The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
There is a big move West and it is not just the Ladies Polo Tournament here in Santa Barbara this week. It is a real mover unfortunately as it is a hurricane traveling up the west coast of Mexico and gathering speed and water which we can so dearly use. At least the word Polo as the name of this Hurricane is POLO might make the press here. It does not look like it will get here before Sunday, so the Ladies will see it on their way out. It looks to be the biggest tournament this year with at least 5 teams maybe 6 they say. Until now we have been stuck on 4 whatever level we do, a bit odd don’t you think?
I was in Sam Diego in the Del Mar area and they had a big crowd, 5 teams and the worst fields in the game today and a great big party. Here we have good fields, no crowds, no teams and a much bigger budget and the weather is the same. WHY?
The high-goal season just ended and it was not one to remember. Not because teams were not good, they were all pretty good, but just 4 teams dealing with each other every week for 6 + weeks with same umpires every game. It just never works. It would be ike playing golf or tennis every day against your Wife. Sooner or later it does not work and you are home. We have asked for the public to comment all summer and it seems like all agree … it is a great place to not be despite the weather.
The main complaints were :
1. The Club attitude to visitors
2. No social life
3.The fact we have all chiefs and no Indians.
Most people who wrote in with their comments and opinions thought Phil was excellent, but had no power to run the Club like it could be run. He has the ability to make it work. I agree, but he cannot answer to everyone and should not have to. The workers in Polo work for Patrons, who are Patrons because they are rich. The simple fact of Polo is that if you are rich enough to play it you can definitely afford not to. We must understand that they are the customer and they are why we survive. They will also be why we will disappear soon if we do not move that way.
Life is too short and polo is too expensive to have a hobby that is not FUN. The patrons and people who support polo must have fun or like kids they will take there toys and LEAVE. And they have. We need a Dictator to build his Empire right here. Read the History and not a long history since 1970 just 44 years and this Club is a 100.
Oakbrook Paul Butler
Milwaukee Mr Uhlien
Boca Raton John T Oxley
Dallas Norm Brinker
Palm Beach Polo Bill Ylvisacker
The newest of them all and it took less than 2 years to become the big daddy of them all. IPC John Goodman started in 2002 after PB was sold. Like any Corp. there are seldom 2 bosses. We have some of the big sticks of Polo here and they do not even play. Piocho Ranch – Tom Barrack. He could turn it around fast. Lyndon Lea, he just flies by because he does not want to play here. John Muse, he is sticking it out. Ben Soleimani, he said goodbye. Bob Jornayvaz would rather fly to Spain than drive 800 miles or less. Two teams stopped by last year, but no return. Scott Devon and Billy Stetta. And yes also the Fernandez brothers from Mexico. Sure we lost some Patrons due to injury age and life, but not that many of them.
Besides all this we look to have a great weekend with a bunch of new people in town like The Face of Ladies Polo ms SUNNY HALE who like Nacho is Polo to the public we also have many from out of town Dayl Fargy Canada ,Jessica Bailey Indio Ms Burch Poway, Ms Hartley Hawaii a few Texans the Law lady Brecheen the Driver behind it all Paige Beard, Debroa Vermoch out of Utah and a host of others so be there they will let those ponies run it all starts Friday and ends on Sunday just before Polo gets here .
Down south party central will be featuring their second week of the SPRECKLES CUP and it will be fun no matter what the fields are like. The Surf might meet the turf before game time as they are a little farther south. You will have a very good time I guarantee. They also play at 1 and 3 just check the weather .
see ya