Former GM’s legacy pays off for Eldorado Polo Club
New GM at Eldorado Polo Club setting new goals for excellence
By DIANE HENSLEY
INDIO — Until the time he took up the reins as general manager of Eldorado Polo Club about a month ago,
Albert Lansdorp’s legacy was as a tennis pro, hotelier and top exec at the helm of some of Europe’s grander hotels and country clubs. It was a natural fit for the Nederlander, pairing court and resort.
But he’d never taken more than a passing glance at a polo club before former Eldorado Polo Club Manager Alex Jacoy brought him on board.
“I told him I’d never seen much polo. I’ve never even rode a horse. Then he said, ‘That’s just what I want.’ So here I am.”
Lansdorp cuts a figure of the quintessential tennis player; tall, fit, aging gracefully as one would expect from an athlete. And though he may not feel at home on the back of a horse, he is at home as a GM should be behind the modest desk commanding the corner of the polo club office. He speaks with a kind tone, stepping away from the stacks of papers and files to talk about his vision for putting a new face on Eldorado Polo Club. It’s a vision he sees more as a restoration than transformation, seeking to return the sheen—and draw–to the valley’s long-standing fixture for social events and polo.
“I look forward to enhancing these beautiful grounds, and I feel privileged to be able to build on what Alex has already done. I would like to see the clubhouse become an elegant center for more activities. I want the polo players and social members have a comfortable place to share with their families and enjoy themselves. That’s my goal.”
Getting down to business, Lansdorp has already begun breathing life and new luster into a well-worn infrastructure weathered by time and use. Marshaling the experience of his decades in resort management, he’s starting from the ground up; redecorating and resurfacing, repurposing and renewing the vestiges of grandeur expected from a time-honored institution.
Dust and dirt has been cleared from the peaked tent shading the clubhouse veranda, creating an inviting setting for outdoor dining. New wallpaper and paint inside renew the sense of quaintness around the stately fireplace, now the focal point rising above polished Mexican pavers. Tiles surrounding the classic brass and wood bar are spit-polished and gleaming bearing witness to the mountain views to the north. Behind the double doors to the kitchen are shining new commercial-grade appliances and a workable base of operations for a dining staff. And, squeaky clean floor-to-ceiling glass panes and French doors give way to the spectacular view of the clubhouse field.
“I’d like to see us create a lot more exciting events around this clubhouse, a perfect backdrop for large parties, weddings, polo events and even corporate events. The property lends itself so naturally to these things, with so much potential to grow.”
Under Lansdorp’s direction, the Cantina is also enjoying a facelift. The popular player’s field-side watering hole for breakfast, lunch, tournament parties and after-polo cocktails features fresh paint inside in beige with garnet accents. Three comfy sueded sofas provide welcome respite near the refurbished bar accented by tables dressed in new cloths with a crossed-mallet theme. On the walls are a large mirror and a triptych in oil of six polo players hand-painted by office staff member Julie Carter. A new sign, window coverings and freshly painted picnic tables on the patio complete its new look.
“I think we’ve done a terrific job, the new furnishings make it so much cozier for everyone,” Carter said.
Serious work to improve the polo fields is under way guided by head turf scientist Andrew Perkins, who brings both experience and education to the task. Perkins, who graduated from Rutgers, the top school in turf science, has begun resurfacing fields 1-4 and reseeding 5 and 6. Providing a premium surface for polo playing requires a complex balance of growth strategies, watering, mowing and the right blend of Rye and Bermuda grasses.
“We want to create the optimum conditions that are designed to assure the player’s safety and horse’s safety. A Bermuda base gives the horse more cushion while too much Rye can make it slick. The padding has to be there for stopping without sliding, so we’ve made adjustments to account for that,” Perkins said.
Though he says it can require years to achieve, the fields are already showing signs of improvement in strength and padding.
“Andrew is doing an excellent job in this process. We are pleased with these improvements, but we know we’re not at the level we want to be. We are striving for excellence. My goals is to have a nice playing field that is safe and keeps the animals sound. That is the ultimate test,” Lansdorp said.
There remains much that Lansdorp has yet to address, but he doesn’t assume that repositioning Eldorado Polo Club as the premier site for West Coast polo will occur overnight. But he is comfortable with transforming diamonds in the rough, which have included training and coaching tennis greats like Richard Krajicek and Brenda Schultz and successfully lifting the profiles of resorts and hotels in East Germany, Holland and southern California.
“Every club that I’ve become involved in becomes a part of my life. And so will Eldorado. It presents an interesting challenge and a pleasant opportunity to contribute to its future.”