The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Winter has arrived. As we head into the big polo season, where it is warm. Maybe after such a hot summer, everyone wants to stay home? If you do want to leave the jackets and snowsuits at home along with the long underwear consider Florida or Southern California, as the weather in those two destinations is usually pretty good. No ice, no snow and lots of fun in the sun.
A few choices for your winter polo destination …
Florida:
Sarasota – Located on the west coast of FL. Sarasota has great weather and it is a place to avoid East Coast snobs and showtime. Just plain old good folks enjoying the winter and lots of things to do. The polo fields are good. You will encounter fun, competitive polo. Easy access to the airport and it is a lot less expensive than the otherside.
Gulf-Stream – Located in Lake Worth, just outside of Palm Beach. It has been there a long time for a reason. It is just a nice place to be and they offer good polo in a fun atmosphere. Gulf Stream is close to every thing … Palm Beach, IPC, Palm City Polo, Grand Champions, the airport, freeway and Turnpike.
Palm City Polo – A new location, nice people, fun polo and fantastic fields. It is right next door to the big show like IPC and the Horse Show at Palm Beach in Wellington, FL where the big horses spend the winter.
Wellington in Palm Beach, FL – The biggest stars will be here. Both International Polo Club and Grand Champions are set up here. IPC is the big dog of them all. IPC hosts from 20- to 26-goal polo, Jan thru April.
California:
There are fewer choices in CA, but the clubs there offer a more economical polo destination. There are also a lot more things to do. Big Bear and snow is an hour and a half away. Two + hours and you arrive at the beach in San Diego or Los Angeles. You have 124+ golf courses and thousands of tennis courts and swimming pools. Add in hiking tails within the amazing mountains that surround Coachella Valley and you have unlimited outdoor adventures. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Joshua Tree National Park are both an hour or less away. Most of all, you get to play in two tournament games a week and plenty of practice. It rarely rains in the greater Palm Springs area, so you will play every weekend.
Empire Polo Club – There is no where like it anywhere else in the world for it’s landscaping, statuary and beauty. It is the top of Glamour and scenic with a million roses, hundreds of palm tress, a tropical lake and four unique event venues. Empire maintains beautiful polo fields, immaculate grounds and has huge crowds.
Eldorado Polo Club – Located right next door to Empire, it is a little older and well kept with new face lift. Eldorado offers little higher goal polo and most of all a lot of people who want to play polo because they play polo to be happy.
Around the Polo World as you all probably know Adolfo Cambiaso won his 3rd Triple Crown in a row with his La Dolfina Team. It looked close in the finals, but I think it was really not. The La Dofina foursome looked a lot stronger and they did look like 40-goals. I think what has changed is that Cambiaso’s teammates are catching up with him, as they should. Father time moves on, but may not yet if Cambiaso continues to play.
Other exciting news is the high-goal season in the Dominion Republic it is no longer a thought, it is happening. I hear they have 6 teams, so this could be a big one. I am not sure, but they must have figured out the Plir Plamosis, as it was impossible to get horses out of there once they entered, from what I’ve always heard. Maybe it will be so much fun nobody will want to leave.
Sydney, Australia won the World Cup host position. I am sure that was not hard for them as it was an awesome show the last time the Aussies hosted it. Well done down under.
Remember Andy Busch? He played a lot of polo as well as his brother Billy Busch for years. Now it seems their off-spring have changed routes. Billy’s son is on the Alabama football team and Andy’s son Nick is a super star on the Santa Barbara High Basketball Team Well done Busch’s.
Down south in FL the first 20-goal is underway. Gillian Johnston was the big star, scoring in the last 60 seconds to win another for the Coke group. Well done Miss G!
WHATEVER YOU DO, WHEREVER YOU GO, LET’S ALL HELP TO IMPROVE POLO AND MAKE IT THE KING OF SPORTS, NOT THE SPORT OF KINGS. WE DO NEED THE MENTALITY OF BOTH FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT WE NEED THE PARTICIPANTS OF “YOU,” THE PLAYERS,’ TO GROW IT.
LIKE THEY SAY (( POLO LIFE))
SEE YA