Chesapeake Bay Launches North American GC Open in Style

Hoggatt, Crouch, and White Lead Winners as Club Sets 100-Year Legacy Plan

The inaugural 2025 North American Open Golf Croquet Championship was held in October at the prestigious Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club. Renowned for its southern charm and laid-back hospitality, the club is recognized as the largest croquet facility in the world, offering 24 courts where double banking is infrequent. The tournament attracted a competitive group of 33 players from various regions across North America, ranging from Florida to Maine. Many attendees extended their visit to enjoy the rural coastal lifestyle and explore notable historic sites, including Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg.

Doubles Competition

The event began with two days focused on doubles play, featuring a semi-social format that serves as a warm-up for more intense competition. Sixteen teams participated in a round-robin on Thursday, with all advancing to Friday’s playoffs. Teams eliminated in the first round competed in the Doubles Plate. By Friday evening, champions and finalists were determined. Marc and MaryCarol Stearns from Ponte Vedra, Florida, claimed victory in the Championship Flight Doubles Plate after a spirited match against Heather and John Welch of Sandwich, Massachusetts. Nancy Crouch and Macey White from Chesapeake Bay emerged as the Doubles Champions, winning a dramatic 7-6 tiebreaker against Mike Hoggatt of Bonita Bay, Florida, and Karl Heinz Kempfer of Pasadena, California. With this win, Nancy Crouch and Macey White became the first players to have their names engraved on the permanent event trophy.

Club Legacy and Future

Demonstrating a strong commitment to the sport, the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club has announced a 100-year plan to preserve both the facility and its permanent trophies. Distinguished trophies, such as the North American Open GC Championship, Blue Crab American 6-Wicket Championship, and Rockfish Golf Croquet Championship, will remain on display in the clubhouse for at least a century.

Singles Playoff Adjustment

Due to severe weather threatening the Sunday finals, Tournament Director Macey White and senior players opted to reschedule the Singles Playoff to Saturday. The round-robin was canceled, and player seedings for the Singles Playoff were based on DGrade rankings. All singles participants advanced to the knockout stage, with the top 16 players competing in the Championship Playoff and the remainder in the 1st Flight Playoff. First-round Doubles playoff losers entered the Championship and 1st Flight Plates.

SINGLES WINNERS (L to R): Wayne Maloney - 1st Flight Plate Winner, John Woods – Championship Plate Finalist, Heather Welch – 1st Flight Finalist, David Phillips – 1st Flight Winner, Penn Pendleton – Championship Flight Plate Winner, Matt Butler – 1st Flight Plate Finalist, Mike Hoggatt – 2025 Singles Champion, Karl Heinz-Kempfer – Championship Finalist, Macey White – Tournament Director.

Championship Flight Singles Results

In the Championship Flight Singles Plate, Chesapeake Bay’s Penn Pendleton and John Woods competed in a close contest, with Penn clinching the win via a decisive jump shot in the tiebreaker. For the main event, Mike Hoggatt overcame his doubles partner, Karl Heinz-Kempfer, earning the title of 2025 North American Open Singles Champion, and having his name engraved on the trophy.

First Flight Singles Results

In the First Flight Singles, Wayne Maloney from Chesapeake Bay prevailed over St. John’s graduate Matt Butler in the First Flight Plate. Tournament newcomer David Phillips from Celebration, Florida, marked his debut with a victory over Heather Welch securing his name on the permanent trophy as the First Flight Winner.

DOUBLES WINNERS (L to R): Karl Heinz-Kempfer – Championship Finalist, Marc Stearns – Plate Winner, John and Heather Welch - Plate Finalists, MaryCarol Stearns – Plate Winner, Mike Hoggatt – Championship Finalist, Macey White and Nancy Crouch – 2025 Doubles Champions.

Special Thanks

Special thanks go to CBCC volunteers, Rick Darnell, Ginny Ritter, Cliff Scudder, Cynthia Fowler, Doug Fowler, Julie Woods, Greg Houck, Kimberly Leedy, Jeff Taylor, John Woods, and Nancy Crouch.

Looking Ahead

For those interested in participating in future events at Chesapeake Bay, the upcoming calendar features the Rockfish GC Tournament and the Blue Crab American 6-Wicket Tournament, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 21-24. The 2026 North American GC Championship will be held October 15-18.

Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club at www.cbcc.fun.