The Ponte Vedra Invitational is the first USCA sanctioned tournament in Northeast Florida. The NE Florida Croquet Club LLC was formed to promote golf croquet in NE Florida and organize USCA golf croquet tournaments. The event was hosted by the Ponte Vedra Croquet Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. The club welcomes guests to its seven lawn and club house facility. Contact John Curington, the club manager, for arrangements, 904-343-2281. If your club is interested in having a USCA tournament at your facility contact Bill Simmons at [email protected]. Small events can be run at clubs with as little as one full size lawn.

The event had 35 entries and a lot of excitement around playing. The covid-19 pandemic threw a monkey wrench into the works. A poll of those registered wanted to play in another event later this summer or in the fall when more was known about the pandemic. Details of those future events will be announced in the coming weeks. A small group wanted to play the event using recommended social distancing and hygiene from the health authorities. New infection cases peaked in Ponte Vedra Beach March 29th and have been in a steady decline the last 27 days. Only two new cases of the virus have occured in the last 14 days. The players were all playing at their local clubs in the Jacksonville area and felt play could be done safely.

We had three days of beautiful weather for our two rounds of block play and knockouts.

Three days of great weather and 51 games later Helen Covington, Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville, FL, won the Championship knockout against John Curington, Ponte Vedra Croquet Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, in his first golf croquet tournament appearance. In block play they each had one win against the other and if the final were one win each leaving it to the third game to decide the title. The first two games were 7-6 tie breakers with great competition and some outstanding shots. The final game ended in Helen's 7-5 win. Bill Simmons, The Plantation Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, won the plate in a final match against Marc Stearns for third place overall.

This was the first event in north east Florida and additional events are planned to let area player compete without having to travel.