Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Pat Apple November 2010

Mission Hills Country Club hosted 23 players from its illustrious croquet club for a rare Association Laws handicap tournament November 16-20, 2010. Most Association tournaments in North America are advanced play with lifts but no bisques to help newer players. As one of the founding members of the Mission Hills Croquet Club, Pat Apple decided to make this competition an opportunity for beginner players to get into the more complicated versions of croquet. There were 8 doubles games to decide the champions in each of the two groups (high and low) and there were 8 singles games before the semi-finals began on Saturday.

The doubles format was high-low waterford, in which the weaker players get one bisque per game and the weaker team receives extra bisques based on the handicaps of the players involved. With 16 competitors, each high-handicapper was able to play with every one of the low-handicappers and vice versa. No games went to the peg despite 2 hour time limits. The drawn out battles were thanks to defensive tactics necessary when the opposition has a bisque. In Association Laws, bisques may be exchanged for a brand new turn with the ball that just played. This allows for a player to hit all three of the other balls, position them, and then use a bisque to begin a new turn in which they are live and hit each ball again and hopefully make a few hoops. A conniving tactician may also use a bisque after missing a long roquet to hit the nearby ball that they just missed. In this way a bisque can act as a hit in; thus justifying extremely defensive tactics. Players may use multiple bisques in a row to gain an impressive lead without letting the opponents on court at all.

The beautifully crafted prizes were awarded to the top finishers in the high and low groups. The top finishing high handicappers exhibited great shooting and control while being coached by their varying partners. Phyllis Butts and Herb Mills tied with five wins, but Herb snuck into the number two spot by two gross points. The top finisher was Toni Kemp with six wins, five of which were within two points! Toni's clutch play in both singles and doubles proved her handicap was higher than it should be (despite her pre-tournament pleading that it was too low).

The competitors in the low handicap group thrived when they accurately assessed their partners' skills and coached appropriate bisque use. On the other hand, running to the peg whenever possible did not hurt their cause. After breaking into the top flight, Mary Rodeberg found herself playing with her old peer group. The same familiarity that allowed Mary to defeat the high handicappers proved paramount when playing with them in doubles. Mary's five wins put her on the podium, but she fell just shy on net points. Tying Mary's five wins was Bob Riddell despite his distaste for using bisques (he had no problem with his partners using them). The doubles crown went to the top ranked “Sandy” Bob Van Tassell. Bob effectively coached his partners and managed to run to the peg in critical moments and remained ahead of the pack with six wins.


In the bisque heavy Britemac singles block handicaps ranged from 5 to 10 with each player starting with two bisques in every game. Top seeded Donna Dixon, a travelling Mission Hills member based out of Houston, outlasted her opponents' extra turns and emerged with six wins. Former first lady of Mission Hills, Phyllis Butts, followed her doubles success with strong block play but her six wins only earned her the second spot against a resourceful Toni Kemp. Toni managed to qualify in third place as the highest handicap in the singles tournament, using her bisques to thwart her adversaries. The last spot in the playoffs was claimed by Bob Kays with five wins and his work cut out for him against Donna. Phyllis and Bob had their fates intertwined as they made three points each in their semi-final losses. Phyllis graciously let Bob keep the bronze apple award for third place.

In the final, Donna took control at the coin flip. On the fifth turn Donna made hoop one but had trouble at two. Toni chose to join her partner ball near corner two but left the appropriate amount of space to parallel park a stretch limo between the two. Donna managed to build a break on seventh turn and took it for 10 hoops! After three very difficult angled hoops, Donna stuffed rover and used her only bisque to remedy the situation. Toni began the second act with a 14 yard hit in and ran 11 hoops (albeit with the help of three of her bisques) but chose to not make rover. Later Toni remarked that she did not want to be pegged out by Donna and that pegging out Donna's ball did not occur to her. Toni set a leave but failed to make any hoops off of it. Donna eventually hit in and added to her lead, but Toni got the innings, had control of all four balls and used her final bisque with only 15 minutes left and amazing break potential to... set a leave. Donna hit the leave again and pushed the lead to six points before she missed a difficult hoop six. With the balls spread all over the court and time running low, a few missed roquets left Toni in control in last turns with nothing close to her hoop. Toni took off to the attack and got a rush which she took 70 feet to hoop one. Donna began to worry. Could a six hoop lead last? Toni lined up an easy shot at hoop one with lots of work ahead of her, but it was not meant to be. The friendly stanchions collected their toll and brought the final to a close. Donna Dixon took her first Association Laws tournament victory 18-11 with a big smile.

In the Braeburn block, the bisques were necessary to take out the top dogs. Four very strong players: Van Tassell, Butts, Nikora and Hendry had their hands full as they gave up bisques across the board and only got to use one or two themselves. Making the most out of the opportunity, Arthur Bagby, Mick Greagsby, and Mary Rodeberg gave the big four a run for their money. Arthur Managed to defeat two of his most frequent foes in Nikora and Hendry while coming within one point of “Sandy” Bob. The do-over deficit proved too much to handle for one of the best players in Mission Hills. Bob Van Tassell had an amazing 2010 season, but he could not stay on top with the target on his back. The five contenders for the playoffs set themselves apart by beating the big, bad Bob. Leo, Ron and Jim managed to allow Bob only two points in three games while Jim slammed the door shut with a double peel to boot. The lone Briton in the field, Mick managed a two point victory over Bob but his loss to Mary opened the door to the newest championship player in Mission Hills. Mary scored several upsets and managed to will her way into the playoffs with 4 wins and the critical 19-4 victory over Mick Greagsby.

The playoff match-ups pitted the officers of the club against each other with the new kids on the block fighting for a final spot. Ron made the administration change permanent with a 26-0 thrashing. Mary came close, but fell short of the mark 16-15 to Leo Nikora in last turns. Her last minute woes continued against Jim Butts 20-19 in the third place game. In block play, Mary lost to Ron 16-14 in another barn-burner. While just two points kept Mary off of the podium, her incredibly close games against the best in the desert will raise some eyebrows this season.

The new croquet club President, Ron Hendry, was inaugurated at the pre-tournament party and he used his new title to intimidate and dominate. With three wins by 25 or more points, including the semi-final drubbing of the former president, Ron was ready to compete. Having placed third and second in the last two Pat Apple tournaments, he felt his time was at hand. The difference this year – Leo Nikora.

Leo and his wife Beverly moved to Mission Hills last season to get closer to family and more involved in croquet. Leo has served as the president and all around life force behind the Maui Croquet Club as well as webmastering for the USCA website (croquetamerica.com) for many years. When asked about his arrival in the desert after moving from a tropical paradise Leo said, “this is heaven.” With his croquet scores, who can argue? Leo had six block wins (four by 20 or more points) and qualified first in the playoff ladder. One of his few defeats was, however, at the capable hands of Ron Hendry. After a scare from Mary Rodeberg 16-15, Leo readied himself for a rematch against the new President.

No bisques were involved in the final match, but basic handicap rules still played a part. There were no lifts in the match and players were limited as to when they could peg out the striker ball. Both players started out shakily and no hoops were made until the 9th turn. Ron struck first, but jawsed hoop three leaving Leo control of the balls. Leo took advantage of the lift-less game and ran 11 hoops with a very nice leave. Ron's balls were at hoops one and two with Leo far away on the East boundary. Ron trusted Leo to finish after a miss, so he calmed his nerves, took the 60 foot shot at Leo, and HIT! The crowd delighted in the triumphant grunt familiar to Ron's victims. Most expected that this would even the game, but Ron's triumph turned to terror as he just missed position at hoop one. Knowing that the Mission Hills hoops err on the side of generosity, Ron took a chance and stuffed it. Leo was forced to play his ball that had already run a break, so he set a familiar leave. Looking at slightly longer shots than the last hit in, Ron gulped as he still faced elimination if this shot missed.

“The death shot” is Reg Bamford's term for a final hit in that, if missed, will result in a game ending turn by the opponent. Looking at his second death shot in a row, Ron chose to shoot at his partner ball 65 feet away. Thinking he was out of miracles the crowd went silent until the crack of the ball put them on edge. Two in a row! Leo was squirming. What more could he do but wait? Ron's work was not over. Proving luck has two sides, Ron tried to take-off close to Leo's position. The adrenaline was rushing; he felt that he could not miss. Alas, while his accuracy was unfailing, the excitement may have gotten the better of Ron's touch. The elated fans watched helplessly as Ron's ball got closer and closer to Leo's, but it would not stop. Leo took control and built a break out of very difficult circumstances. Precise rushes and a clutch peel through the rover hoop confirmed Ron's desperation.

With 14 points on his final turn, Leo took the Pat Apple Championship. The difference proved to be Ron's big hits against Leo's crafty leaves. The final game was Leo's fifth win of 20 or more points in just his first Pat Apple tournament. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to Pat Apple, without whom there would be no Mission Hills Croquet Club.

Monday, November 29, 2010

2010 Golf Croquet National Championships

2010 Golf Croquet National Championships

Rancho Mirage, CA


Forty of America's best golf croquet players reinvigorated the 12th installment of the National Championships. Mission Hills Croquet Club played host to players from Rhode Island, North Carolina, Colorado and Arizona, making this one of the most competitive golf croquet tournaments in North America since the World Championships in 2002.

Many thanks and credit for the attendance spike go to the USCA exhibition series featuring showcase matches on both coasts. In July, association rules national champion, Danny Huneycutt, took on seven-time US representative in the world championships, Sherif Abdelwahab, at Lake Toxaway Croquet Club in North Carolina. Danny narrowly won the event and the duo decided to team up for the doubles competition with much success. In early November the American rules champion, Ben Rothman, took on the current golf croquet champion, Dr. Mohammad Kamal, in Pasadena. Ben managed to win convincingly as Mohammad was having back problems which would return to haunt him; carrying the sport on his back for so many years has taken its toll. Both exhibitions were well-attended and attracted spectators and many players who have yet to play in a major golf croquet event. Those who would dismiss this variation of croquet as a “shooter's game without tactics” were shown the true complexity of the sport by the best in the country.


While many croquet clubs were closing up shop for winter, the players in Mission Hills were just getting started. For those who took the summer off, a notable improvement was evident as the tournament progressed. The most progressive player was the second flight's Welles Farago. Not to be mistaken with the popular financial institution, Welles began playing croquet last December in one of the Mission Hills beginner clinics with his partner, Marc Clausen. The dynamic duo worked their way through the block with their tactics and shooting becoming more refined as the competition continued. Welles only lost one game in the block (7-6) to Jerry Phillips and took the #2 spot in the playoff ladder.

While Championship flight stuck to best-of-three matches, the first and second flights played double elimination until the best-of-three final. Jerry Phillips took the #1 seed but his sharp shooting caused him to bite off a bit more than he could chew. After attempting long clearances and difficult hoop shots with fair success, Jerry found his risky play was not consistent enough to beat the bottom-seeded Betty Teoman. The result was no fluke as Betty went on to take third place in the competition. Welles ran into an upset as Ruth Stotter's sublime touch forced him into the loser's bracket. Welles took no prisoners as he got revenge on Jerry and even knocked out his own doubles partner, Marc Clausen. After defeating Betty, Welles dominated Ruth in the best-of-three final to take the championship 7-1, 7-2.

Fans who were disappointed with the one-sided singles enjoyed the most interactive match of the tournament in the doubles final. Top seeded Jerry Phillips and his partner Paul Christy went undefeated into the final against Welles and Marc for an all Mission Hills championship. Neither team held more than a two-point lead during the match and every game went to the playoff hoop. When the dust settled, Welles and Marc emerged from the battlefield as experienced veterans and doubles national champions (7-6, 6-7, 7-6)!

Marc Clausen, Paul Christy, Welles Farago, Jerry Phillips and a mid-air Ben Rothman

First flight marathoners broke the four-hour mark; not under four hours, but over! The doubles final of block winners Mary Rodeberg and Bob Riddell against Pasadena's best Eric and Caren Sawyer went 280 minutes for just two games! With their patient play, the happy couple outplayed and outlasted the local favorites at the playoff hoop for the title (7-3, 7-6). In an impressively civil union, Mr. Sawyer shared the doubles victory with his loving wife, Caren. Or did she share it with him...?

There was no rest for the victor as Eric Sawyer rushed across the lawns to play the singles final. Eric trudged his way through the contentious ladder against three of Mission Hills fantastic femme fatales. After a playoff point victory over Mary Rodeberg, Eric made sure to beat block-winner Sheri Foroughi nice and early... at the rover hoop. On the other side of the ladder, Jean Engebretson knocked top qualifier Bob Riddell down to the losers' bracket but fell just short of the finals and into third place.

Mary Rodeberg's Armadillo Jump

The loser's bracket was the story of a dark horse, wild card qualifier who snuck into the playoff ladder by three net points and lost his first round game. Karl-Heinz Kempfer of the Oakland Croquet Club had his back against the wall and managed to beat both block winners (Riddell and Foroughi) on his way to the final. When the doubles final drew to a close, Karl-Heinz ceased pacing the sidelines, smoked one last cigarette and got down to business. Matching shots with Eric was a daunting task after sitting out for so long, but the bushy-haired Kempfer kept Eric at bay. That is, at least, until rover hoop in game three. After seven hours and nearly 60 well-contested hoops, Eric Sawyer emerged with his first and second golf croquet national championships.

A rare sight was seen in the Championship flight as a phoenix from Phoenix returned to the game after a long absence. World champion and British Open finalist in 1999, Jacques Fournier has been away from competition since 2003. Players were happy to see the return of the Prince of Croquet, until they saw him play.

Jacques won his singles block with formidable tactics and impressive shooting while he and fellow Phoenician Paul Bennett methodically dismantled doubles opponents. The Arizona tag team decimated the best in the business, winning all four block matches with only two game losses. 2009 singles champion Mohammad Kamal and doubles partner Rich Lamm struggled at 1-2 and eventually had to withdraw from contention to save what was left Mohammad's back for singles. Ron Hendry and Jim Butts managed to shoot very well, but never at the same time, falling just short of the playoffs after an impressive victory over Rothman and Van Tassell. The sharp shooting team of Ron Eccles and Leo Nikora gave opponents fits as they managed to fight for hoops after being cleared great distances. After a successful block, Leo and Ron hit a cold patch and their inconsistent mid-range shots gave Paul and Jacques a spot in the finals. The aforementioned team from the Lake Toxaway exhibition rolled through the block with one bump, Paul and Jacques. Danny and the hard-hitting Sherif divided and conquered the local duo of Rothman and Van Tassell (7-3, 7-5) to reach the finals.

In the long awaited rematch, Danny and Sherif came from behind 6-4 to take the penultimate point and control of the rover hoop. With two balls in front of the hoop against two boundary balls, the game seemed destined for a playoff at hoop 13. Paul attempted to clear the danger ball from the West boundary but missed the 40-foot shot. Then it happened. The clouds parted, an earthquake struck, and the croquet gods redirected Paul's ball off of the spent ball (a full yard away from the intended target) and THROUGH THE HOOP! To Paul's credit: upon seeing the missed shot he called to the gods for his ball to “carom off of it!” The best missed shot this writer has ever seen gave game one to Paul and Jacques and took all momentum away from Danny and Sherif.

Team Miracle took control of game two 5-3 until Sherif and Danny battled back to an even 5-5 and the game paused. A quick photo was taken of all players (as some had to leave) and the game continued. While some momentum was lost, the first few shots went perfectly on target and a similar situation unfolded. At 6-5, Jacques took a difficult hoop shot instead of a clearance and jawsed his ball. Sherif had a three foot jump attempt and while most spectators were braced for the hoop 13 showdown, it was not meant to be. The croquet gods were still hanging around rover as Sherif missed the jump and conceded the point and the match to the Prince and the Pilot (7-5, 7-5).

The jump


The entire championship singles field played a best-of-three knockout after four small blocks determined seeding for the eclectic group of contenders. “Sandy” Bob Van Tassel managed to win his block after a battle in the twilight with Mohammad. Meanwhile, Jacques took the top spot from Sherif. The accomplished Egyptian-Americans had a tough draw ahead. In round one, it was Paul who broke Kamal's back and allowed the good doctor time to recuperate at home. The glory could not last as Mr. Bennett ran into a very consistent club pro, Rothman, and lost (7-3, 7-1). The upsets continued as Leo Nikora shot the lights out and dethroned the Prince in a hotly contested match (7-5, 7-6). The Maui man beat Ben in game one but eventually took third after a late Rothman rally (5-7, 7-1, 7-5). Partners Huneycutt and Abdelwahab met in the second round and replayed the exhibition with the same result; Danny won in the third game. Danny followed up by beating his MacRob teammate Rich Lamm on his way to the final against Rothman.

As the most accomplished American players in recent years, Ben and Danny are frequent opponents. Danny won the Association Nationals against Ben this April in Mission Hills while Ben won the North Carolina Open against Danny in Pinehurst. The two players have leapfrogged each other for the top rank in North America, currently sitting at numbers 8 (Rothman) and 10 (Huneycutt) in the world. They were teammates and even roommates for the MacRobertson Shield and they split games at the recent Selection Eights competition.

Danny started strong by making hoop one all the way down to position at hoop two and a quick lead 2-0. Ben had a chance to come back but missed some very rudimentary clearances and an easy hoop 6 to stay behind 4-2. We know (from a very reliable source) that at this point, Ben fundamentally changed his lineup procedure. With his new methods, the young pro began hitting his 6-yarders center ball and managed to tie the game at 4-4. Danny fired back to 6-4 and after a tough battle the game went to hoop 13. Danny missed an 18-foot hoop shot and eventually chose to jaws the hoop from 15 feet and a considerable angle while Ben was off to the side. The ill-fated attempt at the jaws became the perfect backboard for Ben. Both players looked and remarked at the (un)fortunate position just off of the right stanchion while Rothman was 12 feet off to the left. With a shrug and admission that it had to be tried, Ben banked in the difficult shot for game one. This was just not Danny's day for off-and-in shots.

The crowd that endured the long day got refills from the court side wet bar and moved to the warmer side as the sun began its quick descent behind the picturesque San Jacinto mountain range. Game two was all about endurance; Danny was playing his sixth game of the day and his accuracy faded as a result. Ben kept his hitting on line as it was only his fourth game of the day thanks to an early exit from the doubles competition. Every roll of the ball seemed to favor Ben and he ran away with the game and the title (7-6, 7-1). This is Rothman's sixth national championship and his fourth of the year.

Photos Courtesy of Genie Hendry and Sherif Abdelwahab.

S.H.A.F.T.

SHAFT

An easy way to a good swing.



S. Stalk the Ball:

Walk behind the ball and stalk it like a HUNTER stalking its prey. The line-up begins here. Most of your accuracy comes from a taking a good look at the shot. Back up enough to get a better perspective. When you have the line, walk up to your ball at a normal pace with your normal walk.


H. Head Down:

Your ability to strike the ball well relies on watching the ball. Focus on hitting the ball, not on hitting the target. Make sure you are perfectly centered around the ball. Your mallet shaft should be pointing at your nose and the mallet should be in the center of your stance. When you swing, you need to keep your head down to watch the mallet swing through the center of the ball.


A. Aim and Adjust:

Once you are settled in position, start your practice swing. Use the natural pendulum to aim and adjust your stance to get the swing more precisely on target. Try not to make any major changes to your stance without re-stalking the shot.


F. Follow Through:

It is necessary for the mallet to strike through the ball and not slow down (too much) in order to hit the ball straight. This is true for most ball striking sports (golf, racquet sports, bat sports). Be sure to keep your head down until you are well into this follow through.


T. Take a Bow:

A job well done should be appreciated, even if you miss the target.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Month of May

The Peachwood was great fun. I got to smoke cigars with some of my favorite croquet players and hang out with great friends. It's always fun to hang out with John Young and Charlie, even if Charlie had homework.

I returned to the desert and had the bittersweet goodbye. It was an amazing winter in Mission Hills and it was difficult to part with so many great people. After I said too few goodbyes I began my trip north back to the bay; back to my family; back home. Regrettably, I was not able to meet with the general manager of the club to finish our negotiations about the 2011 season. There seemed no reason to worry, except that I still have not heard a word from the man I can only hope will be my boss over the winter.

On my way back I called my friends and family in the bay and was able to squeeze into a concert in San Francisco that very night, schedule great family time with my one year old niece and secure my housing with my cousins for the North American Open. I really enjoyed my time however short, in the bay. I was able to see my 101 year old grandmother who has had a setback making her only as spry as a 90 year old instead of her previous 70 year old disposition. She will outlive us all.

I began my trek up to Santa Rosa for the North American with a stop in the city to party with my friends. Well into our bender I was told that the tournament was rescheduled so we would not be playing on Mother's Day! I managed to call my sister and sneak into my family's brunch plans much to my mother and grandmother's delight. Sometimes everything falls into place.

The North American Open began with foreboding fog and light showers but we soldiered on as usual. The skies cleared and made for a wonderful week. I was able to see many Palm Springs transplants up in wine country and I enjoyed catching up with all the bay area croquet enthusiasts as well. The Sonoma-Cutrer club members pulled out all the stops with great lunches and cook outs as well as the frequent cocktail hour. In tournament play I began with a disappointing streak breaker. Through much of the nationals I had built up a peeling streak. For fifteen games my opponent or I had finished the game with a triple or better (I got my sextuple in there). In game one of the North American I failed to organize any peels and quit the streak.

I battled through the block losing both games to Rich Lamm and getting upset by Ron Hendry as he ran three controlled breaks. When I can't hit in, I have to work harder to grind out those victories. Ron went on to secure a spot in the top three with Rich and I before the final day of block play, a very impressive showing as 14 games produces reliable seeding. I experimented a bit and was able to complete a New Zealand TPO. The kiwi TPO involves peeling opponent through 4-back on your first break, setting a sextuple leave, and finishing the other two peels with a different ball. I was able to double peel out the opponent while peeling my partner through 1 and 2-back. I pegged out both my striker ball and the opponent leaving a one-ball game where I had an eight hoop lead, which I won. I also tried a few late triples and a sextuple. I managed three peels and a decent leave on the sextuple, but my opponent forgot his contact lift (or any lift at all, which was my justification for trying such an aggressive play).

While the top three were set, the final spot in the playoffs was a much tougher race. Paul Billings had a difficult time during block play. While adjusting to his new Pidcock mallet, Paul decided to change his grip. Over time I trust he will get back to his smooth swinging ways, but he had a tough month of may. Paul allowed just enough of an opportunity for Jim Butts to steal the final playoff spot.

Rich and I took out the presidency of Jim and Ron in straight games allowing a best of five final. We took a slight detour from the tournament to play an eight team pro-am golf croquet afternoon with winery personnel. I was paired with the general manager of Sonoma-Cutrer and we went undefeated to win the amazing glory and bragging rights at the winery. I was miffed to discover the next day that while I was to receive a magnum of wonderful Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay (Les Pierres) Jim Butts' second place bottle was signed by the band Journey! I nearly stopped believing right then and there.

Rich and I began the final match on Friday to ensure it finished before the Make-A-Wish craziness began on Saturday. Game one was very scrappy as I failed a standard triple by missing a three yard roquet around hoop four. I lost focus and casually shot a soft roquet, which was a big mistake. I got control and completed the last two peels but over rolled and missed 4-back! Luckily enough, Rich faulted during his break and I limped through the finish. Game two was a much cleaner endeavor as I finished a ninth turn TP after Rich missed a hampered shot from the peg at my two balls (from a diagonal spread leave). We stopped for the day to enjoy the festivities of the sponsors dinner.

It was a great experience to hear the story of one of the many kids who was granted a wish from the foundation. He was able to set his sights and do what he had dreamed of. The important message is that he had a dream that helped him get through hell. Having a goal and a motivation makes a huge difference in one's outlook and attitude. Hearing some morbid tales hit particularly close to home as we had all been thinking of Jerry often and hoping and praying that he could perservere through his terrible illness and resulting infection.

Saturday we rekindled our rivalry as Rich and I were even 2-2 on the tournament. I did my best to remain ferocious knowing full well that Rich could (and had) beat me three times in-a-row. My parents were able to come and watch the final while the rest of my family came a bit later. Game three was my best of the tournament as I hit in on fourth turn and finished a sixth turn triple. The champagne was flowing and the day improved as the sun got higher. I got to show my grandma how to swing a mallet, carry around my niece and even win a great golf croquet exhibition with a Sonoma vintner.

As a celebratory measure, I ventured back to the city of San Francisco and got to see the bay to breakers with many of my friends. By traveling up steam I crossed paths with many of my college friends who were at the “race”. For those of you who do not know, the bay to breakers is an annual race from the East (bay) side of the city to the West (ocean or breakers) side. While many hundreds of people race this 7 mile course, many thousands of people dress up (or down...) and walk the course in a giant mobile party. It was a lot of fun and a great day reconnecting with my friends in the bay.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Hughes Brothers Battle in Delaware

The lazy river wound its way around the backyard in a scene meant for a lifetime movie. Players kibitzed on the balcony as the Brandywine River that once brought the DuPont family and prosperity to this corner of Delaware babbled in the background. So too the once mighty Delaware Invitational continued to babble on with a cozy group of 18 players. The competitive field was treated to lush courts and a new croquet pavilion as well as great cuisine at the Wilmington Country Club.

Block play singles and social waterford doubles made for four games in the warm summer weather each day. Early play highlighted Rodney Calver, a 12 handicap who scored two impressive upsets over Joy Bradford and Jean Geddes to earn a spot in the first flight ladder. Peter Woolley dominated the block with eight straight wins for a questionable eight handicap. North Carolina visitor Bob Whitmore hit just about everything on his way to a 6 – 1 record which put him at second seed behind Tom Hughes who had a higher margin of victory.

The doubles title was a run away in championship flight as Tom Hughes won each of his games by a comfortable margin. Craig Smith helped Tom with a five point victory that helped Craig's net points enough to secure second place; an impressive feat for the 2.5 handicapper. Hank Schilling managed two wins by one point to eek his way to a perfect record while 12 handicap Tom Stoner played a great second fiddle with enough net points to claim second place.

Contemplative Hank During a Game.

The singles playoffs began with upsets galore across the board. Jim Hughes and Joy Bradford each delivered as underdogs in the 4 versus 5 seed games in each flight. The number two seed was cursed as three seeds Hank Schilling and Tom Stoner won in the semi-finals. Tom's clutch hoop shots earned him the victory while Hank kept his pedal to the metal and never slowed down to win by ten and advance to the finals. The 7th seed in championship flight, Barry Gibson, scored the best upset as he found his touch and ran tough breaks in his victory over the number two seed and the three seed on his way to a war with one of the Hughes'.

Tom Hughes came out of the blocks firing with six wins and great attacks. The crafty veteran was unrelenting in his quest for the spent ball. Tom willingly took off to the attack from great distances to show his complete control on the pristine Wilmington lawns. In a tough game against his elder brother, Tom brought out the big guns and made a heroic 20 foot hoop shot at one-back. Short for time and three-ball-dead, the great shot was the difference as Tom won 14-13. As a side note: it didn't help that in his state of shock, Jim forgot to clear his deadness. The brothers would meet again in the semi-finals but Jim would not be as kind in the end. Tom's aggressive attacks got him the setups he wanted and time after time, Jim took them away. With shots of 50 and 60 feet, Jim took away Tom's costly setups and left him dead. The well dried up and Tom could not dredge up the hit in he needed as he fell 13-11.

The second flight final was a close game until Robert Lankford found the transcendent turn he needed and rand a two ball break for three hoops to take the lead. Tom Stoner managed to rally with several long hoop shots and difficult roquets, but he could never string the hoops together and lost 13-10.

Robert and Sherry Lankford Celebrate Together.

Hank Schilling held the lead on the yet undefeated Woolley and forced a tough attack. As the ball rolled out of bounds Peter collapsed to the ground. Was his perfect run coming to an end? Hank took the lead but a stuffed hoop gave Peter another chance. Peter attacked the ball at the hoop and rushed it away to one-back. Time elapsed as Peter made the go ahead hoop. Making the shrewd move, the undefeated champion took the lead and groomed the court to avoid tragedy. The 12-11 victory was Peter's tenth allowing for a share of the spoils and most of the tracking points in the flight.

Peter with a Roll Shot Approach.

In the finals Jim took a play out of brother Tom's book with a huge attack from corner to corner to take the early lead. Jim hit his long shots but Barry got the break anyway by running two ball breaks until he picked up whatever errant ball was left on the court. The game was tied in the final minutes and many clutch shots fell off line leaving spectators on the edge of their seats. Jim finally benefitted from Barry's deadness and broke the tie in the second round of overtime to win 19 – 18.

Betty Whitlow Runs a Break.

Hughes Brothers Win at Home

"Chip" was our unofficial mascot.

18 players took part in the 2010 Delaware Invitational accentuating a wonderful lawn and a new croquet pavilion at the Wilmington Country Club. The weather played along with gentle warmth and a cool breeze delaying any rain until the evenings.

Two blocks eventually split into three playoff ladders for singles while social waterford doubles entertained the crowd at lunch time each day. Tom Hughes and Hank Schilling took the doubles titles undisputed with perfect records and help from a variety of partners.

Players were treated to a riverside opening party at the Hughes' overlooking the Brandywine River. The tournament dinner had top tier entertainment at Linda Prickett's beautiful home where she and the wonderfully talented Greg Shaffer dueled on twin pianos to everyone's delight.

Playoffs were anything but predictable as upsets were the norm. Robert Lankford and Peter Woolley took their number one seeds into the winners circle while number two seeds all fell early. Hank Schilling gave Peter a scare but Peter ran the go ahead break as time expired to win by one point with a perfect 10 - 0 record.

Peter Woolley sizes up opponent Jean Geddes in the block.

Tom Hughes as the number one seed survived a scare from his son-in-law Craig Smith in round one and was defeated by his brother Jim's long hit ins in the semi-final. The 6 – 1 Bob Whitmore was the unfortunate number two seed and fell victim to a break running bandit Barry Gibson. The british cowboy (Gibson) kept the breaks rolling as he beat number three seed Chuck Whitlow.

In the finals Jim took a play out of brother Tom's book with a huge attack from corner to corner to take the early lead. Jim hit his long shots but Barry got the break anyway by running two ball breaks until he picked up whatever errant ball was left on the court. The game was tied in the final minutes and many clutch shots fell off line leaving spectators on the edge of their seats. Jim finally benefitted from Barry's deadness and broke the tie in the second round of overtime to win 19 – 18.
Champion Jim Hughes (right) and Runner-Up Barry Gibson (left).

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The 2010 Tour Begins with a Bang!

Hello croquet fans!

I hope to make frequent updates this summer for all you Californians, Mainers, and assorted fans who want to hear about life as a Croquet Nomad.

After a wonderful season at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA (first of many, hopefully) I began my travels in late April with my third trip to the Peachwood Classic in Woodbine, Maryland.

The American Rules money tournament always attracts a highly skilled field and this year featured 16 players of 1.5 handicap or lower. Better still, most were good friends and great people which makes for an enjoyable tournament no matter the results.

The beautiful courts on Larriland Farms belonging to Larry and Polly Moore are the (closest to) home courts for my doubles partner Doug Grimsley and my good buddy, the young upstart, Charlie Gillmarten. We had our fair share of beers and laughs with the cigar crowd (Rich Curtis, Britt Ruby, David Ekstrom) and I truly enjoyed a visit from the Bermudian grandson of the game, John Young III (three strokes).

The courts have some character which kept play interesting and I was the unfortunate victim of a few bad rolls after having pegged one of Charlie's balls out. Charlie took the a convincing lead with a very controlled break to rover. As time put the pressure on me, Charlie decided to shoot rover from the line (33 feet) and he scored it to seal the victory in block play. I was the two-time defending champ, so I was working to get back into a position to win, and thankfully I made it into the playoffs.

The last two years I had played Danny Huneycutt and Leo McBride in the semis and finals. One year Leo in the semis, Danny in the final; the next year the opposite. I had never been in the same half of the draw as Douggie (who was always knocked out by one of those heavy hitters) until this year.

As I put together a nice game to pass Tommy Harrington, Douggie ran into a road block; his other doubles partner. Rich Curtis concocted various scrappy breaks but was able to finish them cleanly and let Doug focus on directing the tournament from the sidelines.

I ended up against Danny in the final and after I made a beautiful attack into a tough corner, I had the break all laid out. Danny was some 60 feet away from the only balls he could see, which were 3 feet away from corner 1. So what does Danny do? In a show of respect for my break potential and a devil may care attitude, Danny shot at the balls near the line. And hit!

Danny ran his break around but when he tried to groom, he fell victim to the roll off in that tricky corner (60 footer, no problem; 6 footer, uh oh). I followed suit and missed the same ball with an even closer shot. As Danny tried to make something of the situation, he wired himself and left me the break I needed. I went around and pegged out his ball. I learned my lesson from Charlie and played this 2 on 1 very conservatively in, what I felt was, a boring manner. Afterward spectators said they enjoyed the 2 on 1 much more than just watching breaks go round. Danny had some very close calls shooting at my line balls, but in the end his first 60 footer was the only long line shot he hit (out of 10 or so). I managed to win by 11 and secure the threepeat of the Peachwood Classic.

Much fun was had thanks to support from local members like Lee Hanna, Mark Goodwin, all the lunch providing volunteers, and of course Larry and Polly Moore.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

It's All About Doug

Mr. Grimsley compiled all of the USCA National Championship winners on a spreadsheet.
He included totals for each player.

Enjoy!

USCA National Championships 1977 - May 2010

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Extreme Croquet

And to think, I almost went to Boston University...

http://www.bu.edu/today/node/10761

Way to go hipsters playing croquet. Nice glove by the way...

Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Hunter Mallet




Master Craftsman and former Structural Engineer Robert Morford made me an amazing mallet:
The mallet plays very similar to my Dawson and it is beautiful.

Made with a beautiful and dense african padauk wood and brass end caps and weights.

The holes are meant to allow for more peripheral weighting (the brass) and the sight line is a thin brass rod which allows for easy alignment. No tools are ever needed to tighten the fixed shaft or change weights. The mallet does not require maintenance.

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Nerd and the Jock

In this month's tactical column I would like to address the sticky subject of sports psychology. Croquet is an addictive game because of its complexity and confluence of different skills. A straight shooter can easily be undone with a few bad decisions, while a great strategist can often fail to execute her best laid plans. Conversely, a clever player can plan around his compromised accuracy and a fortunate player can shoot her way out of a bad line of play. It is this balance of tactics and technique that enthralls us.

But how do we reconcile these two different skills? How can we foster these twin processes and allow them to complement one another in a tense game situation? We must separate our single mindedness into two identities - we need to create a Nerd and a Jock.

The beginning of any turn involves an overall assessment of the situation. Our tactical nature must emerge and come up with a game plan involving an intricate understanding of risk versus reward; this is the Nerd.
The Nerd has memorized the shooting statistics, the pace of the game, the offensive opportunities, and even the wind shear. The Nerd will analyze the options and come up with plans A through Z in a dense decision tree based upon the success and failure of the next 27 shots. At this point, however, the Nerd needs to go sit down. All too often, players miss easy shots and say “I was just thinking about what to do next,” or “I was so worried about the danger ball, I was distracted.” This is a prime example of allowing the Nerd to take your shot. The Nerd is very good at tactical concerns, but it's a bench-warmer for a reason. After deciding on the appropriate line of play, the player must switch his or her concern to the execution and not the strategy. Now it is time to become the Jock.

The Nerd and the Jacques

The Jock is the designated hitter. All shooting practice and “in the zone” playing experiences are in the Jock's domain. When the player brings out the Jock, she does not think about why she must take this shot, only how to make it. The decision is made and the player must concentrate on aiming and producing that perfect swing that only the Jock can make. This produces an acceptance of the circumstances; the Jock trusts that the Nerd did its job, and executes without worrying about why.

This division of labor allows for a deeper concentration and improved focus on the task at hand. Separating the anxious, worrisome strategist from the pure shooter allows for a calmer state of mind. With this clarity of mind a player can bring on a “flow” state and begin to shoot more accurately and more precisely as if the shot selection was made by a coach. The designated hitter takes his or her signals from the batting coach, which allows the player to focus on swinging away.
When a decision needs to be made, step out of the batter's box and consult the Nerd. Once the choice has been made, swing for the fences.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Mission Hills Invitational 2010



The sun smiled upon the field in an Invitational with nearly perfect weather and a perfect finish to the 2010 Mission Hills Invitational. The annual American Rules contest showcased the best in the west and many welcome visitors escaping blizzards and general wintery weather. The diverse field came from all over the country including Washington, New Hampshire, Florida, and a large contingent from Pinehurst, North Carolina. All players were wowed with the fabulous croquet facility and wonderful hospitality at the Mission Hills Country Club.
The Club provided two scrumptious tournament dinners where tournament hosts, Jim and Phyllis Butts, honored visiting hall of famers Bob Chilton as well as Bill and Margie Campbell. The finals courtside luncheon was complete with a bloody mary and mimosa bar which possibly led to spectators asking themselves one timely question: How can you sandbag the championship flight?

Saturday, March 6th, “Sandy” Bob Van Tassell won the event with a "perfect game" according to opponent and tournament director, Ben Rothman. All marveled as Bob took an error-free game by Rothman and turned it into a convincing 26-3 victory.

The best kept secret in the California desert is out: Bob Van Tassell has arrived. Jerry Stark knew it when he nick-named Bob Van Tassell the "Sandbagger" or "Sandy Bob"at the US Open. The handle is no longer appropriate as Bob will never again be allowed in the other flights, but it proved true time and time again as “Sandy” Bob escalated his game and made a home out of the winner's circle.

Mimosa connoisseurs and croquet fans alike then turned their attention to the presidential shootout on the next lawn. Club President, Jim Butts, was in a tight game with VP, Ron Hendry, for third place. After trading blows for 90 minutes, the board was smeared with deadness and the players worse for wear. In last turns each faced a daunting hoop shot for the lead. With nine feet and a slight angle in front of him, Jim missed the go ahead wicket. A hush fell as Ron approached his severely angled and four foot long shot. It was so quiet, you could hear a glass clink. And then, BANG! The ball sailed through and the game was won with authority. Hendry yelled a jubilant "Hooo-wuh!" as the feast was served.

The first flight of this years invitational featured a tight field of ten players in the narrow handicap range of 4-5. In the two blocks Peter Bach and Rich Schiller showed great form by going undefeated into the playoff ladder. Unfortunately, the single elimination ladder got the best of them as they were eliminated in the first round! The flight was up for grabs! With a return to form, Steve Mossbrook showed that he is back. Steve recovered from a mediocre block performance (3-2) and started to destroy playoff opponents. On the other side of the ladder Chris Christian was the only player winning by a larger margin than Mossbrook, until they met. After a long deadness battle, Mossbrook took the championship convincingly 17-9.
The second flight included many players with 6 or 7 handicaps; hardly deserving of the self inflicted “pond scum” label. Rising to the top of the pond were two locals who exhibited their break running skill despite their 9 handicaps. Dick Engebretson made the #1 seed in his block with a 4-1 record only falling to the #2 seed Cindy Bagby by one point. A similar situation evolved in the other block as Mary Rodeberg went undefeated including a one point victory over young Jonathan Andrews who took the #2 seed. The end game and overtime were all too important in this flight as six out of the eight playoff games were decided by three or less points. Marvin Salles' clutch play won him the top prize. Time and time again Marvin came back from a deficit against Mary Rodeberg in the semi-final and won by one point in the final over Dick Engebretson. Have no fear second flighters, Marvin and Dick will be tearing up the first flight from now on. Which they got a taste of in the doubles.
The waterford doubles gave locals a chance to get to know the many visitors as a single serving partner. The doubles went seven rounds allowing for many interesting match-ups. The well balanced opposition gave anyone a chance to win if they played above their handicap. Having won last years first flight doubles, Donna Dixon was ready for the challenge of Championship flight, but her opponents were not ready for her. Donna defended her doubles dominance with a 6-1 record; securing the championship without any tie breakers. In the first flight Dick and Marvin did very well. In fact Dick was first in wins and net points, but he wasn't alone. Idaho based pilot, Peter Bach, managed to equal Dick Engebretson with 6 wins and 34 net points. In the final game, Peter Bach's team accrued enough gross points for Peter to claim the top prize in doubles.

In the end it was close games and perfect performances that highlighted this year's tournament. Perfect weather and great food helped to make a memorable tournament for any spectator. It's a shame that they only have this tournament once a year.

All Photos courtesy of Richard Nuffer www.PalmSpringsPhotography.net

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Private Clubs Magazine Blurb

Mission Hills hosts croquet championship

Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., hosts the United States Croquet Association's Association Rules National Championship April 19-24. Home to the largest croquet facility west of the Mississippi, the club has 10 manicured lawns and internationally ranked Ben Rothman on staff as croquet instructor and tournament director. In 2009, the USCA also selected Mission Hills to host the American Rules National Championship. "Mission Hills' croquet facility is making a name for itself in the country, if not the world," Rothman says.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Croquet can be a very confusing game. Without a great deal of experience, many players find themselves going through the motions during the course of a match; trying to make the most out of every situation, but with no real method for deciding what to do. If things fall into place, they may make wickets and when things fall apart, they will probably run away. When this happened to me, I had my uncle to guide me. During my first San Francisco Open tournament he gave me three simple priorities to try to fill every time I wondered what to do. Having learned at the Detroit Croquet Club he called these the “Detroit Rules.” I have since found an easy way to remember these rules. The three rules are:
1.Make Wickets
2.Setup Partner
3.Go Out of Bounds
MSG, like the easy way to a tasty meal, is the simple path towards good tactics.

Make Wickets: When spectators asked Ren Kraft what he would do against the best players in the country he responded, “Well, first thing I'm gonna do is score 26 points.” It is the goal of the game. He who ends with the most points wins. Whether you make one hoop on a turn or run a break around the entire court, it is important to see the opportunities as they arise. Many new players get caught up in oddly defensive thought patterns and fail to see when the way is clear and opportunities are abound.
On the other hand, one must not attempt to make wickets when there is great risk. In American Rules this means do not hit partner unless you have a 90% chance of making your wicket (do not hit the opponent unless you have a 50% chance). These percentages and qualifiers are all relative, as every player will have his or her own definition of a 90% chance, but the important factor is confidence. My uncle Larry “the Croquet Guru” likes to equate deadness to a poker game. If you have 20,000 chips, hitting partner is like making a 10,000 chip bet. You're not all in, but you're committed. Relative cost for danger ball deadness is around 6,000 while spent ball deadness is a little less (4,000). If a player does not have confidence in the play or the execution to make their hoop very soon, move on to another priority and avoid unnecessary deadness.

Setup Partner: Repeat this phrase 10 times, “spent ball to partner.” The ball that just played, or the spent ball, is the best tool for setting up the partner ball. Only the danger ball plays after the striker and before the partner ball (hence the name “danger” or “hot” ball). Every ball but the danger ball may be used to help your partner. With clever positioning of the striker and spent ball, it is possible to hand your partner a break for several hoops. It is always nice to start a turn with a three ball break and even better to begin without having to get dead on partner. If the opponent misses a shot with you nearby, it can be much simpler to set up partner with the spent ball than to make your own hoops. That is why we repeat “spent ball to partner” and let it become our mantra when we setup partner.
While leaving partner a break or a rush to the hoop are the best ways to accomplish this goal, it can be accomplished by simply joining. The important factor is to give your partner a chance to make hoops while leaving the danger ball a difficult shot. This can be a line rush or just a ball to hit near the hoop. When setting up for any future turn, the player must understand the next rotation and the deadness. Look down the road at what is coming next and make sure it will not ruin those best laid plans. Give the opponent the play that you yourself would not like to make and force the adversary to make a more difficult play than you.

Go Out of Bounds: When all else fails, or is too risky to attempt, the boundary is the safest place. Some beginners argue that rushing from the boundary to their wicket is difficult, but it is much easier to join up when partner is sitting on a boundary. When partners join up on court, they are a huge target for attack from even the most rudimentary attacker. It can also be very difficult to set a rush when the balls are joined on court. Sometimes the best strategic position on the boundary is near your partner's wicket, or a seemingly random spot behind a ball on court. This is often called “backing” the ball. The player shoots out of bounds behind the ball left on court so that if the opponent shoots and misses, they end up joining the boundary ball.



There is flexibility. In certain game situations, generally when the dead board looks more like a rainbow than a clean slate, a shrewd player will use more than one rotation to satisfy a priority. Making an attack to setup partner or getting dead on partner is much safer when the deadness allows for the striker ball to end the turn in position at their hoop.

Use MSG at the beginning of a turn, or after an unexpected shot. Often, while running a break, the balls begin to go wayward and the player can re-assess their tactical situation after making a hoop. Occasionally the opposition makes an error and the most efficient way to take advantage is to go through the list of priorities. This is not the end-all be all, but it can help you to come up with a plan without using a time-out.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

"Sandy" Bob Van Tassell Perfects the Mission Hills Final



The best kept secret in the California desert is out:
Bob Van Tassell has arrived. Jerry Stark knew it when
he nick-named Bob as the "Sandbagger" or "Sandy Bob"at
the US Open.

Bob has most recently exhibited his skill at the 2010
Mission Hills Classic; Saturday, March 6th, "Sandy Bob"
won the event with a "perfect game" according to
opponent and tournament director, Ben Rothman.

"There were no mistakes in that game" was a common
statement on the buzzing sideline. The game played out
in simple form:

After a short and boring Chernobyl, where Bob kept the
yellow ball out of the game; Bob eventually came in and
joined in corner one. Rothman, undefeated at this point,
took a cut rush to the attack from corner four. After a
few controlled boundary shots, the young pro sent Red
away towards hoop four while pass-rolling to position at
hoop two. The hoop was made and the leave was set when
Bob composed himself and hit a 55-foot roquet of a ball
that had only three feet to roll before going out of
bounds. The ball rolled and came to a rest with feet to
spare.

Van Tassell ran a crisp break with four balls around to
the peg and set a wonderful leave for his partner.
Facing the "Groom of Doom", Ben opted to corner rather
than shoot an 80-foot version of Bob's hit in.

The steady competitor took the second break to the end
and met outrageous applause from the crowd. After a
celebratory hug, the finalists compared notes and shook
hands of congratulations and commiseration. Bob's 26-3
win was his third championship in the desert this year.
Bob took the Pat Apple Bisque Tournament title in
January and the Scrambled Doubles victory in February.

The spectators soon recovered from their state of awe
and returned from the line at the Bloody Mary bar to
watch a tight battle between Club Officials, Jim Butts
(President) and Ron Hendry (Vice President) for third
place. After trading blows for 90 minutes, the board was
smeared with deadness and the players worse for wear. In
last turns each faced a daunting hoop shot for the lead.
With nine feet and a slight angle in front of him, Jim
missed the go ahead wicket. A hush fell as Ron
approached his severely angled and four foot long shot.
It was so quiet, you could hear a glass clink. And then
BANG! The ball sailed through and the game was won with
authority. Hendry yelled a jubilant "Hooo-wuh!" and the
crowd applauded as the chief hailed the victor.


CHAMPION FLIGHT SINGLES
NAME HDCP
1. Bob Van Tassell 1
2. Ben Rothman -3
3. Ron Hendry 0
4. Jim Butts -1
5. Horace Hayworth 0.5
5. Mike Taylor 1.5
5. Mike Orgill 0.5
5. Bill Martin 0
9. Janet Hamilton 2.5
9. Bob Chilton 0
9. Len Lyon 3.5
9. Bill Hamilton 3

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES
NAME HDCP
1. Steve Mossbrook 5
2. Chris Christian 4.5
3. Bob Kays 4
4. Conrad Haas 5
5. Rich Schiller 4
5. Peter Bach 5
5. Donna Dixon 4
5. Russell Hanson 5
9. Alan Langley 4.5
9. Phyllis Butts 5

SECOND FLIGHT SINGLES
NAME HDCP
1. Marvin Salles 9
2. Dick Engebretson 9
3. Jonathan Andrews 6
4. Mary Rodeberg 6
5. Cindy Bagby 6
5. Marie Haas 6
5. Jean Engebretson 10
5. Toni Kemp 10
9. Judy Dahlstrom 6
9. Pat Apple 7
9. Karen Comeau 10
9. Carie Shapiro 11

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES
NAME HDCP
1. Donna Dixon 4
2. Horace Hayworth 0.5
3. Bob Chilton 0
4. Bob Van Tassell 1
5. Rich Schiller 4
6. Mike Orgill 0.5
7. Mike Taylor 1.5
8. Bill Martin 0
9. Jim Butts -1
10. Ron Hendry 0.5
11. Arthur Bagby 0.5
12. Bill Hamilton 3

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES
NAME HDCP
1. Peter Bach 5
2. Dick Engebretson 9
3. Marvin Salles 9
4. Marie Haas 6
5. Jonathan Andrews 6
6. Steve Mossbrook 5
7. Mary Rodeberg 6
8. Russell Hanson 5
9. Toni Kemp 10
10. Pat Apple 7
11. Judy Dahlstrom 6
12. Conrad Haas 5
13. Karen Christian 9
14. Phyllis Butts 5
15. Carie Shapiro 11
16. Alan Langley 4.5

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Groundhog Day Golf Croquet

Our one day tournament was a great success with 38 club members (more than any other club tournament in history) each playing four games of golf croquet doubles.


Winners were:
Arthur Bagby and Dick Engebretson in the Puxatawnee Phil block
Phyllis Butts and Rob Stiff in the Early Spring block
Dick Tucker and Jane McDonnell in the Long Winter block
Art Silber and Duffy Milse in the Shadow block

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Happy Groundhog Day

This is what we're up to in the desert... golf croquet...one day...40 people...a bit of stress.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Designs by Ben

Here are some shirts I have had printed:





I only have the shirts in men's medium, large and extra large. They are $35 plus shipping.