SARASOTA COUNTY CROQUET CLUB INC

THE CLUB'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS THE PROMOTION OF THE SPORT OF CROQUET. SARASOTA COUNTY CROQUET CLUB (SCCC) OPERATES ON SEVEN CROQUET COURTS THAT WE USE 365 DAYS A YEAR, WEATHER PERMITTING, FROM DAWN TO DUSK. THE CLUB PROVIDES FREE COACHING AND INSTRUCTION BY VOLUNTEERS TO EVERYONE IN THE CLUB. WE GIVE FREE INTRODUCTORY CLINICS EVERY TUESDAY AND SUNDAY TO WHICH THE PUBLIC IS INVITED AT NO CHARGE. AT THESE CLINICS, THE CLUB PROVIDES ALL EQUIPMENT INCLUDING MALLETS, BALLS, CLIPS, ETC. IN ADDITION TO FREE INSTRUCTION. VISITORS CAN COME TWO TIMES BEFORE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN.CROQUET PROVIDES A MEANS OF EXERCISE FOR SENIORS WHO CAN NO LONGER PARTICIPATE IN MORE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TENNIS OR GOLF. THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS OVER SIXTY-FIVE AND WE HAVE ACTIVE MEMBERS OVER NINETY. WE TOOK A SURVEY AND FOUND THAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS, INCLUDING SOMEFROM ENGLAND, CAME TO SARASOTA COUNTY BECAUSE OF OUR CLUB AND COURTS. MANY OF OUR CURRENT MEMBERSHAVE PURCHASED HOMES AND RELOCATED HERE. WE ARE THE LARGEST PUBLIC CLUB IN THE COUNTRY, IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AND HAVE SOME OF THE BEST MAINTAINED CROQUET LAWNS IN THE COUNTRY THANKS TO OUR OUTSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH SARASOTA COUNTY.THIS FISCAL YEAR, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES HAPPENING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THE CLUB HOSTED THIRTEEN TOURNAMENTS, PLUS FOUR ONE DAY COMPETITIVE EVENTS. THESE INCLUDED TOURNAMENTS IN THREE DIFFERENT GAMES THAT WE PLAY, GOLF CROQUET, AMERICAN SIX WICKET, AND ASSOCIATION LAWS CROQUET. THERE WERE SINGLE AND DOUBLE FORMATS, CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL WHERE PLAYERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES PARTICIPATED. TUESDAYS THERE ARE FREE LESSONS FOR NON-MEMBERS AS WELL AS MEMBERS. THERE ARE PLANS TO RESTART SUNDAY FREE PLAY FOR THE PUBLIC IN NOVEMBER.THE CLUB IS CURRENTLY AT 260 MEMBERS AND HAS SEVEN FULL COURTS. FOUR NEW SHADE STRUCTURES WERE ERECTED THIS YEAR THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL THE COURTS. THE PLANNING COMMITTEE IS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH VENICE AND SARASOTA COUNTY TO REPLACE THE ANTIQUATED ELECTRIC SYSTEM. NEW LIGHTING AND ENHANCED SHADE SYSTEMS ARE THE IMMEDIATE GOALS.PART OF THIS GROWTH IS A GROWING INTEREST IN THIS SPORT. BUT ANOTHER PART OF THE GROWTH HAS BEEN THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE LOCAL POPULATION. AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE INTO THE AREA AROUND OUR CLUB, THERE IS A GROWING INTEREST IN MEMBERSHIP.