Prestige and Cash Prize Lead to Crowded Croquet Field
Since its inception nearly a decade ago, the Buffalo Croquet Club’s Annual 6-Wicket tournament continues to be one of the most popular croquet competitions in the country.
“Top players come here from all over the United States. And once again, we have a waitlist for those seeking to play in the four-day event,” says Tournament Director Ryan Thompson. “I’m sure the cash prize helps, but I think it’s really about the people and the festivities that attract players to Buffalo.”
While many of the competitors (who all have official handicaps assigned by the Florida-based U.S. Croquet Association) come from New York City and Rochester, some of this year’s players come from Missouri, Kentucky, California and Canada.
With the defending champion currently injured and unable to play, the top “flight” of players all have their eyes set on having their name enshrined on the prestigious Bronze Buffalo trophy. One of those challengers is Paul Neubecker, a Buffalo native who first learned how to play croquet on the Delaware Park courts, but has since moved to New York City and joined the U.S. Croquet High Performance team.
The tournament has become so popular in Buffalo that local corporate sponsors have started to get involved.
“This year, we have teamed up with Just Pizza & Wing Co., Olympic Restaurants, Identity Ink and N.A.S. Sign Company to help build croquet’s presence in the city,” says Buffalo Croquet Club President Bob Gannon. “For the last 20 years, this club has really been about friendship and teamwork. Now we are implementing these same concepts, but just at a more collaborative level.”
The Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission has also lent support, and, of course, none of this would be possible without the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, which allowed the croquet club to take over the previously dormant lawn-bowling greens along Parkside Avenue many years ago when all the lawn bowlers died out.
According to Thompson, one of the constant struggles the sport of croquet faces nationwide is to ensure young players are getting involved in numbers that are equal to or greater than the senior citizens who have traditionally played this low-impact sport that incorporates chess-like strategy and billiards-like precision.
The Buffalo croquet scene fortunately doesn’t have that problem. Like many obscurities and eccentricities that the Queen City secretly offers, there has been an influx of youth into croquet here in Buffalo. A Thursday-night croquet league has recently grown to 60 players competing against each other in doubles games over the course of a 10-week season.
But, just like the tournament, there has traditionally been a waitlist for the league as well. Croquet is indeed booming in Buffalo.
For those interested, visit www.buffalocroquetclub.com, or stop by the tournament August 17-20, which is free for spectators.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Buffalo Croquet Club 7th Annual 6-Wicket Invitational
When:
Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 (6 p.m. – 9 p.m.) Under the lights!
Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Where:
Delaware Park croquet courts, adjacent to Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Lodge, 84 Parkside Ave., near Scajaquada Expressway, Route 198.
Cost:
Free for public to spectate
Club Contact:
Bob Gannon, Buffalo Croquet Club President, (716) 432-1500, thehangmen@msn.com
Website:
www.buffalocroquetclub.com