US Open Golf Croquet Championship Begins February 9

The US Open Golf Croquet International Championship gets underway on Monday, February 9, at 8:30 a.m. at the National Croquet Center, located at 700 S. Florida Mango Road in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The championship opens with a festive Pro-Am event on Monday, pairing top international players with US Open sponsors in a doubles competition. Participants range in age from 10-year-old Trevor Head, the youngest competitor, to an 87-year-old player, underscoring Golf Croquet’s appeal across generations. Notably, the last three Golf Croquet World Champions—all from the United States—began playing the sport at a young age, much like Trevor.

Spectators are welcome, with parking available on site. The National Croquet Center’s restaurant will be open to the public Tuesday, February 10, through Saturday, February 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., offering delicious lunch selections and refreshments on the veranda overlooking the courts. Dinner service will be available Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 561-478-2300 and selecting the Grill Room.

Championship block play takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, determining advancement to the playoffs. The playoffs begin Thursday morning, followed by semi-finals on Friday, February 12, and the championship finals on Saturday, February 14. Play begins each day at 8:30 a.m.

This premier international event features elite competitors from nine countries, including several of the world’s most accomplished players. Representing the United States is Matthew Essick, the nation’s top-ranked player and 2022 World Champion, joined by:

  • Reg Bamford (South Africa), No. 1 ranked player and 2013 & 2017 World Champion

  • Ahmed Elmahdy (Egypt), No. 1 ranked player and 2015 World Champion

  • Salah Hassan (Egypt), 1997 & 2000 World Champion

  • Edmund Fordyce (New Zealand), No. 1 ranked player

  • Brian Lozano (Mexico), No. 1 ranked player

In total, nine of the world’s top 20 players will compete in West Palm Beach for the US Open Golf Croquet title. Will an international challenger claim the crown from the Americans? Spectators are invited to attend and find out.

The US Open Golf Croquet International Championship presents a unique opportunity to experience world-class croquet and witness firsthand why Golf Croquet is the fastest-growing form of the game worldwide. The event will be live-streamed on the US Croquet Association YouTube channel.

For more information, visit www.usopengc.com.