The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder

 I know I am not the brightest star in the sky, but I do have common sense and this is why I am doing what I can to build EMPIRE POLO to the next level. I know El Dorado is toast and that is the way it is unless someone steps up to Goldenvoice and says I will pay for it for the next few years. Here is a company that makes money for share holders and it takes no imagination to know that profit will never happen in owning a Polo Club, so why would they invest or run one? It is the same as the current owners who no longer play polo … they want out  and why not ? To think a corporation is going to support Polo without the CEO or bigger being involved in the sport is just plain silly. If they are doing it to keep fields green for parking I think I will sign up and save them money.  I know the loyalty angle seems to be important to the fans of that club,  but where is their loyalty … they do not even care about Polo nor should they.  It is what it is, a sport and not a super popular one either.

El Dorado is History and Empire is now filling in to provide polo in the desert and that is the way it is!  Like Palm Beach Polo and Royal Palm Polo, they are both very expensive houses now and it will happen again and again. Polo fields make no money and they have survived because wealthy people like to play and support the sport. It is something polo enthusiasts do until it’s time to sell. It has happened for a 100 years. The problem is that very few people have actually stuck it out and made Polo. Brinker, Oxley, Uihlien, Ylvisacker, Mannix, Dix and Moore to name a few.  Goodman but in the last 40 years that is the way it has been.

Polo is a sport and to some of us a way of life, but it still takes 10 to 12 acres just to have one field and the land needs to be flat and hopefully beable to grown grass.  The other factor is that it has to be in a nice place or no one will come to play and support the Club. That’s the way it is.  If I want to enjoy polo I am not going to Tulsa in July or January.  I want to make the polo experience  fun for the family and for ME.

In the Winter you have two choices … California or Florida. In Florida you have a menu of options including: Boca Raton, Villages, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Lake Worth, but it is IPC were we will want to be and that is probably not going to happen. Well here is the surprise and it is only because it is brand new. Empire Polo may be prettier than IPC and they have the same level of service. All they need now are more Polo Players and Patrons.  Empire Polo is a great option because it is so much more economical than most other clubs and it is easy to get to.  There are so many more things to do in Southern California than on the East coast as there are not many Mountains in FL and not much Snow to support other winter sports. In the West there is less traffic and rain. . Take a look at Empire as your winter polo destination.  If you are out this way and need a tour, give me a call. or sent me an email and I will get you a Flier to the Gates of a Golden surprise … a Jewel in the Desert. They have 12 fields, a fantastic setting,  a gorgeous view from all angles and a clean and friendly environment.  When you leave town you have money left over for your summer polo.

see ya
scrowder@poloconnect.com
805 896 4406