here is the first of what I hope are many responses;

The problem is with the patrons. We no longer have the local sponsors spending money. The days of Patt Nesbitt, Mike Hakan, Tom Barrack, Glen Holden putting teams together ARE OVER. These guys all loved the club and felt at home, regardless of the recurring management problems and politics.

The club ownership needs to find a way of aligning its interests with the new boys on the block from Florida and Houston. Not sure how. But reducing to 16-18 goal is not the best solution. I think its a power struggle game which needs to be played out.

Lyndon Lea, Scott Wood, John Muse…They want the polo level to remain high, and they can most certainly afford it. Its time for the old guard to make some room for the new guys spending the money. I certainly do not see local patrons coming in to support 12 or 20 goal polo any time soon.

I would prefer you keep my comments annonymous.

#2There are very few of us who actually play at Santa Barbara polo club. If the high goal comes down to 16 goal it becomes an affordable league for more sponsors to play, other than just the big money from Texas or Florida. It also becomes a league that someone could split a team. I normally don’t engage in these discussions, but I think Phil Heatley is doing a great job and this is a way to bring more local teams. We need to give him something to work with. I personally would be happy to put my deposit down if it becomes 16 goal. I also can confirm 4 other teams. That puts us at 7-8 teams confirmed. Does there need to be much more conversation about the matter. When we are so booked and there is a waiting list we can talk about raising the level to 20 or 22 like the rest of the world, but this is the situation for now and I think we should move on it.