BUFFALO, NY – This summer in Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York, for three straight days, this cute and clever game of croquet will be played by some of the country’s top-ranked players. The Buffalo Croquet Club Inaugural 6-Wicket Invitational will host famous players like Johnny Osborn, John Young III, Anne Frost Robinson and Douglas Moore. These include members of the United States Croquet Association (USCA) Hall of Fame, and presidents from the croquet clubs of Bermuda, Rochester and New York City.

“It’s rare to see an inaugural event attract so many top competitors in its first year,” said Osborn, who not only is one of the country’s best players but is also the son of the late Jack Osborn, founder of the USCA.

“But perhaps what I’m most looking forward to is meeting all the new Buffalo players, many of whom have been playing croquet for over a decade but will be trying American 6-wicket for the first time.”

The Buffalo Croquet Club first formed in 1999 and experimented with various forms of croquet over the years, before settling into a style of 9-wicket croquet that is unique to Buffalo. This year, however, the Delaware Park-based club decided to branch out into the nationally sanctioned realm of American Rules 6-wicket, which is regulated by the USCA. This is the game that Jack Osborn and several others created decades ago, and which continues to grow across the country and across Western New York.

“Because my grandparents were very instrumental in the early development of croquet in the U.S., I feel an unwavering sense of obligation to help continue that growth and development,” explained John Young III, the Bermuda Croquet Club president who will be traveling to Buffalo in July.

“So, any opportunity to be a part of that growth and success, and help support and promote the sport I love, you can always count me in.”

Young’s grandfather was one the original founders of the American game, and Young described his love of the sport as being deeply rooted in his family’s legacy.

“In fact, anyone who plays croquet knows that it’s really one big family,” Young said. “Whether in Bermuda, New York, California or Kansas, whether a rookie or a longtime championship player, we really are just one big family.”

The Buffalo tournament begins Friday, July 29, concluding with playoff games and a trophy ceremony on Sunday afternoon. The courts are located adjacent to the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy lodge on Parkside Avenue. For more information, contact Tournament Manager Ryan Thompson at (716) 697- 4111 or thompson77@gmail.com.