Croquet News 2026 Volume 2: Lynda Sudderberg Interview

AIM TO WIN

LYNDA SUDDERBERG MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST USCA WOMEN'S AC NATIONAL CHAMPION

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courtside Moments That Matter

“Great and grateful.”- Jim Erwin

I like starting my Courtside column with a quote. I try to find ones that are particularly inspiring for me, with the hope that others may too. Everyone who knows Jim Erwin has probably heard these words from him. The first time for me was an early Saturday morning. I was walking out to Court 10 at the National Croquet Center to play in John Blamire’s group. Erwin was already in a game with Dave Spivey, sitting courtside at #11, watching Spivey run the break. I said, “Good morning, Jim! How are you?” With a big grin, he answered me, “Great and grateful.” I laughed and said, “I love that – thank you! Me too!” Since that day, he has had the opportunity to say that to me many times, and it always brings a smile to my face and serves as a good reminder.

Reflecting on my first year as president, I feel gratitude and pride for what the USCA has accomplished. The progress we have made and the people who are involved in setting the pace for new ideas and growth are all greatly inspiring. Our committees are thriving with projects and our leadership is strong. Thank you to my entire team for giving the best of yourselves to help grow the game and enhance the competition.

This issue celebrates a truly special moment – our first female National Champion!

Congratulations to Lynda Sudderberg, winner of the 2026 Women’s Association Croquet National Championship. Sudderberg has long been a superior role model for women in the sport of croquet. I have greatly admired her for her sportsmanship and serious determination. We applaud her achievement and hope that her history-making victory will inspire more women to pursue and excel in the AC game.

Our Second Annual U.S. Open GC Championship has also helped launch 2026 with strong and positive momentum. Congratulations to our Champion, Matthew Essick, on his outstanding play. We also extend sincere thanks to Bill Simmons, Event Founder, whose vision and dedication have established this tournament as one of the

premier events in the world, attracting many of the sport’s most elite players.

During USCA Croquet Week, the USCA Management Team gathered in West Palm Beach, Fla., for a team retreat, which was especially meaningful since much of our work together is done virtually. We were happy to step away from Zoom and have an opportunity for time together with genuine connection. Our retreat topic centered on the theme, “Croquet in America: Telling the Right Story.” Around the table, we shared what matters most to each of us about the game – social play, tournament competition and the genuine bonds that lead to lasting friendships. We talked about how these shape the experience of our sport and how the USCA can best present this to others.

Players are still talking about the fun and excitement experienced at the American Rules 6W Club Teams, played at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach. Fla. With more than 100 players participating this year, Macey White did a terrific job as Tournament Director, with Nancy Crouch as his assistant. We also had the Dream Team Event Committee, led by Tish Peterkin, who brought us a Caribbean-style croquet vacation, packed with special events, fun with friends and lots of croquet. Thank you to the committee and to all who came with their teams to take part in what is my favorite tournament of the year! I hope you all come back and bring your friends next year.

I will end with a story of one afternoon during Club Teams. Randy and I had played a couple of tough matches that day, and now, after finishing, I decided to walk out to Court 8 to watch a match that was finishing up. A crowd was intently watching, so I quietly took a seat, not really paying attention to who was gathered. A couple of minutes went by when I felt a tap-tap on my arm and looked over. The person said to me, “Just in case you were wondering – great and grateful.” I smiled appreciatively and nodded, “Yes, and that’s a good reminder for me right now, Jim.”

Bev Cardo

USCA President president@croquetamerica.com www.croquetamerica.com

USCA SCHOOLS

AT THE NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER

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

AMERICAN 6W (3 days)

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)

United States Croquet Association

700 Florida Mango Rd, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL. 33406

Daily Continental Breakfast and Lunches (9:00-9:30)

Certificate of Completion & Photograph

Wine and Cheese Graduation Party (3:30-4:30)

www.croquetamerica.com

CroquetNews

Publisher

Managing

Submissions

Submit

Management Committee

President Beverley Cardo president@uscroquet.com

First Vice President John Brown firstvp@uscroquet.com

Second Vice President Adam Lassiter secondvp@uscroquet.com

Treasurer 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

theclubhouse

USCA ANNOUNCES

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OPENING AS PART OF STRATEGIC GROWTH INITIATIVE

The United States Croquet Association (USCA) has announced the creation of a new Executive Director position, marking a significant step forward in the organization’s continued evolution and commitment to long-term sustainability.

Based at the USCA’s headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla., the full-time role will report directly to the Board of Directors and serve as the Association’s chief staff leader. The position is not remote.

The introduction of an Executive Director reflects a broader effort to strengthen the USCA’s national presence while supporting its growing network of members, clubs and competitive programs. In this role, the successful candidate will work in close partnership with the board to guide day-to-day operations, oversee financial management and help shape the strategic direction of the organization.

Core areas of responsibility include organizational leadership, operational and financial oversight, membership growth, governance support and the development of sponsorships and partnerships. The position is designed to bring greater continuity and professional management to the association’s activities while enhancing service to the croquet community.

The USCA, which promotes the awareness, development and enjoyment of croquet across the United States, views this hire as an important milestone in aligning its structure with the needs of a modern, nationally coordinated sport.

For additional information, interested candidates are encouraged to contact the USCA directly at EDSearch@uscroquet.com .

Winning Design Selected for USCA’s 50th Anniversary Logo

In March, the United States Croquet Association introduced the official logo for its 2027 semicentennial celebration. The winning design was created by Cecil Creasey of Midlothian, Va., and selected through a fully anonymous national logo competition conducted by the USCA Semicentennial Planning Committee, ensuring all submissions were judged solely on their design strength, symbolism and suitability for representing the association’s 50th anniversary.

Creasey’s design captures several elements that define the sport of croquet. The wicket is one of the game’s most recognizable symbols, while the red rover wicket subtly represents rover, the completion of the course and a successful game. The motion of the ball conveys energy and forward momentum as the USCA looks ahead to the next 50 years of croquet in America. As Creasey describes the concept, “The ball in motion is meant to symbolize the dynamic potential of our sport.”

The final logo preserves Creasey’s winning design while incorporating minor technical refinements to ensure consistent reproduction across digital media, print publications, embroidery, lapel pins and commemorative items. This mark will represent the United States Croquet Association throughout its semicentennial celebrations in 2027 and will become the visual signature of the USCA’s 50th anniversary. Over the coming months, the mark will become a familiar sight across USCA tournaments, communications and events as the association celebrates 50 years of croquet in America.

—John Craddock, MD, USCA Semicentennial Planning Committee Chair

Kamal Cup 2026

Team USA defeated Egypt 8-5 at the Kamal Cup, held February 15-16, 2026, at Mountain Lake Croquet Club in Lake Wales, Fla. The U.S. team featured Matthew Essick, Tom Balding, Sherif Abdelwahab and Kyle Maloof, while Egypt was represented by Yasser Sayed, Ahmed Elmahdy, Yasser Fathy and Saif Elyamany.

AMERICAN SIX WICKET RULES COMMITTEE

OPINION 1-2026

Wrong Ball Faults and Out of Turn Errors (A6W)

Question: In a doubles game, Bob is playing Blue, Randy is playing Red, Barb is playing Black and Yvonne is playing Yellow. The following sequence occurs:

1. Bob plays Blue when it is his turn to play;

2. Randy correctly follows Bob, but plays Yellow instead of Red;

3. Barb plays Black, not noticing that Randy played the wrong ball;

4. Yvonne plays Red;

5. Bob plays Blue, not noticing that Yvonne played the wrong ball;

6. Randy and Yvonne forestall further play, claiming that Bob and Barb condoned the wrong ball faults and that Bob has played out of turn.

What is the proper ruling?

Answer: The wrong ball faults committed by Randy and Yvonne have been condoned, but there has not been an out-of-turn error and it is Randy to play Red.

Discussion: Rule 11.2c provides that a “ player can commit a wrong ball fault only when it is that player’s turn.” Therefore, in step 2 above, Randy committed a wrong ball fault under Rule 11.2a(2) because it was his turn to play and he played his partner’s ball (Yellow). In step 3, Bob and Barb condoned the wrong ball fault when Barb played Black (Rule 12.1). In step 4, to start her turn, Yvonne committed a wrong ball fault when she played her partner’s ball (Red). In step 5, Bob and Barb once again condoned this wrong ball fault when Barb played Blue. However, there were no out-of-turn errors committed because Rule 11.1a(2) provides that in doubles, a player has played out of turn if the player plays when it is the partner’s or opponent’s turn. The turn belongs to a player, not to a ball. Since it was Randy’s turn when he played Yellow and it was Yvonne’s turn when she played Red, neither of these turns could constitute an out-of-turn error and when Bob played Blue in step 5, it was his turn to play.

Preserving the Champions: Bob Kroeger Expands USCA Nationals Video Series

As the USCA approaches its 50th anniversary, a major effort is underway to preserve the history of the sport’s national championships. Several years ago, longtime USCA member Bob Kroeger undertook the ambitious task of documenting the first 30 years of USCA national championships. Drawing on photographs, tournament records and archival material from across

the country, he created a video series that captures the champions, venues and defining moments of those early decades. The result is far more than a record of winners. Kroeger’s work preserves the people, places and stories that shaped competitive croquet in the United States.

As part of the semicentennial, Kroeger has agreed to extend the project to include the most recent 20 years of national championship history. When complete, the expanded series will document the first 50 years of USCA national championships and will be presented as a digital archive on the USCA YouTube channel.

Following an initial request to the membership, additional materials are still welcome. Members who attended or participated in national championships over the past two decades may have photographs, video clips, newspaper coverage, tournament programs or other memorabilia that capture these events. Even informal images from matches, awards ceremonies or social gatherings can offer valuable glimpses into the history of the sport. If you have materials related to USCA national championships from the past 20 years, the USCA invites you to share them for possible inclusion in the series.

Items of particular interest include:

• Photographs from championship matches or tournament play

• Video clips from matches or awards ceremonies

• Newspaper or magazine coverage

• Tournament programs, score sheets or related memorabilia

Materials may be sent electronically to Bob Kroeger: bobkroeger@aol.com. Please include “USCA” in the subject line of your email to avoid being mistaken for spam, and include the year and tournament location, if known, when submitting materials. Through this effort, the USCA is building a lasting visual record of its national championships and of the players and clubs who brought them to life.

New Initiative: USCA Women’s Advancement Fund

One of the many new initiatives introduced by USCA President Beverley Cardo is the development of a Women’s Advancement Fund. Recognizing that the Lee Olson Fund was established to support team events only and not individual competitions, the USCA saw an opportunity to create resources dedicated to promoting the growth of women in the sport.

Five categories of contribution make up the Women’s Advancement Fund:

General: donations to the overall fund representing all codes of the game with funds dispersed as determined by managers of the fund, with input from the women’s committee.

Training and Development: providing training opportunities for Advanced Women ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Championships and future international

events; Intermediate Women – providing opportunities to elevate and advance; Novice mentoring; Collegiate women.

Outfitting: ensuring that women receive appropriate attire such as skirts/skorts, shorts, capris, pants, etc. styled to women’s preferences, along with shirts, jackets, hats, etc., for future events.

Travel: assistance for both domestic and international travel, including training opportunities, competitions, test matches and international events.

Livestreaming: providing visibility and remote learning opportunities

Highlighting and supporting women plays a vital role in the growth and balance of the sport by providing a platform where women can compete, lead and build confidence in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Specialized training opportunities and women’s-only tournaments help level the playing field, encouraging participation from players who might otherwise feel overshadowed in mixed competitions. They are being created to celebrate women’s achievements, highlight emerging talent and to create visible role models who inspire the next generation of players. Beyond competition, women’s events strengthen community, foster mentorship and contribute to a more diverse and dynamic future for croquet as a whole.

Please contact Bev Cardo, USCA President, if interested in donating to the Women’s Advancement Fund.

CFA Board of Directors Elects New Officers

The Croquet Foundation of America’s Board of Directors announces the implementation of its succession plan as David McCoy steps down as Chairman of the Board.

The newly elected Officers took office on March 18, 2026:

• Nancy Sansalone, President

• John Bannister, Vice President

• Donald Allison, Treasurer

• Allison Worthington, Secretary

Nancy Sansalone steps into the leadership role previously held by David McCoy. Sansalone, an active member of the National Croquet Club since 2021, brings extensive experience in nonprofit management, with a professional background spanning organizational leadership, strategic planning and financial oversight. She has held senior executive leadership roles, formerly with the American Society for Microbiology, where she served as Deputy Executive Director/CFO and then Executive Director/CEO. She also served as CFO/ COO at Special Library Association and other nonprofits in Washington, D.C., supporting boards of directors, managing complex operations and advancing development and fundraising initiatives. She simultaneously served in volunteer roles as elected President of the National Association for Women in Education, Co-Founder of the Leveraging Library Leaders National Roundtable and Chair of the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. Throughout her career, Sansalone has worked closely with staff, boards, volunteers and business partners to strengthen governance, improve operational effectiveness and ensure longterm sustainability for mission-driven organizations. Her depth of experience and steady leadership have made her a trusted advisor in the nonprofit sector.

David McCoy was named Chairman Emeritus, ex officio, by the board in recognition of his leadership and significant contributions to the Foundation, the National Croquet Center and the National Croquet Club over the last 20-plus years. McCoy’s involvement with CFA began in 2003 and deepened when he took a leadership role to avoid the NCC from becoming insolvent in 2006 through the 2008 recession. He was elected to the CFA Board in 2009 as President and later to the position of Chairman/CEO. He initiated numerous fundraising efforts and fundamentally reorganized operations, changing from Croquet Enterprises, a forprofit management company running the Center, to the non-profit CFA. He created the National Croquet Club in 2010. McCoy was inducted into the United States Croquet Hall of Fame in 2014.

Hal Denton was named President Emeritus, ex officio, by the board for his significant contributions, especially to the operations of the Center for the last 14 years at the center as President/COO of the Foundation. Hal was inducted into the United States Croquet Hall of Fame in 2020.

Last September, the Board hired Franck Meunier as the Executive Director. He directs and manages the day-to-day operational, financial, administrative and business practices at the center and works closely with the board to advance the mission, ensure sound governance and plays an important role in taking the organization to its next stage of growth and impact. Meunier has already made major contributions to the efficiency and effectiveness of the center and last month, the board agreed to change his title to Chief Executive Officer to clarify his role

The CFA mission continues to be the same: to develop and promote the amateur sport of croquet in America, with a strong emphasis on using our facilities for charitable and educational croquet programs that benefit individuals, our community and society in general. The new leadership team, along with the entire 13-person Board and the CEO, will continue to support and build upon the enhancement of the site by upgrading the back courts, adding new court lighting and a Grand Pavilion and Patio, as well as other improvements at the National Croquet Center. Further development of our charitable and educational outreach programs will also be prioritized to position the National Croquet Center as the Center of Excellence and “jewel in the crown” of croquet venues worldwide.

For more information, please contact Franck Meunier, CEO, at executive.director@croquetnational.com or 561-478-2300.

Building Toward the Mac: ProAm Raises $40,000 for Team USA

On April 19, 13 sponsors of the 2026 MacRobertson Shield Team USA, gathered at the Mountain Lake Club in Lake Wales, Fla. The Mountain Lake Club is one of the most beautiful spots in Florida, developed in 1916 on some of the highest land in the state. The Colony House serves as the social hub of the club with multiple dining venues, suites and social gathering areas, as well as a beautiful pool.

Just below and to the side of the 18th green are the three championship croquet courts. They sit above the lake giving the players a breathtaking view across it and the surrounding hills filled with beautiful homes and gardens. Many of the private gardens and all of the public ones were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. It is a testament to his genius that 110 years later the giant oaks are perfectly spaced.

Adjacent to the club property is Bok Tower and Gardens. The carillon tower and gardens were built by Edward Bok (one of the original members of the club). He gifted them to the people of the U.S. as a thank you for providing him, an immigrant, with the opportunity to become successful.

The sponsors each paid $4,500 to attend a two day and night ProAm.This was created to provide funding, through the USCA’s Lee Olsen Fund, for the expenses that will be incurred by Team USA. They will travel to London this July for the three-weeklong MacRobertson Shield. Of each entry fee, $3,000 was a tax deductible donation to the fund. The event raised just over $40,000 to support the team this summer.

All six Team USA members attended the event. The days were split between semi-private clinics with each of the six Pros and Golf Croquet games allowing players to pair with a different Pro each game. The evenings included a cocktail hour in the club followed by a presentation before dinner. The first talk was from Karen Connery PHD, a retired clinical psychologist who spoke about the mental aspects of the game. She detailed how some of the best athletes in the world use these tools to prepare for competition.

The second evening, our six Team USA members hosted a round table discussion and spoke about the pressures of playing on a team and participating in an event that is essentially three, five-day tournaments backto-back. One “Test” against each of the three other countries. Each “Test” consists of 21 best of three matches against the finest players from those other countries.

The MacRobertson Shield was played for the first time in 1925 in London between England and Australia. It was a way to rekindle friendships made during the First World War. Later New Zealand was added and finally the U.S. This year’s tournament was originally planned to be played in 2025 on the centennial but Covid shifted all world tournaments forward a year. Our team this year is not only the youngest ever fielded by the U.S, it is arguably the most talented. We are hoping for our best ever finish in the Mac.

FEEDBACK: MACROB PROAM SPONSORS

Thank you for organizing such an enjoyable and worthwhile event. I appreciated the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the best croquet players in the world. The pros were friendly, patient and incredibly generous with their time. The accommodations, food and staff were excellent! I had a wonderful time. Looking forward to our next encounter. The Mountain Lake ProAm 2026 ranks as our top croquet experience ... making new friends, meeting top professionals and learning so much more about this wonderful sport. Emila and I were happy to support the team in the pursuit of the MacRobertson Shield.

Ralph and I had a fabulous time at Mountain Lake. The ProAm was sensational in every way. We particularly liked that it wasn't a tournament and we were able to spend time with each of you and even have a 6W lesson from David. It was extremely well organized and we can't thank you enough.

The weekend was a remarkable experience for both of us. Mountain Lake Club, its staff, and the Maloof family created an atmosphere that was both gracious and memorable, and you and Karen made everyone feel truly part of something special. The opportunity to spend meaningful time on court with our top American players — learning, competing, and sharing in their preparation — was both inspiring and instructive. It was a privilege to support the USA MacRobertson Shield team in such a direct and personal way.

TheInbox

RIBBON-CUTTING MARKS EXPANSION AT BALD HEAD ISLAND

Members of the Bald Head Island croquet community gather for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of four new courts, marking a significant expansion of the club’s facilities. Leading the ceremony, Jeff Soo cuts the ribbon alongside club members and supporters, with Beverley Cardo and others in attendance for the occasion. The new courts position Bald Head Island as an emerging venue on the national tournament calendar and will soon host the GC Eights from June 4-7. With preparations underway, the club looks forward to welcoming players for the event and building on the momentum of this milestone addition to its program.

CELEBRATING MATTHEW’S

There was a loud and enthusiastic “HOORAY” heard throughout the Country Club of Orlando (CCO) on Valentine’s Day. The club’s Croquet Pro, Matthew Essick, won the U.S. Open Golf Croquet Championship and the players wildly cheered for their pro and friend. Essick has been the pro at CCO for many years, coordinating the busy croquet season and frequently teaching lessons. Congratulations, Matthew, from your CCO fan club!

The Second Annual New Steuber Tournament

Combine Charles Steuber’s vision with an emotional Hall of Fame dinner and American Six-Wicket croquet wizardry with the new National Croquet Center (NCC) development plans and an utterly fantastic finals match and you’ll have a full picture of American Croquet.

The addition of $35,000 worth of prize money certainly had an effect this year. Far more A6 players than Golf Croquet players participated: 60 versus 24. In past years, GC players were beginning to outnumber A6. So, thanks to Bob Chilton’s trust, generously provided by Missy Chilton, the strategy for promoting the American game is working.

Over five days at the lovely NCC, the American game was on full display with six flights of A6 players and 10 courts in use. The weather was generally excellent until the last day and the meals were generous and luxurious. Altogether a fine recipe for a perfect croquet tournament.

In the lower flights, the number of one-point games was pronounced, indicating the see-saw battles we all know and love. But it was the final, a game between Zack Watson against last year‘s national champion, Stuart Lawrence, that may indicate where our game is going.

In his third turn, Watson, playing Blue/Black, attacked Lawrence‘s Red and Yellow balls in the fourth corner. He set the break and then ran it to rover on his next turn and left a perfect leave. Lawrence managed to hit in from full court by touching an opponent ball on the boundary — incredible! From there, Lawrence was well on his way to equalizing the game, but a mishap at hoop six ended the turn. Unfortunately for Lawrence, Watson created a break from the opportunity and finished the match quickly with precision shooting. Such excellent play is a testament to the American level of play these days.

Watson not only showed us the impact that the AC game is having on the other croquet codes, he also walked away with the $8,000 paycheck. The game is on the USCA YouTube channel and is worth watching again and again.

Other flights enjoyed the normal, challenging back-and-forth of American rules. The game most of us are used to trying to figure out as we enjoy the stress and toil.

In the Golf Croquet final, Adam Peck took on Bruce Hindin and never slowed down. After knocking out David McCoy, Peck carried that form into the final and proved unstoppable against Hindin, who had defeated Tate Russack.

It took an army of volunteers and sponsors; a big thanks to all. Missy Chilton was the fearless leader, with assistance by Jennifer Othen at the front desk, Tournament Manager Doug Moore and Tournament Directors Tom and Loretta Cooper. Franck Meunier and his team provided another great event and an awesome Hall of Fame dinner where we congratulated David Maloof and cherished Carla Rueck as they were admitted to the Croquet Hall of Fame.

—By Tom Cooper

Origin Story: The Milwaukee Croquet Club

Hoping to learn more about our club’s early days, I caught up with Bob Piekenbrock following a recent Wednesday evening doubles match. Piekenbrock is a newer member of the Milwaukee Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club, but I knew he had been involved with the club in its infancy in the early 1990s. I wanted to learn more about his experience then and his decision to rejoin after an absence of several decades. He kindly indulged my curiosity with a lively and engaging conversation.

Piekenbrock grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisc., in the home where his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Tom Hennelly, now reside. While in high school, he and a group of friends from several area schools

formed a “croquet club.” This may have been one of the first croquet clubs in the Milwaukee area, dating to around 1980. But from the sound of it, very little croquet was actually played. As Piekenbrock candidly admits, the boys spent most of their time drinking beer and telling stories in their backyards. Still, the friendships

endured, and he recently co-hosted a 45th reunion of the original group at the beer garden at Estabrook Park.

The next chapter in Piekenbrock’s croquet journey came in 1991, when he was working as a public relations professional at McDonald Davis & Associates. He was tapped to help promote a benefit for the Penfield Children’s Center, an event closely connected to the beginnings of the Milwaukee Croquet Club.

Linda Cummins, then development director for Penfield, had the idea of creating a croquet-themed fundraiser. With the help of others, including Keith Anderson, the Penfield Croquet Tournaments were established, initially held at Boerner Botanical Gardens. These events soon gave rise to the “Croquet Ball” at Milwaukee Country Club, as well as a “City/County Grudge Match” featuring Mayor John Norquist and County Executive Tom Ament — a key publicity driver for the event.

Piekenbrock played a creative role in developing the advertising and publicity for those early Penfield events. He was also among the group of participants who enjoyed the sport so much that they decided to form a club to continue playing. In this way, the Milwaukee Croquet Club was born, and Piekenbrock was there at the beginning.

As life progressed, with marriage, children and career responsibilities, he stepped away from the game. Still, he says he was always with the club “in spirit.”

When he retired in 2024, he made the decision to return. Today, he is once again an active member, bringing with him a deep appreciation for the club’s history, as well as enthusiasm for its continued growth.

Asked what he enjoys most about the club today, Piekenbrock points to the people, the setting and the camaraderie. Qualities that have remained constant even as the club has evolved over the years.

—By Kathy Rivera. Originally published in the August 2025 issue of The Hoop, the Milwaukee Croquet Club newsletter.

Who or What Is Bob Riddell?

The making of a classic club tournament is likely one that involves a curmudgeon surrounded by a group of willing volunteers that will keep the tournament running after you move to Hawaii to be with your kids after you turn 87. In fact, any tournament that keeps going and growing in popularity after 24 years must be something special. I know 15 years ago, I wanted to play in this event.

The Bob Riddell is a tournament held around St. Patrick’s Day each year at Mission Hills Croquet Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. It is a golf croquet tournament for its club members with handmade awards, tournament hats with the year you won and a feeling all along that something special is happening. As tournament director, I could sense the special effort each player and volunteer gave toward the event.

When Riddell first moved to the Palm Springs area, he caught glimpses of movie stars, like Groucho and Harpo Marx, who played croquet well into the night at the Marrakesh Country Club. There, he met Mik Mehas, who was an avid lover and promoter of GC. They, along with hall-of-fame member Mohammad Kamal, held the first USCA GC Nationals in Palm Springs, Calif. Riddell played all versions of the game: GC, A6W and Association. He taught croquet to any member and supported Pat Apple in

the development of croquet at the club by making and maintaining a variety of equipment accessories: ball carriers, center pegs, stringing machines, as well as the hardware to attach them around the court. He developed a way to suspend the deadness boards on the opposite sides of the court so that they were visible and prominent fixtures.

With two flights and 28 players, this tournament is better attended than some invitational open events. Perhaps this is a statement about the popularity of GC over the Association or American Six-Wicket game and one that Bob Riddell would be proud of. Held March 16-21, the 2026 Bob Riddell started with forecasts of exceedingly hot weather ahead. As TD, I decided to play the doubles early in the morning and schedule the singles play immediately following those rounds. Some players came up with a brilliant strategy to play some of their singles matches a day or two earlier (in the morning when the temps were only reaching 100 degrees instead of the afternoon temp of 113 degrees).

Winners in the Championship Flight included Sandra Knuth in singles and Chris Kaas and Mike Humphries in doubles. First Flight saw Francene Fisher win in singles and Marty Ormby and Ray Ogden take the doubles title.

An opening party was held on St. Patrick’s Day at Sandra Knuth’s new condo. The spread was fantastic and everyone helped with the housewarming. Enough food was left so folks were invited back the following night and for days after.

Before the start of the tournament, we got notice that Bill Sullivan’s brother-inlaw had passed and the Sullivans would not be able to participate. This allowed two players to move up from First Flight into the Champions block. Shortly before the beginning of the event, Greg Fisher had to drop out due to a case of walking pneumonia and a short visit to emergency care. This final change moved the Chris Kaas and Mike Humphries doubles team up to Championship doubles once Francene found a partner in the First Flight Doubles block. Bennett wanted to keep the numbers even in FFD since some of its players were only playing doubles.

Following the Bob Riddell, Mission Hills has a “newbie tournament” for beginning players. The event includes a coach to follow and assist the players during the game. While Debra Ilyinsky was out of town, she instructed Mike Ilyinsky to sign them up for the newbies tournament. When she arrived back in town, she got notices to play early games in the Bob Riddell tournament. The Ilyinskys did not want to upset Bennett’s schedule and so they agreed to go ahead and participate in the Bob Riddell. I want to compliment all their opponents for giving advice and help throughout each game they played.

A plated dinner was served on Saturday evening to present the awards. It was wonderful to have the club president, John Parks, introduce all the new club members, to have words spoken to answer the question that was asked during the opening cocktail party, “Who is Bob Riddell?” as well as celebrate Myran Wenzel’s birthday and hand out the handmade trophies. It was truly a pleasure to direct this tournament and to contribute to the legend of Bob Riddell. —Paul Bennett TD

WCF NEWS: DATES SET FOR 2026 GC WORLDS IN EGYPT

The World Croquet Federation (WCF) has confirmed key dates for the 2026 Golf Croquet World Championship (GCWC), which will take place in Egypt this November.

A qualifier will be held event from November 14-18, followed by the Opening Ceremony on November 20. The main championship event will run from November 21-29.

ACWTC TIERS 2 AND 3: In July, the Nottingham Croquet Club in England will host the Association Croquet World Team Championship (ACWTC) Tier 2 and Tier 3 events, which have drawn a record number of entries.

MACROBERTSON SHIELD: Later in the summer, July and August will see the return of one of the sport’s most historic competitions: the MacRobertson Shield, the Tier 1 event of the AC World Team Championship. The 2026 contest marks the centenary edition of the storied test series, in which the traditional “big four” croquet nations compete.

ORGANIZATIONAL MILESTONE: The WCF also announced an important structural change. On January 28, 2026, the federation formally became a company limited by guarantee based in England, a move intended to strengthen governance and support the organization’s longterm development.

EXPANDING MEMBERSHIP: The WCF welcomed Mauritius and the Netherlands as its newest Recognized Croquet Organizations (RCOs), bringing total membership to 31 national bodies. Mauritius has already established a reputation for hosting international competitions, including a successful annual tournament. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is preparing to open a purpose-built croquet lawn expected to be ready later this year.

Friendship Cup: Russack Tops the Field

Forty-six women participated in the 5th annual Women’s International Friendship Cup hosted by the Women’s Golf Croquet Academy at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. This threeday golf croquet singles event featured three divisions and offered a range of competition from experienced world-class players to those newer to tournament play. Four Egyptian players traveled to compete in this prestigious event with women from across the U.S.

After battling it out in block play to determine seeding position in the knockout rounds, all players advanced into the round of 16 playoffs. Players who lost in the first round moved into the plate consolation playoffs.

Championship Flight: Julie Wright came on strong in the knockout, getting past Ellie Griffith and Cheryl Bromley to face off against 2025 Champion Debbie Davidoff in the semifinals. Stellar play by Davidoff clinched her spot in the final.

On the other half of the draw, Cami Russack took care of business, eliminating Lisa Maloney and Ghada Abdel Rahman, moving her into the quarterfinals against another hard-hitting opponent in Helen Covington. Covington came off two solid wins against Mervat Elshazly and Maha Eldardiry before being stopped by Russack.

The final was a very competitive 19-point game, which showcased incredible shotmaking by both women. Russack found her form on her placement shots while Davidoff kept the pressure on with sensational clearing shots from long distances. The battle went back and forth until the 18th hoop, where Russack was able to capture the match 10-8.

First Flight: Both Sue Emond (5-2) and Caryl Firth (6-1) were top of their blocks heading into the knockout rounds. They had their work cut out for them, but were able to methodically take out their opponents one by one to reach each other in the final. Their final match featured a marathon battle at Hoop #4 before Firth grabbed the momentum to cross the finish line and claim the title with a 10-4 win.

Second Flight: Coming out of the Blocks, the top four favorites included Jane Grandusky, Deb Kalish, Cheryl Beckert and Cathy Long from Block E and Robin Dobbs, Suzanne Turner, Diane Young Rose and Kath Jenkins from Block F. In the knockout, Polly Joa made a run for it before getting stopped by Turner in the semifinals, while on the other side of the draw, Deb Kalish rolled up her sleeves and took out three of her opponents to secure her spot in the final against Turner. The final was a timed, 70-minute game and proved to be highly competitive, with Kalish scoring just three hoops to Turner’s one, but it was just enough for Kalish to secure the victory and the 2026 title.

FRIENDSHIP CUP RESULTS

Championship Flight Winner ............. Cami Russack

Championship Flight Finalist Debbie Davidoff

Championship Flight Plate Ellie Griffith

First Flight Winner

Caryl Firth

First Flight Finalist ............................... Sue Emond

First Flight Plate

Second Flight Winner

Kim Beaty

Deb Kalish

Second Flight Finalist .................... Suzanne Turner

Second Flight Plate Cheryl Beckert

CLUB OF THE YEAR

National Croquet Club

CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

Bob Baker

DISTRICT PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

Lynda Bjorklund

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

Linda Trifone

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Ron Eccles

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Rick Hayes

MICHAEL STRAUSS AWARD FOR JOURNALISM

Fred Heald

MEDIA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Tom Balding

MOST IMPROVED JUNIOR PLAYER

MOST IMPROVED AMERICAN RULES 6W

Cecil Creasey

MOST IMPROVED GOLF CROQUET

MOST IMPROVED ASSOCIATION LAWS

Brian Hovis

Bev Cardo

OVERALL GC GRAND PRIX WINNER

Matthew Essick

PEYTON BALLENGER AWARD

(A6W NATIONAL FEMALE WINNER)

Bev Cardo

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Adam Peck

JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Simon Dentchev

SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ron Eccles

FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Bev Cardo

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Matthew Essick

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Doug Grimsley

TEDDY PRENTIS AWARD (EXCELLENCE AND PASSION IN CROQUET EDUCATION)

Michael Albert

CARLA P. RUECK AMBASSADOR AWARD

Michael Albert

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Tom Cooper

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

Special Recognition to our Gold Medal Donors:

Jay Carey

Karen and Michael Albert

Outstanding Service and Support for World Tournaments

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR FOR U21 WORLDS AND AC WORLDS

Michael Albert

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT FOR AC WORLDS THROUGH MEDIA CONTACTS

James Bartle

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR FOR AC WORLDS

Beverley Cardo

AC WORLDS PLANNING COMMITTEE

Jane Casey

MARKETING & PLANNING FOR U21’S AND AC WORLDS

Tom Cooper

MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AC WORLDS

Dylan Goodwin

AC WORLDS PLANNING COMMITTEE

Franck Meunier

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AT U21 WORLDS AND AC WORLDS

Adam Peck

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE FOR USCA EVENTS

Scott Reiser

(SandyJames Fine Foods)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT FOR U21 WORLDS AND AC WORLDS

Cami and Tate Russack

TOURNAMENT MANAGER FOR US OPEN GC

Bill Simmons

TOURNAMENT ASSISTANT MANAGERS

Elaine and Rocky Smith

TOURNAMENT MANAGER FOR U21 WORLDS AND AC WORLDS

Jeff Soo

AC WORLDS PLANNING COMMITTEE

Michael Todorovich

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT THROUGH THE GRANT PROGRAM

Palm Beach Sports Commission

EXCELLENCE IN LIVESTREAMING OF AC WORLDS I DO Livestreaming

Superior Contributions in Committee Leadership

A6W CLUB TEAMS COMMITTEE

Tish Peterkin, Chair

A6W CLUB TEAMS COMMITTEE

Cheryl Harders

A6W CLUB TEAMS COMMITTEE

Karen Heckman

A6W CLUB TEAMS COMMITTEE

Allison Worthington

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Trula Myers, Chair

NEXTGEN MEDIA TASK FORCE

Dylan Goodwin, Chair

SEMICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

John Craddock, Chair

WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Cheryl Bromley, Chair

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Michael Kolowich, Executive Producer

The United States Croquet Association Thanks Its Many

Gold Medal ($25,000+)

Albert, Michael & Connery, Karen

Carey, Jay

Virtue Cup ($10,000+)

Cardo, Randy & Bev

Palm Beach Sports Commission

Russack, Tate & Cami

Championship

($5,000+)

Cinque, Gay

Galasso, Alex & Mary

Goddard, David & Myers, Trula

Bowl ($2,500+)

Barley, Chris & Gail

Beaty, Kim

Brown, John & Carter, Georgia

Coles, Peter

Craddock, John & Mary

Fletcher, Robert - Invectus

Hinkebein, William

Johnston, Dick & Pat

Johnston, Vickie

Kepner, David & Cristina

Licursi, Anne

Oakley, Don

Pannill, Kit

Simmons, Bill

Weihs, Chris & Karen

Donors and Supporters!

Shield ($1,000+)

Bjorklund, Lynda

Boger, Dick

Chilton, Missy

Conway Foundation - Worthington, Allison & Ralph

Curington, John

Curtis, Ralph

D’Ambriosio, Madeleine & Kuhn, William

Dillon, John

Firth, Caryl

Flowers, Priscilla

Head, Trevor

Heckman, Karen

Hendrick, Kendall & Laura

Hindin, Bruce & McSharry, Anita

Joseph, John & Jennifer

Lawrence, Stuart & Nerwen, Diane

McCoy David & Millie

Pendill, Michael & Mary Lou

Scanlon, Alice

Singer, Louis Fund - Timmins, Peter

Stearns, Marc & MaryCarol

Teoman, Cornell & Betty

The Chattooga Club

Wren, Diane

Wright, Tim & Julie

Plate ($500+)

Cooper Croquet, LLC

Gibbons, Michael

Holdsclaw, Howard & Lois

Knuth, Sandra

McLaughlin, Sean

O’Laughlin, Tom & Barbara

Ormsby, Martha

Rendleman, Richard & Nancy

Teel, James & Suzanne

Trifone, Linda

Walker, Diana

Weimerskirch, Michael

Williams, Terry

Winston, Anyse

Friends of USCA

Adams, Susan

Bensch, Alan & Gloria

Bidencope, Ross & Deanne

Biesecker, Eric

Blackwood, Willis

Boatwright John & Field

Burris, Matthew & Jeanne

Burt, Jonathan

Cerullo, Donald

Clark, John & Jane

Coble, James & Karen

Cohen, Jeffrey

Connor, Pat

Cook, Cici

Creasey, Cecil & Susan

Croquet Foundation of America

Cullen, Janne

Dolan, Judith & Green, John

Edwards, Sara

Eggleston, Tom & Joyce

Elsbree, Connor & Meredith

Evans, Susan

Fisher, Cheryl

Fortenberry, Carol Lomax

Gamble, Gary & Kathie

Gavin, Linda & Paul

George, Raymond & Sheila

Glicken Howard & Barbara

Goat Island Assn of Neighbors

Gonzales, Gregory

Gray, Nick

Grout, John & Lynette

Guild, Corina & Haines, William

Guillot Jr., Thomas

Gulden, Kent & Suzanne

Hallett, Tracy

Hawke, Michael

Heald, Fred

Heller, Bob, Kathy & family

Horton, Dan & Catherine

Hunt, Tom

Jones, Courtney

Keatley, Randy & Karen

Kent, Donald

Killilea, Kevin & Anne

Knight, Barbara

Kockakian, Charles

Kolowich, Michael

Levinson, Jack & Alison

Lingren, Amy

Lovvorn, Kent

Lupo, Dick & Anne

Lyle, Thelma

Maloof, David and Mieke

McCauley, Geraldine

McCormick, Timothy & Alexander, Charles

McGowan, Civil

McKaig, Mary

Mills, The Nolan Mills Family

National Croquet Club

Peck Ursula

Peck, Adam

Peterson, Hans

Peterson, Sheila

Quogue Field Club

Rodeberg, Kern & Mary

Rothfus, William & Mary

Schrader, Joseph & Rebecca

Sellner, Craig & Judy

Stahl, Briggs

Stahller, Mark

Stine, Warren

Stinson, Margo

Stovall, Brett

Taylor, Ronald

Tega Cay Croquet Club

Van Otterloo, Eyk

Van Tassell, Bob

Walker, John & Diane

Watrous, Jim & Jan

Westerfield, Ann

Zipes, Douglas & Joan

FIRST AMONG

FIRSTS

LYNDA SUDDERBERG MADE

HISTORY BY TAKING THE TITLE AT THE INAUGURAL USCA WOMEN’S AC

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER IN FEBRUARY.

When seven women gathered at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., from February 15-18 for the inaugural USCA Women’s Association Croquet National Championship, they were doing more than competing for a title. They were writing the first page of a new chapter in American croquet. When the dust settled on the finals, it was Lynda Sudderberg who claimed the title after a pair of tightly contested games against Canada’s Arlene Parker.

Croquet News caught up with Sudderberg shortly after the championship to talk about the event, her path into AC and where she thinks the game goes from here.

Congratulations on winning the first USCA Women’s AC National Championship. What was the experience like? Thank you very much. I was a little disappointed in the turnout. Several women have been playing AC who weren’t able to attend for one reason or another, including Sandra Knuth, Jodie Rugart, Dawn Jupin and Mary Rodeberg. I think part of it was short notice. But I was happy to have it, and especially happy to win it.

INTERVIEW BY DYLAN GOODWIN

theinterview

WOMEN’S AC NATIONALS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH

Lynda Sudderberg won the USCA’s inaugural Women’s AC National Championship, beating Arlene Parker 13-11, 13-12 in the best-of-three final. Her name will be engraved on the Lily Gower Trophy, donated by the Denver Croquet Club. (Lily Gower was one of the leading players of the early 20th century, one of only three women to have won the British Open championship.)

Seven players contested the championship. The field had an international flair with Canada’s Arlene Parker and Egypt’s Jana Mohamed Saeed (one of the USCA’s newest members) joining USA’s Loretta Cooper, Cami Russack, Chris Smith, Lynda Sudderberg and Karen Weihs. Play began with a complete round-robin block, all seven players advancing to the knockout. Parker won the block 5-1 with an attacking style and solid break play, earning a bye. Sudderberg and Cooper, who had tied at 4-2 for second place in the block, won their quarterfinal matches to join Parker in the semifinal round. The fourth semifinalist was Saeed, brand new to AC but a quick study, who built on her impressive GC skills to figure out the game on the fly, winning her last three block games and then making it four in a row by winning her quarterfinal match.

Sudderberg survived a defensive battle against Cooper, 10-3, to advance to the final. Parker and Saeed played aggressive tactics throughout their semifinal, Parker advancing 16-8. The final match featured high-quality play from both players with the relatively low scores mainly a function of the short time limits; both players advanced a clip to fourback with a good leave in each game.

Eileen Soo was the Tournament Referee. Jeff Soo was the Tournament Director. Thanks to Ron Eccles for arranging the donation of the Lily Gower Trophy and for hosting a cocktail party after the semifinals.

—Jeff Soo

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

01. Lynda Sudderberg

02. Arlene Parker

03. Loretta Cooper

04. Jana Saeed

05. Cami Russack

06. Chris Smith

07. Karen Weihs

You were the top seed and the favorite. Did that create pressure?

It created some tension, because a lot of people kind of expected me to win it — and you never know. Arlene Parker from Canada is a very good player and a friend, and she played well. I played well. Nothing particularly remarkable sticks out in my mind about the finals; we both just played well, the games were close and I was glad when it was over and I had won.

The event report noted time limits in the finals. Did that have an impact on the match?

I think the time was right around 2:15 or 2:30. Honestly, we’re both at kind of a first-flight level. We’re not in with the big boys who are doing triple peels. That’s my next big thing: being able to do a triple peel in competition would be fabulous.

I’m not sure that an American woman has done a triple in competition. Is that the goal?

I don’t believe anyone has, and my goal is to be to be the first. You’d think I’d work harder at it. My coach, Zack Watson, would like me to work harder on it. I’m confident I have the ability, but your game really has to be put together. Your break play must be kind of immaculate because you’ve got all this other stuff going on. You’re going for a different hoop with your peel-ee than you are with your striker ball. It’s not just the skill. You have to keep your head in it too — where you need to go next, how to position to get there and getting two balls down there. It’s not particularly easy, although there are many of the top men’s players who make it look easy.

So, what do you think it will take to get there?

I don’t practice as much as I should. I’ve never been a great practicer, and I need to do that, especially for the triple peel. The tricky part of doing it in tournament play is that you want to win the game, but going for the triple sometimes takes the focus off just the break that gets you there. And it’s riskier for a lower-level player.

You and Steve started in Columbus, Ohio. How did that begin?

Around 2005, at the New Albany Country Club. They had one lawn — I think it was three-quarter size, but immaculately kept, like a green. We were both working, and it’s seasonal there, so we really only played on summer weekends. We eventually started playing some tournaments and taking classes at the NCC. We were very fortunate back in New Albany to have some old-time players who taught us the fundamentals — Lenny and Bill Copeland, Chuck and Norni Loving, Jake and Tibbi Johnson as well as John and Jenny Joseph, Leo and Cameron James. As a group, we were lucky to have them.

What brought you to Florida?

When we both retired in 2014, we made the decision to move down for croquet. That’s really the reason we’re in West Palm Beach. We were fortunate enough to find a house only three miles from the NCC. You’ve got to love that.

How did the shift toward Association Croquet happen?

Back around 2017 or 2018, Danny Huneycutt reached out to a number of women — we ended up calling ourselves Danny’s Dames. There were probably 10 to 12 of us, and we had a boot camp at Pinehurst. In 2019, he arranged a trip for us to go play in Ireland during one of their tournaments. That was the introduction. Then this past summer, Michael Todorovich, who’s all-in on Association, made sure we could have a lawn and play AC on our normal Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday games. I really didn’t play any American Rules all summer, and that was huge. Playing with Michael, Tom Cooper, and Sandra Knuth really helped my game. I’ve come a long way since I’ve been focusing on it.

Do you prefer AC now?

I do, by a lot. I worked my American Rules handicap down from -1.5 to -2, but it’s not my game of choice. I don’t like the 75-minute time limit, I don’t like the rotation and I don’t like the deadness. The game, in general, doesn’t promote playing big or taking chances. It punishes taking chances.

How would you describe your approach on the lawn?

It’s different in a casual game than in a tournament. In a casual game, I take chances and push myself to take what I call the big-boy shots. In tournaments, let’s face it, the goal is to win the match, so I’ll sometimes pull back. I feel bad about it, but I don’t want to lose the game either.

I’m fortunate as a woman that I can roll balls. I can do a split roll from one end of the lawn to the other. I can be down on the south boundary and send two balls to Hoops 2 and 3. A lot of women can’t do that, and I have a lot of confidence in my splits and rolls.

Is the long, split roll really an issue?

I think it’s a problem for some women, and some men — the older guys. But it really doesn’t take a lot of muscle. It’s all about technique.

You’ve competed in other sports — swimming, handball, paddle tennis and equestrian. Does that background shape how you approach croquet?

They’re all sports. I view them kind of the same. Whichever one you’re playing, you’re trying to play your best and advance. I just like competition. It keeps me motivated and energized and gives me a reason to do what I’m doing, because as I said, I’m not a great practicer.

Do you play golf croquet?

I’ve backed away from it. I’ve worked so long and hard on getting my tempo and slowing my stroke down, and then I get out on the GC court and turn into a cowboy. It tempts me to just swing hard and be crazy, and all that work flies out the window. On the outside, the two games look similar, but they’re very different in their mental approach.

The field at the championship was small, and only one player was on the younger side. How do we get more young women involved?

It’s a complicated issue. I think a lot of it comes down to time. Women often have more family responsibilities, especially when they’re younger, and that makes it harder to commit to the sport. But I do think events like this championship are important. The plan is to have women’s national championships in all three codes going forward, and that’s a great step.

What would your advice be to new players, including women, who are thinking about competing?

Do tournaments. A lot of people are a little hesitant, but don’t be. You’ve got to start somewhere; everybody does. Generally, you’re going to be playing with people around your same skill set, and it’s fun. You really meet a lot of people. The croquet community is fabulous. When Steve and I decided to move to Florida, we didn’t worry about meeting people because we knew we’d have the croquet community. We know people all over the country — really, all over the world — through croquet.

Is there anything about the culture of the sport you would change?

I would love to see the all-white requirement rethought. A lot of players, especially younger ones, are turned off by it. They may get over it eventually, but their first reaction is, “Oh, that’s the game where everyone wears white.” If we’re serious about appealing to the next generation, we can’t keep designing the sport around what the old guard prefers. We need to figure out what younger people actually want.

SNAPSHOT:

LYNDA SUDDERBERG

Age: 71

Home Clubs:

National Croquet Center and the Sarasota County Croquet Club

Grip: Standard

How long have you been playing croquet?

My husband Steve and I started around 2005 in Columbus, Ohio, so about 20 years now.

Favorite croquet venues?

The National Croquet Center is just fantastic — great lawns, clubhouse and overall atmosphere. I also love Pinehurst and Sarasota.

Do you have a favorite tournament?

I enjoy tournaments in general. Each one offers something different, and I like the competition.

Do you play any other sports?

Not really anymore. I used to compete in swimming, handball, paddle tennis and equestrian sports.

Favorite sports teams?

I don’t really follow traditional sports. I do enjoy equestrian events like Grand Prix jumping and combined driving.

What is the best thing about croquet?

The competition and the community. It keeps me motivated, and you meet people from all over the country — and even the world.

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

I’d like to see more growth in the women’s game and more opportunities for women to compete. And I think we should reconsider traditions like all-white clothing to make the sport more appealing to younger players.

One piece of advice for players looking to improve? Don’t hesitate to play in tournaments. You’ve got to start somewhere, and it’s a great way to improve and meet people.

2026 USCA AC National Championship

Venice, Florida | April 12-18, 2026

Essick Stands Alone with Fourth AC Title

MATTHEW ESSICK RISES TO THE TOP IN A MILESTONE 40TH EDITION OF THE USCA’S AC NATIONALS, DEFEATING ZACK WATSON IN A GRIPPING FIVE-GAME FINAL.

The 2026 edition of the USCA AC National Championship was played April 12-18, at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Fla., with Matthew Essick grabbing his fourth national AC singles title with a classic five-game battle against Zack Watson that entertained a global livestream audience thanks to the USCA YouTube channel and iDO Livestreaming.

Notably, the 40th edition of the event had 40 players participate in singles and doubles at the Championship and First Flight levels. For Championship singles, the group had four blocks of seven players each. Watson rolled through Block A with six triples and no losses. Canadian Brian Cumming (5-1), Stuart Lawrence (4-2) and Brian Hovis (3-3) rounded out the top four spots to advance to the knockout.

Essick also went undefeated in his B Block with four triples. Sherif Abdelwahab (4-2), David Maloof (4-2) and Chris Barley (3-3) claimed second through fourth to advance to the round of 16. Block C saw Darin Guffey go 5-1 with a +90 net on hoops, with Tom Balding also at 5-1 with a +61. Kyle Maloof went 4-2 for third while Doug Grimsley and Matt Griffith went 3-3.

Rounding out the Block action, Edmund Fordyce was 6-0 in the D Block, with two triples and a quadruple. Matt Smith 5-1, Stephen Morgan (4-2) and Steve Scalpone (3-3) followed to claim spots in the main knockout.

In the round of 16, all matches went according to seed and finished in two games. The quarterfinals offered a bit more intrigue as #25 world-ranked Fordyce was able to dispatch #17 Balding in two games to advance to the last four. Watson beat Morgan 26-11, 26tp-0 to advance, with Essick tripled twice to get past Kyle Maloof 26tp-8, 26tp-9. The Smith and Guffey match was the only one to get to three games as the two players scrapped for the final spot. In fact, game three had to wait overnight. It was Guffey with only 26 ranked AC games that found a way with a 25-17, 13-26, 22-17 score to put a fresh name in the last four semifinals round.

The semifinals were best-of-five and Watson and Fordyce were featured on the morning livestream. Watson got through in three with a 26tp-11, 26tp-0, 26tp-23 scoreline. Guffey went straight into battle with Essick and got on the board in game one, but Essick used three straight triples (26tp-18, 26tp-0, 26tp-0) to set up the final’s showdown with Watson.

The final did not disappoint as the doubles partners traded blows all day in a fantastically interactive match. Only game five seemed to follow the traditional AC storyline as games one through four all had something unique for fans. In the end, Essick came out on top by a score of 26otp-12, 9-26tp, 26tpo-18, 10-26, 26tp-0.

While presenting trophies on behalf of the USCA, Michael Albert said, “In all the time I’ve been playing croquet that I’ve ever seen a finals match that was that exciting. Kudos to both players.” – this isn’t great grammar. Maybe paraphrase to Michael Albert said that in all the finals matches he’s watched, he’s never seen one that was that exciting. “Kudos to both players,” he said.

With his fourth title in singles, Essick now stands alone at the top of USCA history for AC Nationals. Damon Bidencope, Leo McBride and Jeff Soo all follow with three titles.

A Championship Doubles Final to Remember

The AC Doubles National Final featured Balding/Kyle Maloof and Essick/Watson. The match went to three games and also offered a back-and-forth display for the spectators.

The match started in typical fashion, Balding and Maloof won the toss and opened with a super shot, which led to Balding running his first break early and setting a leave. After a narrow miss by Watson, Maloof got started on his triple, but had an unfortunate breakdown early on, which allowed Watson back in to run his nine hoops. Maloof missed the hit in and Essick converted a textbook triple peel to win the first game.

The second game took a more unusual turn. It started similarly enough, with Maloof hitting in and running the first break around, but Essick managed to hit the lift shot and proceeded to perform a TPO to peg Maloof’s ball out of the game. During this turn, he also peeled Balding’s ball through Hoop 1 to leave his clip on 2.

2026

A two-versus-one game ensued, which saw Balding make several attempts to hit the opponents from across the court, the first few of which were unsuccessful. Watson would respond by maneuvering their balls across the court and attempting to set a trap for Balding to shoot into.

Balding took a shot that would mean game over if missed but managed to make contact and converted the three-ball break to clinch victory in game two, tying up the match.

Game three opened with Maloof missing on turn three after the super shot, followed by a hit in from Watson as he took the first break around. After he set his leave, Maloof got the hit in but was unable to get the break established. Essick began the triple but stuffed Hoop 3 while attempting to run it gently. This gave Maloof the opening needed to run his break around. Essick missed the long lift shot down the East boundary, and Balding finished the match.

First Flight: Welcome To AC

In First Flight play, the 2026 event had nine players participate, with newcomer Adam Peck going on a tear in block play with a perfect 9-0 record, pegging out in six of those wins. Teresa Errickson also had a great showing, going 6-2 to take second in the block, followed by Christof Weihs and Cami Russack, who both went 5-3.

The playoff featured eight players and one game only in the first round. The round saw a couple of upsets, including #5 seed Rick Alderson getting an 8-7 victory over Russack to advance. In the semifinal, he went up against Peck in a best-of-three and lost game one 26-11 but then fought back in game two 15-13 to end Peck’s 10-game win streak. Game three was even tighter, but Peck was able to prevail 14-13 to secure a place in the final.

Going back to the first round, #6 seed Kathie Hart found her way to the next round by grabbing a 7-6 win over #3 seed Weihs. She went up against #2 Errickson and dropped game one 5-4. But the tide turned and she claimed the next two, 4-2, 5-4, for a berth in the final versus Peck. There, Peck got back on track and dispatched Hart 26-8, 26-6, to claim the First Flight title. Of note, Peck’s first ranked AC event was just a few weeks prior. Overall, he is now 20-4 in AC play, pushing his brand-new starting grade up by more than 100 points.

In First Flight Doubles, Christof and Karen Weihs took first place with a 3-1 record in a field of three teams.

Other winners in the event included Brian Cumming in the Championship Plate with a 4-0 record. Martyn Selman and Steve Scalpone took the Championship Double Plate with a 3-0 record. Christof Weihs won the First Flight Plate, with Rick Alderson and Kathie Hart taking the First Flight Doubles Plate.

It Takes a Great Team

Michael Albert, who worked as the field producer for the livestream, said, “I’d like to thank all of the volunteers at the Sarasota County Croquet Club for going above and beyond all week long. They’ve been out here every morning from 6:30 to 7:00 setting wickets, and they made sure we were well fed twice a day.”

He also recognized the support behind the event’s YouTube production, including Oakley Woods Croquet, Chris and Gail Barley, Karen Weihs, Artist, Visit Sarasota and Sarasota Parks and Recreation, and noted the critical role the Sarasota County Croquet Club played in delivering a first-class championship throughout the week. All livestream matches from the 2026 championship are available to watch on the USCA YouTube channel, offering a chance to revisit one of the most compelling finals in recent memory. The USCA has also confirmed that the 2027 Association Croquet National Championship will return to Sarasota next April.

Tom Balding and Michael Albert both contributed information to this report.

2026 AC Nationals Results

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

01. Matthew Essick

02. Zack Watson

03. Edmund Fordyce

03. Darin Guffey

05. Stephen Morgan

05. Tom Balding

05. Matt Smith

05. Kyle Maloof

09. Matt Griffith

09. Sherif Abdelwahab

09. Martyn Selman

09. Stuart Lawrence

09. Brian Hovis

09. Chris Barley

09. Steve Scalpone

09. Brian Cumming

17. David Maloof

18. Doug Grimsley

19. Tom Cooper

20. Jack Rush

21. Sandra Knuth

22. Arthur Olsen

23. Arlene Parker

24. Lynda Sudderberg

25. Curtis Drake

26. Stephen Errickson

27. Rich Curtis

28. Mike Todorovich

FIRST FLIGHT

01. Adam Peck

02. Kathie Hart

03. Rick Alderson

03. Teresa Errickson

05. Chrstine Smith

05. Cami Russack

05. Christof Weihs

05. Karen Weihs

09. Becky Essick

ABOVE

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Tom Balding/Kyle Maloof

02. Matthew Essick/Zack Watson

03. Brian Cumming/Doug Grimsley

03. David Maloof/Stephen Morgan

05. Sherif Abdelwahab/Sandra Knuth

05. Edmund Fordyce/Darin Guffey

05. Matt Griffith/Matt Smith

05. Chris Barley/Gene Raymond

09. Rick Alderson/Kathie Hart

09. Steve Scalpone/Martyn Selman

09. Tom Cooper/Adam Peck

09. Brian Hovis/Lynda Sudderberg

09. Arlene Parker/Jack Rush

09. Rich Curtis/Stuart Lawrence

09. Michael Albert/Curtis Drake

09. Stephen Errickson/Teresa Errickson

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Christof Weihs/Karen Weihs

02. Cami Russack/Bill Simmons

03. Becky Essick/Christine Smith

Championship Plate Winner

Brian Cumming

Championship Doubles Plate Winners

Martyn Selman/Steve Scalpone

First Flight Plate Winner

Christof Weihs

First Flight Doubles Plate Winners

Rick Alderson/Kathie Hart

First Flight Doubles champions Karen and Christof Weihs. Photo provided by Sarasota County Croquet Club.

OPPOSITE PAGE

TOP LEFT: Runner-up Zack Watson. Photo by Sandra Knuth.

TOP MIDDLE: Doubles champions Kyle Maloof and Tom Balding. Photo provided by Sarasota County Croquet Club.

TOP RIGHT: First Flight Champion Adam Peck. Photo by Sandra Knuth.

BOTTOM: First Flight runner-up Kathie Hart.

Photo provided by Sarasota County Croquet Club.

AC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

SINGLES

2026 — Matthew Essick

2025 — Robert Fletcher

2024 — Tom Balding

2023 — Matthew Essick

2022 — Matthew Essick

2021 — Jeff Soo

2020 — Matthew Essick

2019 — Stephen Morgan

2018 — Jeff Soo

2017 — Stephen Morgan

2016 — David Maloof

2015 — David Maloof

2014 — Jeff Soo

2013 — Ben Rothman

2012 — Rich Lamm

2011 — Stephen Mulliner

2010 — Danny Huneycutt

2009 — Ben Rothman

2008 — Brian Cumming

2007 — Rich Lamm

2006 — Jerry Stark

2005 — Danny Huneycutt

2004 — Bob Cherry

2003 — Leo McBride

2002 — Jacques Fournier

2001 — John Taves

2000 — Jerry Stark

1999 — Leo McBride

1998 — Mik Mehas

1997 — Mik Mehas

1996 — Leo McBride

1995 — Archie Burchfield

1994 — Tony Stephens

1993 — John Taves

1992 — Tremaine Arkley

1991 — David Openshaw

1990 — Damon Bidencope

1989 — Damon Bidencope

1988 — Damon Bidencope

1987 — Bob Kroeger

Inside the Final: Essick Reflects on Fourth AC Title

INTERVIEW BY TOM BALDING

Fresh off one of the most compelling USCA AC Nationals finals in recent memory, Matthew Essick sat down with commentator Tom Balding to break down the match and mindset behind his victory over Zack Watson in the 2026 USCA AC National Singles Championship.

Tom Balding: Matthew, congratulations, that was an incredible match. Possibly one of the most exciting AC finals I’ve ever seen. What was it like from your perspective?

Matthew Essick: Yeah, it really had everything. We saw two-balls, TPOs, one-ball situations; just about every element of top-level AC.

Balding: I want to go to that key moment in Game 3. Zack had been hitting everything, and you chose to go for a New Zealand TPO. Given how difficult peels have been this week, what led you to that decision?

Essick: Against Zack, it’s just not a winning strategy to sit back and hope he misses. He’s going to hit at a really high clip. So, my thinking was to set the standard New Zealand TPO: get the first peel while establishing the leave, then look to complete the rest. The idea was to maybe play the first couple of hoops like I was going for a sextuple, hoping to pick up a peel along the way, but really it was always about transitioning into a TPO. I wanted to get to a one-ball game where I felt confident. At the end of the day, giving him a shot and hoping he misses isn’t enough. You have to create pressure and change the dynamic.

Balding: You had a few misses early but then seemed to lock in again. For players watching at home, how did you reset mentally?

Essick: Honestly, I only made one bad swing all day. I missed a few shots, sure, but most of them were good swings that just didn’t go. I felt really good about my swing overall, better than I had the rest of the week. My break play has been consistent, so once I got in, I trusted that part of my game. The big question was whether I could keep up with Zack’s shooting. Once I hit a solid shot early in Game 5, I felt like I was back. From there, it was just about staying composed and executing.

Balding: In Game 5, you set the three-ducks leave instead of the more defensive option we’d seen earlier. What was the thinking there?

Essick: I’d already tried the ultra-defensive leave, and he handled it perfectly — hit, rushed and got going with no trouble. So, I wanted to apply more pressure. With three ducks, there’s no ambiguity; if he misses, I’m finishing. I knew he was likely to hit a long shot anyway, so I’d rather make that shot feel more consequential. It was really just about saying, “Please miss one.” When he finally did, it was a huge moment.

Balding: You placed the balls to make both shots nearly equal distance. Was that intentional?

Essick: Exactly. I didn’t want to give him a clearly shorter option. I knew he’d take the easiest shot available, so I tried to make them as close as possible in difficulty. At that point, it’s about maximizing pressure and hoping for a miss.

Balding: You and Zack know each other’s games extremely well as doubles partners. Was there anything from this match that stood out or that you’ll both take away?

Essick: I was really proud of how level-headed we both stayed. It never felt like momentum swung too heavily either way. Every time someone got behind, they responded with a big shot or a solid turn. If there’s one takeaway, it’s adaptability. When someone’s not hitting, you can play more straightforward: set a leave and wait. But when someone is hitting like Zack was, you have to change tactics. Doing the same thing over and over doesn’t work at this level. I felt comfortable adjusting my approach, and I think that made a difference.

Balding: Your fourth national title. What does this one mean to you?

Essick: They’re all special, but this one stands out because of the level of play and the quality of the match. It was a real battle, and I’m proud of how I handled it.

Need

www.croquetamerica.com

Look under the Members-Only tab under Merchandise..

2026 American Six Wicket Club Teams

Largest of the Decade

THE 2026 AMERICAN SIX WICKET CLUB TEAMS TOURNAMENT, HELD AT THE NATIONAL CROQUET CENTER IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLA., MARCH 19-22, WAS A FUN-FILLED EVENT WITH AN EXCITING FINISH AND WAS THE LARGEST A6W EVENT HELD IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

BY MACEY WHITE

The tournament ran smooth as silk with 104 players, thanks to the Tournament Directors, Macey White and Nancy Crouch, Organizing Committee, Tish Peterkin, Karen Heckman, Allison Worthington and Cheryl Harders, the USCA staff and great cooperation from all of the players.

Doubles teams from 10 clubs from across the country played in this prestigious doubles event and competed for a winning spot in one of five flights and for top club. Clubs were flighted by size, with small clubs having four or fewer players, medium-sized teams having six to 12 players and large clubs having more than 14 players. Doubles teams were flight-based on USCA handicap into six flights from Championship to Fifth Flight. Teams earned points for their club based on how they finished in their flights.

Club Teams started in 1980 and has a long tradition of fun-filled social events and competition between clubs. In the early years, Les Kelley from the Bombay Croquet Club, nicknamed “The Commish,” was the sparkplug for fun and revelry. Kelley is well remembered and each year the Les Kelley award is given in his honor to the person who embodies the characteristics of revelry and fun. This year’s unanimous winner was Tish Peterkin from Houston. According to Tish, “Club Teams was my first tournament where I even got to play with my future husband, George Peterkin.” Also, as a side note, the TD team of Macey White and

Nancy Crouch (now engaged) played in club teams together as their first date in 2022.

The 2026 Club Teams sported social activities every night and clubs were encouraged to wear club colors and bring a club flag. There were special awards for best flag (won by the Scissortail Croquet Club from Oklahoma City) and best team uniform (won by the Bombay Croquet Club from St. Croix).

Social events included the Competitors Reception, Pizza Party, USCA Annual Meeting and Banquet and Caribbean Night.

Ten courts were used at the NCC. Roundrobin play dominated the first two days and trickled into the third. On the afternoon of Saturday, March 21, the playoffs began. All players went to the playoffs and there was no double-banking for the entire tournament.

What players couldn’t see is that starting that Saturday afternoon, behind the scenes, tournament staff was busy tabulating club scores. As each player finished their playoff play, a point value was awarded for their finishing place in the flight. Flight winners received eight points, second place got six points, ties for third place got four points, ties for fifth place got two points and everyone else got one point. All flights were scored the same, so winning Fifth Flight earned as many club award points as winning Championship Flight. These club award points were tabulated and used to determine the club winners.

Doubles Teams Finishing Order

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

01. Randy Cardo/Bev Cardo The Beach Club

02. Robert Pulitzer/John Brown Houston Croquet Association

03. Richard Sullivan/Bob Van Tassel National Croquet Club

03. Conrad Rugart/Danny Huneycutt The Beach Club

05. Adam Lassiter/Randy Lassiter Albemarle Croquet Club

05. Rodney Lassiter/Joshua Lassiter Albemarle Croquet Club

05. Brian Hovis/Dean Rowland Derby City Croquet Club

05. Mary Rodeberg/David Ekstrom Bombay Mallet & Wicket CC

09. Thomas Cooper/Norris Settlemyre New York Croquet Club

09. Suzanne Spradling/Scott Spradling Scissortail Croquet Club

09. Kevin Hansley/Jodie Rugart The Beach Club

FIRST FLIGHT

01. Darin Guffey/Henry Hagan St. Andrews Club from Delray Beach

02. Larry Lynch/Calvert Chaney St. Andrews Club

03. Mark Ski/Linda Trifone New York Croquet Club

03. Bob Hafner/Kevin Fasano Houston Croquet Association

05. Ronald Eccles/Patricia Spratt Bombay Mallet & Wicket CC

05. William Trower/Bill Simmons National Croquet Club

05. John Craddock Jr/Charlotte Pulitzer Houston Croquet Association

05. John Watson/George Peterkin Houston Croquet Association

09. Susan Creasey/Cecil Creasey The Springs Croquet Club

09. David Kepner/Vickie Johnston The Beach Club

SECOND FLIGHT

01. Adam Peck/Karen Heckman Bombay Croquet Club from St Croix

02. Michael Kolowich/Bo Prillaman The Springs Croquet Club

03. Alex Galasso/Priscilla Flowers National Croquet Club

03. Jeanne Branthover/John Grabow The Beach Club

05. Dick Goldman/Jan Fisher St. Andrews Club

05. Stuart Baker/Jane Casey The Beach Club

05. Thomas Tribby/Richard Carlson The Beach Club

05. Georgia Carter/Patricia Peterkin Houston Croquet Association

THIRD FLIGHT

01. Richard Brickley, Jr./Richard Corey The Beach Club

02. Boyd Parker/Bass Wallace Houston Croquet Association

03. Tom Lindley/Clint Fowlkes National Croquet Club

03. Mary Craddock/Jackie Wallace Houston Croquet Association

05. Leslie Heilakka/Liddy Chaney St. Andrews Club

05. Christof Weihs/Karen Weihs The Springs Croquet Club

05. Allison Worthington/Missy Chilton The Beach Club

05. Charles Duncan/Leslie Duncan Houston Croquet Association

FOURTH FLIGHT

01. Carl Detering/Kit Detering Houston Croquet Association

02. Inez Cancienne/Deborah Hafner Houston Croquet Association

03. Timothy McCormick/Linda Merk National Croquet Club

03. Ralph Worthington IV/John Bannister National Croquet Club

05. David Beccia/Fei Fei Williams The Beach Club

05. Eileen Cornacchia/Jeanette Tribby The Beach Club

05. Don Chapoton/Mary Jo Chapoton Houston Croquet Association

05. Bob Palmquist/Betty Palmquist Houston Croquet Association

FIFTH FLIGHT

01. Maggie Kirkbride/Peter Ashby Howard The Beach Club

02. Rob Kerr/Mimi Kerr Houston Croquet Association

03. Jessica Beccia/Sally Ohrstrom The Beach Club

03. Joan Mauel/Lucy Chambers Houston Croquet Association

05. Norma Jean Brent/Nancy Hasson Bombay Mallet & Wicket CC

05. Sharon Sudol/Patricia Richmond Bombay Mallet & Wicket CC

05. Ellen Donnelly/Frank Donnelly Houston Croquet Association

Club Finishing Order

LARGE CLUBS

01. Houston Croquet Club (30 players and 116 club points)

02. The Beach Club (26 players and 96 points)

MEDIUM CLUBS

01. National Croquet Club (12 players and 44 club points)

02. St. Andrews Croquet Club (8 players and 36 points)

03. Bombay Mallet & Wicket Croquet Club (10 players and 32 points)

04. The Springs Croquet Club (6 players and 18 points)

SMALL CLUBS

01. New York Croquet Club (4 players and 10 club points)

02. Albemarle Croquet Club (4 players and 8 points)

03. Derby City Croquet Club (2 players and 4 points)

04. Scissortail Croquet Club (2 players and 2 points)

Awards

LES KELLEY AWARD

Tish Peterkin

CARLA RUECK GOLDEN HAMMER AWARD

Ron Eccles

BEST TEAM UNIFORM

Bombay Mallet & Wicket Club

BEST TEAM FLAG

Scissortail Croquet Club

2026 USCA Florida Golf Croquet Regional Championship West Palm Beach, Florida | March 5-8, 2026

Hindin Headlines THE Action at Florida GC Regional

BY ELAINE SMITH

The 2026 USCA Florida GC Regional was held at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., March 5-8. The field consisted of 30 singles players and 32 doubles players, in two flights each. The average DGrade in Championship Flight was 1920, and First Flight was 1612. With priority given to players of the Florida Region, the field also included players from North Carolina, South Carolina and Canada.

We started each day with a doubles match, providing players with the opportunity to warm up before the singles games began. The Doubles finals opened Sunday play, with the team of Curtis Drake/Brian Cumming defeating Bruce Hindin/David McCoy to win Championship doubles. Luke Sand/Rick Brown won First Flight doubles, defeating Jeff Morrison/Rick Hayes. Hindin won the Championship Singles, defeating finalist Matt Griffith in two games. Griffith fought hard right to the end, pushing the second game to the hook. Jodie Rugart won the Championship Plate, defeating Curtis Drake. Kim Jones won First Flight singles, defeating finalist Susan Langston. Langston was undefeated through the entire tournament, right up to the finals game. Pat Spratt defeated Luke Sand for the First Flight Plate.

Bruce Hindin, Matt Griffith, Kendall Hendrick and Adam Peck in Championship Flight and Kim Jones, Susan Langdon, Rick Hayes and John Strasser in First Flight all earned prequalification status to the upcoming GC Nationals in September

Regional Vice President Alex Galasso presided over the games as Tournament Manager, with Elaine and Rocky Smith as Tournament Directors. Priscilla Flowers served as head referee. Continental breakfast and buffet lunches were provided each day by the always great SandyJames, with the Sunday buffet of fried chicken and all the fixings being the special favorite.

CHAMPIONSHIP

FLIGHT

01. Bruce Hindin

02. Matt Griffith

03. Kendall Hendrick

03. Adam Peck

05. Bill Simmons

05. Billie Ray

05. Mike Hoggatt

05. Brian Cumming

09. Jodie Rugart

10. Curtis Drake

11. Alex Galasso

12. Rick Brown

12. Cami Russack

14. Billy Harper

15. David Ekstrom

16. Mike Carroll

FIRST FLIGHT

01. Kim Jones

02. Susan Langston

03. Rick Hayes

03. John Strasser

05. Jason Collins

05. Jay Carey

05. Jeff Morrison

05. Caryl Firth

09. Pat Spratt

10. Violet Frizzell

10. Laura Hendrick

10. Luke Sand

13. Gay Cinque

13. Dale Fenwick

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Curtis Drake/Brian Cumming

02. Bruce Hindin/David McCoy

03. Adam Peck/Lucia Morlaes-Halaby

03. Kendall Hendrick/Mike Hoggatt

05. Conrad Rugart/Cami Russack

05. David Ekstrom/Alex Galasso

05. Billy Harper/Bill Simmons

08. Matt Griffith/Billie Ray

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Rick Brown/Luke Sand

02. Jeff Morrison/Rick Hayes

03. Kim Jones/Jay Carey

03. Mike Carroll/Dale Fenwick

05. Susan Langston/Violet Frizzell

05. Caryl Firth/Bill Trower

07. SuSu Day/Frank Ferro

07. Pat Spratt/Jason Collins

2026 US Open GC Reaches New Heights

U.S. OPEN GC REACHES NEW HEIGHTS IN 2026 ELITE

INTERNATIONAL FIELD AND DRAMATIC KNOCKOUT ROUNDS CEMENT THE EVENT’S RISE AMONG THE SPORT’S PREMIER TOURNAMENTS.

BY BILL SIMMONS

The 2026 U.S. Open GC delivered exactly what the sport demands at its highest level — precision, nerve and moments of pure drama. When it was over, Matthew Essick stood alone at the top, completing a relentless campaign to claim the title.

After falling in the 2025 U.S. Open GC semifinal to Malcolm Fletcher, Essick surged back in 2026 with purpose. In the final, he faced fellow world champion Reg Bamford, one of the most formidable competitors in the game. What followed was a battle of control and composure. Essick struck first and never truly let go, securing the championship three games to one in a best-of-five clash.

This was no ordinary field. With an average DGrade of 2351, the 2026 U.S. Open GC ranked among the most competitive tournaments of the past year, second only to the Egyptian Open at DGrade 2414. The 2024 World GC Championship averaged 2468. The message was clear: this event is rapidly becoming one of the sport’s defining stages.

Bill Simmons, Founder and U.S. Open GC Committee Chairman, says, “The mission of the U.S. Open GC is to create the premier Golf Croquet tournament in the world. Building on last year’s success, the 2026 Open is a step closer to achieving that goal.”

PHOTOS

The event was live-streamed to audiences around the world, showcasing top-tier talent. The player guide and match coverage are available at www.usopengc.com.

The Event

Nine nations converged, their flags lining the lawns: Australia, Canada, England, Egypt, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa and the United States. Among the field stood four former World Champions: Ahmed Elmahdy, Matthew Essick, Reg Bamford and Salah Hassan. The top player from five nations and the first and 13th ranked women in the world joined the field. The United States brought the largest contingent (13), closely followed by Egypt (10), setting the stage for an international showdown.

From the opening day of block play on February 10, the intensity was unmistakable. Every hoop mattered. Every miss carried consequences. Only one player emerged unscathed.

Rising Egyptian star Fawzy Helmy tore through the field undefeated, even taking down Reg Bamford — a result that sent a clear signal to the rest of the draw. Close behind, a pack of contenders — Essick, Fordyce, Bamford, Watson, Balding and Fahmy — each dropped just a single match, positioning themselves for the knockout rounds.

TOP: Matthew Essick raises the US Open GC Trophy. Event organizers left to right: John Brown, Tate Russick, Bill Simmons and David McCoy. LEFT: Runner-up Reg Bamford congratulates Essick. CENTER: Bamford received his runner-up award. RIGHT: Greg Fletcher claimed third place.

But not all stories were about advancement. Darin Guffey’s campaign ended in heartbreak, just one hoop short. In a decisive match against Zack Watson, a single moment — a fortunate, almost improbable shot — shifted everything. In a field this strong, margins were razor-thin.

The Knockout Rounds

When the Championship Playoffs began, the tension sharpened. Six of 13 Americans advanced, along with five of the 10 Egyptians. Allies became opponents. Countrymen faced off with no room for sentiment. Zack Watson eliminated Kyle Maloof. Moe Karem advanced past Soha Moustafa. Promising runs ended abruptly, including Stephen Morgan’s loss to Edmund Fordyce.

Then came the first shock. Tamer Hatata stunned the tournament by defeating the previously unbeaten Fawzy Helmy, abruptly ending the young star’s dominant run and proving that no lead, no record, was safe.

The quarterfinals pushed players to the edge. Hatata nearly delivered another upset, forcing Greg Fletcher to a deciding third game before falling by a single point on the final hoop. Zack Watson did the same against Essick. Again, one hoop separated victory from defeat.

The Semifinals

The semifinals brought the tournament’s most unforgettable moment. Essick advanced with authority, dispatching Tom Balding in straight games. But on the other side, Reg Bamford and Greg Fletcher produced a match that defined the event. Five games. No separation.

In the deciding game, Fletcher controlled the match, leading all the way to Hoop 12. Victory was within reach. Even Bamford, one of the sport’s great champions, removed his hat, ready to concede. Then everything changed. Fletcher missed. In that instant, the momentum flipped. Bamford seized the opening, took the final hoop and with it, the match. What had seemed certain dissolved into disbelief.

Yet even in defeat, Fletcher’s resolve was unshaken. Smiling, he told Bill Simmons, “I am coming back next year, and I am going to win this.”

The Final

The championship match was a clash of generations and legacies. Matthew Essick, the 2022 World Champion and ranked 2nd in the world, versus Reg Bamford, a twotime (2013, 2017) World Champion, ranked third and one of the game’s enduring forces.

From the outset, Essick imposed his rhythm. He took the first two games 7–4, 7–4, applying steady pressure. Bamford answered in game three, narrowing the gap with a 7–5 win. But the fourth game carried the weight of the tournament. For Bamford, it was survival. For Essick, it was the finish line. They traded control, point by point, until Essick pulled ahead. With a final 7–5 victory, he closed the door and claimed the title. Matthew Essick became the 2026 U.S. Open GC Champion.

Beyond the Championship

Even beyond the final, the competition never eased. In the Shield (losers of the quarterfinal), Edmund Fordyce outlasted Moe Karem. In the Bowl (first round playoff losers), Yasser Sayed defeated Brian Lozano.

And in the Plate (the bottom 16 players from block play), where pride and resilience define the battle, Ahab Abdelwahab emerged victorious. After navigating a field packed with talent, he defeated Darin Guffey in the plate final to claim the title.

Across every round, the 2026 U.S. Open GC proved something unmistakable: At this level, nothing is guaranteed. Not leads. Not reputations. Not even the final shot. Only those who hold their nerve to the very last hoop endure.

Guffey USA

Elmahdy Egypt

Where Everyone Plays: The U.S. Open ProAm Experience

A UNIQUE FORMAT PAIRS AMATEURS WITH THE WORLD’S BEST, CREATING COMPETITION, CAMARADERIE AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS.

BY BILL SIMMONS

The second annual ProAm is now in the books. John O. Brown and Tom Balding defeated Mark Ski and Matthew Essick in the final, 7-3. Twenty-four USCA members paired with the top players in the world for an exciting one-day doubles tournament that delivered both high-level competition and unforgettable experiences.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to play in a world-class tournament? To compete alongside a world champion? To learn directly from the best players in the world? What are these elite players really like? The ProAm offers exactly that — a rare opportunity to meet, play with and be coached by them, all while competing on an international stage.

The event was live-streamed to audiences around the world, showcasing not just top-tier play but also the unique spirit of croquet. A spirit that brings together players of all ages and skill levels. You can find the player guide and match coverage at www.usopengc.com.

A Match for the Ages

The first live-streamed match perfectly captured that spirit. Ten-yearold Trevor Head and Jana Elsaeed faced off against 86-year-old Kit Pannill and world number one Soha Moustafa.

Head began playing at age six and entered last year’s ProAm as his first-ever tournament. Pannill, on the other hand, only took up the sport at age 84. Meanwhile, Moustafa and Elsaeed, ranked first and 13th women in the world, respectively, represent the highest level of the game.

The match was a blend of emerging talent and elite execution. Early on, Head placed his ball in the jaws, only to have it cleared by Moustafa from the sideline. Elsaeed responded with a well-executed setup, capitalizing after a missed clear to score and advance down to Hoop 2, which she then scored.

At hoop three, Elsaeed again applied pressure with a jaws shot, and was promoted by a missed jump shot by Moustafa. Head contributed several strong plays, including an impressive eight-foot angled shot into the jaws at Hoop 5, highlighting just how much his game has developed.

As conditions changed and the grass dried, shots started going long at six. Head continued to position himself effectively right in front of six. An attempt to clear Head by Pannill put his ball in the jaws, which was then scored.

Ultimately, Elsaeed secured the final hoop for a 7-0 victory. The result, however, tells only part of the story. In 2025, Head scored just one hoop and lost all his matches. One year later, he and Elsaeed won 40 percent of their games, finishing 19th — a remarkable improvement.

Head proved you’re never too young to compete, while Pannill showed you’re never too old to begin. Together, they exemplify one of croquet’s greatest strengths: accessibility. It’s a sport where generations meet, where men and women compete equally, and where improvement comes with practice and experience.

Tournament Format and Competition

The ProAm followed a Swiss format with five rounds, ensuring every team competed throughout the day. Winners faced winners, and teams were progressively matched based on performance, leading to a final between the top two teams. The competition was fierce. After five rounds, no team remained undefeated, and five teams finished with four wins. Final standings were determined first by total wins, then by net wickets, the cumulative margin of victory minus losses.

Two teams emerged tied at +10 net wickets: John O. Brown and Tom Balding, and Mark Ski and Matthew Essick. To break the deadlock, they agreed to a playoff match at the bar to determine a true champion.

The Playoff

The opening hoops were tightly contested, with both sides trading points while focusing on precise clears and careful ball positioning. At Hoop 5, Matthew Essick delivered a clutch jump shot to give Red and Yellow the advantage. O. Brown and Balding answered immediately, taking Hoop 6 to even the score.

At Hoop 7, Ski set up well but missed his hoop shot on the following turn. The momentum shifted when O. Brown executed a long, accurate clearing shot. Moments later, Balding converted a difficult boundary-line shot, giving Blue and Black the lead. At Hoop 8, after a series of exchanged clears, Blue extended their advantage by scoring the hoop. On Hoop 9, O. Brown capitalized on a missed baseline shot by Essick, pushing the lead to 6–3.

Hoop 10 brought the final drama. All four balls were in scoring position. Yellow’s clearing attempt only clipped Blue, allowing Blue to send Essick deep to the boundary. Facing a difficult cross-court clear to stay alive, Red missed. With the match on the line, Black stepped up and calmly scored the final hoop, sealing the victory.

More Than a Tournament

The ProAm is also a fundraiser for the U.S. Open Golf Croquet Singles Championship, which begins the following day. Who can play in the ProAm? You can. If you are a USCA member with a DGrade below 2000, or no DGrade at all, you are eligible to participate as an amateur sponsor. Spots are filled in the order registrations are received.

Participants enjoy far more than just competition. Each amateur is paired with an elite player, sharing not only matches but also lunch and a banquet dinner, which creates an opportunity to connect, learn and build lasting memories. All players and sponsors receive exclusive event items, including a tournament shirt, commemorative coin and ProAm pin — keepsakes available only to participants.

Mark your calendar for February 8, 2027. Signup announcements will be sent out this summer. With the anticipated completion of new lawns at the National Croquet Center, the event is expected to expand to 32 teams. The U.S. Open ProAm is more than a competition; it’s an experience. Whether you’re stepping onto the court for the first time or competing alongside the world’s best, it offers something few events can: a chance to be part of the game at its very highest level.

PROAM DOUBLES RESULTS

Listening to the Membership

What the USCA Semicentennial Survey Told Us

AS THE UNITED STATES CROQUET ASSOCIATION PREPARES TO MARK ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2027, ONE MESSAGE FROM THE MEMBERSHIP RINGS ESPECIALLY CLEAR: CELEBRATE LOCALLY, KEEP IT FUN AND MAKE IT WELCOMING.

That message comes through loud and clear in the USCA Semicentennial Member Survey, which drew more than 300 responses from across the country. Designed to be brief and accessible, the survey captured both structured responses and openended feedback, offering a revealing snapshot of who today’s croquet players are and how they hope to celebrate this milestone anniversary.

Who Responded

Survey participation was strong and broad-based, with more than 300 completed responses analyzed. While members from every region weighed in, participation was strongest in Florida and the Southeast, reflecting current membership concentrations.

Notably, nearly two-thirds of respondents have been USCA members for 10 years or less, underscoring how much the organization has evolved in recent years and how many newer voices are now shaping its direction. Golf Croquet dominates as the primary discipline for most respondents, though nearly half also play American Six-Wicket, highlighting the multi-code nature of today’s membership.

How Members Want to Celebrate

When asked how the USCA should mark its 50th anniversary, members overwhelmingly favored celebrations that feel local, participatory and accessible.

The most popular format by a wide margin was club-level and regional events and socials, signaling that members want the Semicentennial to show up where they already play and gather. National signature events and historical projects also generated interest, but at lower levels, suggesting these should complement rather than replace grassroots celebrations.

Interest dropped sharply for more formal approaches. Youthonly events and gala-style programming ranked near the bottom, reinforcing a preference for celebrations that feel inclusive rather than exclusive.

Tone Matters: Fun Beats Formal

The survey also explored what kind of anniversary members want, and here the results were striking. “Fun” and “welcoming” topped the list of preferred themes, followed closely by an approach that honors history without being trapped by it.

Far fewer respondents emphasized competitive intensity or elegance and formality. The takeaway is unmistakable: members want the Semicentennial to feel like a celebration they can join, not a ceremony they observe from the sidelines.

Participation Starts Close to Home

When asked where they would be most likely to participate in Semicentennial activities, members again pointed to the local level. More than 80 percent said they would take part in club-based events, with participation dropping steadily at the state, regional and national levels. This pattern reinforces a central conclusion of the survey: local clubs are the engine of participation. National initiatives may set the tone, but meaningful engagement will happen lawn by lawn.

Willing Hands, Light Lifts

Encouragingly, the survey revealed a deep well of potential volunteer support. More than 40 percent of respondents said they would be willing to help locally, with another 40 percent are open to helping if expectations are clear and manageable. Members repeatedly emphasized the importance of “light-lift” volunteerism, suggesting that simple, well-defined roles will be key to turning goodwill into action.

Commemoratives and Storytelling

When it comes to Semicentennial keepsakes, members spoke with surprising unity. Apparel emerged as the runaway favorite, followed by pins and patches. Interest in documentaries, photo books and other historical content was more mixed but still positive, with many respondents open to engaging if such projects are presented as enhancements rather than centerpieces. The message here is balance: history matters, but members want it woven into the celebration, not positioned as the main event.

USCA SEMICENTENNIAL SURVEY

AT A GLANCE

A LOOK AT WHAT MORE THAN 300 MEMBERS SHARED ABOUT HOW WE CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF CROQUET

WHAT MEMBERS TOLD US

• Celebrate locally. Keep it fun. Make it welcoming.

• Club-level events are where members say they are most likely to participate.

• History matters, but members don’t want formality to dominate the celebration.

• There is strong willingness to help, as long as the lift stays light and expectations are clear.

• The Semicentennial should feel inclusive and participatory, not ceremonial.

What Members Said in Their Own Words

Open-ended responses echoed and reinforced the structured survey results. Again and again, members called for local club celebrations and open houses, a few marquee national moments, better promotion beyond the existing croquet community, storytelling that connects past and present and affordable, inclusive events. Taken together, these comments paint a consistent picture of a membership eager to celebrate, provided the celebration feels accessible and authentic.

A Clear Direction Forward

The overall takeaway from the Semicentennial survey is both reassuring and clarifying. Members envision an anniversary that is grassroots-driven; fun, welcoming and inclusive; anchored locally and supported regionally with a few national highlights; powered by manageable volunteer involvement; and enriched by history and commemoratives without being dominated by formality.

As planning continues, these results provide a valuable compass. The USCA’s 50th anniversary is not just an opportunity to look back, but a chance to reflect who today’s croquet community is and how it wants to gather, play and celebrate together.

What Happens Next: How the Survey Will Shape the USCA Semicentennial

The USCA Semicentennial Member Survey was designed to listen first and plan second. With more than 300 responses, members offered clear guidance on how they would like the Association to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.

The results are already informing the work of the Semicentennial Planning Committee. Rather than prescribing a single national celebration, the survey points decisively toward a grassroots-driven approach, with local clubs and regions serving as the heart of the anniversary year.

How the Results Will Be Used

• Shape tiered priorities for Semicentennial initiatives

• Emphasize club-level and regional celebrations

• Calibrate national events so they enhance, rather than overshadow, local participation

• Define volunteer roles that are manageable and clearly scoped

• Balance history and storytelling with fun, forward-looking activities

What Members Can Expect

• Guidance and ideas that clubs can adapt locally

• Select national or marquee moments that unify the year

• Clear communication about how to participate or help

• Commemorative offerings that reflect member preferences

Perhaps most importantly, the survey ensures that the Semicentennial reflects today’s croquet community, not just its past. Members asked for an anniversary that feels welcoming, inclusive and fun — and those principles will continue to guide planning as recommendations move forward.

The USCA’s 50th anniversary is not just a milestone. It is an opportunity to gather, play and celebrate in ways that reflect how and where members enjoy croquet today.

2026 A6W OVERALL GP STANDINGS

Player

01 Cardo, Randy 4900 8500 13400

02 Brown, John O 3200 5400 8600

03 Pulitzer, Robert 4100 4050 8150

04 Van Alen, Lucus 4525 1601 6126

05 Ski, Mark 1590 3942 5532

06 Van Tassell, Robert 3000 2250 5250

07 Cardo, Beverley 0 5100 5100

08 Creasey Jr., Cecil H. 3990 928 4918

09 Griffith, Matthew 2100 1870 3970 10 Errickson, Stephen 3210 670 3880 11 Stuart, Preston 2500 850 3350 12 Ekstrom, David 2100 1200 3300 13 Sudderberg, Lynda P. 3190 0 3190 14 Watson, Zack 3000 0 3000

15 Pulitzer, Charlotte 1475 1479 2954 16 Settlemyre, Norris 2600 350 2950 17 Lynch, Larry A 1403 1452 2855

18 Raymond, Gene 1765 1020 2785

19 Chaney, Calvert 1100 1602 2702

20 Barley, Chris 2600 0 2600

Total players: 200 Updated 4/27/2026. 2026 GC OVERALL GP STANDINGS

Matthew Essick 7634 2208 9842

Tom Balding 4149 3163 7312 03 Reg Bamford 5421 1850 7271

Cami Russack 3203 695 3898 10 Brian Lozano 2854 938 3792

Bruce Hindin 2172 1369 3541

Kyle Maloof 2033 1492 3525

Ahab Abdelwahab 1907 1270 3177

John Brown 0 3163 3163

Caryl Firth 1741 1244

Beverley

Sudderberg, Lynda P. 3190

Donato Selby, Yvette 1695

THE POINT (OR POINTS) OF TACTICS

BY JEFF SOO

Abbreviations used: blUe, Red, blacK, Yellow

How many games have you won or lost because of tactics? The answer is exactly none. Tactics exist only in your head, but to score points you must actually hit balls through wickets. Tactics are — literally — pointless.

Speaking of points, it’s natural to think of tactics as a sort of roadmap, the sequence of steps you need to get from point A to point B. And this is not a bad metaphor, if we understand that what we’re trying to plot out is not a direct route. The court diagram in Rule 1 has a lovely map of the shortest route through all the wickets. Playing a ball along this path in the fewest possible strokes makes for a pretty good practice drill. But in a practice drill, we can play as many shots in a row as we need. In a game, our turn ends as soon as we fail to earn a continuation shot, either by scoring a wicket or by making a roquet and playing a croquet shot without sending a ball out of bounds. As a tactical guide, this map merely shows us the next wicket; it tells us nothing about the best way to get there.

And this is a problem, especially for beginning and low-intermediate players, who naturally tend to focus on getting to the wicket, rather than getting through the wicket. Getting fairly close to a wicket is easy enough to do from most positions on the court, especially if you are joined with your partner and can take two shots to get there. And getting through a wicket is possible from a wide range of positions. But you don’t win games with possible wicket shots. The main goal of tactics is to help you get position for highly probable wicket shots. And this is where the path from A to B gets interesting.

FIGURE 1: A Second Flight game. U to play. Y is for 3, all other balls for 2, all balls clear.

Figure 1 shows the start of a Second Flight game, in which Y had rushed R to 2, hoping to score the wicket and rush R to 3. Y did score the wicket but went too far through for a rush to 3 and opted to play to the boundary instead of going dead on

partner. Even though this leaves U a potential three-ball break, Y made a prudent choice to stay clean; three-ball breaks at Second Flight level tend not to last very long. And, indeed, U is not even thinking about trying one, knowing from bitter experience how often three-ball break attempts end in tears. U will be happy to score a wicket or two and get off the court safely.

U is already set with a rush on K, offering a simple and direct path to the wicket. Having set up that rush, and with R on the non-playing side of the wicket, many players at this level will opt for that direct path, giving no thought to using R until after scoring the wicket. At most they will think of R as a backup plan in case the rush on K goes poorly.

But rushes often do go poorly. Again, the question is how to maximize the odds of getting through the wicket. This gets us back to what I have repeatedly stressed in these articles as the most important of all tactical precepts: look for the play that gives you the best chance to take croquet near your wicket, preferably from the playing side (see “One Rule to Ring Them All,” Croquet News, 2022, Volume 3).

You probably noticed I stuck a question mark in Figure 1. It doesn’t take a particularly poor stroke for U’s rush on K to end there: playing the shot a little off-line and not quite connecting solidly with K will do it, two swing errors that often go together. Not only is that an uncomfortable spot from which to approach the wicket, it is also an awkward spot from which to take off to R to get a rush back to the playing side of the wicket, due to the length of the take-off and the fact that the wicket is in the way.

With R so close to the wicket, you should plan to use it right away. Instead of aiming at the wicket, try to rush K all the way to R, or just past it. That leaves an easy croquet shot to get an excellent rush on R, and with R so close to the wicket you have the best possible chance of getting good scoring position. (If the rush on K comes up short, it may well stop right in front of the wicket, in which case you can opt for Plan B and approach the wicket directly, leaving R alone until after the wicket.)

Another advantage of this plan over the direct rush on K to 2 is that if it goes well you will be better positioned to use R and K to arrange an easy rush to 3, rushing your friend K there instead of the dangerous R. Think it through and see if you can discover why; my answer will come later in the article.

Our hypothetical Figure 1 player (who ignored R and attempted the direct rush to 2) has fallen into a common tactical error: failing to adapt to new information. Two turns ago K set up one of the most basic of all scoring patterns: giving partner a rush to its wicket. But then Y played and left R near 2. The original pattern — rushing K to the wicket — is still available, but R’s

arrival on the scene creates an alternative pattern: the three-ball break. (If U uses both K and R to score 2, it is technically a three-ball break, even if U declines to follow the typical pattern of sending K to 3 as a pioneer before scoring 2.)

We can think of tactics as the art of choosing among available patterns. Being able to recognize these patterns is an obvious requirement, and, with experience, we learn more and more of them. But it’s not enough to see patterns — we need a meaningful way to compare them. In the example above, I compared two patterns on the basis of the all-important precept to take croquet close to the wicket — on the playing side whenever possible — when approaching that wicket. There are several such general-purpose precepts we can use to inform our tactical decision-making. Indeed, as explained in “Creating a Rush” (Croquet News, 2024, Volume 1), this precept is itself derived from two even more fundamental ones: short shots are more accurate than long shots, and it is more forgiving to approach a critical shot along the target line than across it.

Two other precepts are specific to split shots: stop shots and drive shots are generally more accurate than roll shots, and narrow splits are generally more accurate than wider ones. That’s not much help when you find yourself faced with a long, wide-angle roll shot; the point is to use rushes to avoid getting into such positions in the first place.

For intermediate and advanced players, these five precepts are the building blocks of break management, the art of choosing targets for rushes, croquet strokes and wicket shots (when you are close enough to run the wicket with control) while making a three-ball or four-ball break. But let’s return to our cautious Second Flight player in Figure 1, who would like to score a couple of wickets, but is worried about breaking down at 2 if attempting a standard three-ball break.

“Creating a Rush” (referenced above) works through an example of a helpful problem-solving technique: thinking through a sequence of shots in reverse. Let’s apply that technique here. In Figure 1, U plans to score 2, then rush partner (K) to 3. Obviously, this can be done with a plain two-ball break, but it would be foolish to ignore the easier alternative offered by R. The crux of the sequence is the long rush on K to 3. U wants excellent position for that rush — close to and directly west of K — and R is the key. U should plan to roquet R first after running 2, then use the croquet stroke to get into position for the rush on K. Getting position for a rush is similar to approaching a wicket, and we give ourselves the best chance of excellent position by taking croquet close to and on the correct side of the ball we want to rush. Figure 2 shows how this might look:

You might have noticed that R’s position in Figure 2 is not much different from where it was originally; U has rushed it to 2 and then sent it back to nearly the same place. Why bother? U could get to a similar position by rushing K directly to 2 and then sending it to the east of R while approaching the wicket:

But, because of the distance U has to send K on the croquet stroke, this approach shot is more difficult, and less likely to result in good wicket-running position. The initial rush on K also needs to be more precise. It is much better to make use of R; Figure 4 shows the prelude to Figure 2:

With this sequence we get a greater margin of error for the initial rush on K and will have a much shorter rush (on R) to the wicket, improving our chance of getting good position and running the wicket with control. This in turn gives us a better chance of a good rush to 3. By using both R and K, we can bend the risk/ reward curve in our favor. And that is the point of tactics.

Publisher’s Note

I would like to note that there were errors in the page layout for Jeff Soo’s American 6W Tactics column in the print version of the 2026 Volume 1 issue of Croquet News . The column title was inadvertently repeated from the previous issue, and two paragraphs were mistakenly omitted. This was corrected for the digital version of the magazine. Jeff has taken the opportunity to expand on the column topic in this edition. I apologize for the errors and we have implemented a process update to help prevent similar issues in the future.

—Dylan Goodwin, Publisher

Timed Matches in Golf Croquet

BY CHERYL BROMLEY

Many of you may have experienced playing timed matches in golf croquet. This is often necessary to keep a tournament running on schedule. It definitely changes the nature of the game, particularly if you are having a great battle and run out of time before the entire game is completed. On the other hand, it does encourage playing with dispatch.

Below are some ideas on how to deal with timed matches.

1. Think ahead: Efficiency is important and is a time saver. Be thinking about your upcoming shot options while your opponent is taking their shot to cut down on the amount of time needed to make your decision when it is your turn.

2. Get off to a good start: Be ready to go from the start. This means being warmed up both mentally and physically in advance. Building a lead and staying ahead is especially important as time winds down.

3. String together multiple hoops: All the odd-numbered hoops are straight shots down to the next hoop. Try to run the hoop and take position down at the next one in the same shot. For example, Hoop 1 to Hoop 2, Hoops 3 to 4, Hoops 5 to 6, etc.

4. Walk with purpose: Don’t dilly-dally while walking over to your next shot. As always, stay still and remember not to walk when your opponent is preparing to shoot.

5. Stay alert and know the rules: Be on the lookout for a potential wrong-ball situation and forestall play before it occurs, as is required by the rules, and is particularly important to save time. Be clear on how the game ends when regulation time runs out, e.g., how to deal with ties, extra turns, etc.

6. Maintain your pace and tempo: This is important if you come up against a slower player; be sure to keep your rhythm. Conversely, if someone is playing exceptionally fast, take the time you need to execute your shots while still managing time efficiently.

7. Make your opponent hit tough shots and keep the pressure: this comes down to executing your stop shots crisply and clearing shots with authority to maximize the distance your opponent has to shoot from.

GC SCENARIO

It is Pink to play and finds itself with a half inch of space between itself and the Green ball. Brown has an open, slightly angled two-yard hoop shot. What would you do? Be sure not to double tap. Set this scenario up at your next practice session, mark the balls to be able to have the opportunity to bring them back if a fault occurs and see what options might work for you.

NEW TO SECONDARY COLORS?

Green = Blue

Pink = Red

Brown = Black

White = Yellow

NEW MEMBERS

ALABAMA

Birmingham–

Birmingham Croquet Club

John Somerset

CALIFORNIA

Chula Vista–Croquet Mexico

Victor Abitia

Pasadena–

Pasadena Croquet Club

Sean Chasworth

David Collins

Rancho Mirage–

Mission Hills Croquet Club

Nancy Cameron

Grahame Clark

Linda Harradine

Sharon O'Shea

Greg Shumavon

Tricia Shumavon

DELAWARE

Millsboro–

Baywood Greens Croquet

Kim Hall

FLORIDA

Boca Grande–

Gasparilla Inn Mallet Club

Pam Bayly

Dan Bayly

Diane Bean

Angela Corning

Barney Corning

Cynthia Gerdsen

LeeAnn Maloomian

Charles Nadler

Louise Nadler

Julie Newell

Casey Newell

Denny Parker

Pam Tinkler

Doug Tinkler

John Toole

Bokeelia–

Useppa Island Croquet Club

Joel Bentley

PASSAGES

Bonita Springs–Bonita Bay Club

Sara Edwards

Richard Pearce

Deborah Pearce

Coral Gables–

Coral Gables

Merrick House Croquet

Yvelisse Bonilla

Fort Myers–Shell Point Croquet Association

Jonathan High

Ft. Lauderdale–At Large Member

Lyndy Thatcher

Clive Thatcher

Naples–Audubon Croquet Association

Ann Davey

Naples–Naples Croquet Club of Florida

Sybil Burt

Brett Starr

Orlando–The Country Club of Orlando

Mitchell Cooper

Guongyi Henson

Victoria Leedy

Orlando–Winter Park Croquet Club

James Hall

Palm Beach–Everglades Club, Inc.

Dick Williams

Palm Beach Gardens–Croquet Club at PGA National

Melanie Guttridge

John Guttridge

Ponte Vedra Beach–At Large Member

William Tomson

Anne Tomson

Hal Denton (Hall of Fame) National Croquet Club and Croquet Club of Annapolis

Fred Heald Naples Croquet Club and Sky Valley Croquet

Frank Lockett Linville Golf Club

Gail Munn Boca Raton Croquet Club and National Croquet Club

Lou Tyrrell National Croquet Club

Neil Wilkie Croquet Club of Annapolis

The Villages–

The Villages Croquet Club

Brian Thielges

Venice–

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Thomas Burwinkel

Linda Coleman

John Coleman

Lori Hemmelgarn

Jerome Mueller

Susan Murphy

Sandy Rendell

George Rendell

Vero Beach–At Large Member

Donna Bleck

George Golensky

Anne Golensky

Vero Beach–

John's Island Croquet Club

Joan Henderson

Bob Tait

Vero Beach–Oak Harbor Club

Connie Phypers

Vero Beach–

Quail Valley Golf & River Club

Arianne George

Edward Meehan

Sandra Meehan

Vero Beach–

Riomar Country Club

Staunton Peck

Thomas Piper III

Vero Beach–The Moorings Club

Marcia Humphrey

West Palm Beach–At Large Member

Helena Rowland

West Palm Beach–

National Croquet Club

John Baldwin

Becky Foley

Sean Foley

Cynthia Gronroos

Anne Ilyinsky

Allen Kressman

Gilbert Meister

Doris Meister

Charles Nemetz

Anne Nemetz

Nick Noviello

Cathrine Noviello

Mary Paul

James Paul

Robin Reardon

Rene Von Richthofen

John Wren

Nicholas Young

Lawrence Zaffuto

NEW CLUBS

Western Kentucky Croquet Club ................... Princeton, Kentucky

Coral Gables Merrick House Croquet Coral Gables, Florida

West Palm Beach–

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Dean Burgin

Ella Gustafsson

Madeleine Jones

Adam Leatherman

Mary-Allison McGuire

Jackson Overholt

Brayden Valliere

Olivia Weaver

GEORGIA

Atlanta–At Large Member

Jane McLaine

INDIANA

Fishers–At Large Member

Irving Scully

KENTUCKY

Morehead–At Large Member

Pam Rowland

Princeton–

Western Kentucky Croquet Club

Thomas France

MARYLAND

Galesville–

Croquet Club of Annapolis

Julie Beal

Anne Gillis

Josh Head

Margaret O'Bryon

Patrick Sergeant

Gibson Island–

Gibson Island Club

Elizabeth Hagan

MISSISSIPPI

Jackson–

The Country Club of Jackson

Amy Robinson

NEW JERSEY

Sea Girt–

Green Gables Croquet Club

Linda Willis

NORTH CAROLINA

Pinehurst–

Pinehurst Croquet Club

Karen Conlin

Caleigh Conlin

Maclain Conlin

Sean Conlin

Julie Milton

Mark Van de Water

Read Van de Water

PENNSYLVANIA

Haverford–

Merion Cricket Club

Valerie Bowman

SOUTH CAROLINA

Aiken–At Large Member

Don Hutchins

Bluffton–Belfair

Chris Olsen

Charleston–At Large Member

Anne Griffin

John Griffin

Elizabeth Sullivan

Charleston–Bishop Gadsden

Joe Marino

Patricia Marino

Libby Moon

Tom Moon

John Schauer

Mary Beth Schauer

TEXAS

Houston–

Houston Croquet Association

Anne Symonds

Taft Symonds

VERMONT

Manchester–

Ekwanok Country Club

Cathy Long

Cairo–At Large Member

Jana Alsaeed

USCA FL Southwest District GC

Championship

Wyndemere Country Club

Naples, Florida

April 16-18, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Tate Russack

02. Mike Hoggatt

03. Billy Simmons

03. Jose Benjumea

05. Caryl Firth

06. Tom Eggleston

07. John Joseph

First Flight

01. Glo Ghegan

02. Mary Hennelly

03. John Grout

03. Anne Killilea

05. Richard Pearce

06. Thomas Hennelly

07. Jeffrey Cohen

Second Flight

01. Raymond George

02. Deborah Jacobson

03. Trula Myers

03. Howard Glicken

05. Jason Collins

05. Sybil Burt

Third Flight

01. Brett Starr

02. Eijk Van Otterloo

03. Juli Burke

03. Lynn DeVault

05. Robert Krimsier

05. Ying Benns

Albemarle Croquet Club GC Open

Albemarle Croquet Club

Belvidere, North Carolina

April 8-11, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Cecil Creasey

02. Josh Lassiter

03. Adam Lassiter

03. Rodney Lassiter

05. Nancy Rendleman

05. Gary Gamble

05. John Lassiter

05. Randy Lassiter

09. Ned Sperry

10. Dick Rendleman

11. Dan Horton

11. Susan Creasey

13. Lee Robinson

13. Rick Pratt

15. Sarah Persons

16. Lisa Maloney

First Flight

01. Kim Beaty

02. Briggs Stahl

03. Cathy Horton

03. Bob Natole

05. Wayne Meade

06. Wayne Maloney

07. Rocky Smith

Second Flight

01. Janet Mullen

02. Thomas Birckhead

03. Craig Sellner

03. Becky Mclawhorn

05. Holly Sperry

06. Tom Mullen

07. Judy Sellner

08.Debra Boyce

Swiss Doubles

01. Adam Lassiter/Kim Beaty

02. John Lassiter/Rocky Smith

03. Cecil Creasey/Susan Creasey

04. Josh Lassiter/Bob Natole

05. Dan Horton/Cathy Horton

06. Nancy Rendleman/ Dick Rendleman

06. Randy Lassiter/Wayne Meade

08. Lee Robinson/Briggs Stahl

09. Rick Pratt/Sarah Persons

10. Gary Gamble/Kathie Gamble

11. Ned Sperry/Holly Sperry

12. Craig Sellner/Judy Sellner

13. Rodney Lassiter/Thomas Birckhead

14. Tom Mullen/Janet Mullen

15. Lisa Maloney/Wayne Maloney

16. Debra Boyce/Becky Mclawhorn

NCC AC Weekender Open

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

April 3-5, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Danny Huneycutt

02. Michael Todorovich

03. Calvert Chaney

First Flight

01. Larry Lynch

02. Adam Peck

03. Rick Hayes

04. Sandra Knuth

2026 SCCC AC Open

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

March 27-29, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Chris Barley

02. Gene Raymond

02. Linda Sudderberg

04. Curtis Drake

05. Matt Griffith

05. Stephen Errickson

07. Walt Janitz

First Flight

01. Sandy Janitz

02. Kathie Hart

03. Michael Kolowich

03. Teresa Errickson

05. Christine Smith

06. Rick Alderson

07. Chris Weihs

08. Karen Weihs

2026 Women’s International

Friendship Cup

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

March 25-27, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Cami Russack

02. Debbie Davidoff

03. Julie Wright

03. Helen Covington

05. Cheryl Bromley

05. Rania Gabr

05. Ghada Abdel Rahman

05. Maha Eldardiry

09. Ellie Griffith

10. Mervat Elshazly

11. Mary Galasso

11. Amy Hempt

13. Jan Spoerl

13. Lisa Maloney

First Flight

01. Caryl Firth

02. Sue Emond

03. Sarah Persons

03. Glo Ghegan

05. Susu Day

05. Jacquie Harris

05. Caroline Robinson

05. Mary Carol Stearns

09. Kim Beaty

10. Madeleine D’Ambrosio

11. Anne Killilea

11. Pam Groh

13. Mary Hennelly

13. Lynda Forbes

13. Karen Albert

13. Jane Louisa Smith

Second Flight

01. Deb Kalish

02. Suzanne Turner

03. Polly Joa

03. Susie Day

05. Jane Grandusky

05. Janet Anthos

05. Lynn DeVault

05. Marcia Riching

09. Cheryl Beckert

10. Diane Young Rose

11. Fran Alexakos

11. Robin Dobbs

13. Carolyn McLendon

13. Mary Miech

13. Cathy Long

2026 Croquet Week

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

March 13-15, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Alex Galasso

02. Rondal Taylor

03. Rania Gabr

03. Nancy Rendleman

05. Tate Russack

06. David Ekstrom

07. Billy Simmons

07. Khaled Kholief

First Flight

01. Joe Harris

02. Rich Rose

03. Nicholas Capobianco

03. Richard Rendleman

05. Lois Clay

05. Richard Hayes

05. Violet Frizzell

05. Jacquie Harris

06. Mary Galasso

07. Sarah Persons

08. Jeff Morrison

08. Jason Collins

09. Caryl Firth

Second Flight

01. Jan Grandusky

02. Christopher Darton

03. Ned Fleming

03. Amy Bothwell

04. Barbara Taylor

05. Lynn Foley

2026 SCCC A6W

Singles Championship

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

March 13-14, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Chris Barley

02. Neil Houghton

03. Matt Griffith

03. Walt Janitz

03. Gene Raymond

06. Stephen Thurston

First Flight

01. Sonia Alexandra

02. Michael Kolowich

02. Mervyn Harvey

04. Christine Smith

04. George Claffey

06. Rick Alderson

07. Karen Weihs

Second Flight

01. Linda Taber

02. Pauline Harvey

03. Debbie Martin

04. Bob Taber

05. Jeffrey Cohen

06. Julie Doric

CUSTOM LOGO

2026 Blaine Davis Invitational

Gasparilla Mallet Club

Boca Grande, Florida

March 5-8, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Mike Weimerskirch

02. Gene Raymond

03. Michael Kolowich

04. George Claffey

05. Ron Eccles

06. Kathie Hart

07. Lewis Carlisle

08. Eick Alderson

First Flight

01. John Grout

02. Debbie Martin

03. Scott McMurray

04. Bob Bake

05. Katie Bull

06. Greg Presley

07. Laurien Trowell

The Steuber Classic - GC

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

February 25-March 1, 2026

Championship Flight Singles

01. Adam Peck

02. Bruce Hindin

03. David McCoy

03. Tate Russack

05. Mary Galasso

05. James Creasey

05. Bill Harper

05. Chirs Morris

09. Cami Russack

09. Mike Hoggatt

09. Nancy Rendleman

09. Dick Rendleman

First Flight Singles

01. Rich Rose

02. Dick Corey

03. Whitney Thain

03. Kathy Brown

05. Josh Head

05. Don Allison

05. Howard Glicken

05. Jason Collins

09. Randall Roe

09. Barbara Glicken

09. Chris Eaton

09. Trevor Head

Championship Flight Doubles (Waterford)

01. Cami Russack

02. James Creasey

03. Chris Morris

04. Bill Harper

05. Mike Hoggatt

06. Nancy Rendleman

07. Adam Peck

08. Bruce Hindin

First Flight Doubles (Waterford)

01. Mary Galasso

02. Don Allison

03. Whitney Thain

04. Tom Lindley

05. Jason Collins

06. Dick Rendleman

07. Dick Corey

08. Chris Darton

Championship Plate

01. Mike Hoggatt

02. Dick Rendleman

First Flight Plate

01. Chris Eaton

02. Trevor Head

03. Barbara Glicken

03. Randall Roe

The Steuber Classic - A6W

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

February 25-March 1, 2026

Championship A Singles

01. Zack Watson

02. Stuart Lawrence

03. Brian Cumming

03. John Brown

05. Randy Cardo

05. Danny Huneycutt

05. Michael Todorovich

05. Robert Pulitzer

Championship B Singles

01. Lucas Van Alen

02. Norris Settlemyre

03. David Ekstrom

03. Stephen Errickson

05. Preston Stuart

05. Doug Moore

05. Calvert Chaney

05. Ron Eccles

First Flight Singles

01. Yvette Donato-Selby

02. Mark Ski

03. Ron Millican

03. Charlotte Pulitzer

05. Mary Rodeberg

05. Larry Lynch

05. Jeff Morrison

05. David Kepner

Second Flight Singles

01. Deborah Millican

02. John Craddock

03. Patricia Spratt

03. Sally McGrath

05. Teresa Errickson

05. Stephen Grassbaugh

05. Richard Hayes

05. Thomas Tribby

The Steuber Classic - A6W

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

February 25-March 1, 2026

(continued)

Third Flight Singles

01. Alex Galasso

02. David Dill

03. Michael Kolowich

03. Rob Franks

05. Bo Prillaman

05. Danna Huneycutt

05. Priscilla Flowers

05. Scott Brown

Fourth Flight Singles

01. Bill Simmons

02. Georgia Carter

03. John Grout

03. Fei Fei Williams

05. Mary Craddock

05. Melissa Nelson

05. John McGrath

05. Geoffrey Johnson

09. Francisco Echeverria

09. Ralph Worthington

Championship Flight Doubles (Waterford)

01. Charlotte Pulitzer

02. Deb Millican

03. Jim Erwin

04. Randy Cardo

05. Stephen Errickson

06. Bob Pulitzer

07. Teresa Errickson

08. Brian Cumming

09. Mark Ski

10. David Ekstrom

11. John Brown

12. Rick Hayes

13. John Craddock

14. Ron Eccles

15. Ron Millican

16. Jeff Morrison

17. David McCoy

18. Pat Spratt

19. Larry Lynch

20. Norris Settlemyre

21. Yvette Donato-Selby

22. Preston Stuart

23. Lucas Van Alen

24. Mary Rodeberg

First Flight Doubles (Waterford)

01. Fei Fei Williams

02. Alex Galasso

03. Priscilla Flowers

04. Erica Williams

05. Rob Franks

06. John McGrath

07. David Dill

08. Danna Huneycutt

09. Ralph Worthington

10. Melissa Nelson

11. Sally McGrath

12. John Grout

13. David Kepner

14. Jeanette Tribby

15. Mary Craddock

16. John Bannister

17. Randall Roe

18. Michael Kolowich

19. Gerry Kagan

20. Georgia Carter

Sarasota CCC GC Shootout

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

February 20-22, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Cami Russack

02. Mike Hoggatt

03. Gene Raymond

03. Kendall Hendrick

05. Matt Griffith

06. Billie Ray

06. Joe Fairbanks

08. Tate Russack

08. Stephen Errickson

10. Todd Russell

First Flight

01. Chris Weihs

02. Michael Kukla

02. Graydon Bell

04. Bill Simmons

04. Sally Mills

06. Michael Kolowich

07. Sandy Janitz

08. Penn Pendleton

Second Flight

01. Rick Alderson

02. Teresa Errickson

03. Karen Weihs

03. Jeffrey Cohen

03. Walt Janitz

06. Kathie Hart

07. Janice Baysden

07. Rita McNamara

Third Flight

01. Ronald Baysden

02. Frank Merschman

03. Julie Doric

03. Carl Caruso

03. Robert Ferraro

06. Juli Burke

07. Lyudmila Kiseleva

08. Alex Feinstein

Fourth Flight

01. Paul Panaccione

02. Kelly Callahan

03. John Delappa

04. William Jackson

04. Russell Grace

04. Linda Kemerer

05. Tess Chick

06. Maria Petrola

Country Club of Orlando Invitational

Country Club of Orlando

Orlando, Florida

February 20-22, 2026

Championship Flight

01. James Welch

02. Jeff Smith

03. Mike Hatcher

04. Gail Barley

05. Scott Scharlau

06. Mitchell Cooper

07. Jim Hardy

08. Tom Colman

First Flight

01. Becky Welch

02. Susie Day

03. Diana Colman

04. Paige Vietor

05. Lucy Fender

US Open GC Managers Tournament

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

February 9, 2026

Results

01. Yasser Fathi

02. Salah Hassan

03. Mohammad Kamal

04. Amr Hamdy

05. Rania Gabr

2026 SCCC A6W Club Doubles

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

February 6-7, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Matt Griffith/Bob Gelineux

02. Webster Bull/Gene Raymond

03. Russ Cuccia/Neil Houghton

04. Stephen Errickson/Teresa Errickson

05. Walt Janitz/Stephen Thurston

First Flight

01. Michael Kukla/Rita McNamara

02. George Claffey III/ Michael Kolowich

03. Mervyn Harvey/Christof Weihs

04. Chris Smith/Sandy Janitz

05. Kathleen Bull/Nancy Hart

06. J R Rowell/Rick Alderson

Second Flight

01. Bob Taber/Linda Taber

02. Pauline Harvey/Linda Orff

03. Toni Marie Gelineau/Bruce Miller

04. Alex Feinstein/Debbie Martin

05. Karen Weihs/Juli Burke

06. Nona McGinnis/Julie Doric

07. Kathy Hart/Shirley Ricci

2026 Loggerhead GC Tournament

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Palm Coast, Florida

February 5-8, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Macey White

02. Chris Barley

03. Brett Stovall

03. Jim Jamison

05. Gary Gamble

05. Ron Taylor

07. Billy Roche

07. Brian Zindel

Championship Flight Doubles

01. Ron Taylor/James Podraza

02. Jim Jamison/Sarah Persons

03. Macey White/Dana Silliman

03. Gary Gamble/Dorothy Silliman

05. Brett Stovall/Rick Pratt

06. Brian Zindel/Billy Roche

First Flight

01. Jim Podraza

02. Barbara Jamison

03. Susu Day

03. Curtis Loftin

05. Dorothy Silliman

06. Rick Pratt

07. Sarah Persons

07. Carmen Roche

First Flight Doubles

01. Barbara Jamison/Gail Montgomery

02. Susu Day/Rich Iuliucci

03. Mike Debitetto/Chris Eaton

03. Alice Scanlon/Jason Collins

05. Carmen Roche/Sarah Thompson

06. Greg Presley/Susie Day

Second Flight

01. David Betsill

02. Greg Presley

03. Sarah Thompson

03. Mike Debitetto

05. Gail Montgomery

06. Susie Day

07. Chris Eaton

07. Jason Collins

The Beach Club Invitational

The Beach Club

Palm Beach, Florida

January 28-February 1, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Randy Cardo

02. Robert Pulitzer

03. John Brown

03. Preston Stuart

05. David Ekstrom

05. Cecil Creasey

05. Courtney Green

05. Lucas Van Alen

09. Norris Settlemyer

09. Michael Todorovich

11. Mark Ski

11. Calvert Chaney

13. Linda Trifone

13. Donna Dixon

15. Ronald Eccles

15. David McCoy

First Flight

01. Charlotte Pulitzer

02. Dennis Leddy

03. John Craddock

03. Yvette Donato Selby

05. Yen Sullivan

05. Richard Hayes

05. Stuart Price

05. Patricia Spratt

09. Jeanne Branthover

Second Flight

01. Bo Prillaman

02. David Kepner

03. Sally McGrath

03. Chris Weihs

05. Christopher Morris

05. Kathleen Green

05. Jan Fisher

05. Michael Kolowich

09. Karen Heckman

09. Carl Archiniaco

11. Bill Sullivan

11. Danna Huneycutt

Third Flight

01. Priscilla Flowers

02. Scott Brown

03. Bass Wallace

03. John McGrath

05. Alex Galasso

05. Georgia Carter

05. Marc Blumberg

05. Karen Weihs

09. Lee Hamel

09. Mary Craddock

11. Susan Creasey

11. Dick Corey

13. Randall Roe

13. David Beccia

Fourth Flight

01. Ralph Worthington

02. Amy Bothwell

03. Fei Fei Williams

03. Christopher Darton

05. Donna Wilson Hamel

05. Jessica Beccia

Championship Flight Doubles

01. Randy Cardo/Mark Ski

02. John Brown/Lucas Van Alen

03. Bill Trower/Courtney Green

03. Preston Stuart/Cecil Creasey

05. David McCoy/Donna Dixon

06. David Ekstrom/Linda Trifone

07. Calvert Chaney/Ronald Eccles

The Beach Club Invitational

The Beach Club

Palm Beach, Florida

January 28-February 1, 2026

(continued)

First Flight Doubles

01. Dennis Leddy/Bo Prillaman

02. Sally McGrath/Kathleen Green

03. John Grabow/Michael Kolowich

03. Patricia Spratt/Chris Weihs

05. Charlotte Pulitzer/ Christopher Morris

05. Jan Fisher/Bill Sullivan

07. Jeanne Branthover/David Kepner

07. Richard Hayes/Carl Archiniaco

09. Yen Sullivan/Danna Huneycutt

09. John Craddock/Missy Chilton

09. Stuart Price/Karen Heckman

Second Flight Doubles

01. Georgia Carter/Randall Roe

02. Priscilla Flowers/David Beccia

03. Alex Galasso/Karen Weihs

03. Allison Worthington/Susan Creasey

05. Mary Craddock/Dick Corey

06. Liddy Chaney/John McGrath

Third Flight (Waterford) Doubles

01. Bass Wallace/Lee Hamel

02. Jackie Wallace/Eileen Cornacchia

03. Marc Blumberg/Fei Fei Williams

03. Donna Wilson Hamel/ Jessica Beccia

05. Scott Brown

05. Ralph Worthington

05. MaryAnne Mathys

2026 Jones Invitational

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

January 22-25, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Cecil Creasey

02. Stephen Errickson

03. Matt Griffith

04. Lynda Sudderberg

05. Gene Raymond

05. Webster Bull

07. Brian Hovis

07. Roger Vorraber

09. Ron Eccles

09. Stephen Grassbaugh

09. John Joseph

09. Steve Thurston

First Flight

01. Peter Gordon

02. Patt Spratt

03. Teresa Errickson

04. Mervyn Harvey

05. Richard Hayes

05. Jan Fisher

07. Becky Essick

07. Christine Smith

09. Michael Kolowich

09. George Claffey III

09. Chris Weihs

09. Rick Alderson

Second Flight

01. Karen Weihs

02. Kathie Hart

03. John Grout

Croquet News Magazine for Maximum Reach

February Issue (Spring) – 1/15/27

To get started, contact Dylan Goodwin at croquetnetwork@gmail.com

04. Billy Simmons

05. Debbie Martin

05. Pauline Harvey

07. Cynthia Chess

07. Katie Bull

09. Susan Creasey

09. Gloria Gordon

09. Jeffrey Cohen

09. Linda Merk

2026 Women’s GC Open

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, Florida

January 15-18, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Cheryl Bromley

02. Ana Sanchez de Granda

03. Cami Russack

03. Julie Wright

05. Beatriz Cabeza de Vaca

06. Lisa Maloney

07. Helen Covington

07. Debbie Davidoff

09. Jodie Rugart

10. Jan Spoerl

11. Priscilla Flowers

11. Maria Antonia Verela

13. Carmen del Rio Zuazo

13. Inmaculada Palomares

13. Caryl Firth

13. Adrienne Lucke

17. Sabine Martinsone

18. Vickie Johnston

19. Mary Galasso

19. Kim Gottshall

21. Diane Waterfall

21. Lynda Bjorklund

21. Anne Killilea

First Flight

01. Maria Eugenia Ortiz

02. Lucia Morales-Halaby

03. Susan Langston

03. Barbara Jamison

05. Sarah Persons

05. MaryCarol Stearns

07. Sue Emond

07. Kim Beaty

09. Amy Hempt

10. Paloma Casanova

11. Patricia Spratt

11. Karen Heckman

13. Enriqueta Cuartero

13. Ellen O’Brien

13. Madeleine d’Ambrosio

13. Gay Cinque

17. Marisa Palomares

18. Glo Ghegan

19. Mary Hennelly

19. Kathleen Brown

21. Jane Grandusky

21. Patti Malpass

21. Betty Robinson

21. Alice Scanlon

Second Flight

01. Susan Hogan

02. Cheryl Grigg

03. Cathy Long

03. Pam Groh

05. Janet Anthos

06. Janice Baysden

07. Diane Rose

07. Maria Jose Palomares

09. Suzanne Turner

10. Caroline Robinson

11. Chris Eaton

11. Sheila Peterson

13. Janet Mullen

13. Polly Joa

13. Lin Irey

17. Marcia Riching

18. Fei Fei Williams

19. Lynn DeVault

19. Lynn Foley

21. Patricia Richmond

21. Judy Sellner

21. Bess Gallanis

21. Frances Alexakos

Snowbird GC Challenge

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club

Hartfield, Virginia

December 15, 2025-February 27, 2026

Results

01. Rick Pratt

02. George Anas

03. Joe Ward

04. Kevin Cordray

05. Kari Lee Donovan

06. Kellie Hinkle

06. Frank Jemmison

Green Turtle 6W Challenge

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Palm Coast, Florida

December 15, 2025-January 31, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Billy Roche

02. Edmund Giancola

03. Mike Debitetto

04. Gloria Gordon

05. Carmen Roche

Green Turtle GC Challenge

Grand Haven Croquet Club

Palm Coast, Florida

December 15, 2025-January 31, 2026

Championship Flight

01. Nancy Crouch

02. Billy Roche

03. David Betsill

04. Kathie Gamble

05. Mike Debitetto

06. Dana Silliman

07. David Arkley

08. Carmen Roche

09. Alise Scanlan

May

5/14/26 - 5/16/26

Albemarle Croquet Club GC Open

Albemarle Croquet Club

Belvidere, NC

Adam Lassiter | 252-326-1231 adamllassiter@gmail.com

5/21/26 - 5/24/26

Blue Crab A6W Tournament

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA

Macey White maceywhite@gmail.com

5/21/26 - 5/24/26

2026 Rockfish GC Tournament

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA

Macey White

maceywhite@gmail.com

5/22/26 - 5/25/26

Indian Territory Open - A6W Lafortune Croquet Pavillion Tulsa, OK

Bob Baker | 918-688-7777 bobbaker688@gmail.com

5/28/26 - 5/31/26

9W National Championship

Morehead City Park Complex

Morehead, KY

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

June

6/4/26 - 6/7/26

GC Eights

Bald Head Island Croquet Club

Bald Head Island, NC

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

6/4/26 - 6/7/26

ScissorTail Oklahoma Championship

Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club Nichols Hills, OK

Suzanne Spradling | 405-590-7264 sshawsprad@cox.net

6/6/26 - 6/7/26

National Croquet Day

Tom Cooper marketing@croquetamerica.com

6/11/26 - 6/14/26

2026 Southeast Regional A6W Championship

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

6/12/26 - 6/14/26

US Golf Croquet Classic Denver Croquet Club Denver, CO

Matt B Smith | 660-238-7035 croquet1@hotmail.com

6/12/26 - 6/14/24

NY State GC Championship

New York Croquet Club New York, NY

Paul Neubecker | 716-359-6018 paul.neubecker@gmail.com

6/15/26 - 8/15/26

Stingray 6W & GC Challenge

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA

Macey White | maceywhite@gmail.com

6/18/26 - 6/21/26

Berkshire Invitational - 6W Lenox Croquet Club Lenox, MA

Stuart Lawrence | 646-483-3000 plus26tp@gmail.com

6/25/26 - 6/28/26

Woodlawn Invitational

Woodlawn Croquet Court Ellsworth, ME

Perry Mattson | 207-667-9335 newburyneckshore@gmail.com

July

7/2/26 - 7/5/26

USCA Western GC Regional Pasadena Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club Pasadena, CA

Rick Zazueta | 818-306-0240 rick.zazueta@gmail.com

7/15/26 - 9/15/26

Bluefish GC & 6W Challenge Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA

Macey White maceywhite@gmail.com

7/16/26 - 7/19/26

Canadian National GC Championship North Toronto Croquet Club Adam Barr | 647-519-2149 adamcbarr@gmail.com

7/24/26 - 7/26/26

USCA Northeast Regional GC Championship

Lenox Croquet Club Lenox, MA

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

7/24/26 - 7/26/26

Milwaukee GC Doubles Open

Milwaukee Croquet Club Milwaukee, WI

Cheryl Bromley | 954-242-8601 bromleycroquet@gmail.com

7/30/26 - 8/8/26

Buffalo Invitational - A6W Deleware Park Buffalo, NY

Robert Gannon | 716-432-1500 thehangmen@msn.com

7/30/26 - 8/2/26 NC Club Teams NC

Tom Balding | 631-708-7575 tclareb5@gmail.com

August

8/1/26 - 8/2/26

Sticky Wicket Weekend - GC Merion Cricket Club Haverford, PA

Whitney Thain | 610-642-5800 wthain@merioncricket.com

8/7/26 - 8/9/26

USCA Northeast Regional A6W Championship

Sandwich Croquet Club

East Sandwich, MA

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

8/7/26 - 8/9/26

Rochester Invitational A6W Croquet Tournament

G&T Sports Park Hilton, NY

Rich Curtis | 585-461-2365 rgcrover@aol.com

8/13/26 - 8/16/26

Woodlawn Vacationland

GC Tournament

Woodlawn Croquet Club

Ellsworth, ME

Timothy McCormick | 207-329-5343 tmccorm1@gmail.com

September

9/4/26 - 9/7/26

NC State A6W Singles

Championship

Albemarle Croquet Club

Belvidere, NC

Adam Lassiter | 252-326-1231 adamllassiter@gmail.com

9/9/26 - 9/13/26

Woodlawn Big Lobster

Woodlawn Croquet Club

Ellsworth, ME

Perry Mattson | 207-667-9335 newburyneckshore@gmail.com

9/13/26 - 9/19/26

USCA Golf Croquet National Championship

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

9/18/26 - 9/20/26

Osborn Cup

New York Croquet Club

New York, NY

Paul Neubecker | 716-359-6018 paul.neubecker@gmail.com

9/23/26 - 9/27/26

Pinehurst Invitational

Pinehurst Country Club

Pinehurst, NC

Elaine Moody | 910-986-3164 halliburton_2@msn.com

9/26/26 - 9/27/26

The Croquet Invitational - 6W & AC

Merion Cricket Club

Haverford, PA

Whitney Thain | 610-642-5800 wthain@merioncricket.com

October

10/1/26 - 10/4/26

Albemarle Croquet Club Fall

GC Open

Albemarle Croquet Club

Belvidere, NC

Elaine Smith | 330-231-1071 elainesmith8543@gmail.com

10/4/26 - 10/10/26

USCA A6W National Championship

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/6/26 - 10/7/26

USCA GC School

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Adam Peck | 561-478-0760 usca@uscroquet.com

10/13/26 - 10/15/26

WGCA 2nd Annual Women’s

GC Doubles Open

Albemarle Croquet Club

Belvidere, NC

Cheryl Bromley | 954-242-8601 bromleycroquet@gmail.com

10/13/26 - 10/14/26

USCA Association School

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Adam Peck | 561-478-0760 usca@uscroquet.com

10/15/26 - 10/18/26

North American Open GC Tournament

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, VA

Macey White maceywhite@gmail.com

10/20/26 - 10/23/26

WGCA Women’s Doubles Open

Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/20/26 - 10/22/26

USCA A6W School

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL Adam Peck | 561-478-0760 usca@uscroquet.com

10/22/26 - 10/25/26

USCA Selection Eights (AC)

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

November

11/4/26 - 11/8/26

USCA Seniors Masters (A6W)

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

11/13/26 - 11/15/26

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

11/19/26 - 11/22/26

USCA GC Seniors & Masters

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

December

12/1/26 - 12/2/26

USCA GC School

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL

Adam Peck | 561-478-0760 usca@uscroquet.com

12/3/26 - 12/6/26

USCA GC Club Teams Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

12/11/26 - 12/13/26

Seahorse GC Invitational

The Beach Club Palm Beach, FL

Jane Casey | 203-570-1866 rjntkc@gmail.com

12/11/26 - 12/13/26

The Holiday Classic Sarasota County Croquet Club Venice, FL

Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 nh13sc@gmail.com

January 2027

1/8/27 - 1/10/27

NCClub A6W Singles

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 medstone100@me.com

1/14/27 - 1/17/27

Women’s 6th Annual GC Open

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Priscilla Flowers | 828-421-3543 pmflowers375@gmail.com

1/27/27 - 1/31/27

Beach Club 6W Invitational

The Beach Club

Palm Beach, FL

Jane Casey | 203-570-1866 rjntkc@gmail.com

February 2027

2/8/27 - 2/8/27

US Open GC Pro-Am

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

2/9/27 - 2/13/27

US Open GC

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Bill Simmons | 908-625-9189 bjsjr1957@comcast.net

2/24/27 - 2/28/27

The Steuber Classic

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Franck Meunier | 561-478-2300 general.manager@ croquetnational.com

March 2027

3/12/27 - 3/14/27

USCA Croquet Week Golf Croquet

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

3/18/27 - 3/21/27

USCA Club Teams 6W

National Croquet Center West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

3/31/27 - 4/4/27

USCA Women’s GC Nationals

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

April 2027

4/9/27 - 4/11/27

NCC Club GC Singles

National Croquet Center

West Palm Beach, FL

Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 medstone100@me.com

June 2027

6/3/27 - 6/6/27

USCA GC Eights

Albemarle Croquet Club Belvidere, NC

Brian Hovis | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com