With the summer croquet season winding down here in Kansas City, the Morning Coffee series is back on tap until next summer. Out of the gate for the offseason, we are making some branding adjustments. Several years ago, the forum site became the home of croquetnetwork.com. Over the next few weeks, the forum community will officially transition to the CroquetNation.com name and domain. And, this old magazine site is re-claiming the CroquetNetwork.com domain and branding.
Read More2015 USCA Selection Eights Process
The USCA has posted the initial list of applicants for the 2015 Selection Eights event to be held October 22-25 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. There is a limit of 40 players who will participate in the 2015 Selection Eights with a possibility of a sixth group. If that group is formed, all players will be notified. Below is a list of the 40 players followed by the players in the sixth group and waiting lists. The non-top forty players lists are in D-Grade order which will also be the order players move from the these lists to the top 40. In years past there have been eight to twelve players drop out.
Read More2015 ACA US Open Entry
Association Croquet: November 30 – December 5, 2015 / Mission Hills Country Club / Rancho, Mirage, California
Two (2) Championship Blocks of Ten players.
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The 20 highest grade entries will be seeded and placed in the Championship Blocks.
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A/B Combo will develop if an ample number of players enter.
Contact: Contact Rory Kelley at rory.kelley43@gmail.com. Or phone 602-686-3941.
CMOZ: KCI'S Evolution
Your Croquet Moment of Zen for August 2015:
Read MoreVideo: The Single Ball Target
This practice video from Bob Kroeger shows that the single ball target is much bigger than you think. This is a great idea for expanding your perspective and improving your roquet percentage.
Read MoreSpectator-Friendly Deadness Boards
Now spectators can see the deadness too!
Joe Steiner has built a prototype of a double-sided deadness board complete with a frame. The base panel is screenprinted with the croquet colors. The slides fasten through slots in the base panel and cover or uncover the same color on both sides.
2015 Kansas City Invitational: The Funnel
Matt Griffith attempts to take his break through the turn at the 42nd GACA KC Invitational in Kansas City on August 15, 2015. When word got out out that there was a funnel at the turn stake, everyone wanted to see how Griffith approached. For the record, he did win this game and the event.
Read MoreOxford Croquet: Plus One On Time Online
Plus One on Time is an excellent croquet book for the aspiring Association Croquet player and deals with tactical skills for players in the 18 to 6 handicap range.
The book is laid out clearly and has sections for different handicap ranges. It present information and analysis for the various levels of abilities; the author identifies which parts would suit the 12+, 8+ and 6+ handicap ranges. Separate chapters deal with the End Game and Pegged-out & One-ball games. Additionally advice is offered on hampered shots and other tactical niceties.
Association Beach Croquet Video
"St. Augustine Florida, low tide, the best court I have ever played. planning to host a low tide tournament here someday."
Read MoreUSCA 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
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.
Read MorePrentis 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
In addition, you will find coverage on: