The inaugural Pinehurst International Golf Croquet Invitational turned into a showcase for the world’s best players. The final match featured Salah Hassan, World Champion in 1997 and 2000, versus Khaled Younis, World Champion in 1996 and 1998.

WCF-rules Golf Croquet has become very popular at the Pinehurst Croquet Club, according to club pro Mack Penwell. Having heard about the amazing power and accuracy of the Egyptian players, club members came out in force to see if the reality would live up to the hype.

It did, and then some. Both players employed a full arsenal of technique: long hoop shots, controlled stop-rushes, full-court hit-ins, delicate touch shots, and accurate carom shots. The consistency and power of both players elicited gasps of astonishment from the audience, who cheered more and more enthusiastically as the match progressed.

And the broader appeal of top-level Golf Croquet as a spectator sport became apparent in the reactions of the many golfers and tourists wandering by the courts during the tournament—interest, discussion, questions about the matches, and even applause.

Last modified on 12 December 2004