Recent activity and news from the Mission Hills Croquet Club in Rancho Mirage, California as reported by Genie Hendry:

Ben Rothman was on site from November 2009 thru April 2010 as our contract “Croquet Pro.” It is now OFFICIAL ... Ben will return in November on the Mission Hills Staff and will again be offering lessons, clinics and his valuable expertise in directing our tournaments. During the summer, he’ll be playing in tournaments with fellow TEAM USA members in preparation for the MacRobertson Shield Trophy competition, which will be held in August in England. You can catch Ben at the NA Open at the Sonoma-Cutrer Winery in Windsor, CA, and the entire USA Mac-Rob team at the Rocky Mountain Invitational in Denver, CO. GOOD LUCK GUYS ... GO TEAM USA!!!!!
Mission Hills’ own Ron Hendry has accepted the USCA Western Region Vice President position from Patrick Sweeney of Portland, Oregon. Patrick has done an outstanding job in representing the West through his participation as VP and by hosting the Western Regional tournament each year. Thanks for all your hard work for croquet, Patrick! The 2010 Western Regional will be held in Seattle, WA, August 26-29. See the USCA website, www.croquetamerica.com, for more details.

Club President Jim Butts reports Jim Bonacci has “retired” as Club Treasurer and Mike Orgill will take up his responsibilities. Jim commends Bonacci on his diligent, responsive, and almost flawless performance for the past seven years of service to the club. Thanks to Mike for taking over this important job!

The Missouri Croquet Association provided equipment and referees for the First Annual Mahaffie Sunflower Wickets golf croquet fundraiser on Saturday morning in Olathe, Kansas. The single-elimination event had 32 players participate and reportedly raised $4000 for an expansion of the main building on the historic Mahaffie Farmstead. More details and photos located on the MCA website.

Scroll down this article to find details on a Bennington, Vermont summer croquet league.

Completed registration forms are due by June 4. Registration for the season is $50 per person plus a membership in the Park McCullough House Association, which is available at a special discounted rate to croquet league members ($30 individual, $20 senior/student, $50 couple/family).

Registration forms can be picked up at the Park McCullough House, and should be dropped off with check at the kick-off party on June 10. For more information, call 442-5441.

The Buffalo Rising website reports that The Olmsted Conservancy and the Buffalo Croquet Club are hosting an open house (more details and a great night croquet photo):

... on Sunday, May 16, from 1pm-5pm, adults are welcome to join in on a round of six and nine wicket croquet. The equipment will be provided, and families are encouraged to come out and watch. By hosting an open house, the conservancy is hoping to attract more players and leagues similar to the Buffalo Croquet Club, which is an organized men's league that plays every Monday night during the summer.

The West River Wickets Club recently appeared in a feature on hometownannapolis.com. Excerpt:

Around 2004, the West River Wickets Croquet Club was officially born. The group now boasts over two-dozen active members and a handful of trophies and titles from tournaments up and down the East Coast.