By PHYLLIS HODGES
Kathy Gonnella, left, events coordinator for the SCC Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club, said the club is fortunate to have Diane and Jim Saunders as volunteer instructors as they introduce Golf Croquet to the community. Bill Hodges photos.
Croquet organizers are encouraged by the interest shown at the initial instruction classes.
Golf Croquet is a challenging game with wickets that are barely wider than the ball.
June 9, 2016 — There’s a new game in town. The Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club is complementing its lawn-bowling schedule with croquet and, in fact, has a new name: Sun City Center Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club.
Croquet is commonly described as the perfect blend of social interaction, strategic thinking and physical exercise — perfect for a 55+ community. The game that is now being introduced, however, is not “backyard croquet” that most of us have played at some time in our lives. This is Golf Croquet, which is a more challenging game with different rules and wickets that are only a wee bit wider than the ball.
The club is fortunate in that some avid croquet players are excited about helping to get the game established. Jim and Diane Saunders and Edna and Ray Heck all moved to Sun City Center a couple of years ago from Sun City Hilton Head, S.C. The Saunders have been playing croquet at the Sarasota County Croquet Club and are delighted about being able to play closer to home. In fact, they donated the equipment needed to get the game started here. Club members, guided by the Saunders and Hecks, have been busy for the past several weeks reconditioning the equipment.
Kathy Gonnella, the club’s event coordinator, said she and the club’s officers have been working closely with the Saunders and Hecks on all the details to incorporate the sport into their club schedule. She said club members are delighted to have the expertise of these veteran players and that the generous donation of equipment is a bonus.
The first demonstration and instruction led by the Saunders was held on May 25 and the plan is to schedule sessions and actual play on Wednesdays going forward. Two croquet courts are set up on the south lawn bowling green so that two teams of two each can play concurrently.
For information on session times, club dues, etc., call Kathy Gonnella at 813-634-7214.