2026 Plateau Classic
October 15-18, 2026
Sky Valley GA
The 2026 Plateau Classic Golf Croquet Tournament was held October 15-18th. To accommodate the field of 32 players, two courts at each of two venues were used – Sky Valley Croquet Club and Highlands Falls Country Club. The Highlands area of North Carolina/Northern Georgia includes 12 clubs with croquet facilities within about 40 miles along 64/106; there are easily more than 1000 people regularly playing golf croquet in this area. While this was an open tournament, priority registration was offered to the local Mountain Challenge member clubs, including Burlingame, Cedar Creek, Chattooga, Cullasaja, High Hampton, Highlands, Highlands Falls Country Club, Lake Toxaway, Sapphire Valley, Sky Valley, Trillium, and Wildcat Cliffs. 11 of those 12 clubs were ultimately represented, leaving only one spot for a player from outside of the region, Roy Gee of Carroll County Croquet Club.
Kent Lovvorn of Sky Valley won the Championship Flight (7-5, 7-6), with Jim Jamison of Trillium as finalist. First Flight was captured by Dan Horton (Burlingame), going 10-5 in a 19-point game with Jim Hester (Sky Valley) as finalist. In Second Flight, winner Gene Lockard defeated finalist Cheryl Beckert 7-5, and Third Flight winner was Keith Hart, defeating finalist Jim Pierce 7-5. All ended up being very close and entertaining games.
At the practice on Wednesday afternoon, the surrounding trees at Sky Valley were mostly green, giving the impression that the tournament might be one week too early to see fall colors. On the drive up to Highlands Falls, more color was evident. Thursday and Friday were cool mornings with beautiful warm, sunny afternoons - you could almost literally see the leaves changing colors throughout the day. Saturday morning greeted us with much cooler temps and 20+ mph winds, but that didn’t deter us. We broke out the outerwear, hand warmers and space heaters and carried on! The cool weather did indeed help the fall colors along for our enjoyment.
Lee Robinson and Briggs Stahl were tournament managers; Elaine and Rocky Smith and Darin Guffey were tournament directors; Jim Potts, assisted by Lynda Bjorklund, was tournament head referee.
Championship flight winner Kent Lovvorn (right) and Jim Jamison finalist (left)
First Flight winner Dan Horton
First Flight finalist Jim Hester
Second Flight winner Gene Lockard (left) & finalist Cheryl Beckert
from L-R, TD Darin Guffey, Third Flight winner Keith Hart, finalist Jim Pierce, and referee Lynda Bjorklund
Tournament referee Jim Potts carefully watches a jump shot attempt
The fireplace at the beautiful Highlands Falls Country Club croquet pavilion helped with the chilly weekend
Fall colors did not disappoint at Sky Valley
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
| 01. |
Kent |
Lovvorn |
| 02. |
Jim |
Jamison |
| 03. |
Roy |
Gee |
| 03. |
Robb |
Turner |
| 05. |
Ron |
Taylor |
| 05. |
Dallas |
Denny |
| 05. |
Billy |
Harper |
| 05. |
Billie |
Ray |
FIRST FLIGHT
| 01. |
Dan |
Horton |
| 02. |
Jim |
Hester |
| 03. |
Julie |
Wright |
| 03. |
Rick |
Greer |
| 05. |
Thomas |
Wolford |
| 05. |
Dick |
Boger |
| 05. |
Adrienne |
Lucke |
| 05. |
Tim |
Wright |
SECOND FLIGHT
| 01. |
Gene |
Lockard |
| 02. |
Cheryl |
Beckert |
| 03. |
Bill |
Schreiner |
| 03. |
Lee |
Robinson |
| 05. |
Debby |
Jacobson |
| 05. |
Juan |
Milciunas |
| 05. |
John |
Rymer |
| 05. |
David |
Goodrow |
THIRD FLIGHT
| 01. |
Keith |
Hart |
| 02. |
Jim |
Pierce |
| 03. |
Deb |
Kalish |
| 03. |
Lori |
Mattice |
| 05. |
Dale |
Fenwick |
| 05. |
Barbara |
Knight |
| 05. |
Cathy |
Casey |
| 05. |
William |
Jackson |