Grand Slam Croquet on Useppa
Nine Wicket, Golf Croquet & Six Wicket
by Ginny Amsler

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Coach Bob Sumwalt and his Croquet Family

Last fall, planning was underway for the traditional Useppa Six Wicket Invitational when Gar Beckstead asked, “Why are we doing this? It’s going to be the same thing over and over again, hosting people  we don’t always know, losing money, and working so hard  we don’t have fun.”

We thought about it.

“If we planned the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of Useppa Croquet for fun, for the Useppa Island Croquet Club, what would we do?”

The result.  

We cancelled our Six Wicket Invitational and instead planned Grand Slam Croquet on Useppa: three days of play to include Nine Wicket, Golf Croquet & Six Wicket.

On Wednesday, Feb 18^th it all began with a cocktail party at the Collier Inn. The next day twenty people played Nine Wicket Croquet on the G. Robert Sumwalt Lawn. In the High-Low Finals, Chris Fitzsimmons & Michael Carmichael beat Sherry Welch & Mike Zuro to become Grand Slam’s Nine Wicket Champions. Lunch featured a courtside barbecue.

On Friday, thirty-four people played Golf Croquet. Mickey Dalton was the clear winner, and the next day, a shoot out between Karen Albert & Gigi Mills determined one co - winner. Gigi ended the contest with balls closest to the peg. A Stone Crab Fest and Tail Gate Party ended the day. The lights around the court came on and it was time for night bocce. Participation in the unofficially sanctioned event meant play with drink in one hand, ball in the other. Because of previous experience in these matters, Paul Miller and Michael Albert emerged victorious.

Saturday’s Six Wicket competition paired old time players with newer fans of the game. Bob Kroeger, Tournament Director had run a clinic so the novices knew a little about what to expect. Michael Carmichael and Sherry Welch won the High – Low Trophy.

At mid-day, the games halted. The Father of Useppa croquet, Bob Sumwalt was back on the island with friends. A croquet group picture was taken and then each player lined up to have his or her picture taken with Coach.

Saturday night’s Collier gala exquisitely balanced formality and congeniality. Names in elegant script hung on croquet balls at each place setting. Blue, red, black and yellow ornaments marked the seating. Antique trophies for each winner and hand painted individual prizes were displayed. Speeches were short, smiles were wide. Michael Carmichael won the Grand Slam Award because of his play in each day’s event.

A small committee chaired by Ginny Amsler & Barney King created Useppa’s Grand Slam Croquet. Karen Kaufman arranged the opening night festivities and Thursday’s lunch. Gigi & Billy Mills planned Saturday night’s affair. Gigi not only did the decorations but painted the Six Wicket & Golf Croquet Trophy Plates. Billy made the Nine Wicket Awards. He also oversaw installation of  the Sumwalt court’s night-time lighting, Karen & Mike Albert, with Jay & Ginny Taylor hosted the stone crab party, and Mike Zuro set the courts with Bob Kroeger and worked with Barney & Ginny on tournament pairings. Thanks are also due Victor Albaron at the Collier and Jennifer Campbell in the office, and Paul Webb-Martin of the Service Department.

When it was over, Gar Beckstead said, “This was one of the top five events on Useppa in the last thirty years.”

And it was……

The Useppa Island Croquet Club played for fun.
 

Watching 9 Wicket Finals	9 Wicket Champs Chris Fitzsimmons & Michael Carmichael	Chris Fitzsimmons
Sherry Welch	Barney King, Dan O'Connell & Mike Zuro	Michael Carmichael
Mike Zuro at the peg	Board Keeper Gar Beckstead	Ginny Taylor & the red ball