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Matthew Essick, 23, won the Golf Croquet World Championships in July.
Matthew Essick playing croquet at 12 years old.
Matthew Essick, 23, a croquet professional at the Quogue Field Club, won his first-ever Golf Croquet World Championship on July 7 at the fabled Sussex County Croquet Club in Southwick, England. He defeated Robert Fulford, a five-time Association Croquet world champion to secure the title, only the second American to do so.
The competition featured play from the world’s best — 64 players from 22 countries over nine days. Essick’s winning shot in the final was a spectacular jump shot over his opponent’s ball, going through the wicket to give him the title. His play in the semifinals was equally impressive. Facing Robert Fletcher, the number one player in Australia and number 10 in world golf croquet, with the same aggressive style of play, Essick forged ahead to a score of 5-3. Then, with an incredible single shot that scored two wickets in a row, he won the match, 7-3, and advanced to the finals.
“I decided to stay with my style despite the low percentage of some shots, and this turned out to be the right approach for me,” he said. “I also thank the support of the U.S. Croquet Association and folks back home, not only for this event but for fueling the growth of competitive croquet in the United States. People have discovered this as a fascinating competitive, as well as social, game that can be played by people of all ages.”
Essick came into the sport early. He got his first mallet at age 3 and played the game as a family activity in his native North Carolina.
“My grandparents had been backyard croquet players and involved the entire family. It was a regular Sunday activity. Then my father, an agronomist, saw a professional court at Pinehurst and built one for us.”
By age 6, Matthew was in a doubles tournament with his grandfather. From the ages of 6 to 10, he continued to play in tournaments and then was mentored and taught by the famed Danny Huneycutt.
Essick acknowledges his situation was unusual and for most young people their friends are playing other sports and it is difficult to get a start.
“To grow the game, we need to fund and provide widely available public courts. The World Championship will be held in the United States in 2024 and that will guarantee greater exposure.”
Staff Writer on Aug 30, 2022