Coyote Cup Arena Tournament
Dec. 8-9, 2018
Empire Polo Club at Calhoun Ranch
by Suki Piper

The Coyote Cup brought three teams together for a two-day, round robin tournament at Empire Polo Club’s new Calhoun Ranch arena.

The first two chukkers pitted Great Scott! (Scott Hartzel -1, Craig Russel 3, Chris Chun 0) against Fawkes’ Engineering, (Ian Schnoebelen 2, Andy Schnoebelen 0, Bonnie Magill 1).

Chris Chun put the first two goals on the board for the Great Scott team, adding to their one goal awarded by handicap, for an early 3-0 lead. Ian Schnoebelen answered with a score for Fawkes, ending the first chukker 3-1.
In the second chukker Chris Chun followed his own long shot to tap it in for a goal. Fawkes’ Bonnie Magill stopped several goals, and managed to steal the ball and make a goal. Ian Schnoebelen scored again, but Great Scott ended up on top 4 to 3.

Fawkes Engineering stayed up and took on the new rival team, Spokane, (Alyssa Garcia 1, Megan Roux 0, and Catlin Dix 2).

In the third chukker Fawkes’ Engineering put 4 unanswered points on the board. A team effort with Andy scoring twice, and Bonnie and Ian each scoring once. In the fourth chukker, Spokane’s captain Catlin Dix rallied with two goals, but the Schnoebelens were on fire. Andy scored three times and Ian once, ending the fourth chukker with an 8 to 2 lead for the Fawkes team.

The fifth and sixth chukkers brought the Great Scott team back into the arena to face the Spokane Ladies. Great Scott! started with a one goal lead by handicap, which Catlin eliminated by scoring the first goal for Spokane. Craig Russell answered for the men. Spokane’s Catlin Dix scored again, and Alyssa Garcia made a goal. Chris Chun added another for the boys, ending chukker five in a tie 3 to 3.
Megan Roux pushed the girls ahead by one in the final chukker, followed by a gorgeous 2 point shot by Alyssa Garcia! Then Chris Chun posted three goals in a row for Great Scott! making it a 6 to 6 tie. Spokane’s Catlin Dix skillfully walked the ball down the wall, and Megan tapped it in for a 7 to 6 lead at the end of Saturday’s play.

On Sunday, teams met in the arena with carryover scores. Great Scott! Started with a one point advantage over Fawkes Engineering, 4 to 3. Chris Chun’s two goals were matched by Ian Schnoebelen’s two goals. Fawkes’ Bonnie Magill added one point for her team, ending the first chukker in a 6 to 6 tie. In chukker two, Craig and Chris each added a goal for great Scott! Which were both answered by Bonnie Magill. The game ended in an 8 to 8 tie.

Fawkes Engineering stayed up to meet Spokane with the advantage of an 8 to 2 lead from Saturday. Fawkes scored three goals in the third chukker to Spokane’s one point ending the chukker 11 to 3. Spokane’s Alyssa Garcia scored both of her penalty 2 shots in this matches’ last chukker, answered by 2 more goals by Fawkes Engineering who won 13 to 5
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In the fifth time period Great Scott! Started with 6 points and Spokane with 7. Chris Chun scored one goal and a horse kicked one in for Great Scott! The girls were unable to score and the chukker ended with Great Scott leading 8 to 7. Chun scored once in the final chukker, and the Great Scott Hartzel smacked one in for the final goal of the day and his team beat Spokane 10 to 7.

The trophies were awarded to Fawkes Engineering, who won by net goals.

Empire Polo Club’s
Annual  Polochella Youth Polo Tournament

Date: January 19th and 20th (Martin Luther King weekend)
Location: The Lions Field, Empire’s newest polo development on Ave. 58 between Harrison and Van Buren, Coachella, CA.
Tournament Fee: $25.00

Please register to play by emailing our Tournament Chairman, Kate Rust at Kate@edkengineering.com, or Jill Bonilla at jbonilla@dc.rr.com.

PoloChella Youth Tournament is a four chukker game over Saturday/Sunday. All participants need to plan to play both days, or arrange to have a substitute player for your team. For more information, call Connie Atkinson 760-899-5102.

Scheduling Saturday/Sunday:
Time First Division – A Flight at 8:00
Second Division- B Flight at 9:30
Third Division- C Flight at 11:00

(Depending on the number of teams we have playing straight, or Round Robin games, we will try to adhere to the schedule as closely as possible.)

Players’ lunch, drinks and snacks provided at the game.

Saturday evening – 5:30 to 10:00, PoloChella at Empire Polo Club will be hosting a dinner, music entertainment, a silent auction and raffle.

Sunday – after each flight

• Trophy presentation and awards for BPP
• PoloChella T- Shirts for all registered players. Extra PoloChella T-Shirts =$20/Empire hats= $20
• Celebration Cake

Stabling:
Vicky Owens, 760-963-9930.

Horse leasing:
George Dill, 253-732-3111
Erik Wright, 760-861-9887
Megan Judge, 805-801-9410

Desert Challenge
12-2-18
By Suki Piper

The Empire Polo Club welcomed players to the season with the Desert Challenge Arena Tournament at Calhoun Ranch, a new facility complete with a new arena and grass polo field.

After playing a practice game on Saturday the teams met for Sunday’s match.

Fawke’s Engineering (Clair Jenkins 0, Andy Schnoebelen -1, and Craig Russell 4), took on Great Scott! (Scott Hartzel -1, Ella Bonilla 0, and Manny Rodriguez 3).

Great Scott received one goal by handicap, and finished the first, scoreless chukker with a one point lead, 1-0. In the second chukker, Great Scotts’ Ella Bonilla out maneuvered opponents to make the first goal of the day, which was answered by Fawkes Engineering’s Andy Schnoebelen. The first half ended with Great Scott! up by one goal,  2-1.

Clair Jenkin’s hit the ball well all day and put one on the board for Fawke’s Engineering in the third chukker ending the period in a 2-2 tie. In the final chukker, Andy Schoebelen managed to slip by Manny Rodriguez, scoring twice to put his team in the lead by two. Great Scott’s Ella Bonilla answered with her second goal of the day. Time was on Fawke’s Engineering’s side, who held on for the 4-3 win.

Empire Polo Club Announces the 2019 Polo Season Schedule
Sunday Polo Dec 30^th– March 31^st, 2019

Empire Polo Club is pleased to announce their 2019 Polo Season schedule. Our first day of Sunday Polo is Dec. 30th, which is our “soft opening.” The official “Opening Day & Hat Day” at Empire Polo Club is scheduled for Sunday, January 6th, 2019. There are two featured matches every Sunday at 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. Sunday Polo continues through March 31st, 2019.

What’s New This Season?
Brunch at Sunday Polo was so popular last year that we’ve decided to offer it once a month throughout the season. Our first Brunch at Sunday Polo will be available on Dec. 30th for our “soft opening.” Please check our website www.EmpirePolo.com or sign-up for our e-news to get updates on the other Brunch at Sunday Polo dates.

We are excited to announce that we are serving a new lunch menu this season. Spectators will enjoy new, savory options along with a new layout for our food and beverage service areas.

Sunday Polo
Sunday Polo games are scheduled every week from December 30th through March 31st, 2019. Sunday Polo games are at 12 noon and 2 p.m. The Club will be closed on Sunday, January 20th and again on Sunday, March 3rd.

General Admission is FREE with a $20 parking fee for all Sunday afternoon polo games. Tailgaters are welcome; space along the sidelines is available on a first come, first served basis. General Admission gates open at 10:00 AM. Bleacher seating is also available in the General Admission area. Spectators are welcome to bring their own food and beverages into the General Admission area. Food and beverage service is also available for purchase.

VIP Admission is $30 per person and includes parking, VIP seating and a complimentary Champagne Divot Stomp. The VIP seating area is located in front of the Olympic-peaked tents on the west side of the main polo field and offers field-side covered seating.Spectators can also watch multiple televised sporting events while enjoying polo at the VIP Sports Lounge and Bar, located adjacent to the VIP seating area. The Sports Lounge offers viewers three flat screens featuring Sunday football games and other popular sports.

Reservations for VIP seating are highly recommended. Food and beverage service is available onsite during Sunday matches. For VIP reservations or group rates please call Tony Schieffer at 760-393-7298 or email tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com. No outside food or beverages are allowed in the VIP area. The entrance for Sunday games is on Ave. 50 between Monroe St. and Madison St.

Friday Night Polo

Empire Polo Club offers Friday night “Polo Under The Lights” on select dates in February and March. Admission, tailgating and parking are free on Friday nights. Spectators are welcome to bring their own food and beverages to this event.

If you plan to tailgate, be sure to arrive early to get a good spot. Bleacher seating is also available. There is beverage service onsite during the Friday night games.
The entrance for Friday night games is on Ave. 50 between Monroe St. and Madison St.
Admission and parking are free on Friday nights. There isn’t any VIP seating on Fridays, so all parking and tailgating are on a first come, first served basis.

• Outside food and beverages are allowed (bring a picnic and tailgate)
• Beverage service is available on the east side of the field
• Bring chairs and blankets
• Tailgating spots are available on a first come, first served basis
• Permanent restrooms are available at the field
• Dogs are welcome on a leash

For more information about Friday night “Polo Under the Lights” dates and game times please visit our website www.EmpirePolo.com.

General Information

What to Wear? This is the one of the most frequently asked questions by spectators. We suggest “hats and flats,” as heels sink in the grass and the sun is always shining here in the desert. Polo is a casual affair at Empire Polo Club, so please wear whatever you feel comfortable in. You will see spectators wearing everything from shorts, jeans and flip-flops to sundresses, khakis and button-down shirts. If you plan to attend a Friday night “Polo Under The Lights” game, dress warmly.

Why Watch Polo? It’s a great way to spend your Sunday afternoon. Imagine sitting field-side, overlooking a series of immaculate polo fields surrounded by majestic mountains in the distance, while watching one of the fastest team sports on earth.

Polo is never boring. Eight players travel at speeds up to 30 miles per hour while riding-off other players, hooking their opponent’s mallets and hitting the ball at full speed. It’s a great spectator sport and general admission is FREE. You can’t beat that!

Directions
The entrance for polo games is on Ave. 50 between Madison St. and Monroe St.

Polo Entrance
From Interstate 10 take the Monroe St. exit. Head south on Monroe St. Take a right on Ave. 50 and you will see the Empire entrance gates on the left side of the road. Use the middle gate for tailgating access and General Admission parking. If you are a cabana holder, have VIP reservations for a table or if you are part of a group with reservations, use the third gate to access the VIP parking area.

For Friday night games use the middle gate on Ave. 50 to access tailgating on both sides of Field 3. There are no VIP seats for Friday night games.

About Polo
Empire Polo Club is a world-class, international polo club. Players from Canada, Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Germany, England and other countries travel to the desert to play polo at Empire Polo Club. Players’ ages range from young up-and-comers in their early teens to practiced seniors in their sixties.

Polo is a pro-am sport and co-ed. Men and women compete together on teams that are handicapped by the total sum of its players’ handicaps. Each player has a handicap, similar to golf. Handicaps range from -2 to 10, with 10 being the best in the world. Teams compete in tournaments that are categorized by handicap level.