VPC: Oklahoma Open Wrap Up, Part 3

The MCA held a Virtual Press Conference (VPC) today with MCA President Dylan Goodwin as a follow-up to last Saturday’s Oklahoma Open. This is Part 3 of 4 of the Q&A:

Oklahoma and Kansas see their share of wind. Surely that lesson will be a valuable in the future. Returning closer to the MCA's home base, what can you tell us about the Sunflower Wickets Fundraiser in Olathe, Kan.?

This is an event that the MCA has worked with since it's inception in 2010. We provide the equipment and referee the games. I think it is good fundraiser for the historic Mahaffie Farmstead there in Olathe, and it's always nice to see our MCA group out there in the red shirts. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to do much for promoting the sport. Virtually all of the participants are really there just for the charity aspect of it and have zero interest in the sport. The grass tends to be very long at those events, so that certainly isn't going to attract people to the game. 

Still, the Mahaffie group is great to work with and we will continue to work with them on the event. Maybe at some point the grass will get lined out and then I think we'd be very interested in going out to Olathe on a regular basis to teach croquet.

What else is coming up in MCA territory? The KC Croquet Club continues to practice on Saturday mornings in Leawood at the site of the Kansas Challenge on July 12. What is the outlook for that event? You said there could be a robust Silver Division.

Right now, we have eight Silver level players that have joined us on Saturdays. I am hoping that we get the majority of those for July 12. And then I know we have basically nine Pro/Gold regulars in the area. I'd really like to eclipse that 16 entry mark (even though it means adding a fifth court). Even better would be to get a few surprises, and get to 20. It's out there, so we might as well knock that off the to do list now.

What would you say to a croquet newbie who is unsure about entering the Silver Division in Leawood? Make your elevator pitch.

If you've come out for one of our KC Club sessions, you are ready. And one tournament is a quantum leap in croquet education. You absorb a lot when you put in four to five games in that short of a period. And, like all of the divisions, people are trying to win their games, but there is a lot camaraderie in each group.

If you are brand new, try to get out to one of our Saturday morning KC Croquet Club clinics first. It's free and we have sessions planned for 6/21 and 6/28. We will try to offer something the week of as well. 

You won't master the game in one session, but we'll get you playing that day.

Is there anything else you would like to add in your capacity as MCA president?

I want to thank the Tulsa Croquet Club for working with us and supporting the concept. And also, the Kansas City area MCA members that were able to make it down to Tulsa. A lot of people chipped in to make that event happen. I think it has wonderful implications for the future of the MCA and for the sport overall. I am very grateful to and proud of the people that rolled up their sleeves to make it happen.