Mountain Brook Croquet Club took on the reigning world champion

Members of the Mountain Brook Croquet Club recently traveled to Carrolton, Georgia where they played against the reigning golf croquet world champion. We talked to some of our local members to hear all about it.

The Mountain Brook Croquet Club

Croquet is a game that has been played for over 150 years that is a unique combination of pool, golf and chess. Some people think of it as just a backyard game, but to many, it is so much more than that.

Mountain Brook Croquet Club was started as the Crestline Park Lawn Sports Society, where about a dozen players would meet at Crestline Park and play croquet with a cheap croquet set and a vague understanding of the rules, according to our very own member Michael Seale.

Word got out and the club grew to over 20 members pretty quickly. Mountain Brook resident and  Alabama director of the United States Croquet Association Arthur Bagby, who happens to have a regulation-size croquet lawn on his property, found out about the club and invited the members to start playing on his court.

They eventually changed their name to the Mountain Brook Croquet Club. Now, the club holds multiple tournaments during the year, and some members have even gone on to compete in tournaments throughout the country.

Taking on the world champ

A few members of Mountain Brook’s club took a trip on October 16 to play in a tournament in Carrolton, Georgia where they took on the current golf croquet world champion, Matthew Essick. Essick is a Long Island resident who was crowned world champion after winning a title in a European tournament against 63 competitors from 17 nations.

Mountain Brook’s Matthew Jackson lost 7-4 to the champ and Todd Russell lost 7-6.

“It was great fun watching and learning from Matthew as he played with local members. Essick brings youth and vitality to the sport of croquet.”

Matthew Jackson, Mountain Brook Croquet Club

The tournament took place at Dr. Jimmy Huff’s home court on Lake Carroll. Huff leads the Carroll County Croquet Players, a prominent club that includes top-ranked players like Kent Lovvorn and Roy Gee, who are lifelong friends of Huff and play an integral role in the local croquet scene. The beautiful court made the day even more special for players.

“Playing on an immaculate court on a beautiful point of land on a lovely Autumn day with good friends, with the world champion coaching you and talking about playing around the world in exotic places like Egypt and New Zealand, is one of those rare perfect days in one’s life.”

Tad Richardson, Mountain Brook Croquet Club

The Mountain Brook Croquet Club welcomes new players of any skill set and is always looking for more people to share the game with. 

Anyone wishing to learn more about croquet and the Mountain Brook Croquet club can contact Arthur Bagby at arthurbagby@gmail.com.

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