If you’ve been following The Mill on social media and staying up-to-date with our newsletters, you’re probably aware of our strong connection to Theatre N and their 2nd Annual Nine Holes Anywhere Fundraising Event, of which we are a proud sponsor! We (and many others) enjoy playing croquet golf in the beautiful hills of Chadds Ford while supporting the arts!
We’re happy to share that the event was a swing and a hit for all who joined Theatre N in their event. Nine Holes Anywhere is a game that combines croquet and golf. The game was dreamt up in 1969 by four close friends, Ron Maroney, Glen Dugdale, Ernie Rivet, and Randy Barton. They met on the lawn nearly every Sunday for an afternoon match. Standard croquet sets were first used, but they learned quickly that the mallets would break under the stress of a full swing. In 1970, Geordie, a Boeing engineer, designed specialized rugged croquet golf mallets applying the best technology and materials available. Ernie and Ron eventually designed and built croquet golf mallets similar to the ones used today. In 2001, Bill Dugdale, Glen’s son, and Geordie’s nephew, expounded upon Geordie’s original design and began manufacturing custom croquet golf sets for his friends. He continues to sell the sets today. Bill thought everyone played Croquet Golf – Nine Holes Anywhere.
We’re happy to join in the tradition. Our gratitude goes to our valued members and friends — WhipFlip, 9SDC, AKA Advisory, JKB Designs, WhyFly, and LendOS, who supported this event with us through ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise purchases. We collectively raised an impressive $2,200.
All the proceeds collected during the fundraiser will help further the mission of supporting independent artists in our community by adding more programming, upgrading equipment, and hiring more staff.
Thanks to the community’s support, Theatre N has expanded its programming this year. They now host monthly concerts featuring local musicians and a regular stand-up comedy series. Additionally, Theatre N is an open platform for local artists, Wilmington playwrights, and students eager to explore the worlds of film and theater. As a result, every weekend, visitors can enjoy a diverse selection of independent films, thought-provoking documentaries, and captivating international cinema at Theatre N.
You may be wondering about our connection with Wilmington’s only arthouse cinema! Our relationship with Theatre N goes beyond sponsoring and participating in the Nine Holes Anywhere Event. Not only is Theatre N our downstairs neighbor in the Nemours building, now “Market West,” our team also plays a pivotal role in Theatre N’s operations. Andrew Larason, our Community Manager at The Mill Concord, also serves as the Executive Director at Theatre N. Furthermore, our founder, Robert Herrera, has actively served as a board member and has played a significant role in managing Theatre N since 2016.
And here’s an exciting tidbit: anyone can rent out Theatre N, and for our Mill members, there’s an added perk – you can rent the theater for special events at a discounted rate (be sure to learn more about our membership perks!). Contact us if interested in booking the auditorium for your next corporate meeting.
Stay tuned for updates on next year’s Nine Holes Anywhere Event. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor for the next edition, make sure you get on the list to secure your spot!
For those who couldn’t attend this year’s event, there’s still an opportunity to contribute to Theatre N. Simply follow this link to make your donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CWB44GQR2LHB2.
