2016 USCA Croquet News Volume 2, Web Edition

The 2016 Volume 2 issue of the USCA's Croquet News magazine delivered to the mailhouse last week and should be arriving in member's mailboxes this month. The web edition PDF is also now available to USCA members on the magazine page of the USCA website (log in required).

It was quite a line-up of croquet events that took place since the last edition of the magazine as the AC World Championships were held in April, followed by the GC World Team Championship, the 9-Wicket National Championship, the Solomon Trophy test and the surprise of the summer as Ben Rothman became the first American to win the British Open singles title (check out the list of winners for the Open for some perspective on that accomplishment).

In addition, five of the six USCA Regionals were held over the Spring/Summer and we squeezed them all in. It's a jam-packed issue and we hope you enjoy it ... here's the full run-down of articles:

  • USCA Hosts Epic AC Worlds
  • 2016 US Hall of Fame Inductees: Damon Bidencope and Bert Myer
  • 2016 National 9 Wicket Championship
  • 2016 Northeast Regional Tournament
  • 2016 Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament
  • 2016 Western Regional Tournament
  • 2016 Midwest Regional Tournament
  • 2016 Southeast Regional Tournament
  • Club Profile: Pasadena Croquet Club
  • Member Profile: Ben Rothman
  • Hydration article from Russ Dilley
  • Bob and Ted On Tactics: Pivot Ball 
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2016 USCA Western Regionals: August 4-7

The USCA Western Regional Association Laws Croquet Tournament will be held at Puget Sound Croquet Club in Kirkland, Washington. Practice will be from 1-5pm on Wednesday August 3, 2016. Play starts Friday 8:00 a.m., August 4-7, 2016.
Spector’s and guests are welcome. For more information, please contact Western Regional Vice President Jim Hanks: jamesjhanks@gmail.com or call 707-573-0956.

2016 Midwest GC Regionals Player Report

The ending to the first-ever USCA Regional to be held in Kansas City lived up to expectations. Cheryl Bromley and Matt Griffith faced off in a final that went the distance earlier today as Griffith took a 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 win at his Kactus Creek Croquet Club in Parkville, Missouri. The match featured great play by both players with lots of long clears and good hoop battles throughout.
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2016 USCA Selection Eights Availability Deadline: July 31

The Selection Eights will be held October 27-30, 2016 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. This is an AC Selection Event — players will be selected by the Selection Committee from those who make themselves available to compete. 

The availability form is in the members area of the USCA website under Official Forms. The deadline for availability is July 31, 2016. The selections will be made on August 14, 2016.

KC to Host 2016 Midwest Regional

USCA Midwestern Regional VP Matt Griffith has announced Kansas City as the host city for the 2016 USCA Midwest Regionals to be played as golf croquet singles and Waterford doubles. The event will be held June 24-26, 2016 at Griffith's Kactus Creek Croquet Club and The National Golf Club of Kansas City in Parkville, Missouri (northern part of the Kansas City metro).
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Survey: What Can the USCA Do For You?

Now is the time to answer that question. Five years ago, we surveyed the membership to get a sense of who they are, why they play, and other questions about their croquet world. Included in the multiple choice survey was an opportunity to voice any concerns about what and how the USCA was doing (or not).
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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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