1. Where are you from originally?
Kansas City, Missouri

2. What interested you in croquet in the first place?
When I was still living in Kansas City a buddy of mine invited me to a croquet tournament out in the country, and, I'm still not sure why, but I went. There were wickets made out of old coat hangers and barbecue and 35 kegs of beer and about 150 people. I've been playing the game ever since.

3. What do you find most enjoyable about the sport?
The competition. It looks like a nice, refined sport, but it's really cutthroat, blood and guts competition but with gentlemanly ethics. Because unlike other sports, if two of you are playing, the two of you are the officials.

4. What do you find most aggravating about the game?
Myself when I'm not playing well.

5. How did you end up at Meadowood?
They had the first tournament for prize money in 1986 and I played then in the Meadowood Classic. In '89 the assistant pro left and they offered me the job. I'm the head pro now and this is my eleventh year. The first day I was here I got to teach 35 people how to play croquet and I loved it … It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it.

6. What reaction do you get from people when you tell them what you do for a living?
First thing I do is tell them not to laugh. They're surprised, especially considering my size (6'2', 270 pounds). People think of croquet and they think of the kid's backyard game. They have no idea.

7. What do people seem to enjoy most about croquet?
The strategy. It's a lot more complicated than they expect.

8. Who makes the better players, men or women?
It doesn't matter. But more men than women play the game, except in Australia where women took up the game during World War Two and haven't let up since.

9. What is the one piece of advice you would give all beginners?
Keep your head down.

10. Do you really have to wear white to play?
Yes.