USCA-sanctioned American Six-Wicket event will feature four days of competition, social events, and a capped 30-player field in Buffalo’s historic Olmsted-designed park.
The Buffalo Croquet Club will once again host its annual croquet tournament at Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York, bringing together players from across North America for a four-day competition scheduled for July 30-Aug. 2, 2026.
The event will be sanctioned by the United States Croquet Association and played under American Six-Wicket rules. Competitors will take part in both singles and doubles play, with traditional all-white attire required throughout the tournament. Organizers have capped the field at 30 players.
Competition will take place on four three-quarter–size lawns located within Delaware Park, part of the historic park system designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The lawns occupy former lawn-bowling greens, similar in size and style to those used for croquet play in New York City’s Central Park.
Tournament Schedule
The tournament will begin Thursday, July 30, with practice sessions from 2–6 p.m., followed by optional tournament play in the evening.
Formal competition will run Friday through Sunday. Matches are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, with social gatherings planned in the evenings, including a “Toasts & Tallies” dinner on Friday and a Saturday night dinner event. The tournament will conclude Sunday with playoff matches beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by a trophy presentation in the afternoon.
The winner of the Championship Flight singles competition will receive a complimentary entry into the following year’s tournament along with a cash prize.
Recent Champions
The Buffalo tournament has attracted a diverse group of past champions, including several international competitors. Recent winners include:
2025 — Rich Laging (Rochester)
2024 — Paul Neubecker (Buffalo/New York City)
2023 — Paul Neubecker (Buffalo/New York City)
2022 — Dr. C.J. Patmore (United Kingdom/New York City)
2021 — Timothy Rapuano (New York City)
2020 — Tournament not held due to COVID-19
2019 — Timothy Rapuano (New York City)
2018 — Timothy Rapuano (New York City)
2017 — John H. Young III (Bermuda)
2016 — John C. Osborn (West Palm Beach, Florida)
Venue and Local Setting
The tournament courts are located at the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Delaware Park at 84 Parkside Ave. Players and spectators must enter the park from the designated entrance along Parkside Avenue. Limited parking is available inside the park, while additional street parking can typically be found in the surrounding Parkside neighborhood.
Between matches, players often gather at the nearby Parkside Meadow Bar & Restaurant, located a short distance from the courts.
Travel and Accommodations
A variety of lodging options are available within walking distance of Delaware Park. Nearby accommodations include InnBuffalo, The Richardson Hotel, The Mansion, The Edward, The Parkside House, Oscar’s Inn, and several Airbnb properties in the Parkside neighborhood.
The area is also home to the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Martin House complex, one of Buffalo’s most notable architectural attractions.
International visitors traveling from Canada are advised to carry passports and review current border-crossing requirements before attending.
Western New York Croquet Days
The Buffalo tournament serves as the opening weekend of “Western New York Croquet Days,” a two-week stretch of croquet events in the region. The Rochester Croquet Club will follow with its annual USCA-sanctioned tournament the following weekend.
For additional information about the Buffalo tournament, visit the Buffalo Croquet Club website at www.buffalocroquet.wixsite.com/my-site.