In his final year of being a part-time Buffalo resident, before fully transplanting to the Big Apple, Paul Neubecker has won his hometown championship. It was a fitting victory for the young player who first learned how to play croquet on these courts in Delaware Park.
Read MoreBuffalo Croquet Tournament Returns Next Week
You know it’s August in Buffalo when the white-attired women and men adorn the croquet lawns of Delaware Park for their annual tournament and tradition. The 6th Annual Buffalo Croquet Club 6-Wicket Invitational brings some of the top American croquet players to the city every year to compete for cash and a chance to have their name inscribed on the legendary “bronze buffalo.”
Read MoreCompetitive Croquet Returns to Buffalo
Competitive croquet returns to Buffalo this week for the 3rd Annual Buffalo Croquet Club 6-Wicket Invitational. Over 30 players, coming from New York City, Boston, California, Florida and Canada will arrive in Delaware Park for one of the sport’s most popular tournaments.
Some of the country’s top players will be in the Queen City, including returning champion John H. Young III, of Bermuda, whose grandfather helped invent this American version of croquet; Chris Patmore, who originally rose through the croquet ranks of Britain; and Rich Curtis, the former president of the U.S. Croquet Association.
2016 US Open: Elimination Blocks (Day 4)
2016 US Open: Block Day 3
2016 US Open: Block Day 2
PLAYER JOURNAL FROM LEO NIKORA:
The second day of Block play was another perfect croquet day. Each player played another three games.
2016 US Open: Block Day 1
PLAYER JOURNAL BY LEO NIKORA:
The first day of Block play was perfect croquet weather – cool air and warm sun. Each player played three games.
2016 United States Open: Opening Party
The 2016 United States Open is being held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA, on December 6-10. It is hosted by the Mission Hills Croquet Club.
The opening party was held at the 55th Hole bar at the Country Club. Twenty players and nine guest attended the gala. Tournament Director Rory Kelley, demurred, and Assistant Tournament Director Doug Grimsley presided.
2016 USCA Croquet News Volume 1, Web Edition
The 2016 Volume 1 issue of the USCA's Croquet News magazine mailed in April and should be arriving in member's mailboxes soon. Today, the web edition PDF is also now available to USCA members on the magazine page of the USCA website. A few of the highlights include:
USCA PRESIDENT'S ROUNDTABLE
In this feature, I held an email roundtable discussion with current USCA President Johnny Mitchell and recent presidents Eugene Young and Rich Curtis. The discussion touched on a range of topics around current USCA challenges and the future vision. Excerpt:
"Promoting the sport is an entirely different issue. I know that all those who are involved in croquet truly have a passion for it and have a hard time understanding why more don’t play. Yes, we have seen pockets of expansion. North Carolina is a good example of this, but I feel it is not as easy as just trying to follow that model. Each area of the country is unique. What works in one may not be effective in another. Development is dependent on having local support. No matter where or who you may sell the idea of croquet to, unless some local support or the drive to keep it going is there, it just won’t work."
--Johnny Mitchell