The Headringer

Most people who know Chuck Kruse call him 'Headringer.'

The title refers to his position as president of the Cardiff Riviera Horseshoe Club, which Kruse founded in 1990, after spending decades throwing horseshoes for fun and sport.

The 79-year-old Cardiff resident is so involved in the game that he was recently inducted into the Southern California Horseshoe Association Hall of Fame for his efforts in organizing the local horseshoe club and holding several pitching tournaments each year.

Danny Kyle, vice president of the association, said Kruse and six other people were inducted into the hall this year after being selected by a panel of five former honorees.

"Chuck went in as an organizer of the sport," Kyle said. "He promoted horseshoes throughout his city."

Kruse was nominated by fellow horseshoe pitcher and Cardiff club member Red Seaman of San Diego, who said that Kruse deserved the recognition after years of promoting the sport in San Diego County.

"He's done so much for the horseshoe community," Seaman said. "He's introduced the sport all around. Everybody knows Chuck."

Kruse said he began tossing horseshoes after he enlisted in the Marines and moved to California in 1952.

"We started playing out here on the beach," Kruse said Wednesday. "It was and still is a hobby of mine. You just set up pegs and play, no problem."

Kruse, a retired insurance salesman, said he organized players to participate in tournaments and then began lobbying the Encinitas City Council to build more horseshoe courts in Oakcrest Park. Since 1992, the city and the Cardiff club have supplied the funds and constructed six courts at the park.

The club now has more than 40 members, Kruse said.

"All of the other clubs (in Southern California) are so jealous of us because the city helps us out so much," Kruse said.

Kruse also led the club to become sanctioned by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association. The club now hosts about 18 tournaments each year, Kruse said.

"He really knows how to get people involved with volunteering or get people interested in pitching as a group, which was great," Seaman said.

Kruse has also racked up a long list of accolades in his professional horseshoe pitching career: He has 53 first place finishes at the Southern California Horseshoe Association tournaments; has participated in eight state championships; and placed ninth out of 15 pitchers at the 2005 World Tournament in Bakersfield.

Kruse said the comradery of the horseshoe community has kept him interested in the sport all these years.

"It's just something that I do," Kruse said. "I play horseshoes and I enjoy it."

The Cardiff Riviera Horseshoe Club practices at Oakcrest Park in Encinitas from 5 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Kruse said anyone is welcome to attend.

Story By Cigi Ross