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Sunday, Nov. 28th, ’10: Desert Challenge II Results

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Desert Challenge II Polo Tournament Results
Empire Polo Club
Nov. 27 and 28th, 2010

Rancho Remuda wins 4-Goal Final. Cybel Jordan, Kim Kelly, Roxy Keyfauver, Manny Rodriguez.
Atlant won the 1-Goal Finals. Conrad & Bolko Kissling, Jerod Sheldon and Ernesto Bautista.

INDIO –Rancho Remuda defeated WrightWay in the Desert Challenge II four-goal  final 8-8 on net goals Sunday, sidelining Parklane for the trophy presentation in the round robin match. Rancho Remuda put away Parklane 12-5 and Parklane went south of WrightWay 7-4 over the two-day tournament.

Two-goaler Manny Rodriguez put away six goals for Rancho Remuda in the match, while teammate and forward Roxy Keyfauver scored two. Rancho Remuda trailed WrightWay Saturday 5-3 but better defense allowed Rodriguez two penalty conversions Sunday– and strong passing put back-to-back goals on the boards for him late in the third chukker.

“We tried to get the ball to Manny for the goals,” said Keyfauver. ”When he connected he rode like a fireball from hell.”

Speaking for Parklane, Ashton Wolf said a little more “pep in the step,” might have pushed them into  better position.

“A little more hustle would have been good, buy hey, whenever I looked around, all I saw were reds,” meaning WrightWay’s Rob Yackley, Jared Sheldon and Ray Rosario. “I had Yackley behind, Jared on the side and Ray riding up…”

WrightWay headed off sound attempts by Parklane (3-2) and Rancho Remuda  on Saturday on five goals by Rob Yackley, just off the DL.

“Easy, I was really only off for one day,” Yackley said, after sustaining some facial fractures during a match at Empire’s Open House weekend.

In the one-goal tournament final, Atlant rolled past Pablo’s Mallets 9-2, on a team effort by all players.

“We worked together really well, and that’s how it comes together. Everyone scored,” said Jared Sheldon, the team’s No. 4.

It didn’t play that way for Pablo’s Mallets, who chalked the game up to a lesson learned.

“The ball bounced against us in all directions,” said Cameron Smith, Pablo’s Mallets quarterback. “Our back shots went right in to the other team—they were the only ones there,” he said.

Next weekend at Empire Polo Club is the Coyote Classic one-goal and four-goal tournaments. Team sign-ups are being accepted until Friday at noon, according to Vicky Owens, polo manager.

DESERT CHALLENGE II RESULTS

SUNDAY, NOV. 28
ONE GOAL TOURNAMENT

CONSOLATION
CASA LAGO 9, FRESH & EASY 5
Casa Lago: Lolo Payan 5, Hayward Pardue, Scott Walker, Kate Ewart
Fresh & Easy: Domingo Questel 6, Alejandro Barojas 2, Jacob Deutsch 1, Sander Deutsch.
Umpires: Ashton Wolf, 3rd man; Kim Kelly

FINAL
ATLANT 9, PABLO’S MALLETS 2
Atlant: Jared Sheldon 3, Ernesto Bautista 2, Bolko Kisslilng 2, Conrad Kissling 2
Pablo’s Mallets: TJ Elordi 1, Pepe Alcaraz, Cameron Smith, Goyo Mariscal, one on handicap.
Umpires: Alejandro Barojas, Manny Rodriguez; 3rd man, Kate Ewart.

FOUR GOAL TOURNAMENT (TWO-DAY, ROUND ROBIN)
RANCHO REMUDA 12, PARKLANE 5
Rancho Remuda: Manny Rodriguez 9, Kim Kelly 3,Cybele Jordan, Roxy Keyfauver
Parklane: Brad Ramsby 2, Ashton Wolf 2, Kendra Clark, Bill Garlock, one on handicap.

WRIGHTWAY 7, PARKLANE 4
WrightWay: Jared Sheldon 4, Rob Yackley 3, Ray Rosario, Roseanna Elordi.
Parklane: Bill Garlock 2, Brad Ramsby 1, Ashton Wolf 1, Kendra Clark.

RANCHO REMUDA 8, WRIGHTWAY 8
Rancho Remuda: Manny Rodriguez 6, Roxy Keyfauver 2, Cybele Jordan, Kim Kelly.
WrightWay: Rob Yackley 7, Ray Rosario, Jared Sheldon, Roseanne Elordi, one on handicap.
Umpires: Andy Maze, Pepe Alcaraz; 3rd man, Hayward Pardue.

1-GOAL

CASA LAGO
Jacob Deutsch -1
Sander Deutsch -1
Domingo Questal 2
Alexandro Barojas 0

ATLANT
Bolko Kissling 1
Conrad Kissling -1
Ernesto Bautista 0
Jared Sheldon 1

FRESH AND EASY
Kate Ewart -1
Scott Walker -1
Hayward Pardue 0
Lolo Payan 2

PABLO’S MALLETS
Cameron Smith 0
Pepe Alcaraz 0
Goyo Mariscal 0
TJ Elordi 0

4-GOAL

PARKLANE
Bill Garlock 0
Ashton Wolf 3
Brad Ramsby 1
Kendra Clark -1

WRIGHTWAY
Ray Rosario -1
Jared Sheldon 1
Rob Yackley 3
Roseanna Elordi 0

RANCHO REMUDA
Cybel Jordan 1
Roxy Keyfauver 1
Kim Kelly 0
Manny Rodriguez 2

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Open House Weekend draws 17 teams

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By Diane Hensley

INDIO – Players, friends, families and spectators filed onto the fields at Empire Polo Club Nov. 13-14 to find out exactly what officials mean by their offering of the “ultimate polo playing experience.”

They were not disappointed.

Eighty three players, including eight junior polo players, cantered over the red boards and onto healthy fields for two days of complimentary, competitive polo in three brackets. Rancho Amistad’s Santos Arreola, Susie Anthony, Kate Ewart and Karin McCoy took the trophy in Bracket 3 on a 6-2 win over AJ’s team of Antonio Juarez, Rob Gallagher, Kit Neacy and Susan Cooley/Carol Hemker splitting. In Bracket 2, Casa Lago’s Domingo Questel, Alexander Barojas, Zander Deutsch and Jacob Deutsch defeated Team Maximus 7-5, of Jared Sheldon, Andy Arnold, Chip McKinney and Ray Rosario. In the four-goal Bracket 1, Parklane’s Bill Garlock, Ashton Wolf, Kendra Clark and Brad Ramsby rolled over Urban Dog’s Rob Yackley, Grainger Hines, Antonio Juarez and Kim Garsed 9-7.

Future polo players, including Estee and Jonas Deutsch and Arielle Haagen for the Crown Jewels, played in their own match under the tutelage of Billy Ramos as guest announcer Ebe Sievwright called the play by play. Between featured matches on Sunday, players and reporters battled it out in a round of golf cart polo and champagne flowed at the half-time divot stomps.

When the horns signaled the end of regulation play, players retreated to billowing white cabanas set up on the sidelines for some unregulated down time. They sipped cold drinks pulled from frosty ice chests provided courtesy of the club alongside friends and family seated inside. They ordered sandwiches and sodas from the Tack Room Tavern express cart patrolling the perimeter. Tailgaters and spectators strolled the grounds, taking in the spectacle as visiting media watched from private boxes fronting the grandstands. The fragrant scent of roses wafted on the breeze, mingling with mesquite barbecue and fresh cut grass.

Staff members ferried guests across the fields from the Polo Office near the Rose Garden field, stopping to answer questions about Sunday polo and playing lessons. “Where’s the bathroom?” one of them asked, not noticing the four sets of permanent restrooms painted emerald green and placed fieldside—they’d blended into the landscape so well.

Grooms attended to horses which stood at safety-minded shiny new tie rails. Though tired, the horses lifted their heads to feel the spray of water at wash racks outfitted with feet-friendly rubber mats and drainage that whooshed away standing water. The absence of mud and dust left clean hooves and dry Ariats as they walked back to neat rows of trailers parked in the large lot facing Monroe.

At night, guests poured into the Tack Room Tavern for brews and dinner, while players and guests enjoyed a hosted barbecue at the Haagen barns. The doors of the Date Shed flew open at 8 p.m. for the late night entertainment.

“I came to one or two of the summer events, but it was nothing like this,” said Miriam Braswell, of Lake Forest, and part-time Indian Wells resident.

“I expected to come out fully prepared for the dust, the flies and the smell you’d expect to find around horses. It just wasn’t here,” said one reporter. “It’s like something out of the movies.”

“There’s nothing more exciting than being here and part of this environment,” attending guest Rick Paicius told KESQ reporter Greg Lee. Even Lee himself, was impressed with the day’s spectacle. “I had a wonderful time and I certainly hope I can come back out real soon,” he said in a thank you note to Haagen III.

Player reception, too, was complimentary. “The fields are great, my horses are going well; it’s all good,” said three-goaler Yackley, of Urban Dog. “We’re having a ball,” said team sponsor Garsed.

RESULTS

EMPIRE POLO CLUB OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND
NOV. 13-14, 2010

SATURDAY, NOV. 13

BRACKET 1
Parklane 7, Roaring Fork 4

RR: Urban Dog 7, Los Banditos 3; Calif. Polo 6, Los Banditos 2; Calif. Polo 2, Urban Dog 2: Urban Dog won on total goals.


BRACKET 2
Team Maximus 9, Rogue 7
Atlant 10, Atkinson Farm 4

BRACKET 3
Sayulita 10, Poway Spartan 5
AJ’s Team 8, Poway Vixens 5
Rancho Amistad 9, Poway 6

SUNDAY, NOV. 14
BRACKET 1 CONSOLATION: California Polo, Winner
RR: Calif. Polo 5, Los Banditos 3; Roaring Fork 5, Los Banditos 3; Calif. Polo 5, Roaring Fork 2.

BRACKET 2 CONSOLATION: Rogue, Winner
Rogue 5, Wright Way L.A. 3
Wright Way L.A. 4, Atkinson Farm 3
Rogue 3, Atkinson Farm 2

BRACKET 3 CONSOLATION: Poway Spartans, Winner
Poway Spartans 6, Poway Vixens 0
Poway Vixens 3, Poway 1
Poway Spartans 1, Poway 1

FINALS: BRACKET 1
Parklane 9, Urban Dog 7

FINALS: BRACKET 2: Casa Lago, Winner
RR: Casa Lago 5, Atlant 3; Team Maximus 5, Atlant 3; Casa Lago 7, Team Maximus 5

FINALS: BRACKET 3: Rancho Amistad, Winner
RR: Rancho Amistad 5, Sayulita 3; Sayulita 6, AJ’s Team 2, Rancho Amistad 6, AJ’s Team 2.

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Empire PC & Twin Palms PC Share Plans For A Fun Winter Season

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As we round the corner and head for the home stretch leading to Opening Day, Empire Polo Club and Twin Palms Polo Club have a solid list of teams participating in the 8-10 Goal League.

When asked about the team line-up for the 8-10 goal league Graham Bray, Polo Manager of Twin Palms Polo Club, and Vicky Owens, Polo Manager of Empire Polo Club, both concurred that the league had firm commitments from 6 teams thus far with several other teams showing serious interest in joining the league.

The 4-Goal/5 chukker league is also looking well rounded.  Vicky Owens said “We believe we will have 6 to 8 teams in this league.”

The first pre-season tournament kicks-off on Nov. 13th & 14th, 2010 with the Open House Tournament.  This is a FREE tournament to welcome polo players and teams to the amazingly enhanced Empire Polo Club.  There will be two levels of play: 1-Goal and 4-Goal.  This tournament is expected to fill up quickly, so please contact Vicky Owens to enter a team or as an individual player. We can help put teams together as needed.

Vicky Owens, 760-342-7755 or email vickyowens@empirepolo.com.

2011 Party Line-Up

Aside from the polo leagues, the party line-up is coming along nicely.  We have 6 parties planned this season with the first one scheduled for Opening Weekend on Sat., January 8th.  The party will be held near field 1 at the tropical paradise called Medjhool Lake.  The venue is spectacular and it is guaranteed to be a night to remember.

There will be two fun parties every month throughout the season.  Please save the dates for these events …

  • Sat. Jan. 8th – Opening Weekend Party @ Medhjool Lake
  • Sun. Jan 30th – Finals Party at the Date Shed 7 PM – 1AM
  • February  – Party at Twin Palms Polo Club  (date TBD – Playing Members Only)
  • Sun. Feb. 27th – Finals Party at the Date Shed 7 PM – 1AM
  • Sat. March 19th – Empire Asado (BBQ)
  • Sun.  Mar 27th – Finals Party at the Date Shed 7 PM – 1AM

Become A Social Member at Empire Polo Club

If you would like to join in the fun by participating in Empire Polo Club’s Member social events and have access to the VIP areas during Sunday Polo, you can join the Empire Polo Club as a Social Member. The Social Membership rates start at $200 for individual season memberships.

Social Memberships include the following:

  • VIP Admission to all games
  • Invitations to attend all social events & parties
  • Seating in the VIP field-side seating area on the west side of the field
  • Access to reserved VIP tailgate spots by reservation
  • Access to reserved VIP Pavilion seating/field-side tables by reservation
  • 10% discount on food in the Tack Room Tavern
  • 15% discount on ads in the printed season program
  • VIP parking pass
  • Empire Club Season Program and yearly schedule of events

For more information about social memberships contact Tony Schieffer at 760-393-7298 or email tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com.

Reserve a spot for your ad in Empire’s Magazine!

Production of the 2011 Empire Polo Club Lifestyle Magazine is underway and we are now selling ads.  The publication will be a full color, 60-page magazine that is distributed to all club members and spectators over a period of three months during our active polo season January – March, 2011. The Empire Polo Lifestyle Magazine will also be distributed in select hotels and through other local venues.  If you would like to advertise your business or purchase a team ad for the season, please contact Tony Schieffer at 760-393-7298 or email tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com.  The deadline for ad submission is Nov. 1st, 2010.

For more details about Empire Polo Club please visit our website at http://www.empirepolo.com.

We are also on FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/empirepolo

Empire Polo Club, A Home Fit For the Sport of Kings

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Empire Polo Club Open For Polo November 2010
By Lynn Bremner

Polo players who frequent the desert each year to compete in polo under sunny skies, and upon vast green fields have been heard.  Their requests for better fields, good service, fun parties and more functional facilities have not fallen on deaf ears.  Empire Polo Club has been listening and they have opened their doors to the winter polo community.

Established in 1987, Empire Polo Club has been an intricate part of polo history here in the California desert.  While they have always offered polo, they have not been active during the winter season for many years as they’ve had their fields leased out.  This year, Empire has decided to launch a new winter polo program.  They have joined forces with Twin Palms Polo Club and Rancho Polo Club and offer year-round polo.

Empire has been hard at work making improvements to their facility to cater to the needs of the polo players.  They have removed the old cross-ties (previously with walls) and they have installed new tie rails, designed with the safety of horses in mind.

At the tie rails the horses will stand on rubber mats with drainage slots that are laid over a gravel base.  Why is drainage important?  Because Empire Polo Club has also installed water at each tie rail so you can wash your horses after they play.  Convenience for players is a priority at Empire Polo Club.

The fields are immaculate and reports from summer players are excellent.  Last year Empire added 350 tons of sand to each field.  This summer they are adding an additional 500 tons of sand to each field.  They plan to change their renovation process during over-seeding and they will leave more of a base to provide an even better playing surface for this coming winter.

Rick Paicius, who will be playing at Empire Polo Club this coming season, stopped by for a visit last week.  He said  “Empire Polo Club looks beautiful.  There is sand on the fields, more trees planted and flowers everywhere.”

Trish Fitzgerald has been playing on all three fields at Empire for the past two months. She said “The added sand has made the fields soft and nice for the horses legs. The new trees and plants have made the club even more scenic, if that is even possible. It was already a beautiful polo club and they are continuing to add to it.  Playing polo at Empire is a great way to start the day!”

The Rose Garden Field (#3). The grandstands are being remodeled to include private fieldside boxes.

The barn area along field 3 has been equipped with automatic fly spray units in the stalls and down the aisles.  The club is in the process of adding these units to the stabling areas by their new arena, which is located across the road from Empire’s offices.  The new, regulation-sized polo arena will be used as the headquarters for Empire’s New Polo School.  The lesson program will offer both arena and grass lessons including a coaching league that will also be held on the grass.  More details about the Empire Polo School will be published on PoloZONE and on Empire’s website and facebook page in the weeks to come.

New turnout paddocks, new stabling areas and three new exercise tracks are also included in the master plan that will be ready for use by November 2010.  Each stabling area will have access to it’s own track area.  Players don’t have to pony their horses across the polo club campus for their daily work routine.  The convenient track locations save time and provide multiple areas for members to work their horses.

A Roenisch Bronze titled "She Gave Her Best" stands in the garden near the main field.

The barns areas, tie rails and new tracks aren’t the only improvements that are new this season.  A new grandstand and VIP areas have been set-up for the comfort of members and spectators along the west side of the field #3, which is the main field for Sunday games.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Empire’s fields, the Rose Garden that flanks the south side of Field #3 is home to 8,000 rose bushes of 107 varieties from all over the world. An original, life-sized statue created by sculptor Rich Roenisch titled “She Gave Her Best,” can be viewed as you meander through the garden paths.

Just past the rose garden, on the west side of the field, a special VIP area is being built.  The centerpiece is a grandstand with private, field-side boxes.  The private boxes will be available to social and playing members during the season.   The Pavilion, located to the left of the grandstand is a covered patio set-up with tables and a bar to serve as a second, field-side VIP area.  For those of you who prefer to tailgate, Empire will provide access for cars to drive to VIP tailgate spots, which can be reserved by the weekend or for the season.   The tailgating section will be on the right side of the grandstand and other accessible areas along the sidelines.

The east side of the field will also be open for spectators and players to park field-side or to bring their chairs and picnic along the sidelines.  Admission is free to all games.  The VIP areas can be accessed for a reasonable admission fee or as part of a playing or social membership package.

The grounds surrounding the polo fields are a wonderland filled with sculptures, gardens and fountains.

Steve Crowder used these words to describe the transformation of polo in the desert and the rise of Empire Polo Club as a major polo venue on the west coast. “The desert polo scene is finally leaving the bunkhouse and heading to the country club as the lions begin to roar at Empire Polo Club.   With Al Haagen at the helm, the dusty trails will disappear along with the shacks.”

If you are on the fence about where to play this season, take a peek on Empire’s side of the fence.  Look at the improvements, partnerships, staff and individuals who are involved at Empire Polo Club.   Mr. Haagen, owner of Empire Polo Club, has created a world-class polo destination and venue at Empire Polo Club.  All of the improvements that Empire has been working on this year are for the polo players and spectators.   Mr. Haagen has established several key, strategic partnerships that bring together well-maintained polo fields, teams from multiple clubs and a very seasoned polo staff.  This combination is what polo in the desert needs in order to grow.

Chris Maloney, owner of Twin Palms Polo Club and Graham Bray, General Manager of Twin Palms Polo Club have decided to merge their 8-10 Goal league with Empire’s 8-10 Goal league.   When asked about the upcoming season Chris Maloney said “Twin Palms Polo Club is thrilled to join forces with Empire Polo Club to bring desert polo to the high standard it deserves.  We bring with us a group of dedicated polo players, two world-class polo fields, and a management team second to none.  Not only will we have great polo for the public eye, our members and players will be pleased about union of clubs.  Twin Palms is looking forward to a prosperous season for all.”

Kevin Ittig of Rancho Polo has joined the partnership by offering their field for use by Empire’s leagues.   The partnership between these three clubs brings together a total of 10 fields for use during their winter season.

Last, but not least I would like to talk about the Empire staff that will be “serving you” this season.  Yes, they will be serving you … catering to the needs of the playing members and the social members.  As a world-class polo destination, Empire Polo Club will offer players and spectators excellent service, competitive polo and fun parties.

Let’s take a look at who is on their roster for this coming season. Susan Stovall has been working as a consultant to develop the polo playing membership at Empire Polo Club.  Her experience and contacts have been a great asset to the Club.   Her sister, Gratia Brown will be the Assistant Polo Manager.  Gratia will help set-up the fields for play, oversee the flaggers, score sheets and the many details that are needed to make polo run smoothly and on time.  Vicky Owens is Empire’s Polo Manager.  She has be a long-term fixture in the desert polo community.  As the Polo Manager of Empire Polo Club, she will oversee the game scheduling and the stabling for all playing members. “If there’s something we haven’t thought of to make this a great polo destination, please let us know, there’s still time to consider your request” said Vicky.   She will coordinate the 8-10 goal polo schedule with Graham Bray, Polo Manager of Twin Palms Polo Club.

Tony Schieffer has been recruited as the Director of Social Membership & Advertising Sales for Empire Polo Club.  Many of you may remember him from when he worked for the polo club next door in 2009.  Tony’s knowledge of polo combined with his private country club background will bring a new level of service and fun to the social events and membership at the club.  Tony will also be handling the sponsorship and ad sales for the Club.

Polo 101 has been contracted to help Empire market and grow their new polo school and to promote their Sunday Polo.  Empire plans to offer lesson specials and clinics for new students.   We will also be launching a new Sunday Polo Promotion through Polo 101.  More details will be posted when the program is up and running.

I’m also excited to announce that I will be working with Empire this season as their marketing coordinator.  I’ll be overseeing the production of their printed program and collateral materials, assisting with sales and social events and providing photography services.

I encourage all of you to join our mailing list and our social network, so you can receive up-to-date information about what is going on the Empire Polo Club including all of our up-coming social events.  Links to sign-up are provided at the end of this article.

The Polo Staff at Empire Polo Club is very excited about the 2010-2011 season.  We welcome your questions and we would like to extend an invitation for you to join us this season.  Everyone is welcome at Empire Polo Club.

If you would like more information about Empire Polo Club’s playing or social memberships, please call or send us an email.  If you would like a private tour of the Empire Polo Club, please contact Vicky or Tony.  They we would be happy to show you the club.

Empire Polo Club Contacts

Polo Memberships, Stabling & Tournaments
Vicky Owens
Tel. 760-342-7755
Email: vickyowens@empirepolo.com

Social Membership and Advertising Sales
Tony Schieffer
Tel. 760-393-7298
Email: tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com

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Polo Office & Playing Memberships:
760-342-7755
Daily Game Schedule:
760-342-9111
Social Memberships & Reservations:
760-393-7298

81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA 92201