Green Gables Croquet Club
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The Green Gables Croquet Club of Spring Lake, New Jersey was founded in 1957 by Suzie Linden (1913–1996). It is the oldest continuous croquet club in the United States and among the three founding members of the U.S. Croquet Association.
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[edit] Early Years
Green Gables began in 1957 when Suzie Linden (then Oakes) invited a few friends for a game of croquet on the lawn of her ocean front Spring Lake home, known as Green Gables. Since forming, generations of players enjoyed the ocean breeze and boardwalk view while playing on the croquet malls. GGCC is recognized as the first on the east coast, and now the oldest continuously running club in the USA.[1]
[edit] Transition
After Suzie's death her property was sold and the croquet courts removed by the new owners. In 1999, the club built three world class courts in Sea Girt, NJ on state owned leased land in front of the general's house on the NJ National Guard Center.
[edit] Basic Information
A growing club with a current membership of 70, the club has three championship croquet malls and has become the center of the croquet world in mid-July each year when Green Gables is the site of an invitational croquet tournament.
[edit] Silver Anniversary
July 2007 will mark the 50th Anniversary. Green Gables plans to mark the occasion with numerous events through out the year, culminating with a special invitational tournament running from July 11 to 15, 2007. This singles only tournament will consist of not only players from 2nd flight through Championship levels, but will also include a special tournament to be played by 8 of the top players in the country, including Ted Prentis, John Osbourn, Jeff Soo, Richard Curtis and Bill Berne. A banquet will be held on Thursday, July 12 at the Spring Lake Bath and Tennis Club, Spring Lake, NJ and a barbeque is planed court side for Friday late afternoon on the completion of the Pro Finals. Saturday will feature a Pro-Am. Anyone interested in being a part of the celebration would be welcomed. Participation as a player is by invitation with preference to those who have played in previous Green Gables Invitational Tournaments. The social and special events are open to all.
[edit] Noteworthy
Green Gables Croquet Club is the oldest continuous croquet club in the United States today and one of the founding members of the United States Croquet Association. In 1977, Jack Osborn gathered representatives of the clubs on the US East Coast, to meet in to agree on a standard set of rules for croquet in the United States. This group eventually agreed on the rules and formed the USCA.
[edit] On Strategy
In the New York Times, founder Suzie Linden described the mental aspects of Croquet as a "combination of bilards and chess," adding, "You always have to think three moves ahead!" Suzie Linden was inducted into the Croquet Hall of Fame in 1980.[2]
[edit] See also
- Absence of mallets feared, Croquet tradition at stake By Joel Pisetzner of The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., (1997) on speculation that the Green Gables Croquet Club might close following Suzie Linden's death.
- United States Croquet Association
- USCA Croquet News Magazine
- Suzie's Story:The Autobiography of Socialite, Philanthropist & World Traveler
[edit] References
- ^ Kaplan, Karen (September 2004). The New York Croquet Club History (PDF). Retrieved on 12/17/2006.
- ^ Linden, Mary Sue McCulloch (1992). Suzie's Story:The Autobiography of Socialite, Philanthropist & World Traveler. Rainbow Books, 7-10. ISBN 0-9358-3487-7.
