To all contacts related to the USCA's Croquet News magazine, the e-mail account was hacked and utilized to send out a spam link to all e-mail addresses. Yahoo did suspend the account relatively quickly. I have gained back control of the account at this point; however, it is still suspended from sending e-mail. You can still send mail in as I will receive it and hopefully this suspension will be lifted soon.
Read MoreUSCA Club Teams Championship Draws Big
The largest croquet team event of the year will be held during Croquet Week at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, March 13-17. The Club Teams Championships will feature team competition in at least four flights with croquet clubs competing from across the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than 130 players will be competing.
Read MoreThe International Flipper Pinball Association
As I was scanning my new issue of Fortune magazine last week, I came across a short piece on pinball. Yeah, pinball like the Who and arcades and all that. Obviously, there has been a consolidation in the industry over the past few decades yet there seems to be some optimism overall. That aside, this concept fascinated me -- The International Flipper Pinball Association. The article mentions that the association has 14,000 members.
Read MoreRothman and Aichele Engagement
The Mission Hills Croquet Club reported that club pro Ben Rothman proposed to Cody Aichele on February 15 near Lawn #1 at the Mission Hills Club in Rancho Mirage, California (link to the announcement).
2013 Nine-Wicket Nationals to Florida
The USCA announced the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida as the host for the 2013 Nine-Wicket National Championship. The dates are December 8-10. More details on the USCA's Nine-Wicket website:
http://www.9wicketcroquet.com/events/98/2013-usca-nine-wicket-national-championship
USA GC Worlds Selections
Bill Bromley (Hillsboro Beach, FL), Len Canavan (Lake Wales, FL), and Sherif Abdelwahab (West Greenwich, RI) will represent the USA in the WCF Golf Croquet World Championship to be held in Cairo, Egypt on April 21-28, 2013.
USCA Petition Means Opportunity for AC Players
The WCF has heard an appeal from the USCA International Committee and allocated an additional place in the WCF World Championship. The details are on the WCF website, but the spot is awarded through a guaranteed wildcard place and means the United States has effectively moved from six to seven spots.
Read MoreDate Clarification: 2013 Westhampton Invitational
A date clarification for the Westhampton Invitational came in after the winter issue of the USCA's Croquet News went to press. The new dates for the Westhampton Invitational are June 20-23. Full event details:
Viewpoint: The Very Thought-Provoking Norwegian Croquet Video
As I mentioned in the Morning Coffee column earlier this week, the Norwegian croquet video prompted a flurry of e-mail discussion. Mostly it was centered around whether or not it was roque. I received later communication that it pretty closely resembles Kentucky Clay Court rules. That's one aspect that makes the video intriguing, but for me it prompted several thoughts.
Read MoreMorning Coffee: Croquet or Roque?
At the top of this week's news is the Norwegian Nine-Wicket Croquet video (see link below). There is so much that the video touches on, but the main discussion was centered toward the concept that it is really roque that is being played. It is of course interesting to see how the game has evolved in different parts of the world. No matter what the Norwegians think they are playing, I would agree with the assertion that it is pretty much roque. Fundamentally though, it hardly matters. Take away the short mallet restriction and one-hand rule (seemingly unique for Norway) and it's pretty much nine-wicket croquet.
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