The Houston Polo Club and Brookshire Polo League wrapped up an exciting 12-week Spring season on June 15th with the announcement of the merger of the two entities, forming the third- largest USPA playing member roster in the nation. After a six-year separation between the neighbouring clubs, the Directors of both clubs reached an agreement in June to consolidate operations as the Houston Polo Club, whose 78-year history makes it the city’s oldest sports franchise. The integrated club will operate under HPC’s Executive Director, Pam Mudra. As a part of the merger, the newly consolidated club welcomed Scott Wood, Tim Kelly, and Carl Price to its Board of Directors. Houston’s member roster of over 80 players has continued to grow in 2011, and is expected to continue the trend as a Regional Polo Center, through a continued focus on attracting new players to the sport.
“We are very excited to unite with our fellow players at BPL, to further the investments we’ve all made in making Houston a premiere destination for polo players at all levels,” says HPC President George Georgiades. “HPC and BPL have been working closely together over the past few years, and this final step will allow us to continue to grow the sport and offer a better experience to players and fans alike.”
The announcement of the BPL and HPC merger was a superb ending to a busy spring season at both clubs, which hosted over 30 teams in 2, 4, 8 and 12 goal polo during the season. Tournament play kicked off at HPC on May 30th with the two-week 6 goal USPA Governor’s Cup and the concurrent 2 Goal Spring Cup. Cinco Canyon Ranch took the honours in the Governor’s Cup Finals on April 10th. The Governor’s Cup was followed by 8 weeks of action in the 4 goal and 8 goal leagues, which included the USPA Officer’s Cup and the USPA Master’s Cup. Dry conditions across Texas made for Houston’s first season in recent memory in which no Sunday rainouts occurred.
The month of May ushered in the 12 goal league at BPL, which hosted 6 teams, including ERG, BTA, Tonkawa, and Lockton. During the last two Sundays of the season, 12 goal polo packed the stands at HPC, with over 1,000 spectators turning out for the season’s Tailgate Finals.
Other Spring events included the June 9th Intercollegiate Cup, which raised over $6,000 for the Texas A&M and University of Texas intercollegiate polo programs and brought 14-goal arena polo to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center’s Main Arena. Another season highlight was the BPL Polo Under the Pecans Benefit, which raised over $60,000 for SIRE, a therapeutic riding organization serving the Houston area.
The upcoming Fall season at the Houston Polo Club, which runs from September through mid-November, will offer polo at multiple levels, including 12 goal, 8 goal, and 4-goal tournament polo, as well as a 0-2 goal coaching league and a full-service polo school. The Fall season will wrap up with the prestigious U.S. Women’s Open and 17th Annual Ladies Championship Tournament. Last held at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California in 1990, the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open is the event’s debut in the state of Texas and will feature some of the world’s top women players competing at the 4-6 goal level. In conjunction with the U.S. Women’s Open, the tournament will offer the Brazos Cup at the 0-2 goal level, and the Farish Cup will at the 0-goal level.
The Houston Polo Club has stabling available on-site at its 100-stall facility and welcomes teams from Texas and elsewhere, for a single tournament or for the full season. For more information on the Houston Polo Club’s Fall 2011 Season, contact Pam Mudra at (713) 681-8571.