International Polo Club Palm Beach Announces 2007 Tournament Schedule
Which Includes Stanford U.S. Open Championship and Gold Cup
WELLINGTON, FL (July 1, 2006) – The best got better as the prestigious 26-goal Gold Cup has been added to the high-goal tournament lineup at International Polo Club Palm Beach, the premier club in the United States.
This is the fourth season IPC has hosted the Stanford U.S. Open Championship, the most sought-after trophy in thee country, and the first time it will be home to the Gold Cup, which began in 1974.
The club’s fourth world-class high-goal polo season will begin on Sunday, January 14 and conclude with the renowned Stanford U.S. Open Championship final on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m.
“The addition of the Gold Cup cements the fact that International Polo Club is the best club in the United States,” said IPC Polo Manager Jimmy Newman. “We have more teams and more high-goal players than any other club in the country.”
The club will host six high-goal tournaments over 15 weeks, including the 26-goal events, the highest-rated tourneys in the United States.
“Last year was fantastic and we expect the 2007 season to be even better with the highest caliber of players, teams and sponsors,” said John Goodman, International Polo Club owner and patron of two-time U.S. Open champion Isla Carroll.
Thousands of enthusiastic polo fans are expected to be on hand to celebrate Opening Day with an opening-round game of the 22-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup on Sunday, January 14 at 3 p.m. The final is set for Sunday, January 28. The season continues with the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup, named after William T. Ylvisaker, who was responsible for bringing high-goal polo to South Florida in the late 1970s, before heading into the Triple Crown of Polo, the three 26-goal tournaments.
The 2007 high-goal polo season includes the following tournaments:
Joe Barry Memorial Cup, January 14-28 (22-Goal)
Ylvisaker Cup, February 4-18 (22-Goal)
C.V. Whitney Cup, February 25-March 11 (26-Goal)
Gold Cup, March 18-April 1 (26-Goal)
Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship, April 8-April 22 (26-Goal)
With the addition of the Gold Cup, the Hall of Fame Cup will be played as a subsidiary to the Stanford U.S. Open.
At least 20 high-goal teams are expected to participate in part of the 2007 season, according to Newman, enhancing International Polo Club’s reputation as the most competitive high-goal club in the country.
Among the world’s top players expected to play during the 22-goal and 26-goal seasons are 10-goalers Mariano Aguerre, Javier Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Mike Azzaro, Adolfo Cambiaso, Carlos Gracida, Agustin Merlos and Sebastian Merlos as well as 9-goalers Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Lucas Criado, Bautista Heguy, Eduardo Heguy, Paco de Narvaez, Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres and Adam Snow.
As the first new polo club to be built in decades begins its highly anticipated fourth season, International Polo Club Palm Beach has fulfilled a long-standing void for a facility dedicated solely to high-goal professional polo. It holds the distinction as the site of the historic 100th U.S. Open Championship in 2004.
“I’m looking forward to our fourth season as much as our first season,” said Goodman. “We’re anticipating another great season for the fans and the players. This is the best polo in the United States. With the improvements on and off the field, I believe everyone will have a terrific experience.”
The International Polo Club Palm Beach will host the following series of events every Sunday, including Opening Day, beginning at 11:30 a.m.:
• During the popular Champagne Divot Stomp, guests are invited to join in the stomping of the divots on the field at halftime while enjoying a complimentary glass of champagne…a unique twist to the game’s tradition. The bubbly is often brought to midfield by unique modes of transportation.
• After the post-match Trophy Presentation, guests are invited to meet the players for autographs and pictures.
• Visit the 7th Chukker, a friendly watering hole that features an antique wooden bar and a plasma screen TV, immediately following the awards presentation. The 7th Chukker is a fan favorite where polo enthusiasts can meet and mingle with the polo players and other fans.
• Children’s Play Area, including a bounce house, face painter and other activities.
The Palm Beaches and Wellington have long been polo’s international winter home. Most of the world’s best players will participate in an impressive series of tournaments at International Polo Club Palm Beach, which attracts numerous glamorous guests and celebrities. The public facilities include a state-of-the-art stadium with seven world-class polo fields, each spanning an area larger than nine football fields, as well as viewing stands and elevated box seating for more than 1,300 spectators.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission tickets are $10 for adults. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.