TCC holds first croquet event

The very first Torrington Country Club Croquet Tournament was played Friday evening — and I missed it.

Ann Marie Filippini, food and beverage manager at the club, put me in touch with Daphne Roberson of New Hartford, whose idea the tournament was.

When I called Friday afternoon, Ann Marie said that Daphne was in the middle of a round of golf, but if I left my number, she would have her call. Which she did.

The former Daphne Homko, who grew up in Harwinton, said she absolutely loves golf and plays to a 20 handicap. But some three years ago, she also became fascinated by croquet, too.

Her husband Karl isn’t as interested in the game, but son Shea shares her enthusiasm for it. They play often, particularly with friend David Keetin at each other’s homes.

About two and one-half weeks ago, Daphne got permission from the board to hold the

tournament at the club. Of course, she was made chairman.

“I wish we had had more time, say three or four months to set it up,” she said. “I’m sure we would have had more entries, although we’re expecting 25 to 30 . . .not too bad. My thinking was that it might be a good

thing for members’ wives to take part in. Some of them aren’t active here at all if they don’t play golf.”

Three “courts” were set up near the practice tee for the competition and there were to be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar for cocktails if anyone’s in need of a bracer.

I say hooray for Daphne Roberson and for innovative TCC. This is fun. Well, they are always doing something new at TCC — and this qualifies,

I’m thinking, as unique as well as interesting.

I was surprised to learn about the tournament. If Ann Marie Filippini had announced that they would be serving croquettes, well, fine, since the club is famous for its fine cuisine and clubhouse ambience as well as its championship golf course. But croquet?

(Side street #2: Be careful not to confuse the two. Croquettes are a fried delectable fried

treat rolled in bread crumbs and filled with a wide assortment of vegetables, all mixed up amongst each other.)

I will not be able to report on winners in this column because I’m required to have it in the hands of my editor on this day, Friday.

Maybe you have played the game of Croquet. I have. We had a large lawn in Burrville, where I spent the first part of my life. And yes, we played

a lot of croquet and the playing of it caused considerable hard feelings, both within the family and among neighbors who would frequently join us for our games.

Claims of cheating and accusations of inaccurate stroke counts got everybody mad at everybody else, when some of the 10and 11-year old guys were out there playing alone while fathers worked and mother was in the house.

Games got rough at

times, but grudges faded overnight and black eyes don’t last long at that age.

I’m sorry I missed this event. It seems I’m always missing something. My mean old Aunt LunaMae used to say, “That Owen

. . . when they passed out brains, he thought they said Trains and he missed his.” She favored the girls in the family, anyway.

By the way, the game of croquet is 161 years old. I don’t know how old croquettes are.