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

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2015 USCA Croquet News, 2015 Volume 3 Web Edition

The 2015 Volume 3 issue of the Croquet News mailed in December and should be arriving in mailboxes soon. The web edition is also now available to USCA members on the magazine page. A few of the highlights include:

FROM THE AMERICAN RULES NATIONALS COVERAGE
Danny Huneycutt partnered with Randy Cardo to win the doubles title, and then bested Brian Cumming in an entertaining three-game match for the singles title. It was Cardo’s first national title and a notably quick rise to the top ...

FROM KC'S ONE-COURT MODEL
On September 1, 2007, the KCCC became an official USCA club with eight members. Most had been playing six wicket croquet for years and wanted a place to practice and compete locally. With Griffith’s “open night” approach, membership eventually reached 20 full USCA members ... 

In addition, you will find coverage on:
  • 2015 USCA Selection Eights
  • 2015 USCA Seniors Masters
  • Member Profile: Donna Dixon
  • Club Profile: Sonoma Croquet Club
  • 9 Wicket Nationals
  • Western Regional
  • Northeast / Mid-Atlantic Regional
  • On Tactics: Two for One
  • Player's Tip: Performance Thinking
ABOUT THE PDF EDITION: All website and e-mail links should be live in the PDF. If you see an interesting reference, you can click through to dig deeper or reach a contact right away. On computers, the PDF version is best viewed as "two-up" and "show cover page" if you want to see the full spreads (on your Adobe Reader top menu: View/Page Display). The PDF should also be viewable on most tablets.

USCA Croquet News, 2015 Volume 2 Web Edition

Click to ZoomThe 2015 Volume 2 issue of the Croquet News mailed this week and should be hitting mailboxes soon. The web edition is also now available to USCA members on the magazine page. This time around we've created a few little extras in the web edition, so have fun checking those out. A few of the highlights include:

FROM THE SOLOMON TROPHY COVERAGE
When Captain Samir Patel was bringing the sterling silver Solomon Trophy through customs, he was asked if he was planning to leave anything of value in the USA. His response, "Of course not."

FROM THE JOHN OSBORN PROFILE
Ted 
Prentis was my partner and he told me, toward the end of a match, 
that if I missed a shot we would lose. We were so far ahead I argued 
with him, then missed the shot ... and then lost. There is a lesson 
there, and one day I will figure out what it might be.

FROM
JEFF SOO'S CLANKOPHOBIA ARTICLE
I bore you with all this because one of the most persistent myths 
about hoop-running is that you should play the stroke so as to impart topspin to the ball. This is impossible, if we take “topspin” to mean forward rotation beyond that of a normally rolling ball. What you want is not topspin, but instead a ball that is rolling rather than skidding when it reaches the hoop.
In addition, you will find coverage on:
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USCA Croquet News, 2015 Volume 1 Web Edition

The 2015 Volume 1 issue of the Croquet News is now available to USCA members on the magazine page. The issue includes:

  • 2015 Club Teams Championship
  • Chattooga Club Profile
  • Croquet Week GC Tournament
  • Florida Golf Croquet Regional
  • Florida Six Wicket Regional
  • Matthew Essick Profile
  • On Tactics: Insurance Play and Swap

ABOUT THE PDF EDITION: All website and e-mail links should be live in the PDF. If you see an interesting reference, you can click through to dig deeper or reach a contact right away. On computers, the PDF version is best viewed as "two-up" and "show cover page" if you want to see the full spreads (on your Adobe Reader top menu: View/Page Display). The PDF should also be viewable on most tablets.

USCA's Croquet News: 2014 Volume 3 Edition

The USCA's Croquet News Volume 3 for 2014 went to press just prior to the holidays and is hopefully mailing this week. If you would like to enjoy a sneak preview, you can now access a PDF of this issue in the member's section of the USCA website along with back issues all the way back to 2007.

USCA Croquet News 2014, Volume 3This issue is overloaded as we’ve squeezed in features on Nine Wicket Nationals, USCA Nationals, Seniors Masters, GC Nationals and Selection Eights. We are excited to bring back feature level coverage to the Eights, which many players consider to be our premier event. And with Nine Wicket Nationals taking a quantum leap by hosting the 2014 edition at the historic Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, we are excited to provide an in-depth report on the growing success of the newest USCA championship series.

We have also launched a new Committee Guest Column and Club Profile department. The guest column this issue is from Cheryl Bromley on the Golf Croquet Committee. Going forward we will rotate the column each issue to include all of the key USCA committees. Our goal is to give members a view into the overall progress of the USCA across all sectors of the organization. Our club profile features the New York Croquet Club in this issue and again, we'll continue to explore new clubs in future editions.

Unfortunately, the sport lost a few key figures this fall. Ted Prentis and Jeff Soo have written wonderful tributes to John Solomon and Mack Penwell that are essential reading for all American croquet players. Beyond just recognizing Solomon and Penwell, both pieces provide valuable insight into the history of croquet in the US.

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USCA's Croquet News: 2014 Volume 2 Edition

2014 Volume 2The USCA's Croquet News Magazine Volume 2 for 2014 has been mailed and members are already receiving copies. In addition to the paper version, you can now access a PDF of this issue in the member's section of the USCA website along with back issues all the way back to 2007. This allows you to enjoy the Croquet News on your tablet or computer.

The 2014 Volume 2 edition features a recap of the 2014 AC National Championship won by Jeff Soo as well as in-depth biographies on CFA Hall of Fame nominees Erv Peterson and David McCoy. Four regional events are also covered in this issue. We have an outstanding player profile on Rich Schiller and you will find the usual line-up of columns and departments throughout the magazine.

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USCA Croquet News Magazine 2014 Volume 1

The USCA's Croquet News Magazine Volume 1 for 2014 features Team USCA member David Maloof on the cover and the print edition should have reached most members in April. You can also now enjoy the PDF version which is available in the member's section of the USCA website along with back issues all the way back to 2007.
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USCA Croquet News Magazine 2013 Volume 3

The USCA's Croquet News Magazine Volume 3 for 2013 mailed out in December and has reached most members by now. You can also now enjoy the PDF version which is available in the member's section of the USCA website along with back issues all the way back to 2007.

One advantage of the PDF is that all website and e-mail links are live, so if you see an interesting reference you can reach out right away. The PDF version is best viewed as "two-up" and "show cover page" if you want to see the full spreads (on your Adobe Reader top menu: View/Page Display).
 
This issue features articles on both the GC National Championship and the US Rules National Championship. You will also find an interview with Western North Carolina District President Michael Albert on the keys to the recent success with golf croquet in his district. And, there is coverage of the Solomon Trophy Test from August and an interview with Stuart Lawrence that sheds light on his experiences at the 2013 WCF Association World Singles Championship. Cheryl Bromley is our player profile and the usual line-up of columns and departments are on deck for your enjoyment.

 

Please continue to send your letters or questions to uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com so we can keep the "Inbox" page active and informative. Also note that due to the limited page space, brevity is greatly appreciated.

Hope your New Year is filled with plenty of croquet!

Best Regards,

Dylan Goodwin, Croquet News Publisher
uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com