Croquet Club

Cashiers–Trillium Links and Lake Club

Dorset–Dorset Field Club

Barbara Jamison Jim Jamison Jeffrey Korotkin Sharon Lochirco

VIRGINIA

PENNSYLVANIA

WISCONSIN

Charlotte Friedman Robert Friedman

Cynthia Joa

Narberth–At Large Member

SOUTH CAROLINA

Aiken–Green Boundary Croquet Club

William Matheson Victoria Reardon Okatie–Spring Island Croquet Club

Jonathan Watkins

TEXAS

Dallas–Dallas Croquet Association

Steve Doty Houston–Houston Croquet Association

Mary Bicknell Marjorie Cain Walker Cain Stephanie Margalis

Hartfield–Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club

Steve Thurston Whitefish Bay–Milwaukee Croquet Club

Whether you are new to the game or just want to learn some of the finer points of the game

USCA CROQUET SCHOOLS are the way to go

Learn with USCA Certified Instructors

5 hours/day of on-court instruction Official USCA Rulebook (for new American Rules or Golf Croquet members) USCA Shot making manual (for first time American Rules students only) Daily Continental Breakfast and Lunches Certificate of Completion and Class Photograph Wine and Cheese Party on last day of school

UPCOMING DATES American Rules

March 10-12 April 1-3 March 14-16 (Tournament Play School) May 25-27 (at Chesapeake Bay CC Hartfield, VA)

Golf Croquet March 11-12

USCA Schools are held at the National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida PRIVATE GROUP PROGRAM Groups of 6 or more players (of the same level) may arrange for a date (dependent on court and instructor availability) that is convenient for group’s participants with special group rates

Contact the USCA office for more information 561-478-0760 or email tournament@uscroquet.com

44 | croquetamerica.com