The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Feb. 6th ‘10
WILD BILL YLVISAKER! We will miss you! Bill died early today, just one week before the finals of the Ylvisaker Cup being played as we write this story.
Bill was a legend on the polo field and in the board room. Nobody ever denied that. He would just get it done some how, some way and he survived the hard times with a smile, which always meant we are not done yet. You have heard the saying “he lived fast and hard and leaves a beautiful memory.” I am not sure about the beautiful part, but he does leave a heck of a memory with all of us who knew him.
Think about Palm Beach Polo. It grew out of the gator land and swamps to be the biggest Polo Show on earth while he ran it. At that time it was the place to be world wide in the winter months. Two people John T. Oxley (J.T.O.) and Bill Ylvisaker (B.Y.) made polo what it is today. J.T.O. started well ahead of B.Y. in the 60’s and 70’s through some tough economical times. He kept high-goal polo alive and B.Y. was usually one of J.T.O.’s patrons at Royal Palm Polo. In1979 he decided to make polo a destination and built Palm Beach Polo and Tennis Club 3 years later. People who never even knew what polo was were filling the stadium at Palm Beach and soon after patrons from around the globe wanted to be part of it. Every pro player in the world wanted to get to Palm Beach. The success of Palm Beach Polo Club was largely responsible for some of the finest facilities in Argentina, Australia and Europe as well as England. They got the idea and followed in the footsteps of Palm Beach Polo Club. This is CLASS and people love it. Look at the centers around the globe today and there is a bit of the old Palm Beach Polo there no matter where it is located. The success and growth of Palm Beach Polo also changed the industry of polo as pros became acceptable worldwide and the prices changed from buying a couple of horses to salaries as it is today.
In business B.Y. was also a leader. With his real estate investments he developed the town of Wellington, FL and he was head of a huge company that probably sold you something then called Gould. B.Y. took it from the farm to Wall Street in fine form.
On the Polo field Bill was Wild and tough. He never backed off of anything. He was a 7-goal player ,which in his time there were maybe 15 in the world better than that. B.Y. played hard for 50 years he raised a son to play polo as well. I think hid son reached 5-years ago, but he passed away several years ago in a tragic situation. Bill never stopped trying to be the best and to have the best. He never stopped being Wild Bill. He knew what he wanted whether it was fast women or horses. Bill does leave a beautiful memory for Polo.
My thoughts of sadness are with his family during this difficult time. Feel proud he was a man among men.
Next Sunday every Player on the Podium at Palm Beach International Polo should say something about Bill and the sport today because without him they probably would not be there.
-Steve Crowder