Club News Archives - Empire Polo Club

Sunday Polo 2019

October 4, 2018 by EPC Staff Writer

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.

Memo Gracida Joins Empire Polo Club as Polo Director

August 22, 2018 by EPC Staff Writer

Winter Season at Empire Polo Club Dec. 2018 – March 2019

Empire Polo Club is excited to announce that legendary polo player Memo Gracida will join the staff as Polo Director. Memo will work with Vicky Owens, Empire’s Polo Manager, to help recruit teams and players. He will also be working closely with Kevin Ittig, who oversees Empire’s Grounds Crew, to ensure that the fields are in prime condition for the winter season.

“Last winter was my first season playing at Empire Polo Club and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had,” said Memo Gracida. “I believe that Empire has the potential to be the #1 polo club in the U.S.”

While Gracida’s career as a professional player has set an exemplary standard for those who now follow in his footsteps, it is his exceptional ability to coach, educate, and organize polo players, teams and programs that drew Empire’s interest.

“After spending the summer in Santa Ynez working with Memo, I see that he has a wealth of experience and exciting ideas about how to grow polo. I’m excited to have his help with Empire’s continued growth,” said Vicky Owens.

The addition of Gracida to Empire’s management team is only the beginning of Empire’s strategy for this new season. Two new venues will open this coming winter: Calhoun Ranch and Empire Grand Oasis.

Calhoun Ranch will feature a grass polo field, an indoor polo arena, with plans for a second arena in the works, stabling and 80 acres of large grass pastures.

Empire Grand Oasis will be the most precious gem in Empire’s crown. Members will have the opportunity to enjoy a 5,000 square foot clubhouse, a tropical swimming lagoon flanked by palm trees, lush landscaping with waterfalls, and an authentic Tiki bar. Adjacent to the lagoon is a newly installed grass polo field, a natural amphitheater and an indoor polo arena; there are plans for three additional grass polo fields.

Empire Polo Club hosts fun parties, offers affordable polo, maintains immaculate grass fields and is a world-class equestrian facility. It is the perfect polo destination for polo players and their families.

14 Grass Polo Fields by 2019, with plans for 3 additional fields
2 Indoor polo arenas; with plans for a third indoor arena
Stabling and turnouts for 800 + horses
Multiple exercise tracks

At Empire Polo Club there are opportunities for all levels of players. The 8-Goal League is played February – March. The 4-Goal League begins in January and continues through the end of March. There are 1-Goal polo tournaments almost every weekend.

If you are interested in more details about Empire’s polo leagues and playing memberships, please contact Vicky Owens at 760-963-9930 or email vickyowens@empirepolo.com. EmpirePolo.com is also a great source of information.

About Memo Gracida

Memo Gracida’s international career includes several record-setting achievements. Most notably, Gracida holds the highest record of 16 U.S. Open Championship victories and the most consecutive years as a 10-goal professional polo player: 21 years. These many global major tournament wins led to Memo’s selection as Player of the Centennial Era in 1990 and his induction into the National Polo Hall of Fame in 1997, the first time an active player had ever been inducted.

The 2018-2019 Season Schedule & Membership Fees for Players | Empire Polo Club

August 7, 2018 by EPC Staff Writer

We are excited to announce the 2018-2019 Empire Polo Club Tournament Schedule. We’ve added two indoor polo tournaments that will be played at Empire’s Calhoun Ranch in December. The Debii $$ Women’s Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 13th – 15th.

The 4-Goal League is 5-Chukkers in January & February and will drop to 4-Chukkers in March. The 8-Goal League gets underway in February and will be 6-Chukkers all season.

2018-2019 Empire Polo Club Membership Brochure (click to download PDF)

Summer Polo Camp 2018 at Empire Polo Club

May 15, 2018 by EPC Staff Writer

School is OUT and Summer polo is IN! Empire Polo Club is pleased to be hosting its annual Summer Polo Day Camp for children. Beginners to advanced players are welcome to join Connie Atkinson and USPA Instructor, Jorge Estrada.