Visit the StoreStephen Mulliner takes the U.S. Association Singles title with a -4, +7, +26 finals win over Ben Rothman and is now the first player to take open national singles titles in New Zealand, Britain, America and Australia. Mulliner and Brian Cumming snagged the doubles title with a 2-0 win over Jim Bast and Danny Huneycutt. Catch up on the full reports in the American CWO forum --
http://croquetworld.com/Events_byDate.asp?region=The+Americas&period=3+Months

Croquet World Online offers a piece on changing the terrain to make croquet more "interesting" to watch/play ... ala golf. Yeah, golf like in the movie Caddyshack. I would counter that I'm not sure that golf is the sport to emulate since there's nothing particularly interesting about watching golf. Massive HD network television crews have created a broadcast template that fools one into believing there is drama. As for playing golf, I'd say about six or seven holes is plenty for a round (maybe even an entire year). People say croquet is the same thing over and over? Please.

The Manawatu Standard has an article on Josh Smith and the upcoming WCF World Golf Croquet Championships. Smith has been playing GC just over a year. Excerpt --

Smith, 19, has produced some promising results during the summer, which included winning the Arthur Ross Memorial Trophy in association croquet. The former Awatapu College student also finished eighth at the national championships in the Bay of Plenty.

"That got the eye of the New Zealand selectors and I was offered a wildcard position to the world champs and it got approved by the world croquet association."

The Florida Trend website ran a short piece on the National Croquet Center. Excerpt --

All forms of croquet are growing in Florida at a properly genteel pace, largely among older residents, but also among some college students. A modern version of the game that's popular with both recreational and competitive players is a faster and much more vigorous affair called golf croquet. In it, players contest each hoop at the same time, guaranteeing constant collisions and a faster pace.

It's sad to read this story about a 90-year-old club in New Zealand that is shutting down. Certainly, the new hyper-stimulated culture presents a new challenge for all sports --
http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/croquet/154549/mallets-retired-after-90-years-croquet-club-winds