Croquet News 2026 Volume 3: National Croquet Day Stars and Stripes

CroquetNews 2026 VOLUME 3

FALL ISSUE

STARS & STRIPES THE COUNTRY CLUB OF JACKSON CELEBRATES NATIONAL CROQUET DAY WITH AN AMERICA 250 THEME

The Official Magazine of the United States Croquet Association

Buckhead Living, One Match at a Time There is a certain joy in stepping onto the lawn in your whites, mallet in hand, with good friends and a beautiful morning ahead. At the heart of Peachtree Hills Place, you will find two immaculately manicured croquet lawns, and it is easy to see why enthusiasts fall in love with this luxury Life Plan Community in the heart of Atlanta. Here, elegant homes, upscale dining, and attentive staff come together with a fitness center, a resort style pool, and an on-site Wellness Center, all set within one of Buckhead’s most historic and sought after neighborhoods. Come visit, and meet the lively group of friends waiting to welcome you to the lawn. This is more than a place to play. It is a place to belong. It is home.

Contact Charlotte Margolin at 404.467.9164 PEACHTREEHILLSPLACE.COM 229 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 A LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

courtside

Stronger Together

“There are plenty of good ideas, if only they can be backed with the power of action.” —Winston Churchill On June 6, National Croquet Day launched us into Summer ‘26 with games, fun and social competition at croquet clubs across the country. The summer months always bring opportunity for certain areas of the U.S. to come alive with croquet. Bootcamps and clinics kickstart our skills, followed by inter-club competitions with local clubs. Croquet invitationals across the country draw a diverse group of players and provide a history of strong connections between us that have led to lasting friendships. Among these players and friends are the many volunteers who help shape the game. Countless hours are dedicated to welcoming new players, offering social opportunities and providing instructional programs. The United States Croquet Association values the efforts and progress being made across the country. I want to thank every club for the work you do and assure you that the USCA backs you up with a strong and dedicated team who is networking behind the scenes to connect our entire community. Our committees are making exceptional progress in advancing the sport by bringing fresh ideas and strategies. This season has also reminded us of the importance of our USCA family. Our Office Manager, Ursula Peck, recently suffered a devastating fall that resulted in serious injuries involving a lengthy rehabilitation. Ursula has long been the welcoming voice and steady hand that so many of our members have come to know and appreciate. She is also a dear friend to many of us. The USCA Management

Committee continues to pray and provide support for Ursula during this challenging time. The family is grateful for the many expressions of concern, prayers and support that have poured in from across the country. One of the USCA’s highest priorities is expanding the visibility of croquet by providing engaging, high-quality content that reaches members and prospective players wherever they are. Whether you are watching a major championship unfold live, learning a new strategy from one of our instructional videos, enjoying player interviews or exploring the rich history of our sport, our YouTube Channel has become an invaluable resource for the croquet community. In this issue, I encourage you to read Executive Producer Michael Kolowich’s article, “The Making of a Livestream.” It offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look and represents an extraordinary commitment from volunteers and staff who are passionate about showcasing our sport at the highest level.

Bev Cardo

USCA President

president@croquetamerica.com www.croquetamerica.com

As we approach the deadline for this issue of Croquet News, we are especially proud of the six players who will soon represent the United States at the MacRobertson Shield (Mac) in England. Held only once every four years, the Mac is one of the most prestigious events in international croquet and represents the pinnacle of Association Croquet team competition. We are proud to send a team of the world’s finest players who have a reputation of competing with superior skill and admirable sportsmanship. We will all be cheering them on!

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Your USCA Gear Is Now @ croquetamerica.com.

The USCA Storefront is open for business. Need a mallet cover? Perhaps a hat or jacket, or surely one of the many shirt styles? The USCA website now has an operating storefront where you can find these items and many more like them. The store also carries the Bob & Ted series of educational DVDs, as well as books and other materials to help you learn the game. Wear your USCA merchandise proudly! For details call Ursula, 561-478-0760 United States Croquet Association 700 Florida Mango Road, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, Florida 33406

Use your phone’s camera to scan this code and press the screen to go to the website. You must log in as a member.

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

CroquetNews 2026 Volume 3

Features 16 | National Croquet Day: On a Mission 24 | The Making of a Livestream 28 | 2026 USCA Collegiate Nationals 30 | 9W Nationals in Kentucky 34 | 2026 USCA Southeast A6 Regional 38 | A6W Tactics: Rover Basics 40 | GC America: Women's Nationals Qualifier

Departments 03 | Courtside 06 | The Clubhouse 10 | Inbox 37 | New Members/Clubs 39 | Grand Prix Updates 42 | Event Results 46 | Events Calendar On The Cover

The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., went all out on an America 250 theme and captured the National Croquet Day Lifestyle category award.

Publisher

Dylan Goodwin | croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Managing Editor Julie Jantzer-Ward | uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com

Submissions

Submit articles to uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com. Text should be submitted as a Microsoft Word file and photos should be submitted as separate individual high resolution (300 dpi) files. All content may be edited for length and photos will be adjusted appropriately. Croquet News is produced four times per year and is distributed as a benefit to USCA membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USCA. © 2026 United States Croquet Association

USCA Management Committee ________________________ President Beverley Cardo president@uscroquet.com First Vice President John Brown firstvp@uscroquet.com Second Vice President Alex Galasso secondvp@uscroquet.com Treasurer David Isaacs treasurer@uscroquet.com Secretary John Craddock secretary@uscroquet.com ________________________ REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS Florida Alex Galasso floridarvp@uscroquet.com Mid-Atlantic Chris Morris midatlanticrvp@uscroquet.com Midwest Scott Spradling midwestrvp@uscroquet.com Northeast Kathleen Green northeastrvp@uscroquet.com Southeast Linda Trifone southeastrvp@uscroquet.com Western Patrick Sweeney westernrvp@uscroquet.com ________________________ USCA STAFF Office Manager Ursula Peck membership@uscroquet.com Tournament Brian Hovis tournament@uscroquet.com Tournament & Schools Adam Peck usca@uscroquet.com Membership Coordinator Stephanie Lutge croquetoffice@uscroquet.com United States Croquet Association 700 Florida Mango Road, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33406 www.croquetamerica.com Tel. (561) 478-0760 Fax (561) 686-5507 www.croquetamerica.com | 5

theclubhouse USCA SELECTION PROCESS UNDERWAY FOR 2027 AC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The selection and allocation process is underway for American players seeking places in the 2027 AC World Championship, scheduled for January 30-February 7, 2027, in New Zealand. The championship field will accommodate 80 players, with places awarded through the WCF’s ranking, wildcard and member-association allocation processes.

Qualifying Tournament

A qualifying tournament will be held January 24-27, 2027, at Rose Gardens Croquet Club in Palmerston North, approximately two hours north of Wellington by car. The qualifier will have a maximum field of 24 players. Its format will be determined after the number of entries is known. Rose Gardens Croquet Club has six courts available for the competition.

Selection and Allocation Process

Following the August 26 availability deadline, the USCA, acting on the recommendations of its Association Croquet Selection Committee, will submit the names of available players to the WCF before September 6. The submission will also identify players who wish to be considered for wildcard places. The WCF is scheduled to announce ranking and wildcard selections on October 4. The USCA will then nominate players for its membership allocations from among eligible USCA members who declared availability but did not receive a ranking or wildcard place.

Key Dates August 26, 2026: Availability declarations due to the USCA Selection Committee and Tournament Services September 20, 2026: Allocation date October 4, 2026: Ranking and wildcard places announced October 18, 2026: Entry closing date October 28, 2026: Player information due November 14, 2026: Entry-fee payment deadline

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Management Committee Leadership Update The USCA Management Committee has recently undergone a leadership transition, and I would like to recognize three individuals whose service and commitment continue to strengthen our association. First, I want to express my gratitude to Mike Taylor for his 14 years of dedicated service as North Carolina District President. His leadership and commitment to the USCA have made a lasting impact on the game of croquet in North Carolina and we thank him for his many years of service as he retires from this role. As Taylor steps down, Adam Lassiter has graciously agreed to serve as the new North Carolina District President. To devote his full attention to this important position, while also serving as President of Albemarle Croquet Club, Lassiter has resigned as Second Vice President of the USCA. Lassiter has been an invaluable member of the Management Committee. Throughout our time working together, I have come to rely on his wisdom, thoughtful perspective and sound judgment. He will be greatly missed around the Management Committee table, but I am grateful that his leadership and dedication to the USCA will continue in his new role. Following Lassiter’s resignation, the Management Committee elected Alex Galasso to serve as Second Vice President for the remainder of Lassiter’s term. Galasso has demonstrated outstanding leadership as the Florida Regional Vice President, and we are fortunate that he has accepted this new position. I look forward to working with Galasso as we continue to build on the momentum of the USCA and serve our members across the country. —Beverley Cardo, USCA President

USCA FUNDRAISING EVENT PLANNED TO SUPPORT URSULA PECK Plans are underway for a special fundraising event this fall to benefit Ursula Peck, Office Manager of the United States Croquet Association, as she continues her rehabilitation following the serious injuries she sustained in a tragic fall this past June. The event is being organized through a collaborative effort by SandyJames Fine Foods, the USCA and the Croquet Foundation of America, and will be held at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The date is still being finalized, and additional details will be announced as they become available. We hope you will join us in supporting Ursula during her recovery.

Nowhere but here. Join us next season for a Sarasota County Croquet Club signature event Sharktooth GC Invitational | Nov 13–15, 2026 USCA GC Club Teams | Dec 4–6, 2026 Holiday Classic Invitational (A6W) | Dec 11–13, 2026

USCA Florida Regional GC | Jan 7–10, 2027 The Jones Invitational (A6W) | Jan 21–24, 2027 USCA AC National Championship | Apr 11–17, 2027 Visit us at SarasotaCountyCroquet.com for more information

Enriching the croquet lifestyle. Venice | Boca Grande | Sarasota Hans Peterson, REALTOR®

Rebecca Peterson, REALTOR®

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978.844.3204

hanspeterson@michaelsaunders.com

rebeccapeterson@michaelsaunders.com

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

theclubhouse CLUB OFFERS ONLINE CROQUET TOOLS AND GAMES

The Saint James Croquet Association (SJCA) in Saint James, N.C., has launched a new collection of interactive online croquet tools and virtual games designed to help players learn, practice and stay engaged with the sport. Originally developed for SJCA members, the tools are publicly available through the club’s new website for any croquet player interested in exploring shot planning, angles, tactics or virtual play. The online resources were created by Ray Walsh, a member of the SJCA board, who built the tools for the club despite not being a professional software developer. The training tools include an online croquet whiteboard — green, naturally — along with a critical distance calculator, split shot visualizer and roquet angle simulator. Find the tools at: www.stjamescroquet.com/tools. SJCA has also released a pair of interactive “Rainy Day Croquet” games for players who want to practice or experiment away from the lawn. The 2D Virtual Croquet Game provides a two-dimensional lawn for simulating GC, AC and A6W. The 3D Virtual Croquet Game adds another layer of interaction, allowing players to pan, tilt, rotate and zoom around a threedimensional croquet lawn. Players can take shots, rush balls, adjust lawn speed and shot power, score hoops and use the environment to think through strategy. Find the games at: www.stjamescroquet.com/VirtualCroquetGame. —Ray Walsh

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National Croquet Center Announces Transition to Quadway Hoops Across All Courts

The National Croquet Center (NCC) is pleased to announce that beginning in August, all courts will transition to Quadway hoops, reinforcing the NCC’s commitment to providing one of the finest croquet playing experiences in the world. This latest enhancement follows last year's successful introduction of Invictus balls (primary and secondary colors), which have delivered improved consistency, durability and long-term value for both daily club play and the many regional, national and international tournaments hosted at the National Croquet Center. The transition to the Quadway hoops is another important step in aligning the NCC with the highest standards of the sport. Quadway hoops are widely used at premier croquet venues for national championship events and are the preferred hoops for tournaments sanctioned by the World Croquet Federation. Their installation ensures that members and visiting players alike will enjoy playing on equipment that reflects the standards of world-class competition. “Our mission is to continually invest in the future of the sport and provide an exceptional playing experience for every member and every guest,” says Franck Meunier, Chief Executive Officer of the Croquet Foundation of America. “In addition to opening four more courts this fall, we are also working on some exciting technical improvements for the center. As croquet continues to evolve, the National Croquet Center remains committed to leading that evolution by providing outstanding facilities and equipment that support players at every level.” Recognizing the unique sandy ground conditions of South Florida, the transition has been carefully planned over many months. Under the leadership of National Croquet Club members: David McCoy, Randy Cardo and Michael Todorovich, extensive work has been completed to develop an installation method that provides exceptional stability in local soil conditions. The project also benefited from the expertise of CFA Ground Supervisor Omero Garcia, whose knowledge helped refine maintenance practices while protecting the integrity of the courts. The National Croquet Center has long been recognized as a leader in croquet, hosting some of the sport’s most significant championships while welcoming players of all ages and skill levels. Investments such as the transition to Invictus balls and now Quadway hoops reflect the Croquet Foundation of America’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a world-class facility that serves today’s members while advancing the future of the game.

CroquetRankings.com Revolutionizes Game and Player Data for Croquet A new, independent platform is changing how players, fans and administrators explore the competitive world of croquet. Created by North Toronto Croquet Club member Adam Barr, CroquetRankings.com transforms WCF rankings and results data into a comprehensive analytics platform that offers unprecedented insight into both Association croquet and golf croquet at the international level. Combining interactive dashboards, historical data, player profiles and advanced statistical tools, the site represents one of the most significant developments in croquet data analysis to date. While the WCF has long provided rankings and tournament results, CroquetRankings.com takes that information much further. The platform allows users to visualize trends, compare players, analyze countries and explore competitive histories through a modern interface more commonly associated with major professional sports. “It's difficult to overstate how much information is contained within the WCF rankings database,” says Barr. “The goal was to make that data accessible, useful and enjoyable to explore. Once the project began taking shape, it became clear that there was an opportunity to create something the entire croquet community could benefit from.” Among the site's extensive features are player profiles, country analytics, event histories and head-to-head comparison tools. Users can examine Performance

PASSAGES Jean Lynch................. Sandwich Croquet Club Rosemary Holland..... Sandwich Croquet Club Richard Kent.............. Sandwich Croquet Club

by Grade Band, Rivals Records, Longest Winning and Losing Streaks, Win Rate by Opponent Strength, Best Wins, Regrade History and Hook Performance, along with dozens of other statistical measures and visualizations. The platform also includes historical leaderboards, country rankings and downloadable data that can be useful for selectors, commentators and national governing bodies. For players, the site offers an opportunity to relive memorable victories, revisit difficult defeats, study rivals and track long-term progress. Selectors can leverage head-to-head data and country rankings to support decision-making. Commentators gain access to comparative statistics that can enrich broadcasts, while national associations can easily explore participation, rankings and performance trends within their countries.

Although the public launch has been relatively quiet, development has been anything but. Since its initial release earlier this spring, Barr has already deployed 11 major updates and enhancements. Most notably, the platform recently expanded beyond golf croquet to include AC rankings data, significantly broadening its scope and usefulness. The result is a resource that brings a new level of transparency, accessibility and engagement to the sport. Similar analytics platforms have become commonplace across mainstream sports, allowing fans and participants to explore performance data in ways that deepen understanding and create new conversations. Until now, croquet has lacked a comparable tool. As international croquet continues to grow, CroquetRankings.com provides a powerful new way to explore the sport's history, understand its present and follow its future.

Barr began developing the project during the winter of 2026 while waiting for CroquetRankings.com is available free of the Canadian croquet season to begin. charge and can be accessed at "It started as a personal experiment," www.croquetrankings.com. he explains. "As the project evolved, it became clear that many others would enjoy exploring the data as much as I did."

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TheInbox SCISSORTAIL OKL AHOMA CHAMPIONSHIP DELIVERS DOUBLE-ELIMINATION EXCITEMENT

Championship Flight finalists Scott Spradling and Conner Helms with First Flight Finalists Rob Franks and Tish Peterkin

This year’s annual ScissorTail Oklahoma Championship, held at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, June 4-7, drew participants from Houston and Tyler, Texas, Shreveport, La., Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, Mo., Tulsa, Okla., as well as our local ScissorTail Croquet Club. Except for a brief downpour, the weather cooperated. Competition was friendly but challenging in both flights. This was a double elimination tournament. Everyone came out of the block, so they had two opportunities to advance to the finals. In Championship Flight, it boiled down to Conner Helms and Scott Spradling. Because Helms had made it to the finals with no losses in the playoffs, Spradling had to beat him twice. Spradling won the first match, but Helms came back in the second match to win the flight. In First Flight, the finalists were Tish Peterkin, who had won all her matches in the playoff bracket, and Rob Franks, who had worked his way through the consolation bracket to the finals. Franks had to defeat Peterkin twice to win the flight. And he did! Everyone vowed to return next year for rematches. —Suzanne Spradling

Canadian AC Nationals: Giraud Makes It Three in a Row

The 2026 Canadian Association Croquet National Championship was held June 4-7 in Bayfield, Ontario, bringing together many of the best association croquet players from across Canada and abroad. The championship was jointly hosted at the Bayfield International Croquet Club with support from the Seaforth Lawn Bowling Club. This year’s championship attracted 26 competitors representing clubs from Ontario, British Columbia, the U.S. and Australia. Players competed in three divisions: Championship Flight, A Flight and B Flight. For the third consecutive year, Alain Giraud captured the Championship Flight title, further cementing his place as one of the world’s leading AC players. Currently ranked 24th in the world, Giraud competes internationally under the England flag, having represented both England and Great Britain throughout his distinguished career. Although he now resides in Toronto, Canada, and calls the North Toronto Croquet Club his home club, he continues to represent England in international competition. Giraud faced a challenging tournament. His only defeat came during the block stage against Canadian Brian Cumming, but he rebounded when meeting Cumming again in the final; Giraud dominated the match, winning 26TP-0 and 26TP-1 to claim his third straight national championship. Alain Giraud with presenter David Druiett British Columbia players swept the remaining two flight titles. Michael Kernaghan captured the A Flight championship, defeating Bayfield favorite Bill Rowat in the final, while James White claimed the B Flight title.

Now celebrating its 51st year, the Bayfield International Croquet Club has grown to nearly 100 members, making it the oldest and largest croquet club in Canada. The club has hosted the Canadian Association Croquet Championship for more than 20 years. Canadian players also enjoyed an outstanding championship, highlighting the growing depth of talent at Bayfield and clubs across the country. Bayfield members Nick Howell, David Wise and Arlene Parker all captured secondary event titles. Howell won the Championship Plate, Wise claimed the Championship Bowl and Parker captured the A Flight Plate. Donna Dixon of the U.S. won the B Flight Plate. —John Miles

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Smith Repeats as US GC Classic Champion Round two of the 2026 Mallet Series Tour saw the U.S. Golf Croquet Classic hosted in Denver for the second year in a row, with 24 players and winners in four events. In the Pro Division, Matt Smith took first place with a 7-4, 7-6 win over Cecil Creasey in a championship final that was held on the world-class lawn at the Denver Country Club. The Gold Division featured a final between two undefeated players Pro champion Matt Smith that thrilled the gallery with runner-up Cecil Creasey at Washington Park. Gil Goetz looked in control against local player Shane Eckert as the duo rounded H10. Eckert showed off his long Lawrence. The final saw a lot of action, hit-in skills to battle back and get the game but ultimately Lawrence took the 7-6 win to the hook. A good setup gave Goetz the after a battle at the hook. advantage, and he took the 7-6 victory for The Pro Plate was held at the Denver the Gold title. Eckert won the Gold title Country Club, with Carter Harrison in 2025. getting the win 7-4 over Steve Berry in the final. The event ran 87 games in three days through two courts and saw 14 hours of action on Saturday. —Dylan Goodwin, Kansas District President

Gold champion GIl Goetz

In the afternoon, three players competed in the Silver Division Playoff at Washington Park, which served as a consolation playoff for players eliminated in rounds one and two of the Gold Playoff. Judy McKeon defeated Justin Marciniak 7-2 to advance to a championship final against Timothy

ROCKFISH AND BLUE CRAB CROQUET TOURNAMENTS DRAW CROWDS TO CBCC

The Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club hosted its annual Rockfish Golf Croquet Tournament and Blue Crab American Six Wicket Tournament May 21-24, drawing competitors from across the country for four days of play. The tournaments were held in conjunction with the club’s annual Blue Crab Arts and Crafts Festival, which typically draws about 2,000 spectators and participants each year and adds a very festive atmosphere to the tournaments. Many festival goers stopped by to watch the croquet matches and receive introductory instruction in golf croquet. Both the Rockfish and Blue Crab tournaments have been held at Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club for 10 years. Permanent trophies for each event are displayed in the clubhouse, listing every champion dating back to 2017. Going forward, both tournaments will GC Championship Singles be held annually at Lisa Maloney and Chesapeake Bay Croquet finalist winner Jose Benjumea Club on Memorial Day weekend, running Thursday through Sunday. A total of 55 participants competed across the two tournaments this year. Macey White served as tournament director, and Lee Henry served as tournament manager. Thanks to all the many Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club volunteers who helped make this tournament a success.

Silver champion Tim Lawrence with runner-up Judy McKeon

—Macey White

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Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Celebrates 10 Years LAND THAT REMEMBERS: 10 YEARS OF CROQUET ON THE CHESAPEAKE

Millions of years ago, the ground beneath Hartfield, Va., sat at the bottom of an ancient sea. Tens of thousands of years ago, that same land sustained native tribes who tended it not as property, but as something sacred — woven into the spiritual and communal life of their people. Centuries after that, English settlers and sharecroppers turned the tidewater soil to tobacco, corn and wheat, and the rhythm of planting and harvesting became the region’s heartbeat. Plantations rose and fell. Small family farms took root and endured. Each furrow carried the memory of everyone who had worked that ground before.

This is coastal Virginia’s story: a story of continuity, of land that remembers and of people who honor its past while quietly building its future. It’s also, as it turns out, the story of a croquet club.

A PEACH FARM’S SECOND LIFE A century ago, Macey White’s great-grandfather bought a stretch of that same tidewater land — not for sport, but to grow peaches. For generations, the soil between the Rappahannock and Piankatank Rivers did what fertile Virginia ground has always done: it fed people, and it shaped a family’s sense of place. In August 2016, that peach farm became something new. With just two members and eight brand-new, laser-leveled courts, the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club (CBCC) opened its gates for play. The peach trees are gone, and what was once cultivated for fruit is now cultivated for play, and in both cases, the same hands have done the tending.

Sprigging the new courts in 2016

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Those hands belong largely to Macey White, whose family’s legacy on this land will end with him but whose imprint on it will not. For three decades, his personal care for these grounds has been a quiet, exacting labor of love: sunrise repairs, carefully measured boundaries, endless grooming of lawns and the kind of devotion that turns a simple idea into a world-class destination. Everything CBCC has become started with one man’s insistence on doing right by a piece of land his family had already loved for a hundred years.

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FROM TWO COURTS TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST Many others are now involved with building and shaping the club and their devotion has scaled into something remarkable. Today, CBCC spans 24 championship courts including eight lighted for 24/7 member access, making it the largest croquet facility in the world. Membership has grown to more than 300 players, supported by league play, free weekly lessons and monthly socials that turn a sport into a community. Along the way, the club has hosted national championships and training camps and, in October 2024, it welcomed the 15th World Croquet Federation (WCF) Golf Croquet World Championship: 80 elite players from 17 countries, all converging on what was once a peach orchard in Hartfield. But scale was never really the point. From day one, CBCC’s mission has been to make croquet affordable and welcoming to everyone, and the club works every day to be the friendliest croquet venue on the planet. Walk onto these courts and you’re not just entering a tournament … you’re joining a family, on land that has been welcoming families, in one form or another, for a very long time.

10 YEARS, CELEBRATED ALL YEAR CBCC’s 10th anniversary year runs from August 2026 to August 2027, bookended by the same month the courts first opened for play back in 2016. We’re marking the decade the way this land deserves: not with a single moment, but with a full year of them. Every match played, every new member welcomed and every visitor who steps onto our lawns during that stretch is part of the celebration, whether that’s at a marquee event or on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

2024 WCF Golf Worlds group photo

That said, there will be a moment to kick it all off. Our official 10-Year Anniversary Celebration takes place the last weekend of August 2026, right here at the club — timed to the very month, a decade on, that the first mallet ever struck a ball on these lawns. Mark your calendars now; details on times and activities are coming soon. Consider it the opening note of a year-long celebration, not the whole song.

C E L E B R AT E A M E R I C A' S 2 5 0 T H W H E R E I T ALL BEGAN There has never been a better year to visit Virginia. 2026 also marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the celebration is especially meaningful here, because in so many ways, America started in Virginia. Just a short drive from the club lies the state’s Historic Triangle, where the American story was born. At Jamestown, English colonists established the first permanent English settlement in the New World in 1607, more than a decade before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. In Williamsburg, the restored colonial capital, patriots like Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry debated the ideas of liberty that would ignite a revolution; today, Colonial Williamsburg

Leveling work and the dozer drivers

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brings that era vividly to life with costumed interpreters, historic taverns and working trade shops. And at Yorktown, in 1781, General George Washington’s victory over the British sealed American independence and brought the Revolutionary War to its triumphant close.

Spradling Goes Undefeated at Tulsa’s Memorial Day Tournament

From the nation’s first settlement to the battlefield where independence was won, the full arc of America’s founding unfolded within an easy drive of our courts. Come for the croquet and stay to walk the ground where the United States began, during the country’s landmark 250th birthday year, no less.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE: EXPLORING VIRGINIA’S RIVER RE ALM Middlesex County and the surrounding Chesapeake Bay region offer plenty to enjoy off the courts. Just up the road, the colonial seaport town of Urbanna (founded 1680) charms visitors with historic streets, waterfront dining and the self-guided “Museum in the Streets” walking tour. Its museum houses the famous 1755 John Mitchell Map, often called the most important map in American history. If your travels stretch into early November, Urbanna also hosts Virginia’s official Oyster Festival, drawing tens of thousands to celebrate the Bay’s favorite bivalve. A short drive east, Deltaville, the “Boating Capital of the Chesapeake,” offers the Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park, kayak and paddleboard rentals on Jackson Creek, and fresh-off-the-boat seafood at waterfront restaurants. History buffs can visit Urbanna’s colonial Old Tobacco Warehouse, one of only two such merchant factor stores still standing in the U.S., or venture farther to Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and Norfolk. Golfers will love the scenic Piankatank River Golf Club just minutes from the courts, and anglers and sailors will find fishing and boating on the Bay second to none. Come have a glorious time on the Chesapeake: crisp mornings, warm afternoons, oysters and blue crabs that are plentiful and fat. There are more than 40 restaurants within an easy drive of the club, along with charming inns, bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals throughout the county. The club is an easy one-hour drive from Richmond International Airport.

JOIN US Whether you’re chasing a title or simply looking for a wonderful week of croquet in a beautiful setting, we’d love to have you. Come help us celebrate 10 years on land that has been shaping lives long before it ever grew a croquet lawn — and help us build toward the next hundred. Save that last weekend of August for the party. We’ll be raising a glass to a decade well played, and to everything still ahead.

The 2026 Mallet Series Tour kicked off on Memorial Day Weekend in Tulsa, Okla., with the 2026 Indian Territory Open. Hosted by the Tulsa Croquet Club at Lafortune Park, the American Six Wicket event ran May 22-26 with heavy rain featured on both Friday and Saturday. In the end, it was Scott Spradling from the ScissorTail Croquet Club (STCC) who captured the title in Championship Flight with a 15-13 victory over Dylan Goodwin (Kansas City Croquet Club) in the final, to go a perfect 9-0 in the event. In First Flight, Carl Archiniaco (STCC) claimed the top spot by defeating Art Parsells (Tulsa Croquet Club) 26-16 in the championship game. Archiniaco was 7-1 overall, with his only loss coming from Parsells in block play. The event had eight players in the Championship Scott Spradling division and seven total that participated in the First Flight with Bob Baker (TCC) and Evan Rogers (Oklahoma Wesleyan University) splitting time in the division to fill in for a late withdrawal. The tournament also featured a Waterford Doubles event that saw Goodwin finish first with Spradling taking second place.

—Nancy Crouch, Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Director

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ON A MISSION

FROM COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO EDUCATIONAL CLINICS, FOUR STANDOUT CLUBS EARNED TOP HONORS ( AND A SET OF INVICTUS BALLS) BY BRINGING THE US CA’S C ORE MIS SION TO LIFE FOR N ATION AL CROQUE T DAY.

For this year’s National Croquet Day, the USCA changed things up by introducing four themes that reflect the foundation of its mission: Community, Diversity, Lifestyle and Education. An added incentive was also offered, with a set of Invictus croquet balls awarded to the winner in each category, as selected by the Management Committee. The program was promoted through email, social media and the CroquetAmerica.com website. While most of the clubs who submitted photos chose their own theme, a third stuck to the plan. Proving once again that it pays to read emails from the USCA and check the CroquetAmerica.com website.

BELLEAIR COUNTRY CLUB CROQUET BELLEAIR, FLORIDA

The winners: Milwaukee (Community), Grand Haven (Diversity), Country Club of Jackson (Lifestyle) and Ponte Vedra (Education). Congratulations to everyone who participated!

We celebrated “Beach Day Croquet” by bringing Clearwater Beach inland to the Belleair Croquet Club Croquet court. More than 30 enthusiastic members dressed in their surf styles and came out to enjoy a morning on the courts. The party continued well into the evening with a buffet dinner, live music and dancing the night away. Everyone who drove by the courts stopped to check out the fun and chase down a runaway flamingo. Croquet Chair: Barbara Ann Busch

CHATTOOGA CLUB

CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA We were excited to gather on the lawn to commemorate National Croquet Day and to incorporate a patriotic theme honoring our nation’s semi-quincentennial. It was a festive day enjoyed by all. Contact: Dawn Jupin, Director of Sports, (828) 743-1360 ext. 304

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CLUB AT THE STRAND NAPLES, FLORIDA

Chicago Croquet Club Chicago, Illinios

The Club at the Strand celebrated National Croquet Day with the theme “Margaritas, Mallets and Mayhem!” We even rolled out the red carpet, which was the starting shot. The ball soared over the rolled carpet, becoming airborne, landing in a field of festive donkeys guarding hoop one.

WINNER IN THE CROQUET LIFESTYLE CATEGORY

Contact: Barbara O’Laughlin, (773) 251-4398, bjolaughlin@gmail.com

The Country Club of Sapphire Valley Cashiers, North Carolina.

CROQUET CLUB OF JACKSON

Club Pro Matthew Essick lead the Croquet Day group in all kinds of croquet exercises. Everyone had a ball! Croquet Coordinator: Matthew Essick

“America 250” was the theme for The Country Club of Jackson’s (CCJ) celebration of National Croquet Day. Plans were made during the week by Joe Moore, Director of Croquet, and his committee. National Croquet Day started with a free two-hour clinic for beginners hosted by Moore. Seven members ventured out onto the court to try a new experience.

Derby City Croquet Club

In the afternoon, the call was for Golf Croquet. Dedicated, experienced players showed up as did some of our newly trained croquet players. Moore oversaw all matches being played. Festive and patriotic music, drinks, giveaways, fun and friendship followed, some of the time in the rain. We set up an extra GC lawn in the long grass to accommodate our overflow of players. Pictures from the day were compiled on a wonderful reel by our very own Amy Robinson, who is dedicated to promoting CCJ’s presence on social media. Croquet Contact: Ed Becker, ebecker@acomputer.com

Contact: Sue E Sherer, DerbyCityCroquet@gmail.com

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

Louisville, KY.

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WINNER IN THE DIVERSITY CATEGORY

GRAND HAVEN CLUB CROQUET PALM COAST, FLORIDA

On a beautiful 80-degree day, the Grand Haven Croquet Club celebrated National Croquet Day with “Wickets Without Borders,” an event that highlighted the diversity of our community. The courts were surrounded by flags of every nation, and international banners were hung on the fencing. Participants were encouraged to dress in outfits reflecting their heritage and to bring a dish from their ancestral homeland. Of the 73 people who attended, 48 were club members with an additional 25 Grand Haven community guests. Every attendee received a colorful passport, had their photo taken in front of a world map and, depending on skill level, either went to swing instruction or to one of the many skill tests set up on Court 2. Each completed skill earned a sticker in the passport as well as a raffle ticket for prizes at the end of the day. Our themes of inclusion, community and education were on full display in this memorable celebration. Event Chair: Peter Gordon

HIGHLAND FALLS COUNTRY CLUB HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA

Highlands Falls Country Club celebrated National Croquet Day with a festive Hawaiian-themed afternoon that brought together members, guests and new players for a fun-filled day on the croquet lawn. The event began with a beginner-friendly clinic led by Croquet Professionals Edmund Fordyce and Highlands Falls Club Pro Darin Guffey. New players were introduced to the fundamentals of croquet, including basic strokes, strategy and court etiquette, while gaining hands-on experience with the game. Following the clinic, participants enjoyed social play on the lawn, giving newcomers an opportunity to practice their new skills and experienced players a chance to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the celebration. Throughout the afternoon, members also entered a drawing for a custom Oakley Woods croquet mallet, which added another layer of excitement to the festivities. The highlight of the day was an exciting exhibition match between Fordyce and Guffey. Spectators were treated to a hard-hitting, high-quality contest featuring impressive shot-making, tactical play and plenty of memorable moments. The pair competed in a 19-point game that showcased the precision and strategy of championship-level croquet. As a fun twist, the winner of the exhibition match earned the honor of drawing the winning ticket for the custom mallet. Following his victory, Guffey selected the winner, providing a fitting conclusion to an enjoyable National Croquet Day celebration. With Hawaiian shirts, tropical spirit, enthusiastic participants and a shared love of the game, Highlands Falls Country Club’s National Croquet Day celebration was a tremendous success. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to introduce new players to croquet while bringing the club’s croquet community together to celebrate the sport. Croquet Director: Darin Guffey, dguffey@ClubHFCC.com

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HIGHLANDS COUNTRY CLUB STRIKERS HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA

Greetings from the Strikers Croquet Club at Highlands Country Club in North Carolina! The Highlands Country Club Strikers once again sponsored an outstanding and wellattended celebration of National Croquet Day in picturesque Highlands, N.C. Already boasting a membership of 275 players, the Strikers promoted the celebration for several weeks leading up to the event. As a result, 40 newcomers joined the festivities, along with more than 60 existing Strikers. Continuing a popular tradition, participants were encouraged to wear blue, red, black or yellow tops, creating a colorful and festive atmosphere on the lawns. The celebration began at 10:00 a.m. with a croquet clinic for new players led by our Director of Croquet, Edmund Fordyce. Following the clinic, players played quadruplebanked games on Lawn 1, where newcomers learned technique and strategy through play. More experienced players enjoyed double-banked games on Lawns 2 and 3. After an enjoyable morning on the lawns, participants gathered at the Croquet Pavilion for a delicious lunch. Stations were set up after lunch, which featured a fun and challenging skills competition to test players’ abilities in setting up shots, clearing, blocking and running hoops. The top scorers were rewarded with Strikers’ apparel, including logo shirts, hats and cups. The day was filled with laughter, friendly competition and camaraderie. Judging by the enthusiasm of the participants — and the number of newcomers who joined the Strikers during the event — National Croquet Day 2026 was another tremendous success for the Highlands Country Club Strikers. Croquet Chair: Michelle Chaiken

WINNER IN THE COMMUNITY CATEGORY

MILWAUKEE CROQUET CLUB MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

The Milwaukee Croquet Club celebrated National Croquet Day with a vibrant and memorable gathering that reflected the very best of the sport and the values promoted by the USCA. Members, guests and newcomers came together to enjoy friendly competition, fellowship and the simple pleasure of spending time on the lawns. Adding a colorful twist to tradition, participants were invited to leave their customary whites at home and instead wear the color of their favorite croquet ball. The result was a lively display of reds, blues, blacks, yellows, greens and pinks that perfectly captured the spirit of fun, creativity and inclusion that defined the day. Throughout the event, members enjoyed informal pickup games that encouraged players of all experience levels to mix, meet new friends and strengthen existing relationships. Newcomers to the sport received lessons from experienced club members, providing an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of croquet in a welcoming and supportive environment. These efforts highlighted the club’s commitment to education, participation and promoting croquet as a lifelong activity that supports healthy, active living. An obstacle course added another dimension of fun, challenging participants to test their skills while demonstrating how croquet can be both competitive and playful. A special highlight of the celebration was the presentation of an official proclamation by Executive Director of Milwaukee County Parks Guy Smith declaring June 6 as Milwaukee County Croquet Day. This recognition honors the club’s contributions to recreation, community building and healthy outdoor activity throughout the county. To cap off the festivities, members gathered to enjoy cake and champagne in celebration of both National Croquet Day and Milwaukee County Croquet Day. The toast provided a fitting conclusion to a wonderful event that showcased the club’s dedication to its values. The day was a joyful reminder that croquet is about more than competition — it is about community, friendship, learning and creating lasting memories together. Club President: Gwen Connolly www.croquetamerica.com | 19

LAKEWOOD AT THE GRAND FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA

We had so much fun this weekend celebrating National Croquet Day with a big group of our club members! Our category was Community and we brought our croquet community together for a fun day of play. We encouraged everyone to dress as their favorite color ball, which was very fun to see! We also celebrated the occasion with mimosas and croquet-themed cookies. We held a round robin tournament and everyone had a great time. It was so amazing to see everyone come together and celebrate this awesome sport! Contact: Larkin Harris, Recreation Manager, (251) 990-6362

National Croquet Club West Palm Beach, FLorida

The National Croquet Club had over 20 “brilliant” croquet professors instructing 60 visitors new to croquet, hence the club’s theme of “Croquet Education.” This is a very important event for the club as it sets the stage for our “Summer League,” and it helps to bring in new members. Once people get a chance to play the game, they “graduate” to being regular visitors and members. Class topics included basic shot making, intro to golf croquet, 6W Pointers and a Jump Class taught by Club Pro Zack Watson. Croquet Pro: Zack Watson, watson_croquet@croquetnational.com, (561) 478-2300

New York Croquet Club NYC CENTRAL PARK, New York

Merion Cricket Club Haverford, Pennsylvania

NYCC President: Paul Neubecker, nyccroquet@gmail.com Croquet Coordinator: Whitney Thain, (610) 642-5800

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PINEHURST CROQUET CLUB PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA

Pinehurst Croquet Club celebrated National Croquet Day in Red, White and Blue. Because the country was turning 250, we thought it would be appropriate. It was a great turnout. Club contact: Elaine Moody, halliburton_2@msn.com

WINNER IN THE EDUCATION CATEGORY

Quogue Field Club Quogue, New York

The Field Club had a great turnout for their Croquet Day event. The newbies are outperforming many of us mere mortals already! Croquet Professional: Stephen Morgan

Spring Island

Okatie, South carolina

PONTE VEDRA CROQUET CLUB

Contact: Jordan Rozek, Event Coordinator

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA

The Ponte Vedra Croquet Club celebrated National Croquet Day dressed in their most patriotic red, white and blues. The club chose the theme of Education and cycled its members through learning the game of 9-Wicket Croquet on the back lawns, while other members continued to play their golf croquet games on the front lawns. Very few members had ever played 9W, but they recognized the similarity to childhood backyard croquet with much more strategy involved. Everyone had a good time, and more of these games will probably be played. In keeping with the theme of education, the social members have begun a “Chat Croquet” game on Thursday mornings. At these games, members are encouraged to discuss strategy, try different approaches and shots and can even get a “do-over” to build confidence. Contact: MaryCarol Stearns, mstearns2@bellsouth.net

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Rossmoor Croquet Club Jamesburg, NJ

WILDCAT CLIFFS CROQUET CLUB HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA

Wildcat Cliffs Croquet Club celebrated National Croquet Day with a Sadie Hawkins Tournament where our Ladies on the Lawn ruled the day! Contact: Erika L. Stamey, Director of Fitness & Recreation, (828) 526-5850 The Rossmoor Croquet Club celebrated National Croquet Day on Saturday, June 6, with a “Paint the Court Pink” party. The event was a continuation of the Rossmoor Active Adult Community’s year-long promotion of fundraising to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Research, as well as the USCA campaign to introduce new players to the sport of croquet.

WYNDEMERE COUNTRY CLUB NAPLES, FLORIDA

Club members were joined by 15 Rossmoor friends and neighbors, including members of the Rossmoor Chorus, Pickleball, Corn Hole, and Bocce groups. Loud cheers and laughter resounded as the group played golf croquet dressed in pink instead of their traditional white attire, enjoyed pink champagne, pink lemonade and refreshments. Guests were invited to take the “wicket flamingo challenge” on the practice court. By hitting a croquet ball through the flamingo-flanked wicket, winners received a strawberry ice cream cone Hershey kiss. Everyone was a winner, including the cause. The Rossmoor Croquet Club and friends raised more than $900 to be donated to breast cancer research. In the midst of learning how to play croquet, one of our guests called her son to say, “You’ll never guess what I’m doing,” only to hear that he was in NYC watching the NYC Croquet Club’s National Croquet Day event. Big club or small, National Croquet Day absolutely hit the peg! Club President: Dan Dobromilsk, dandobcla@aol.com

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Our club had 12 participants for a “Back to the 80s” National Croquet Day celebration who enthusiastically embraced the theme and helped make the event a great success. As dedicated supporters of the sport of croquet, we look forward to participating in National Croquet Day each year and celebrating with fellow players across the country. We are proud of our members’ creativity, teamwork and spirit, and hope our efforts reflect the fun and enthusiasm that National Croquet Day represents. Event Coordinator: Jicham Zaatini

croquettv

The Making of a Livestream

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A CROQUE T T V BROADCAST, WHERE WHAT LOOKS EFFORTLESS TAKES A SMALL, DEVOTED CREW, A WALL OF MONITORS AND A HE ALTHY FE AR OF MURPHY’S L AW. It is 7:55 a.m. in February, and the sun is blaring through the open second-floor windows of the National Croquet Center (NCC). The morning dew lies heavy on the grass, and the trails of early practice shots crisscross the lawn. Four cameras are already in position around two lawns, including a remote-controlled camera mounted high above Court 6. It is semifinal day at the 2026 U.S. Open Golf Croquet Championship, and we are set to cover two matches at once, played side by side on NCC’s featured courts. Armando Ghinaglia, production director for iDo Livestreaming, counts us down. The feed goes live, and we are off and talking — national referee Priscilla Flowers and I on the first commentary shift, to be joined later by some of the best players in the game as their own knockout matches free them up.

Abeer Mostafa (L) and Cami Russack (R) provide commentary from the second floor of the National Croquet Center clubhouse, looking out over the championship lawns.

BY MICHAEL KOLOWICH, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF CROQUET TV

Stacks of player profiles, background sheets and sponsor lists are arrayed on the table in front of us. We fill a little time, covering a short delay while Adam Peck resets a wicket that’s just a touch too tight. Then a coin toss and the croquet begins. To the thousands of people watching from around the world, it all looks easy. It is not.

FROM HIGHLIGHT TAPES TO LIVE Video coverage of USCA-sanctioned croquet is nothing new. Russ Dilley has been recording key matches for years, adding commentary afterward and packaging them into polished highlight pieces. What is new, and what changes everything, is doing it live. Livestreaming layers an entirely new order of complexity on top of each production. Anyone who has ever produced live television will tell you the same thing: it’s a standing invitation to Murphy’s Law: the principle that anything that can go wrong, will (and usually at the least convenient moment imaginable). There are no second takes. The match plays at its own pace, the weather does as it pleases and the broadcast simply must keep up. For 2026, the USCA decided to lean into live coverage in a serious way, and engaged iDo Livestreaming, a West Palm Beach, Fla., company whose principal experience had been covering beach tennis tournaments. Croquet, it turns out, asks for many of the same instincts — a feel for the rhythm of a sport, an eye for the decisive moment and the discipline to make a fast-moving event look calm on screen.

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iDo camera operators capture play in front of the National Croquet Center’s landmark clubhouse. Court cameras feed back to the switcher wirelessly.

As USCA President Bev Cardo puts it, “While many think of croquet as a backyard game for children, we have been able to showcase games played at the highest level by players from around the world. We’re proud that many of our own players are among that field.”

Production Director Armando Ghinaglia of iDo Livestreaming works the switcher a few feet from the commentary desk — close enough to hear the call, far enough that the chaos stays off the air.

Where do I fit in? I was asked to take this on because of a background in television (I was a TV news reporter in Boston in my younger days) and years of producing live-streamed events since. I’m a more recent arrival to the croquet world, but I do play all the major codes of the game competitively. Knowing croquet from inside the lines matters enormously when you are trying to explain it to a camera.

THE STUDIO UPSTAIRS Our “studio” is a room on the second floor of the clubhouse, its windows thrown open to the lawns below. The commentary desk sits right at the glass, so we as commentators can watch the play with our own eyes even as we follow it on the monitors. Ghinaglia sets up about 15 feet away — close enough to be within earshot, but far enough that the controlled chaos of switching never spills into the broadcast.

On the switcher, four live feeds plus replay and graphics. With a touch, the director chooses what the world sees next.

In front of him is a monitor showing the views of all four cameras at once, plus a real-time scoreboard and on-screen graphics. His job, moment to moment, is to decide which one goes live. The cameras out on the court connect back wirelessly; the cameras in the studio area are wired directly into the switcher. Through a private intercom feed that reaches each camera operator, Ghinaglia speaks quietly, asking one to line up a particular shot, another to hold tight on a player at the hoop, a running conversation the audience never hears. That remote camera above Court 6 earns its keep. The high angle gives a perspective on the court that eye-level cameras simply cannot: the position of the balls relative to the hoops and to one another becomes far clearer from above. But the nuance of a particular stroke, a jump shot, a delicate Photo by Beverley Cardo

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croquettv

touch at the wicket, reads best in close-up. A good broadcast is forever trading between the two: the wide view to show what is at stake, the tight view to show how a wicket is won or lost.

FROM LAWN TO LIVING ROOM Once Ghinaglia selects a shot, the signal is combined with the scoreboard graphics, compressed, encoded and sent up to YouTube, where it appears on the USCA’s channel as well as on dedicated video-streaming pages of the USCA website. The whole operation depends on the venue’s internet connection. Streaming four high-definition cameras at once places a tremendous load on any network, and we are fortunate that the National Croquet Center’s bandwidth and WiFi infrastructure are sufficient to carry it. The payoff is an audience that would have been difficult to imagine only a few years ago. Each live cast draws thousands of views from nearly as many unique viewers, a global congregation tuning in to watch hoops contested on a lawn in West Palm Beach, Fla.

THE ART OF THE CALL That global reach shapes how we call the game. Our viewers range from newcomers who have never seen a hoop contested to tournament-hardened veterans who know every angle on the lawn. The announcers have to keep both in mind at once: to educate the new, to respect the experienced and always to inform.

Post-match analysis: Matthew Essick (left), Kyle Maloof, head referee David Maloof, and producer Michael Kolowich break down the semifinals after Essick booked his place in the final.

Golf croquet makes this harder than it sounds. Because most players move at a quick cadence with dispatch, there is rarely time for a long story between strokes. The premium is on rapid strategic analysis: reading the lawn, anticipating the next clearance or jump and the occasional plainEnglish explanation of a rule, delivered in the few seconds before the next player steps to the ball. The best antidote to dead air is to put great players in the booth. Every tournament veteran carries dozens of engaging stories, and the insight they bring is unmatched. Across the U.S. Open, our commentary chairs rotated through some of the finest players in the world: one recent broadcast featured commentary from Matthew Essick, Reg Bamford, Kyle Maloof, Zack Watson and several of the Egyptian stars who travel the world circuit. Tom Balding has hosted many hours of live casts on the channel this season.

WHEN MURPHY STRIKES The setup inside the NCC gives us a reliable, repeatable way to host a livestream. But the road does not always cooperate, and now and then the team must improvise. At the 2026 Steuber Classic, a tent erected for the Hall of Fame Dinner rose high enough to obscure the view from our usual second-story windows, so we were forced to work from underneath the edge of the tent instead. Everything went fine until an intense thunderstorm hit late in the afternoon, wreaking havoc on an equipment setup that does not take kindly to water. A long night of drying out and rebuilding ensued. But the team was back in position and able to live-cast the final matches first thing the next morning.

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WHY IT MATTERS

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE

For all the gear and choreography, the point of any of this is bigger than a single match. Ghinaglia has watched live streaming transform a niche sport before and he is convinced croquet is on the same path.

None of this happens without the people who underwrite it. We owe an enormous debt to the generous support of sponsors such as Oakley Woods Croquet, White Tie Croquet, Karen Weihs Fine Art, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the many individual donors who help fund both the live casts and the tournaments themselves.

“Live streaming has been huge for growing niche sports. I’ve seen it firsthand with beach tennis,” he tells me. “Once people can actually watch a sport at a broadcast-quality level, it becomes real to them, sponsors take it seriously and players feel like they’re competing on a stage that matters.” As for our game, he is optimistic. “For croquet, I think the ceiling is high,” Ghinaglia says. “The sport is visually compelling and strategic in a way that translates well on camera. It just needs consistent, professional coverage to build that audience over time.” That, in the end, is what the room upstairs is for.

So, the next time you settle in to watch a U.S. Open GC semifinal from your couch or anywhere in the world, picture the room upstairs: the open windows, the wall of monitors, the quiet voice on the intercom, the stacks of paper and the small, devoted crew doing its best to stay one step ahead of Murphy. The coin goes up, the game begins, and for a few hours croquet looks every bit as easy to broadcast as it is beautiful to watch.

In the coming year, USCA plans to release several new members-only instructional series, as well as video to celebrate the association’s 50 years of history.

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USCA Collegiate GC National Championship Haverford, Pennsylvania | April 25-26, 2026

Back-to-Back: Scantlin and Nettleton Defend Collegiate Title BY JUSTIN BERBIG

The USCA’s National Collegiate GC Championship was held April 25-26 at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, Pa. Five colleges came from around the United States to play this year’s event with a total of 28 students. Saturday was cold, windy and rainy, but every team got to play five block matches. The St. John’s team of Dalton Olsson and Henry Stockman came out of the block 5-0, giving them the top seed and a bye into Sunday’s playoffs. A new team from the University of Maryland (Isaiah Winger and Francisco Echerria) came to play as they were an impressive 4-1 in block play, to claim the 2nd seed and a bye for the knockout. Sunday’s playoffs were intense with several games going to the hook. The number one seed lost in the semifinals to the defending champions from Oklahoma Wesleyan, Asher Scantlin and Luka Nettleton. In the other semifinal match, Winger and Echerria found themselves down 6-4 against Oklahoma Wesleyan’s Evan Rogers and Josiah Wyatt. The team from Maryland fought back and scored 11, 12 and 13 for the win, putting themselves into the finals. The Maryland versus Oklahoma Wesleyan final offered an extremely intense match with a lot of great shooting and strategy. The game went to the hook, with Oklahoma Wesleyan coming out on top, making Scantlin and Nettleton back-toback champions.

The Oklahoma Wesleyan team of Luka Nettleton and Asher Scantlin on the left with Dalton Olsson and Henry Stockman of St. Johns on the right. Collegiate Committee chair Justin Berbig in the center.

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Thank you to all the players who came out this year. Everyone played great! The strategy and shot-making were the best I’ve ever seen. Special thanks to the Merion Cricket Club for hosting this year’s event! Thank you so much to Whitney Thain for all your support of the College Division.

TE AM RESULTS

DOUBLES RESULTS

01. Oklahoma Wesleyan 02. St. Johns 03. University of Maryland 04. John Hopkins University 05. US Naval Academy

01. Asher Scantlin/Luka Nettleton 02. Isaiah Winger/Francisco Echeverria 03. Dalton Olsson/Henry Stockman 04. Evan Rogers/Josiah Wyatt 05. Ginger Hoofnagle/Steven Kendall 05. Clark Cheney/Sho Takeshita 05. Lane Wyatt/Niam Mcfrederick 05. Ben Shelsby/Ike Banks 09. Tom Brunton/Oliver Duhan 09. Kekoa Alexander/Landen Waider 09. Angus Preston/Caden Marshall 09. Sara Ramirez-Pombo/Charlie Aspillaga 09. Andrea Gonzalez/Rowie Echeverria 09. Hayden McCullough/Aidan Coberly

USCA SCHOOLS AT THE NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER

Our schools are taught by top USCA-certified instructors who are qualified and experienced players selected by our staff because of their croquet expertise and ability to communicate to those who wish to learn to play the game correctly. Students will have the opportunity to play croquet in a structured environment. Classes are small (8:1 or less student-to-teacher ratio) and are tailored to the specific playing levels of the participants.

AMERICAN 6W (3 days) Oct 20-22, 2026

GOLF CROQUET (2 days) October 6-7, 2026 December 1-2, 2026

ASSOCIATION (2 days) October 13-14, 2026

USCA SCHOOLS INCLUDE: 5 hours/day of on-court instruction (9:30-3:30) Use of equipment Official Rulebook (New A6W or GC members) USCA Shot-making Manual (1st time A6W)

Daily Continental Breakfast and Lunches (9:00-9:30) Certificate of Completion & Photograph Wine and Cheese Graduation Party (3:30-4:30)

United States Croquet Association 700 Florida Mango Rd, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL. 33406

www.croquetamerica.com 561.478.0760

USCA 9-Wicket National Championship Morehead, Kentucky | May 28-31, 2026

Kentucky Welcomes 2026 9-Wicket Nationals BY BRIAN HOVIS

The 2026 9-Wicket National Championship was held in Morehead, Ky., at the Don Greenhill City Park, May 28-31, 2026, on two croquet lawns. The Morehead Parks and Recreation dedicated and named the croquet facility after USCA member Dean Rowland. Rowland has been the driving force in establishing and maintaining the croquet lawns. Two more courts were made on a nearby baseball diamond. This is the first time in USCA history that Kentucky has hosted this event. Dean and Pam Rowland were the tournament managers and April and Brian Hovis directed the event.

the knockout was Lewis Carlisle and Robert Stewart, who were undefeated in block play. Howard Major and Tom Lawrence were the #2 seed with only one loss in block play. Peter and Sue Sherer also had only one loss in block play but had fewer net hoops, so they received the #3 seed. The final group making it to the knockout was Inez Cancienne and Lee Reed. In the semifinals, Carlisle and Stewart defeated Cancienne and Reed 28-14, and Major and Lawrence narrowly defeated the Sherers 15-14. The First Flight Doubles final came down to one hoop. Carlisle and Stewart beat Major and Lawrence 14-13.

Twenty-four USCA members registered for this year’s event. Five of the 24 were former National Champions. The tournament had singles and doubles in a Championship and First Flight. A one-game doubles playoff was conducted for the Introductory Flight. The Introductory Flight knockout was between Morehead City Park employees Tripp Greenhill and Daniel Fultz taking on the Morehead City Mayor Laura White-Brown and the director of Parks and Recreation Matt Hamilton. Winners of the game were Mayor Laura White-Brown and Matt Hamilton. It didn’t take but one game to get them hooked on croquet. Every day since the event, the employees can be found hitting balls on the croquet lawn.

The Championship Doubles competition consisted of five teams, with the top four making the Knockout. In the semifinals, Macey White and Nancy Crouch defeated Donald Parker and John Warlick 32-15. John Young and Doug Moore defeated George Cochran and Michael Kearns 29-20, setting up a doubles final that was one for the history books. The match between White/Crouch and Young/Moore was a back-and-forth battle that resulted in a tie at the end of regulation. Two last turns were not enough to settle the tie. The rule in this year’s event stated that if there was not a winner after the second round of last turns, the game would be settled by a shootout. Only one player from each team participated in the shootout; both teams used the same ball and attempted to score the same hoop, starting at a distance of three feet, then moving to six feet and then nine feet until we had a winner. White and Young competed in the shootout. Both players made their three-foot and six-foot shots. At nine feet, both players missed their first attempt. White missed his second attempt, but Young didn’t, securing the victory for him and Moore. This is Moore’s third doubles title. Young was playing in his first-ever 9-Wicket event. Not a bad way to start a 9W career.

9-wicket croquet is truly a beloved American recreational pastime that attracts a diverse demographic spanning all ages. This year’s youngest player was Irving Scully, a 12-year-old from Indiana, and the oldest was his 81-year-old grandfather Russ Dilley. Players from Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, New York, Florida, Virginia, Indiana, Colorado and Bermuda demonstrated their skills over the four-day event. Participants played hard every day and also took time for camaraderie on Friday night, dining together at the Sawstone Brewing Company. The First Flight Doubles competition consisted of seven teams. The top four teams made the knockout. The #1 seed going into

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First Flight Singles had two blocks of five players. All players made the knockout. Robert Stewart and Howard Major were both

Championship singles runner-up George Cochran and champion Macey White with TD Brian Hovis and 9W Committee Chair Ron Eccles

First Flight singles winner Robert Stewart and runner-up Howard Major with organizers Brian Hovis and Ron Eccles

Championship Flight Doubles winners John Young and Doug Moore with the runner-up duo of Macey White and Nancy Crouch

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USCA 9-Wicket National Championship Morehead, Kentucky | May 28-31, 2026

undefeated in block play and both made it to the finals. Stewart came away with a one-point victory over Major. This was Stewart’s first year competing in the 9-Wicket National Championship. We hope he continues to play and expect him to be in championship flight next year. Major, from Bowling Green, Ky., was playing in his second national championship. Championship Flight Singles had two blocks of five players. All players made the knockout. White was the #1 seed and was undefeated in block play. The #2 seed was Cochran, only losing one game in block play. Just like the first flight finals, the #1 and #2 seeds made it to the final game. White beat Cochran by a score of 24-18 to secure his fourth singles 9W National Championship title. This National event has given Kentucky croquet a jump start. Prior to the event, this tournament received a lot of media coverage, which resulted in several never-before-seen croquet players from all over the state showing up to check it out and watch. We have found players from all over Kentucky who are now interested in playing in events at Morehead and at the Derby City Croquet Club in Louisville. The Morehead Parks and Recreation want their lawns to be the best they can be. They have plans to make the courts and the facility better and want the event to come back to Kentucky.

First Flight Doubles winners Lewis Carlisle and Robert Stewart and the runner-up team of Howard Major and Tom Lawrence

32 | www.croquetamerica.com

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT 01. Macey White 02. George Cochran 03. Brian Hovis 03. John Young 05. Doug Moore 05. John Warlick 05. Michael Kearns 05. Donald Parker 09. Ron Eccles 09. Nancy Crouch

Dean Rowland

FIRST FLIGHT 01. Robert Stewart 02. Howard Major 03. Lewis Carlisle 03. Francisco Echeverria 05. Peter Sherer 05. Inez Cancienne 05. Dean Rowland 05. Robert Smothers 09. Gail Warlick 09. Lee Reed

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. John Young/Doug Moore 02. Macey White/Nancy Crouch 03. Donald Parker/John Warlick 03. George Cochran/Michael Kearns 05. Brian Hovis/Ron Eccles

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Lewis Carlisle/Robert Stewart 02. Howard Major/Tom Lawrence 03. Inez Cancienne/Lee Reed 03. Peter Sherer/Sue Sherer 05. Gail Warlick/Francisco Echeverria 06. Russell Dilley/Irving Scully 07. Dean Rowland/Robert Smothers

Francisco Echeverria

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www.croquetamerica.com | 33

2026 USCA Southeast American Six Wicket Regional Hartfield, Virginia | June 11-14, 2026

Lassiter Takes Southeast American Six Wicket Regional BY MACEY WHITE

The 2026 Southeast American Six Wicket Regional was held at the beautiful Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Hartfield, Va., on June 11-14. The event drew 21 players from across the United States. Play began each day with doubles in the morning, followed by singles in the afternoon. Championship Flight doubles had seven teams, and First Flight had four. Competition in doubles consisted of a roundrobin in each flight with all players advancing to a knockout playoff. Singles started Thursday after doubles with round-robin play. In the round-robin stage, there were two flights, Championship and First Flight. After the round-robin, First Flight was split into a First Flight and Second Flight for the playoffs, based on round-robin results. The finishing order in the blocks decided the seeding for the singleelimination knockout, which started Saturday afternoon.

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THREE FLIGHTS OF SINGLES PL AYOFF ACTION Adam Lassiter captured the Championship Flight singles title after defeating Mark Fields, 17-5, in the semifinals and edging Macey White, 21-19, in a closely contested final. White advanced to the championship match with a 23-4 semifinal victory over Brian Hovis. Bill Trower won the Championship Plate taking a 14-13 win over Linda Trifone, who is the Southeast Regional Vice President. George Claffey captured the First Flight singles title with a 1410 victory over Randy Lassiter in the final. Claffey reached the championship match by edging Priscilla Flowers, 16-15, while Lassiter defeated John Welch, 15-7, in the other semifinal. Welch had advanced with a narrow 7-6 opening-round victory over Rick Pratt.

TD Macey White with Championship Doubles winners Brian Hovis and Brian Zindel and the runnerup team of Linda Trifone and Mark Fields.

Championship singles runner-up Macey White and champion Adam Lassiter with Southeast Regional VP Linda Trifone

Michael Kolowich won the Second Flight singles title with a 13-6 victory over Jeffrey Taylor in the final. Kolowich advanced by defeating Wyck Knox, 12-9, while Taylor earned his place in the championship match with an 11-9 semifinal win over Janet Mullen.

HOVIS AND ZINDEL CAPTURE DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP Brian Hovis and Brian Zindel completed a strong tournament by teaming up to win the Championship Flight doubles title. They defeated Mark Fields and Linda Trifone in the final 17-10. Jeffrey Taylor and Rick Pratt won the First Flight doubles championship, defeating Janet Mullen and John Woods 13-11 in the title match.

First Flight singles finalists George Claffey and Randy Lassiter

First Flight doubles winners Jeffrey Taylor and Rick Pratt

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

SECOND FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Adam Lassiter 02. Macey White 03. Mark Fields 03. Brian Hovis 05. Brian Zindel 05. Calvert Chaney 05. Josh Lassiter 05. Gil Rocha 09. Bill Trower 10. Linda Trifone 11. Rodney Lassiter

01. Michael Kolowich 02. Jeffrey Taylor 03. Janet Mullen 03. Wyck Knox

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES 01. George Claffey 02. Randy Lassiter 03. Priscilla Flowers 03. John Welch 05. Rick Pratt

Second Flight singles winner Michael Kolowich and runner-up Jeffrey Taylor Plate finalist Linda Trifone and winner Bill Trower.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Brian Zindel/Brian Hovis 02. Mark Fields/Linda Trifone 03. Rodney Lassiter/Randy Lassiter 03. Calvert Chaney/Bill Trower 05. Adam Lassiter/Josh Lassiter 05. Gil Rocha/George Claffey

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Jeffrey Taylor/Rick Pratt 02. Janet Mullen/John Woods 03. Michael Kolowich/Priscilla Flowers 03. Wyck Knox/John Welch

www.croquetamerica.com | 35

Beyond the Court

Four Issues to Engage and Expand Your Audience The USCA’s full-color Croquet News magazine is now quarterly with all four issues released in print + the interactive digital edition. Since the Croquet News digital magazine was launched, it continues to set new standards for reader engagement and advertiser click-throughs. Plus, the digital edition goes beyond the USCA membership and offers a global reach of more than 4,000 total readers per issue for the print + digital editions. Each issue of the magazine includes tactics columns, tournament dates, news, results, national event coverage and features full of the best croquet photography.

Get Started

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

Upcoming Ad/Copy Deadlines 2026 November Issue (Winter) – 10/23/26 2027 February Issue (Spring) – 1/15/27

membersclubs NEW MEMBERS ARIZONA

MARYLAND

Keith Lawton

Ike Banks Thomas Brunton Oliver Duhan Virginia Hoofnagle

Scottsdale–Mountain Mallets

CALIFORNIA

Oakland–Oakland Croquet Club Robert Creek

CONNECTICUT

Middletown–Greenwich Croquet Club Barbara Acosta Debby Lash

FLORIDA

Boca Grande–Gasparilla Inn Mallet Club John Benoit Beth Rockefeller

Gulf Stream–The Little Club Emmett O'Connell Judith O'Connell

Hobe Sound–Jupiter Island Club William Dye

Key Largo–Key Largo Anglers Club Charles Post

Naples–Wilderness Country Club Kelly Knight

Palm Coast–Grand Haven Croquet Club John Licata

Stuart–At Large Member Linda Scheibel

Vero Beach–Oak Harbor Club Helen Morrison Lesley Pace

West Palm Beach–National Croquet Club Kathy Benton Gervais Eric Debra Gervais Beth Karson Hewlett Kent Howard Mensch Norman Nelson Tamara Rabil Al Rabil III

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GEORGIA

Carrollton–Carroll County Croquet Players Lance Ivey

INDIANA

Annapolis–St. Johns College

Duxbury–At Large Member Michael Sanders

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Lonesome Pine Croquet Club......Lexington, North Carolina

TEXAS

Houston–Houston Croquet Association

NEW MEXICO

Linda Bertetti John Herman Robert Hunt Barbara Palmquist Albert Schneuwly Maria Tierney Craig Wiley Sheryl Winters Ann Wozencraft Justin York

Kathryn Berchtold

VERMONT

Virginia Crisman

NEW JERSEY

Rumson–Rumson Country Club Donald Callahan

Spring Lake–Green Gables Croquet Club Joan Weeks

Los Alamos–At Large Member

NEW YORK

Camillus–West Hill Golf & Croquet Club Richard Schamp

Locust Valley–The Creek Club Kelly Fasciano

NORTH CAROLINA

Dorset–Dorset Field Club Charles Post Tim Post

WISCONSIN

Milwaukee–Milwaukee Croquet Club Michael Vigil

Bald Head Island–Bald Head Island Croquet Club Greg Braswell Janis Braswell Barbara Luton William Luton

Highlands–Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, Inc Cynthia Trescott Robert Trescott

Lexington–Lonesome Pine Croquet Club Brandon Easter

Linville–Linville Golf Club Lili Teigland William Viar

Buying or Selling? Linda Grady, PA, GRI, RESA, PSA,CSP, C2EX

561-512-0852 lindagradyrealtor@gmail.com

Donation Made To Your Favorite Charity at Closing!

Pinehurst–Pinehurst Croquet Club Jennifer Archer Tony Archer Chris Casinella Robert Ernst Mary Lou Seigfreid Nicole Tuggle Mark Tuggle

Sapphire–Burlingame Country Club

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Claire Francis

KENTUCKY

OKLAHOMA

Bartlesville–Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Grant Penn

Clarke-Benjamin Cheney Josiah Wyatt

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MASSACHUSETTS

Fort Wayne–Fort Wayne Croquet Club

Frankfort–At Large Member

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SEARCH FOR HOMES www.paradiserealestateinternational.com

Mary Palmer Dargan

www.croquetamerica.com | 37

american6Wtactics

ROVER BASICS BY JEFF SOO Abbreviations used: blUe, Red, blacK, Yellow A rover ball can be very powerful. Its ability to clear deadness at any wicket dramatically shifts the risk profile in your favor for a variety of attacking plays. First, though, you must know the special rules that apply to rover balls. A rover ball clears its deadness (and earns a continuation shot) by running any wicket, but only if it is dead on two or three balls. The only way to clear a rover ball that is dead on only one ball is by clearing it under the “special relief from deadness” rule (Rule 7.3) after your opponent scores 1-back. If a rover ball that is dead on only one ball passes through a wicket, nothing happens; its deadness does not change, and it does not earn a continuation shot. When a rover ball does clear its deadness, by either of the above methods, we don’t clear the deadness board for that ball completely. That’s because a rover ball remains temporarily dead — last dead — on the last ball it became dead on. We indicate this by covering the relevant square of the deadness board halfway, as shown in Figure 1, which shows Y last dead on U:

FIGURE 1: Y has just cleared, but remains last dead on U.

(This rule applies only to the deadness a ball picks up when it is already a rover ball. When a ball first becomes a rover ball, by scoring the rover wicket, it is completely clear on all balls.) If Y roquets R, the temporary deadness on U disappears, and we adjust the board as shown in Figure 2, which shows that Y is dead on R:

FIGURE 2: Y then roquets R, removing the last deadness on U.

When a rover ball is dead on more than one ball, the board should show which ball was the last one roqueted. It may be several turns before the rover ball clears its deadness, and we want the board to keep track of this. We again use the convention of covering only half of the relevant square, but with a different meaning than in Figure 1: it was the last ball roqueted, but the ball in question is fully (i.e., not temporarily) dead on it.

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Continuing from Figure 2, if Y roquets K, we uncover half of K’s square to show Y dead on both R and K, with K the last ball hit: Finally, following the same protocol, if Y roquets U, we fully uncover K’s square and half uncover U’s square:

FIGURE 3: Y is dead on both R and K; K was the last ball Y roqueted.

If Y then runs a wicket, the board goes back to Figure 1.

FIGURE 4: Y is three-ball dead, having last roqueted U.

Once a rover ball acquires deadness, for the rest of the game it will never be completely free of some kind of deadness, either normal deadness on one or more balls, or last deadness on one ball. Last deadness might not seem like much of a hindrance, but a savvy opponent can sometimes take advantage of it by harassing your rover ball with the one ball it can’t hit first. An even greater limitation is when a rover ball is last dead on its partner. You need a roquet on opponent to clear the temporary deadness on partner, which typically requires a long hit-in. Even worse, this can become a trap where you keep ending up last dead on partner. The only way to break the pattern is to roquet both opponent balls (one of them first and one of them last). There are exceptions, mainly late in the game, but as a rule you should always avoid going last dead on partner. The best way to guarantee this is to always roquet partner first, and only when there is an opponent ball near a wicket you can use to get clean again. Another disadvantage that comes with getting a clip to the stake is the risk of being staked out, either by an opponent’s rover ball or through your own carelessness. Having only one ball to your opponent’s two will usually tilt the odds massively in their favor, unless you already have a comfortable lead and there’s not much time left on the game clock. Finally, a rover ball may only roquet any given ball once per turn; roqueting the same ball twice during a turn, even if you are clear on it both times, is treated as a dead-ball fault. In the next issue we’ll look at rover tactics in more detail.

grandprix 2026 A6W OVERALL GP STANDINGS # Player Singles 01 Randy Cardo 7610 02 Robert Pulitzer 10500 03 John Brown 7810 04 Charlotte Pulitzer 10130 05 Calvert Chaney 6900 06 Brian Hovis 3510 07 Mark Fields 4600 08 Lucas Van Alen 6080 09 Adam Lassiter 5100 10 Cecil Creasey Jr. 5960 11 Mark Ski 2850 12 Linda Trifone 700 13 Macey White 5400 14 Brian Zindel 1500 15 Stephen Errickson 5280 16 David Ekstrom 4050 17 Robert Van Tassell 3000 18 Preston Stuart 3970 19 Courtney Green 3860 20 Neil Houghton 4060 Total players: 285 Updated 7/27/2026.

2026 GC OVERALL GP STANDINGS # Player Singles 01 Matthew Essick 7634 02 Tom Balding 4149 03 Reg Bamford 5421 04 Cami Russack 4040 05 Greg Fletcher 4610 06 Tamer Hatata 3366 07 Zack Watson 3181 08 Edmund Fordyce 3828 09 Mohamed Karem 3577 10 Caryl Firth 2301 11 Brian Lozano 2854 12 Bruce Hindin 2321 13 Kyle Maloof 2033 14 Cecil Creasey 2928 15 Alex Galasso 1861 16 Mike Hoggatt 2572 17 Ahab Abdelwahab 1907 18 John Brown 0 19 Adam Peck 2508 20 Darin Guffey 1782 Total players: 398. Updated 7/22/2026.

2026 AC OVERALL GP STANDINGS # Player Singles 01 Matthew Essick 3276 02 Tom Balding 2541 03 Zack Watson 2310 04 Kyle Maloof 1601 05 Brian Cumming 2252 06 Edmund Fordyce 1951 07 Darin Guffey 1951 08 Stephen Morgan 1601 09 Sherif Abdelwahab 1709 10 Chris Barley 1660 11 Matt Smith 1601 12 Brian Hovis 1839 13 Matt Griffith 1329 14 Stuart Lawrence 1567 15 Doug Grimsley 987 16 Steve Scalpone 1422 17 Martyn Selman 1223 18 David Maloof 698 19 Lynda Sudderberg 1060 20 Tom Cooper 996 Total players: 76. Updated 7/13/2026.

Doubles

Total

6879 2879 4479 488 3447 5496 3590 1600 1968 1072 3376 5386 300 4200 170 1400 2160 1000 1000 510

14489 13379 12289 10618 10347 9006 8190 7680 7068 7032 6226 6086 5700 5700 5450 5450 5160 4970 4860 4570

Doubles

Total

2208 3163 1850 1489 589 1094 1014 264 457 1587 938 1369 1492 577 1621 716 1270 3163 501 1179

9842 7312 7271 5529 5199 4460 4195 4092 4034 3888 3792 3690 3525 3505 3482 3288 3177 3163 3009 2961

Doubles

Total

1202 1778 1202 1778 977 740 740 977 740 740 740 454 740 454 977 454 454 977 454 454

4478 4319 3512 3379 3229 2691 2691 2578 2449 2400 2341 2293 2069 2021 1964 1876 1677 1675 1514 1450

2026 A6W WOMEN'S GP STANDINGS # Player Singles 01 Charlotte Pulitzer 10130 02 Linda Trifone 700 03 Courtney Green 3860 04 Deborah Millican 3640 05 Lynda Sudderberg 3190 06 Yvette Donato Selby 2775 07 Teresa Errickson 1830 08 Patricia Spratt 1266 09 Sally McGrath 1316 10 Mary Rodeberg 425 11 Elaine Moody 800 12 Nancy Crouch 900 13 Donna Dixon 760 14 Kathleen Green 648 15 Jan Fisher 537 16 Jodie Rugart 680 17 Patricia Peterkin 712 18 Priscilla Flowers 631 19 Georgia Carter 390 20 Karen Leoncavallo 540 Total players: 91. Updated 7/27/2026.

2026 GC WOMEN'S GP STANDINGS # Player Singles 01 Cami Russack 4040 02 Caryl Firth 2301 03 Mary Galasso 1332 04 Sarah Persons 1989 05 Rania Gabr 2655 06 Lucia Morales-Halaby 1344 07 Priscilla Flowers 1080 08 Dorothy Silliman 1395 09 Nancy Rendleman 1716 10 Susan Creasey 1498 11 Gail Barley 1610 12 Julie Wright 1704 13 Kim Beaty 983 14 Cheryl Bromley 1815 15 Karen Heckman 312 16 Lisa Maloney 1610 17 Kim Jones 1017 18 Jodie Rugart 1470 19 Helen Covington 1413 20 Glo Ghegan 1127 Total players: 163 Updated 7/22/2026.

2026 AC WOMEN'S GP STANDINGS # Player Singles 01 Lynda Sudderberg 1060 02 Sandra Knuth 490 03 Arlene Parker 535 04 Kathie Hart 403 05 Teresa Errickson 394 06 Cami Russack 284 07 Karen Weihs 142 08 Christine Smith 231 09 Sandy Janitz 209 10 Jodie Rugart 184 11 Loretta Cooper 136 12 Becky Essick 49 13 Susan Creasey 76 14 Barbara Wills 54 15 Donna Dixon 35 16 Susan Wall 34 Total players: 16. Updated 7/13/2026.

Doubles

Total

488 5386 1000 0 0 0 170 648 480 1200 680 300 400 480 464 240 189 267 298 0

10618 6086 4860 3640 3190 2775 2000 1914 1796 1625 1480 1200 1160 1128 1001 920 901 898 688 540

Doubles

Total

1489 1587 1578 891 0 1209 1460 874 459 577 380 278 841 0 1492 178 631 99 0 242

5529 3888 2910 2880 2655 2553 2540 2269 2175 2075 1990 1982 1824 1815 1804 1788 1648 1569 1413 1369

Doubles

Total

454 740 454 454 454 66 132 36 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 0

1514 1230 989 857 848 350 274 267 209 184 136 85 76 54 35 34

www.croquetamerica.com | 39

gcamerica

GAIL Barley Tops the Field at USCA Women’s GC National Qualifier BY CHERYL BROMLEY

The inaugural USCA Women’s Golf Croquet National Qualifier held at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., April 23-26, 2026, is part of an exciting lead-up to the 2027 USCA Women’s GC Nationals. Building on the momentum and success of both the Women’s GC Open held in January and the WGCA Women’s International Friendship Cup held in March, along with the upcoming WGCA Women’s Doubles Open in October, there are now several more exciting opportunities for women to gain a foothold and climb the ranks in golf croquet. The top four finishers in singles and the top two doubles teams from this qualifier event have now earned their spots in the Women’s GC Nationals next March. Day One of the Qualifier featured action in the Doubles Knockout with several close matches leading up to a three-hour semifinal between Lucia Morales-Halaby and Cami Russack against the formidable team of Dorothy Silliman and Gail Barley. Morales-Halaby/Russack prevailed with a 10-8 victory to advance into the final. On the other half of the draw, Diane Waterfall and Polly Joa steadily moved past their opponents en route to the final with a 10-4 win against Mary Hennelly and Kim Jones in the semis. With the top two finalists now qualified, a modified playoff, due to the late hour of the day, determined the final positions. Day two and three consisted of singles block play. The top four finishers from each of the three groups moved into the knockout with remaining players moving into the Plate. After getting past top-seed Morales-Halaby in the singles quarterfinals 109, Rania Gabr continued her run deep into the tournament, displaying incredible hoop shots, long clears and precision placement. On the other side of the draw, Gail Barley was calmly and methodically taking apart her opponents one by one with impressive long-distance clearing shots and smart, steady play. Something quite rare occurred after the first two rounds of Knockout. Four players who made it into the semifinals all came out of the same block. The Singles Final between Barley and Gabr was beautifully played, complete with an assortment of incredible shot-making, sheer determination and focus from both players. The match went the distance with Barley pulling out the win at the hook 10-9. Scores can be found on croquetscores.com with the final match available on the USCA YouTube channel. Thank you to TM Lynda Bjorklund; Tom Hennelly, scorekeeper; Adam Peck, Ursula Peck and Brian Hovis of the USCA; Franck Meunier of NCC; and Scott Reiser of Sandy James Catering.

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Singles Finalist Rania Gabr with 2026 Singles Champion Gail Barley

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT SINGLES 01. Gail Barley 02. Rania Gabr 03. Cami Russack 04. Priscilla Flowers 05. Lucia Morales-Halaby 05. Dorothy Silliman 05. Jodie Rugart 05. Sandy Knuth 09. Diane Waterfall 09. Caryl Firth 09. Karen Weihs 09. Susan Hogan 13. Debby Jacobson 14. Glo Ghegan 15. Lynn DeVault 15. Mary Hennelly 17. Emily Martin

Doubles finalists Polly Joa and Diane Waterfall with Lucia MoralesHalaby and Cami Russack.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Lucia Morales-Halaby/Cami Russack 02. Diane Waterfall/Polly Joa 03. Dorothy Silliman/Gail Barley 03. Mary Hennelly/Kim Jones 05. Glo Ghegan/Debby Jacobson 06. Sandy Knuth/Priscilla Flowers 07. Caryl Firth/Karen Weihs 08. Susan Hogan/Jodie Rugart 08. Emily Martin/Lynn Devault

SINGLES PL ATE WINNER Debby Jacobson

DOUBLES PLATE WINNER Sandy Knuth/Priscilla Flowers

GC SCENARIO The score is 6-5 with Red/Yellow in the lead. It is Blue to play and is located eight yards east of Hoop #12. It can see 99 percent of the Red ball. Red is on a 45-degree angle to the hoop, three yards back and is open on the Black ball. Black is four feet straight back and open on the hoop. Yellow is one yard back from the hoop on a very slight angle.

slightly off, might clear Red. By clearing Yellow, this will also put additional pressure on Red’s angled hoop shot with Black sitting in jumping range.

What would you do if you were playing the Blue ball?

Intermediate: Although an eight-yard clearing shot might seem daunting, this is a critical point in the match and a shot to develop that will take an intermediate player to the next level.

a. Attempt to clear Red b. Clear the Yellow ball c. Position Blue to block the front of the hoop If I were coaching a player at each of the various levels below, this is what I would suggest to them: Advanced: Option 1. Aim to clear the Yellow ball just slightly right of center as it has the highest probability of scoring and winning the match. If hit well, there is a chance Blue could glance off Yellow and into the Red ball or, if

Option 2. Aim to clear the Red ball. If hit well, this will make Red’s shot at Black more difficult from farther away and potentially allow Black to score the hoop or clear Yellow.

Option 1. Clear Yellow. Option 2. Block the front of the hoop on the scoring side to interfere with both Red and Yellow’s hoop shots. Novice Player: Option 1. Block the front of the hoop on the scoring side. Option 2. Clear Yellow.

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www.croquetamerica.com | 41

eventresults 2026 Woodlawn Invitational Woodlawn Croquet Court Ellsworth, Maine June 25-28, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Neil Houghton 02. Don Parker 03. Lucas Van Alen 04. Bob Pulitzer 05. Bob Worrell 06. Quinn Reinhardt

First Flight 01. David Kepner 02. James Peasley 03. Katie Bull 04. James Lane 05. Fred Beck 05. Bob Snyder 07. Peter Sherer 07. Ellen Snyder

2026 Berkshire Invitational Lenox Croquet Club Lenox, Massachusetts June 18-21, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Charlotte Pulitzer 02. Calvert Chaney 03. Bob Pulitzer 03. David McCoy 05. Courtney Green 05. Preston Stuart 07. David Ekstrom 07. Bob Gannon

First Flight 01. Rick Hayes 02. Neville Boschert 03. George Claffey 03. Michael Kolowich 05. Kathleen Green 05. Sally McGrath 07. Fred Beck

Second Flight 01. James Peasley 02. Debbie Martin 03. Douglas Greeff 03. Karen Kay 05. Richard Goldman 05. John McGrath 05. Gregory Presley 05. Larry Schmutz

Championship Flight Waterford Doubles 01. Bob Gannon 01. Bob Pulitzer 02. David McCoy 02. Charlotte Pulitzer 05. Calvert Chaney 06. Courtney Green 07. Preston Stuart 08. David Ekstrom

First Flight Waterford Doubles 01. Michael Kolowich 01. Larry Schmutz 02. Douglas Greeff 02. John McGrath 05. Rita McNamara 06. Neville Boschert

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07. Sally McGrath 08. Rick Hayes 09. Richard Goldman 10. Fred Beck 11. James Peasley 12. George Claffey 13. Debbie Martin 14. Kathleen Green 15. Gregory Presley 16. Karen Kay

New York State GC Championship New York Croquet Club New York, New York June 12-14, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Paul Neubecker 02. Rania Gabr 03. Cami Russack 03. Khaled Kholief 05. Tate Russack 05. Bill Simmons 05. Jennifer Ely

First Flight 01. John Moyers 02. Chris Kaas 03. Owen Boger 03. Ralph Charles 05. John Feidner 05. Larry Ciembroniewicz 05. Diane Waterfall 05. Chris Eaton

Second Flight 01. Michael Chomey 02. Janet Anthos 03. Eugenie Birch 03. John Hartman 05. Nancy Bressler 05. Jonathon Baron 05. Anne McCravey 05. Patricia Richmond

Championship Flight Doubles 01. Cami Russack/Tate Russack 02. Paul Neubecker/Charles Loving

First Flight Doubles 01. John Moyers/Michael Chomey 02. Anne McCravey/Eugenie Birch

2026 U.S. Golf Croquet Classic Denver Croquet Club | Denver, Colorado June 12-14, 2026

Pro Division 01. Matt Smith 02. Cecil Creasey 03. Amr Hamdy 03. Matt Griffith 05. Rich Lamm 05. Rob Sinclair 05. Ned Sperry 05. Dylan Goodwin 09. Carter Harrison 11. John Steninger 12. Ron Eccles 12. Steve Berry

Gold Division 01. Gil Goetz 02. Shane Eckert 03. Chad Mahan 03. John Dillon 05. Susan Creasey 05. Gabe Poehls 05. Timothy Lawrence 05. Judith McKeon 10. Gwen Connolly 12. Gus Parks 12. Gwendolyn DeSilva 12. Justin Marciniak

Silver Division 01. Timothy Lawrence 02. Judith McKeon 03. Justin Marciniak

Pro Plate 01. Carter Harrison 02. Steve Berry 03. Dylan Goodwin 03. Ned Sperry

2026 Dogwood Spring GC Challenge Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, Virginia April 15-June 15, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Jeff Taylor 02. Lisa Maloney 03. Gil Goetz 04. Lyle Browning 05. John W Woods 06. Michael Heath 07. Russ Brudnicki 08. Rick Pratt

Blue Flight 01. Leo Viens 02. Penn Pendleton 03. Miles McCrimmon 04. Frank Jemmison 05. Freddie Mitchell 06. Kari Lee Donovan 07. Cynthia Fowler

Green Flight 01. Joe Ward 02. Kevin Cordray 03. Wesley Ralston 04. Byron Chafin 05. Doug Fowler 06. Harold Friedhoff 07. Laura Raymond

Gray Flight 01. Wayne Maloney 02. Jeff Newsome 03. Robin Stellwagon 04. Pam Viens 05. Lee Henry 06. Monica Melendez

2026 Dogwood Spring 6W Challenge Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, Virginia April 15-June 15, 2026 01. Michael Heath 02. Jeff Taylor 03. John Priest 04. Kevin Cordray 05. John Woods 06. Russ Brudnicki 07. Rick Pratt

Scissortail Oklahoma Championship Oklahoma City CCC Nichols Hills, OK June 4-7, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Conner Helms 02. Scott Spradling 03. Britt Ruby 04. Jodie Rugart 05. George Peterkin 05. Jon Spaulding 07. John Watson 07. Joe Steiner

First Flight 01. Rob Franks 02. Tish Peterkin 03. Carl Archiniaco 04. Suzanne Spradling 05. Gene Bryan 05. Mary Craddock 07. Bass Wallace

USCA GC Eights Bald Head Island Club Southport, North Carolina June 4-7, 2026

First Eight: 01. Crayton Morrow 02. Jim Jamison 03. Cecil Creasey 04. Mike Hoggatt 05. Alex Galasso 06. Kendall Hendrick 07. Billie Ray 08. James Creasey

Second Eight: 01. Susan Creasey 02. Sarah Persons 03. Bill Simmons 04. Todd Russell 05. Mary Galasso 06. Ryan Eberlein 07. Jason Collins 08. Dick Johnston

Third Eight: 01. Brandon Easter 02. Jon Essick 03. Mike Watson 04. Tom Locke 05. Rocky Smith 06. Betty Robinson 07. Susie Parker

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The Gravetye Manor

Cliveden House

Stay in the Elizabethan splendour of the Gravetye Manor, with their Michelin Star restaurant, and the outrageous, palatial elegance of Cliveden House. Play at 750yr old Hever Castle and Penshurst Place, visit Sir Winston Churchill’s country home then play on his croquet lawn. Compete in our international Tell ‘em that the Yanks are Coming tournament with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club and much more! Learn the 7 Skills to Play Like a Champion as taught by Jiminy Wicket® plus 5 of our 21 Ways to Play Better Croquet. Celebrate your wins with a Roaring ’20s awards dinner and glow-in-the-dark croquet! (stripey blazers, bow ties, flapper dresses and fascinators). And all this with door-to-door transport by legendary and luxurious Land Rover. Inclusive of all rooms, meals, activities, admissions, gratuities and taxes. 100% of proceeds support our mission. Limit 4 - 8 guests. ©2026 Jiminy Wicket

Shootout GC Singles Pinehurst Croquet Club Pinehurst, North Carolina May 29-31, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Nancy Rendleman 02. Bob Cherry 03. Mike Taylor 03. Dick Rendleman 05. Stephen Errickson 05. Horace Hayworth 07. Michael Edwards 08. Teresa Errickson

First Flight 01. Tony Watts 02. David Grayson 03. Mel Eckhart 03. Pami Johnston 05. Elaine Moody 05. Carol Mulcahy 07. Bob Mendel 07. Mieke Grayson 09. Jimmie Hepner 09. Maggie Langley 11. Joanie O’Brien 11. Bob Hepner

For more: info@JiminyWicket.org

Second Flight 01. Lory Lockwood 02. Joe Dunstan 03. Jan Waldron 03. Debbie Masotti 05. Linda McKarney 05. Bette Rycroft

2026 Indian Territory Open Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa Croquet Club May 22-25, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Scott Spradling 02. Dylan Goodwin 03. Matt Baird 03. Stuart Price 05. Kevin McQuigg 05. Ron Millican 05. Joe Steiner 05. Jon Spaulding

Championship Flight Waterford Doubles 01. Dylan Goodwin 02. Scott Spradling 03. Ron Millican 04. Jon Spaulding 05. Kevin McQuigg 06. Joe Steiner 07. Stuart Price

First Flight Waterford Doubles 01. Greg Adams 02. Suzanne Spradling 03. Carl Archiniaco 04. Jodi Adams 05. Bob Baker 06. Evan Rogers

The Rockfish Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, Virginia May 21-24, 2026

First Flight

Championship Flight Singles

01. Carl Archiniaco 02. Art Parsells 03. Suzanne Spradling 04. Greg Adams 04. Jodi Adams 06. Bob Baker 06. Evan Rogers

01. Jose Benjumea 02. Lisa Maloney 03. Chris Olsen 03. John Woods 05. Sarah Persons 05. Dana Silliman 05. Dorothy Silliman 05. Joe Ward

09. Roberta Kachel 09. Russ Brudnicki 09. Gill Goetz 09. George Enochs

First Flight Singles 01. Sho Takeshita 02. Jason Collins 03. Trudy Crowetz 03. David Phillips 05. Heather Welch 05. Steve Shultz 05. Pam Groh 05. Denys Shorthouse 09. Jimmie Hepner 09. Elsa McDowell 09. Bob Hepner 09. Wayne Maloney 09. Bobbi Shorthouse 09. Patti Phillips 09. Jimmy Hawkins 09. Burt Ozment

Championship Flight Doubles 01. Rick Pratt/Pam Groh 02. Dorothy Silliman/Wayne Maloney 03. George Enochs/Bob Hepner 03. Russ Brudnicki/Trudy Crowetz 05. Chris Olsen/Jimmie Hepner 05. Sarah Persons/Gil Goetz 05. Roberta Kachel/Jason Collins 05. Lisa Maloney/David Phillips

www.croquetamerica.com | 43

eventresults The Rockfish (continued) Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, Virginia May 21-24, 2026

First Flight Doubles 01. Elsa McDowell/Alex Hawkins 02. Denys Shorthouse/Steve Shultz 03. Bobbi Shorthouse/Jimmy Hawkins 03. Patti Phillips/Charles Hawkins 05. Burt Ozment/Liddy Chaney 05. Harold Friedhoff/Sims Hagan 05. Heather Welch/Jim Hawkins

The Blue Crab Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, Virginia May 21-24, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Macey White 02. Gil Rocha 03. Nancy Crouch 04. Donald Parker 05. Francisco Echeverria 05. Dave Dill 05. Rodney Lassiter 05. Jan Fisher

First Flight 01. Wyck Knox 02. Greg Presley 03. Isaiah Winger 03. John Welch 05. Matt Caesar 05. Alec Martin 05. Jim Peasley 05. Christine Martin

Second Flight 01. Keith Hart 02. Tom Mullen 03. Elsa McDowell 03. Barbara Crawford 05. Janet Mullen 05. Bob Cullipher 07. Debra Boyce 07. Richard DeLong 07. Sammy Crawford 10. Martha Delong

Championship Flight Doubles 01. Danny Huneycutt/Chris Olsen 02. Adam Lassiter/Rick Pratt 03. Josh Lassiter/Jose Benjumea 03. Randy Lassiter/Sarah Persons 05. Rodney Lassiter/Jan Fisher 05. Cecil Creasey/Susan Creasey

First Flight Doubles 01. Brian Midkiff/Wayne Meade 02. Gil Goetz/Jon Spaulding 03. Tom Wolford/Keith Hart 04. Martha DeLong/Richard DeLong 04. George Enochs/Elsa McDowell 04. Jason Collins/Bob Cullipher 07. Hillary Lassiter/Debra Boyce 07. Tom Mullen/Janet Mullen 07. Sammy Crawford/Barbara Crawford

North Carolina AC Open Pinehurst Croquet Club Pinehurst, North Carolina May 7-10, 2026

Championship Flight

Albemarle Croquet Club GC Open Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, North Carolina May 14-16, 2026

01. Tom Balding 02. Brian Hovis 03. Brian Cumming 03. Sherif Abdelwahab 05. Stuart Lawrence 05. Tom Cooper 05. Cecil Creasey 05. Michael Todorovich 09. Danny Huneycutt 10. Lynda Sudderberg 10. Stephen Errickson 11. David Druiett

Championship Flight

First Flight

01. Josh Lassiter 02. Danny Huneycutt 03. Cecil Creasey 03. Randy Lassiter 05. Adam Lassiter 05. Jose Benjumea 07. Rodney Lassiter 07. Chris Olsen 09. Tom Wolford

01. Michael Kolowich 02. Teresa Errickson 03. Rick Hayes 03. Cami Russack 05. Tim Williams 05. Susan Creasey 05. Kathie Hart 05. Rocky Smith 09. Becky Essick 09. Chris Smith

Championship Flight Doubles 01. Calvert Chaney/Jim Peasley 02. Rodney Lassiter/John Woods 03. Jan Fisher/Henry Hagan 03. David Dill/John Welch 05. Donald Parker/Greg Presley

First Flight 01. Brian Midkiff 02. Jason Collins 03. Susan Creasey 03. Jon Spaulding 05. Gil Goetz 05. Wayne Meade 07. Sarah Persons 08. Rick Pratt 08. Jan Fisher 08. George Enochs 08. Hillary Lassiter

44 | www.croquetamerica.com

2026 USCA FL SE District GC Championship National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida May 2-3, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Adam Peck 02. Cami Russack 03. Tate Russack 04. David Ekstrom

05. Alex Galasso 06. Bruce Hindin 07. William Trower 08. Bill Simmons

First Flight 01. Caryl Firth 02. Jay Carey 03. Diane Waterfall 04. Jan Fisher 05. John Warlick 06. Mary Galasso 07. Tom Lindley 08. Kim Jones

Second Flight 01. Franck Meunier 02. Ned Fleming 03. Jason Collins 04. Jane Grandusky 05. Trudy Crowetz 06. Donald Allison 07. Pamela Groh 08. Lawrence Zaffuto

2026 Palmetto Invitational Green Boundary Club Aiken, South Carolina May 1-3, 2026

1. Adam Lassiter/Hillary Lassiter 2. Brian Hovis/Bo Prillaman 3. Gene Raymond/Nancy Hary 4. Scott Brown/Rich Watson 5. Jim Peasley/Mark Tatusko 6. Wyck Know/Jim Podraza 7. Ann Clemens/Sam Clemens

2026 Croquet Fools King City Civic Association Portland, Oregon April 30-May 3, 2026 01. Patrick Sweeney 02. Rich Lamm 03. Steve Scalpone 04. Peter Bach 05. Curtis Toops 06. Ron Eccles 07. Chad Mahan

The Grand Cup The Village Club Fairhope, Alabama April 30-May 3, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Ron Taylor 02. Mary Carol Stearns 03. Brett Fullerton 03. Todd Russell 05. Barbara Mudd 05. Helen Covington 05. Cantey Callaway 05. Mike Hoggatt 09. John Somerset 10. Sue Sergeant 11. Susan Koepp 11. Thomas Howell 13. Charles Wimberly

Merion Interclub 6W Merion Cricket Club Haverford, Pennsylvania April 26-27, 2026 01. Doug Moore (NYCC) 02. Peter Timmins (NYCC) 03. Jim Daniels (Green Gables)

04. Karen Leoncavallo (Green Gables) 05. Chris Patmore (NYCC) 06. Ralph Charles (NYCC) 07. Mark Ski (NYCC) 08. Steve Graham (CC of Annapolis) 09. John Oehrle Merion Cricket 10. Scott McMurray (Green Gables) 11. Quinn Reinhardt (NYCC) 12. Neil Houghton (Merion Cricket) 13. Peter Woolley (NYCC) 14. Scott Kennedy (Green Gables) 15. Jay Graham (CC of Annapolis)

2026 Merion Interclub GC Tournament Merion Cricket Club Haverford, Pennsylvania April 25-26, 2026 01. Steve Fisher (Merion Folkways Oklahoma) 02. Stanley Fisher (Merion Folkways Oklahoma) 03. Janice Bryson (Merion Folkways Oklahoma) 04. JonPaul Turner (NYCC) 05. Tom Watkins (Merion Cricket) 06. Ajay Dravid (Merion Folkways Oklahoma) 07. Chris Morris (NYCC) 08. Bob Camp (Merion Cricket) 09. Owen Boger (NYCC) 10. Eric Rabe (Merion Folkways Oklahoma) 11. Carol McKiernen (NYCC) 12. Darrell DeMoss (Merion Cricket) 13. Bob Stevens (Merion Cricket) 14. Ann Abbott (Merion Folkways Oklahoma) 15. Trevor Vonkaenel (NYCC) 16. Tony Salvo (Merion Cricket) 17. Bob McKiernen (Merion Cricket) 18. Ezra Roth (NYCC)

SCA Florida Treasure Coast District GC Championship The Moorings Croquet Club Vero Beach, Florida April 24-26, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Kendall Hendrick 02. Mike Hoggatt 03. Dennis Leddy 03. Jose Benjumea 05. Billy Harper 05. David Scott 05. Mark Kucharski 05. Tim Lawrence 09. Kim Jones (Plate Winner) 10. Tom Lobsitz 11. Bo Prillaman 11. Sarah Persons

First Flight 01. Robert Smith 02. Nick Geeslin 03. Jay Carey 03. John Dillon 05. Raymond Buza 05. Michael George 05. Arianne George 05. Bob Tait

C U S T O M

M A L L E T S

Introducing Formula 1, the newest model in the PFC Hoop Maker range. Three years in development, the Formula 1 uses an advanced alloy formulation, which allows greater accuracy , more fluid power transfer and greater distance for less less effort. The Formula 1 weighs 2lb-11oz, has a dark grey laminate top and hightech green striking faces. Choose either 11" or 9-5/8" head length.

Experience the power, the beautiful balance and accuracy Contact Vickie Johnston, USA Distributor HoopmakerUSA@gmail.com 09. Patricia Kells (Plate Winner) 10. James Stollenwerck 11. Melissa England 11. Joan Henderson

NCC GC Club Singles National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, Florida April 11-12, 2026

2026 Flagler Cup Grand Haven Croquet Club Palm Coast, Florida April 16-19, 2026

01. Chris Olsen 02. Devin Burress 03. Tate Russack 03. Preston Stuart 05. Joe Harris 05. Dvid McCoy

Championship Flight 01. Michael Kukla 02. Brett Fullerton 03. Rich Watson 04. John Currington 05. Peter Gordon

First Flight 01. Howard Chodak 02. Gary Gamble 03. David Paukovich 04. Jim Padraza

Second Flight 01. Billy Roche 02. Mike Debitetto 03. Greg Presley 04. Gloria Gordon

Championship Flight Doubles 01. Brett Fullerton/Gloria Gordon 02. Mike Debitetto/Peter Gordon 03. Michael Kukla/Billy Roche 04. Rich Watson/Greg Presley 05. Dave Paukovich/Jim Podraza

Championship Flight

First Flight 01. Jason Collins 02. Dick Corey 03. Tom Lindley 03. Franck Meunier 05. Jacquie Harris 05. Trudy Crowetz

Second Flight 01. Scott Langston 02. Sean Foley 03. Richard Allen 03. Bill Wunder 05. Jane Gaillard

2026 Croquet Club of Jackson 6W Invitational Country Club of Jackson Jackson, Mississippi April 9-12, 2026

Championship Flight 01. George Cochran 02. Mike Taylor 03. Mark Fields

415-203-2794 03. Calvert Chaney 04. Ed Becker 04. George Peterkin 04. Micheal Kearns 04. Elaine Moody 05. Joe Yoder 05. Linda Tirfone

First Flight 01. Tish Peterkin 02. Scott Kennedy 03. George Claffey 03. Mark Saxon 04. Stephen Grassbaugh 04. Rob Franks 04. Gene Bryan 04. Neville Boschert 05. Jan Fisher 05. David Trigiani

Second Flight 01. Kim Reniska 02. Inez Cancienne 03. Liddy Chaney 03. Margaret McLarty

Championship Flight Doubles 01. Becker/Trifone 02. Fields/McRee 03. Cochran/Alley 03. Taylor/Moody 03. Chaney/Peterkin 03. Kearns/Yoder

First Flight Doubles 01. Grassbaugh/McLarty 02. Claffey/Saxon 03. Kennedy/Reniska

03. Fisher/Cancienne 03. Trigiani/Chaney 03. Boschert/Franks 03. Bryan/Peterkin

Dolphin League GC Challenge Grand Haven Croquet Club Palm Coast, Florida February 15-May 31, 2026

Championship Flight 01. Brett Fullerton 02. Howard Chodak 03. Dorothy Silliman 04. Billy Roche 05. David Betsill 06. Dana Silliman

First Flight 01. John Licata 02. Lisa Chodak 03. Mike Debitetto 04. Carmen Roche

Dolphin League 6W Challenge Grand Haven Croquet Club Palm Coast, Florida February 15-May 31, 2026 01. Brett Fullerton 02. Howard Chodak 03. Billy Roche 04. Peter Gordon 05. Edmund Giancola 06. John Licata 07. Lisa Chodak 08. Carmen Roche

www.croquetamerica.com | 45

uscaevents August

9/14/2026 - 9/16/2026

10/15/2026 - 10/18/2026

January 2027

8/1/2026 - 8/2/2026

Ocean House Mallet Club Watch Hill, RI Patricia K Spratt (860) 227-7297 psprattct@aol.com

Highlands, NC Lee Robinson | (727) 638-3633 Cdlee4773@gmail.com

1/7/2027 - 1/10/2027

Sticky Wicket Weekend (GC)

Merion Cricket Club Haverford, PA Whitney Thain | (610) 642-5800 wthain@merioncricket.com 8/7/2026 - 8/9/2026

Rochester Invitational A6W Croquet Tournament (A6) G&T Sports Park Hilton, NY Richard G Curtis (585) 461-2365 rgcrover@aol.com

8/7/2026 - 8/9/2026

USCA Northeast Regional A6W Championship (A6) Sandwich Croquet Club East Sandwich, MA (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 8/13/2026 - 8/16/2026

Woodlawn Vacationland GC Tournament (GC) Woodlawn Croquet Club Ellsworth, ME Timothy McCormick (207) 329-5343 tmccorm1@gmail.com 8/17/2026 - 8/19/2026

The Prosser Cup (GC)

Ocean House Mallet Club Watch Hill, RI Patricia K Spratt (860) 227-7297 psprattct@aol.com

September

9/4/2026 - 9/7/2026

NC State A6W Singles Championship Albemarle Croquet Club (A6)

Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC Adam Lassiter | (252) 326-1231 adamllassiter@gmail.com 9/4/2026 - 9/7/2026

USCA Midwest Regional (A6) Lafortune Park Tulsa, OK (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 9/9/2026 - 9/13/2026

Woodlawn Big Lobster (A6/ 9W)

Woodlawn Croquet Club Ellsworth, ME Perry A Mattson (207) 667-9335 newburyneckshore@gmail.com 9/11/2026 - 9/13/2026

Six Wicket Vineyards Harvest Tournament (A6)

Six Wicket Vineyards Myersville, MD Edward O'Laughlin (410) 598-1600 edward@sixwicketvineyards.com 9/13/2026 - 9/18/2026

USCA Golf Croquet National Championship (GC) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

The Little Rhody (A6)

9/18/2026 - 9/20/2026

USCA Mid-Atlantic Regional (A6) New York Croquet Club New York, NY (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 9/18/2026

Heritage Classic (GC)

Sandwich Croquet Club East Sandwich, MA Robert Kroeger (617) 413-3316 Bobkroeger@aol.com 9/23/2026 - 9/26/2026

Pinehurst Invitational (A6)

Pinehurst Country Club Pinehurst, NC Elaine Moody | (910) 986-3164 halliburton_2@msn.com 9/23/2026

Palm Beach County Special Olympics (GC)

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL John Bannister | 561-339-2081 johnbannister1977@gmail.com 9/26/2026 - 9/27/2026

The Croquet Invitational (A6/AC) Merion Cricket Club Haverford, PA Whitney Thain | (610) 642-5800 wthain@merioncricket.com

October

10/1/2026 - 10/4/2026

Albemarle Croquet Club Fall GC Open (GC)

The Plateau Classic (GC)

10/16/2026 - 10/18/2026

Paradise Coast Invitational (A6) Wyndemere Country Club & Naples Croquet Club Naples, FL 10/22/2026 - 10/25/2026

USCA Selection Eights (AC) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 10/23/2026 - 10/25/2026

Green Boundary Invitational (GC) Green Boundary Club Aiken, SC Marc Blumberg | (404) 229-7052 ppimab@aol.com 10/30/2026 - 11/1/2026

USCA NE FL District GC Championship (GC)

Ponte Vedra Croquet Club Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

November

11/4/2026 - 11/8/2026

USCA Seniors & Masters (A6) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 11/13/2026 - 11/15/2026

The GC Shark Tooth Open (GC) Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Nancy Hart | (803) 530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com

USCA Florida Regional Golf Croquet (GC) Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL 1/8/2027 - 1/10/2027

NCC Club A6W Singles (A6)

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL Julia Johnston | (561) 852-1413 medstone100@me.com 1/14/2027 - 1/17/2027

Women’s 6th Annual GC Open (GC)

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL Danny Huneycutt (336) 470-4864 huney1322@gmail.com 1/21/2027 - 1/24/2027

The Jones (A6)

Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Nancy Hart | (803) 530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com 1/27/2027 - 1/31/2027

Beach Club 6W Invitational (A6) The Beach Club | Palm Beach, FL Jane Casey | (203) 570-1866 rjntkc@gmail.com

February

2/19/2027 - 2/21/2027

GC Shootout (GC)

Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Gene Raymond | (919) 612-3366 generaymond1@gmail.com

10/4/2026 - 10/10/2026

11/19/2026 - 11/22/2026

3/4/2027 - 3/7/2027

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

Gasparilla Mallet Club Boca Grande, FL Gene Raymond (919) 612-3366 generaymond1@gmail.com

10/12/2026 - 10/14/2026

WGCA 2nd Annual Women's GC Doubles Open at Albemarle(GC) Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC Cheryl Bromley (954) 242-8601 bromleycroquet@gmail.com 10/15/2026 - 10/18/2026

North American Open GC Tournament (GC)

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA Macey W White (804) 694-9771 maceywhite@gmail.com 10/15/2026 - 10/18/2026

Bermuda Invitational (A6)

Bermuda John Young III | (441) 238-7308 theyoungs@northrock.bm

46 | www.croquetamerica.com

11/21/2026 - 11/29/2026

2026 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship (GC) Cairo, Egypt

December 12/4/2026 - 12/6/2026

USCA GC Club Teams (GC) Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 12/11/2026 - 12/13/2026

The Holiday Classic (A6)

Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Nancy Hart | (803) 530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com 12/11/2026 - 12/13/2026

Seahorse GC Invitational (GC) The Beach Club Palm Beach, FL Jane Casey | (203) 570-1866 rjntkc@gmail.com

4/11/2027-4/17/2027

Association Laws National Championship (AC) Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL | (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 4/24/2027 - 4/25/2027

USCA Florida Southeast District Golf Croquet Tournament (GC) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL

June

6/3/2027 - 6/6/2027

USCA GC Eights (GC)

Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

September

9/12/2027 - 9/18/2027

USCA A6W National Championship (A6)

Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

October

10/14/2027 - 10/17/2027

10/28/2027 - 10/31/2027

March

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

April

West Palm Beach, FL Franck Meunier (773) 875-5250 meunier.franck.100@gmail.com

Cairo, Egypt

USCA GC Seniors & Masters (GC)

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA GC Seniors & Masters (GC)

The Steuber Classic

11/14/2026 - 11/18/2026

USCA A6W National Championship (A6)

USCA Women's GC National Championship (GC)

2/24/2027 - 2/28/2027

Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC Elaine Smith | (330) 231-1071 elainesmith8543@gmail.com

2026 WCF Golf Croquet World Qualifier

3/31/2027 - 4/4/2027

Blaine Davis Invitational (A6)

3/6/2027 - 3/7/2027

NCC Club GC Singles (GC)

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL Julia Johnston | (561) 852-1413 medstone100@me.com 3/12/2027 - 3/14/2027

USCA Croquet Week GC (GC) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 3/18/2027 - 3/21/2027

USCA Club Teams 6W (A6) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 3/19/2027 - 3/21/2027

SCCC GC Club Doubles (GC)

Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Gene Raymond | (919) 612-3366 generaymond1@gmail.com

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA Selection Eights (AC) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

November

11/3/2027 - 11/7/2027

USCA Seniors & Masters (A6) National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com 11/14/2027 - 11/20/2027

USCA Golf Croquet National Championship (GC) Mission Hills Country Club Rancho Mirage, CA (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

December

12/3/2027 - 12/5/2027

USCA GC Club Teams (GC)

Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL (561) 478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

CHESAPEAKE BAY CROQUET CLUB Hartfield, Virginia · World's Largest Croquet Facility

YOUR NEXT VACATION DESTINATION · CELEBRATING TEN YEARS

Twenty-Four Lawns. One Coast. Endless Reasons to Stay.

Plan a getaway around championship croquet on the world's largest facility in Middlesex County, Virginia — then stay for the rivers, the oysters, and four centuries of Virginia history, all within an easy drive of the courts.

Ways to Play Croquet Boot Camp — a week-long

Explore Middlesex Beyond the Courts Get Out on the Water — Boat, paddle, fish or enjoy the views where

immersion into the game for every

the Rappahannock River meets the Chesapeake Bay.

skill level, from first-timers to

Eat Like a Local — Discover local oysters, blue crabs, waterfront

tournament veterans.

dining and more than 40 restaurants.

Free Sunday Lessons — open to

Discover Local History — Explore the maritime and colonial stories of

everyone, every week April to

Urbanna, Deltaville and communities throughout Middlesex.

November.

Experience the Wild Side — Watch for ospreys, herons, bald eagles,

League Play — join a league and play

dolphins and other native wildlife.

all year round.

Bring the Whole Family — Enjoy museums, parks, paddling, mini golf,

Tournaments — friendly and fun

ice cream and easygoing adventures for every generation.

competition on our lawns, for all skill

Stay a Little Longer — Choose from charming inns, vacation rentals,

levels.

campgrounds and marina accommodations.

Casual Visits — drop in any day the courts are open, no reservation required.

Make the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club your home base. Scan to plan your Middlesex County getaway.

Corporate Events — team-building on the lawn, done right. Family Getaways — a rare game every generation can play together.

Plan your croquet vacation at cbcc.fun 1860 Twiggs Ferry Road, Hartfield, VA 23071 Celebrating 10 Years · August 2026 – August 2027

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Proud sponsor of the

2026 Canadian National GC Championship www.croquetstore.com 48 | www.croquetamerica.com

Toll Free 866-364-8895