The Death of El Dorado
By Dr. Paicius
Rolling into El Dorado Polo Club for the first time four seasons ago, I was awestruck. Having just started playing polo in the arena at OC Polo Club, I had never before seen the spectacle of polo played on the grass. My mind couldn’t absorb it. The size of the fields, the number of horses, the tents, the crowds.
The patient was healthy and robust.
Seeing sets run with 6 horses, horse trailers the size of some Central American countries, people from all over the world, excited and intimidated me. The number of teams was high, new players from Argentina, France, and New Zealand coming in added to the excitement and wonder.
That’s all gone now, baby.
This March, for the Skins Tournament, only three teams signed up. The club scrambled and put in a fourth to make it viable. Four or five teams are in the 8 goal. The Women’s Tournament, with 17 teams, was banned to Empire. Although, it was rained out, field one was reserved for the seniors—three teams in that tournament.
Four years ago, the real estate market was roaring, and the owners of El Dorado could see the sweet payout of the land they had used and enjoyed for years. Why invest more money into the club when it would soon be more golf courses, condos and a new luxury hotel? The golf course was to be one of the first Tiger Woods signature courses. That irony does not escape me.
Vital signs abnormal, possible infection, cancer?
With the bust of the bubble, lack of investment and little to no direction from the ownership, the club started its eventual decline. Twin Palms Polo Club (ne’ La Quinta), started as an alternate. A place you could play on grass, not dirt/grass/divots. Patrons continued to come to El Dorado because playing polo is like going to war. It takes time to mobilize the troops. Shifting locations to play is big undertaking. The fields continued to decline, the facilities became downtrodden and even the venerable Cantina ignited in what surely was a sign from the polo gods that they were unhappy with the way things were going.
Moving the patient to the ICU
Last year a group of Patrons was organized to address these issues (I was not invited). With the exception of Jenny Lutrell (who has carried this club on her back) I don’t think any of those Patrons are playing here this year. This year two new teams entered in the 12 and 8 goal. ERG and San Saba. No one from the club communicated with them regarding the opening dinner. At the last minute they showed up and felt embarrassed that they were underdressed. No one recognized them in the introductions. No one thanked them for coming to the club. No one gave a shit. If you attended the dinner you were treated to 30 minute waits for drinks, and then 2 hours before the raw steak was served. Maybe management didn’t want them there because they new what was in store.
This is not a reflection of Jan and Scott. They do what is asked and are responsive and timely. This is an owners’ debacle. No visionary, no ambassador, and no leadership have let this club slide into an afterthought. No one is on the phone offering discounts or free stabling. No one is soliciting the internet, Polozone, or other avenues to recruit Patrons or pros. They won’t even allow the game info to be published on Polozone! Last year Bob Jornayvaz was looking to come here, and got no response. Only by the actions of some locals did he secure Ambassador Holden’s stables. He of course is not here this year.
Two years ago the fields were abysmal. Now, not too bad on fields 1-4 and International, but 5-8 might as well be mine fields. The grooms keeper quit last week.
Patient now on life support.
Five years ago there were parties almost every weekend. The crowds on Sunday were big, and the air electric. Today the fields are reserved for Coachella Fest and Stagecoach. Polo is something to use them for when no concerts are available.
Can this be fixed? Can El Dorado Polo Club recapture its former glory? One has to be pessimistic at this notion. The revenue from the concerts dwarfs the money from polo. The owners are in absentia and out of touch. Patron and players have moved on to greener pastures (where they use fertilizer). Patrons who are feeling the financial pinch have no incentives from management to come back and play.
Without some change from the top, the club is doomed. The real estate market won’t recover for years. Some have suggested that the club be put into a land trust with the owners giving up the property for a tax break. Many have suggested Graham Bray to resurrect the club. The issue is that less and less care because fewer are here.
Rancho polo style may replace this once graceful lady of polo. Twin Palms Deer Creek, possibly others. Without a radical change from the owners, the bastion of West Coast polo will be a story told at bars and barbeques of what was and what could have been.
The plug has been pulled on this patient.
— end —
NOTE: This is a note edited in by PoloZONE … just wanted to clarify that it was the GM’s decision, not the owner’s decision, to not submit game reports and news to PoloZONE.com. A couple of the owners tried to reverse the decision, but with no luck.
Great Job Rick on the El Dorado Article. Well said!!!!!
I do believe we are all suffering in this economy. To slam Eldorado like that is wrong. If you are not going to help then you are part of the problem. Step up an be constructive. The owners could just close up if they wanted to, but they don’t. I happen to know the owners are very active at making it all work.
So if you don’t have constructive comments – keep them to yourself.
Wow that was an openminded and well informed response on behalf of Eldorado.
Dr. Paicius is a customer of the Eldorado Polo Club and has been for 4 years. Has anyone at Eldorado called him to discuss his concerns? It is easier to keep existing customers vs. finding new ones!
Dr. Rick you said it all.
Even hospice can not ease the pain for the grieving.
If the management could think and was not so arrogant, they would have learned from other clubs.
hope to see you at the funeral
At the first dinner party in November, I brought 2 new couples..clients to the clubhouse. I love the polo atmosphere and have been part of it for 25 years or more. I wanted to share it. My clients loved the clubhouse..but, they were very much NOT welcomed by management. Complain all we want about past years, but Alex and Susan were the absolute best at welcoming newcmers and making them feel like they were important and that polo could become part of their lives. Polo, itself, is intimidating to people that do not play it or understand it..they believe it is for the uber wealthy. My clients have money, but not the kind that they associated with the game. Interestingly enough, they did not feel comfortable until I got them out to a fieldside game and we sat around sharing drinks and polo tales with friends. This was an opportunity missed by management..and I have heard the same from others.
The economy has definately affected us all..polo patrons included. It is NOT the only reason people are unhappy at Eldorado. Polo players/friends and family are a very close knit unit-one that has been known at Eldorado for welcoming in new players or interested attendees. It has definately changed Geri. Dr. Pacius is one of those new players who has thrown himself into the game..those same players such as my students, Pat Nesbitt and Denney Geiler did starting in the arena and graduating to become sponsors. Do not make excuses..Eldorado has always been the haven of low goal and beginners…Where else are they to go to learn to love and perhaps commit their monies and time to a sport that requires so much and gives back even more?
I miss the Cantina. That death is still being mourned. I so hope Eldorado can regain it’s spirit, and that players do not become discouraged. Rancho Polo, Deer Creek and La Quinta Polo..thank you!
Dear Fellow Eldoradoians,
My friend, Dr. Rick, brings out some very good points. He is a passionate person and he is passionate about his polo and who isn’t.
I think the biggest problem is communication. When the club was in escrow for sale we didn’t hear enough about the owners’ plan to move the club to a new location. Now that the sale is over the Club is having to deal with 5 years of neglect.
It’s a big job. It’s almost like starting over. Alot has been done in the last two years to improve the fields. Andy did a good job and I’m sure a good replacement will be found. The first party had its problems but the second party was a great improvement. I think everyone is going to enjoy the Governor’s Bash.
Mike Ward has done a very good job of negotiating with Golden Voice (the concert promoter) and our neighbor. The long term contract means polo will be at the Club for a long time. It will give the Club the capital to make the improvements we all want. It also means that a new water line can be installed to feed our fields and solves the permit issue with the city so we can replace the Cantina.
The new presidents of Eldorado Lake Farm, have a long term vision for the club. It’s the first time that I’ve heard the phrase: “polo forever at Eldorado!”.
I hope that the ownership will consider the establishment of member committees so that the customers can learn what is happening behind the scenes and be able to provide input and suggestions. The committee system can be a great communicator. Jan and Scott can’t do it all.
A tournament committee, pony welfare committee, social committee, grounds committee and membership committee would be great improvements. The ladies formed their own tournament committee and look at the results. At a time when we think the economy is killing polo, the ladies tournament draws more than 70 participants!
I think the elements are coming together for a great resurgance of polo at Eldorado!!
Denny Geiler, Governor of the Pacific Circuit
Rick’s article is based in facts, as unfortunate as that may be.. Therefore I did not consider it as a “slam” against Eldorado, instead I felt it was an assessment of our current situation.
If stating these facts, draws responses like ” thanks for being in polo for 4 years, that makes you an expert on nothing,”… perhaps his article has hit a nerve. That type of response is exactly what his article is getting at. So now you have criticized him and made his point at the same time.
On the other side of the coin, I will assume this defensive response comes from a good place. A protective, defensive love for a club that now has problems. A solution can almost always be reached by meeting in the middle. Perhaps instead of “pulling the plug on this patient,” we can instead call for the crash cart and get out the paddles and jolt a pulse back into this patient that we all love so much!
Perhaps a survey for all club members and employees, and I don’t mean “on a scale of 1 to 10” type questions! I mean direct, useful questions…. ie…
1. What do you think is the single biggest problem at the club? (write in your answer)
2. Management – Leave it as it is or make changes. (be specific)
3. What do you want from your club? (the club will respond with what it will cost to give you what it is that you want)
A committee to come up with the questions for this survey should include Rick and Geri and Denny, and maybe Steve Crowder or Corky, someone from management and perhaps Lynn B.
I would be happy to participate or contribute towards anything for the good of the club, which at the end of the day, is what I think we ALL want.
Thank you for your article Rick, and thank you to everyone who commented and cares!