Virtus Bank
What if you had the chance to design your own bank? What if it could deliver best-in-class client service by providing dedicated on-call Relationship Managers that know you personally and understand your needs? No call centers, no waiting in line… What if it could offer an exceptional range of services while ensuring an unparalleled level of trust and privacy protection? Could this result in a truly uncompromising service to you?
Virtus Bank, the premier, concierge banking brand of BofI Federal Bank provides this level of exclusive, concierge service. The Virtus service mandate includes the highest standard of dedicated relationship management with front-line decision making authority, progressive deposit products, and high yield savings accounts. The result is a high performance platform that truly provides “Service without Barriers”.
We invite you to meet the Virtus team this Polo season and learn how you can join the elite clients that bank with Virtus. Visit us at https://go.virtusbank.com/polo
Guest Post: Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista’s What to Wear to Opening Day of Polo
Hey all you fashionista, socialite, A-list, people watching, adrenaline junkies out there…the day you’ve all been waiting for is finally here! Mark your calendars for the 30th Annual Opening Day of Polo on Sunday, June 5th, 2016!
You may be wondering, but what’s so amazing about Opening Day of Polo? Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s by far one of San Diego’s most attended, fashionable and captivating extravaganzas of the summer! With over 4000 spectators in attendance, the Player’s Lounge styled by Modern Luxury and VIP tent will be swarming with beautiful people including jet setters and some of San Diego’s most elite socialites, dashing hipsters and celebrities.
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There’s always a soul-buzzing vibe created by the horses charging down the field, the solid click of mallets on the ball and the clinking of champagne glasses and divot stomping at half time (yes, that’s right, just like Julia Roberts did in “Pretty Woman”). Of course, there’s plenty of food and libations for glamorous guest to enjoy while they’re busy socializing and taking selfies. If laid back is more your style, join friends in the general admission area with picnic tables, craft cocktails and giant jenga! No matter where you sit, Opening Day of Polo has something for everyone. It’s a place where new friends meet and old friends and family reconnect and celebrate.
Now, how are we going to get you looking chic and on point for Opening Day of Polo? Let’s start with the basics….
Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista| 6 tips for Her| Opening Day of Polo/ Polo Attire
- Wear Hats.Wide brimmed straw hats and fedoras! Opening Day of Polo tends to be a bit more relaxed in style than Opening Day at the Races. Hats help to provide protection from the sun and add a more polished look to your attire. For a sophisticated and classic polo style, stick with unembellished and simple less structured wide brimmed straw hats and fedora.
Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti Crystal Toe Ring Sandal, Christian Louboutin Floral Wedge, Guiseppe Zanotti Nuvorock, gold leather embellished, Christian Louboutin Mandarin Orange Wedge Blue Dress: Nicole Miller - Wedges, espadrilles, chunky heels or flat sandals.
Remember ladies; half time divot stomping is a polo tradition and a ton of fun to boot! If you don’t want to turn you champagne sipping, selfie taking, divot stomping escapade into a perilous experience…then wear wedges or flat sandals and leave those stilettos at home!
Ministry of Style Lace Romper: SHOPBOP; Patterned Top & Skirt, Blue Romper, Patterned Maxi, Jumpsuit: Nicole Miller Hats: Carol Bader & Jill Courtemanche Millnery Bag: Tobi Blatt - Stay on trend: dresses, skirts, jumpsuits, palazzo pants and rompers.Ladies remember if your watching polo from the Player’s Lounge styled by Modern Luxury or the VIP tent, dress in refined and classy styles.This Nicole Miller lace jumpsuit is the perfect VIP fresh and feminine silhouette. Micro pleats were all the rage on the spring 2016 NY fashion week runway. Look in vogue while keeping your cool wearing flowing styles like this ivory pallazo pant combined with a green micro pleat strapless top.
- Lighten it up with various shades of white, or go bold with bright colors, prints or patterns!Monochromatic ensembles in shades of crisp white and crème look sophisticated and elegant for polo and they keep you cool in the sunlight. If you want to look in vogue in monochromatic hues then choose one of spring and summers current fashions like this trendy, powder white eyelet romper; notice the statement bell sleeves! Both of these other looks are perfect for Opening Day and very fashionable. Keep it classy with a touch of sass, this pearl white lace jumpsuit with plunging neckline is a must! Looking for a romantic twist? Try this romantic eggshell lace dress with a beautiful open back.Go bold or go home! Opening Day of Polo is the day to sport those vibrant, jewel toned colors that look great when you’re striking a pose with your girlfriends.
Hats: Tobacco Fedora-Hat Attack; Black wide brimmed hat-Carol Bader Designs Dresses: Floral Printed-Alice + Olivia Amara dress-SHOPBOP; Jumpsuit, Maxi & backless print top and skirt – Nicole Miller Feeling flirty? Try a playful patterns, which are a fun alternative to solid colored attire. If Boho Chic is your style, this whimsical floral print dress is flowy and looks hip with a trend setting suede fringe hobo bag and a fedora. Other prints to try for your Opening Day of polo look are oversized bright graphic prints, colorful tropical prints and polka dots.
White Dress, Blue Lace Dress, Palazzo Pant & Emerald Top and Lace Jumpsuit: Nicole Miller - Wear lightweight fabrics like cotton, silk and linen that are breathable.Your choice of fabric is just as important as the color, shape, style and accessories of your summertime polo viewing outfit. You want to stay cool while looking chic and protecting your skin from too much direct sunlight.Organic or natural fibers absorb moisture from the skin and allow it to evaporate. In contrast, synthetic fibers are water repellent, which results in evaporation reduction, unsightly perspiration rings, discomfort and irritation. Cotton, linen, silk and even rayon are all excellent choices because they’re lightweight and breathable fabrics and help to keep you cool. For additional comfort on a hot sunny day at Opening Day of Polo choose a summer outfit with cut outs or a large open weave, like eyelet or lace. Flared skirts; billowy dresses, skirts and pants; halter dresses; strapless dresses and other sleeveless options are other styles that will keep you cool while looking fashion forward.
Lace backless dress: For Love & Lemons-SHOPBOP (online) Lace Romper: Ministry of Style Wilderness Romper –SHOPBOP (online) Palazzo Pant & Emerald Top and Lace Jumpsuit: Nicole Miller @ the Forum Carlsbad Cork & Pony hair clutch: Tobi Blatt Del Mar Accessories: Gentle Monster sunglasses, Ted Baker Debbie Pink Floral Scarf, Yves St Laurent Love Pink Nail Polish, Fairchild Baldwin collar necklace Marbleized White - Don’t forget to accessorize with trendy sunglasses, playful color coordinating accessories, a wrap, stylish hair, manicured nails and pared down radiant makeup.
We talked about hats and shoes, but there’s so much more to play with. Want to create instant movie star mystery, intrigue and glamour? Start by donning a pair of trendy oversized, mirrored lenses or embellished sunglasses and voila! Add a chic chunky collar necklace with streamlined leather straps and crafted from shimmering resin beads; they’re versatile enough to go from day to night and casual to dressy. It could get a little chilly at dusk so don’t forget to bring a pretty summer wrap, shawl, sweater or jacket, in a complementary print or monochromatic color, to throw over your shoulders when the sun is setting and your dancing the night away at the 7th Chukker After Party! And last, but definitely not least, make sure your hair, nails and make-up leaves you feeling fresh and beautiful out in the sun on Opening Day! Beautiful fresh skin and minimalist makeup with a natural luminous base is trending for summer.
Now that all of your stunning polo viewing sirens have the look down, go throw on your Louboutins and flaunt your beautiful self at Opening Day of Polo on June 5th!
Can’t wait to see you there!
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2016 Note to the Players
Dear Players,
Welcome to the 30th Anniversary Season at the San Diego Polo Club, located in the heart of the equestrian valley of Rancho Santa Fe. This April, we proudly open our doors to new and returning members, local and international teams, and both beginner and professional players.
We have curated a six month polo season with 15 weeks of fun grass polo competition, multiple clinics, arena tournaments, practices and games on the weekends in front of our massive Sunday Polo crowd. We are offering one polo playing membership this season in our 4-Goal League. To start off the season, we are playing 4 Goal tournament play (4 chukkers), which gives players the chance to have fun on a team and participate in club competition. For the second half of our summer season, we will turn up the competition with 4-6 Goal league play (4 chukkers). Players are welcome to bring in a team, a pair or have our polo manager assist with setting up the perfect team. This level of polo provides a safe opportunity for provisional players to learn the ropes and also provides our seasoned members with a little friendly competition. We have a list of professional players endorsed by SDPC who will help encourage growth, development and enjoyment at the San Diego Polo Club.
Additionally, we have secured a sponsor for our Annual Women’s Tournament with visiting teams and you can expect an influx of youth polo development in the arena.In October and early November, members and local players are invited to join us for our favorable Fall League, with weekly competitions and mini-tournaments. Fall League includes professional players on each team designated by the Polo Manager.
Let’s discuss your summer plans so we can plan to move your horses in by Monday, April 4 and you can take advantage of our seasonal barn rates.
If you are thinking of visiting San Diego from out of town this year and want to play polo during your visit, let us put together a visiting player package that includes tournament participation and seats for Sunday Polo. The club has close ties with the best resorts in San Diego such as The Fairmont and The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, and can arrange accommodations for you and your family. Our USPA tournaments in September offer a fantastic opportunity to experience great polo, perfect weather, and a chance to partake in the many family (and grown-up) attractions in San Diego.
We are looking forward to hosting once again this season celebrities, visiting players, and visiting teams for special sponsored charity events. I look forward to seeing you on the field and at Opening Day on Sunday, June 5, 2015!
Nour-Dean Anakar, President
Q & A: Snake Oil Cocktails
We sat down with our fav craft cocktail pourin’ friends over at Snake Oil to talk about what makes them so great besides their delicious concoctions, cool vibe and oh-so-ah-mazing presentation.
Snake Oil, tell us, what makes you unique in your field?
We believe memorable beverage experiences come from an abiding appreciation of all the senses. We understand how just the right drink, at the right time, has the power to build lasting and transformative sense-memories. Our cocktail craftsmen build extraordinary bar and beverage experiences because we ask the right questions and listen to our clients. We look to the kitchen and to the farm and we employ sound culinary technique based on years of beverage experience. Underlying our work is passion, and a deep-seated respect for the five fundamentals of culinary mixology: Simplicity | Seasonality | Quality | Creativity | Taste
So does that mean our signature drink would be a summery cocktail garnished with tiny flowers and have an equestrian feel to it?
That’s right! We can do it all. We love the opportunity to work with clients and couples in the early stages to help create an unforgettable craft bar experience and to help tell their story through cocktails. The unique customization our mixologists can do with craft cocktails is absolutely incredible!!!
You guys do great work and a lot of weddings, right? What is your favorite thing about weddings in particular?
The fact that each event is absolutely unique. No two weddings are the same — not even close!!! The diversity in wedding experience is incredible and there is no formula for the perfect wedding. I love how weddings bring people together to celebrate the lives of two different people and their friends, family and culture. I appreciate all the small details from the custom signature cocktails to the calligraphy on the place cards to the arrangement of the florals… in my view it’s the curation of the details which create the convivial spirit that makes for the best weddings.
We totally agree! Do you have any tips for the bride and groom out there?
Couples we meet often think that the entertainment they hire is the most important part of the wedding experience…. More times than not, however, it is the bar experience where the real entertainment is; not the wedding planner. Remember almost none of your guests will meet the wedding planner or the caterer if they are doing their job right. But your guests will have interactions with the bartenders. It is surprising how often the beverage catering and the bar experience is overlooked in the planning stages. Based on my experience I can assure you that after your wedding starts, the bar is the last thing that your guests will ignore so why not create something worth their talking about.
You guys are the best! Thanks so much for taking the time to tell your story and encourage our clients to get creative with their event through curating delicious beverages.
For more information about hiring Snake Oil for your next event, visit them online at SnakeOilCocktail.com, email , or drop them a line at 858.754.9173
Ice Skating at The Inn at RSF
Our neighbors at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe are celebrating the holiday season with cheer and family fun! Guests will be transported to a winter wonderland with The Inn’s outdoor synthetic skating rink. Guests can enjoy skating in the Ranch under the allure of festive twinkle lights and the lighting of the stately 20-foot Christmas tree on the front lawn of The Inn. Starting December 19, the hours are open from 10am to 9pm, Monday through Sunday. The fun lasts until January 4, 2016 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Father Joe’s Villages.
December 19 – January 4
- Monday – Sunday, 10:00am – 9:00pm
Cost per session (including skate rentals)
- Ages 12 and over $18.00
- Ages 11 and under $15.00
- Groups of 10 or more receive $2.00 off per person
- Skating session is 3-hours in length
More information: www.theinnatrsf.com/ice_skating/
As San Diego’s largest homeless services provider, Father Joe’s Villages offers a wide variety of housing and services at several locations. They also prepare up to 3,000 meals and provide a continuum of care to nearly 1,500 individuals every day—from infants and adolescents to adults and seniors. This includes over 150 children and over 200 military veterans. As industry thought leaders, they offer effective tailored-to-client solutions to address the complex needs of the homeless, regardless of age, race, culture or beliefs. Their primary goal is to transform lives and end the cycle of homelessness.
To this end, they provide housing, rental assistance, healthcare, food, clothing, education, job training, mental health, addiction treatment and child development in an internationally modeled “one-stop-shop” approach. Their mission is made possible only through the efforts of compassionate staff, dedicated volunteers and generous public and private donors.
More information: http://my.neighbor.org/
Happy Holidays!
Have a safe and joyous holiday season!
-The San Diego Polo Team
Sweet Reunion
In the hands of an experienced rider, the mallet becomes an acrobat, says 15-year-old Maya Tantuwaya, who has never forgotten her first.
Around January, our growling Ford pickup crunches through the dirt road beyond field five of the San Diego Polo Club and pulls to a stop in front of our eight-horse trailer, lonely from six months’ abandonment. Dad and I forget our differences to jump out of the truck, and he fumbles with the key to the built-in tack room. I explain my hollow ambitions to keep an accurate inventory of our jungle of English saddles, intricate bridles, and the bouquet of polo mallets fanning out of a red water bucket like dry spaghetti. I make the same vow every year but never follow through. Ignoring me, Dad turns around to engage a passing horse groom in polite conversation, using his clumsy Spanish, as he reins in his cluster of six horses. He pretends to have known the groom all his life, even though I’m the one who spent an entire summer out riding with him in the mornings. Raymundo and I have become close friends, despite the language barrier.
Organizing the mix-up of mallets, my hand catches the woven cream hand loop of one of them. Up and out comes my very first mallet, separated from the tangle of chapped leather and spray bottles quarter-filled with the syrupy remains of what used to be fly spray. The threadbare rubber wrap on the grip still bears the unsavory whiff of sweaty palm, but there is bliss in curling my hand around the mallet’s end. Fencers and tennis players think of their foils and rackets as an extended arm, while the polo player’s weapon of choice harmonizes the momentum of man and horse into a scything stroke that sends the ball sailing tens of meters over the cropped-grass pitch. The wedged mallet head is clumsy, and its fine cracks and scratches are masked by duct tape, but its bruises bless it with the beauty of something from a (civilized) battle. The bony grip provides no leverage – that all comes from the player’s arm and hips in the swing. The cane itself, a 52in shaft of manau palm wood with a honeyed glint, stands dormant and straight. In the hand of an experienced horseman, it’s an acrobat – flipping to a 90-degree angle when hooked by another mallet and flicking with the fluidity of a dancer into backbends. Balanced upon the slender stalk is the mallet head – worn and covered in vein-like cracks and grass smudges. It still grasps the cane with snug stability. I covered the smooth wood with checkered tape and two skinny bands, but even the tape is frayed at the edges. The head, cigar-shaped with a diagonal wedge cut out of one end, was the pride and joy of my 11-year-old self. In stamped print, the initials MT, decorated with forest-green paint on the ends, declared my presence on the playing field. To swing it was to boast a coat of arms with the prowess of a cavalier. How I’d catapult across the fields, adrenaline clenching my stomach while I inhaled the essence of leather and dewy grass. Or at least that’s what I would fantasize.
The graceful lance is stiff with sleep, stained with memory of play some years before, when I could hardly manage to hit the uneven, plastic ball at a benign canter. Bouncing on the back of my short-legged bay, I’d shrug my heavy helmet into place, only to feel the front visor fall over my brow once more. The mallet would twirl, wild with the combination of the force of the horse and the languid noodle of my arm controlling it. Grazing the tender blades of grass or clunking my pony’s forearm with the mallet, I’d focus really hard until a solid clunk reverberated off the sweet spot, propelling the dented hunk of a ball forward. Well-balanced and dependable, the polished mallet soon became an acquaintance of mine. But the progression of time dulls all glory into a jejune bronze plaque inscribed with memory. Time to rebel against the accumulating dust and leave behind the nostalgia. Dad, meanwhile, is still stammering in Spanish, and Raymundo seems slightly amused by it. I twist the loop of the initialed mallet around my thumb and adjust my right hand. Even after years of inaction, it is usable – so long as I replace the tacky and frayed duct tape on the head.
Written by 15-year old Maya Tantuwaya and printed in Hurlingham Polo Magazine’s Winter Issue. Maya and her father, Lokesh have played at the San Diego Polo Club for many years. Photo by Siegel Thurston Photography.
More information about Hurlingham Polo Magazine, visit them online at hurlinghampolo.com
Holiday Craft Cocktails
Who doesn’t love a tasty beverage around the holidays? Impress your father-in-law/colleague/boss/girlfriend with a few delicious cocktails everyone will enjoy.
The Chukker
2 oz – Woodford Reserve
.5 oz – Sherry
.5 oz – Vermouth
2 dash – Miracle Mile Chocolate Chili Bitters
Build: In a mixing glass add all / add ice / stir 40 revolutions / strain
Glass: Coup
Garnish: Cherry
The Elijah
2 oz – Woodford Reserve
.75 oz – Fresh Lemon Juice
.75 oz – Ginger Syrup
2 each – Thyme
Build: In cheater tin add all / add ice / shake/ fine strain over ice
Garnish: Thyme Sprig
Glass: Double Old-Fashioned
Champagne Spritzer
.5 oz – Honey Syrup
.5 oz – Lemon
Korbel California Champagne
Add Honey and lemon juice to glass. Fill with Korbel California Champagne.
Garnish: Fresh Raspberries
Glass: Flute or Coup
The Sport of Kings
2 oz – Woodford Reserve Rye
.75 oz – Fresh Lemon Juice
.75 oz – Honey Syrup
3 – Strawberries
4 – Sage Leaves
Build: In a cheater tin add strawberries and 3 sage leaves and muddle / add all / add ice / hard shake / fine strain over fresh ice
Glass: Double Old-Fashioned
Garnish: Sage Leaf
Please enjoy responsibly.
Photos by: Arielle Vey
San Diego Polo Club Wins Match in Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships
On Saturday, October 24th, nearly 12,500 spectators attended the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower, taking in all of the sights and sounds of the “world’s most interesting polo event.” This year’s attendance set a new one-day record. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the event featured some of the world’s best polo players. Six competitive polo teams traveled to compete in three highly-contested matches, including the San Diego Polo Club. Some of the players included top American player Nic Roldan of the Aspen Valley Polo Club, top ranked player Andres Camacho of the Arizona Polo Club, collegiate player of the year Kareem Rosser, and Wales’ top rated player Pete Webb.
The day’s festivities included more than just polo. Fans also took advantage of The Canine Couture dog fashion show, the Larsen Art Gallery LIVE Art Auction, the World’s “Longest” Catwalk Fashion Show, and a preview of the world famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. It also featured ballroom dancing field side for the first time ever, as well as a Phoenix Symphony quartet performance along with play, and a High Tea Tent by The Phoenician. This year also saw the debut of the Triyar Ivy League Lounge, packed throughout the entire day with over 1,000 people dancing and drinking in a nightclub like atmosphere.
The first match on Saturday began at 11:00 AM with Barrett-Jackson Automobile Auction Company Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson making the first drop in the match between Polo Azteca and Club Polo Cabo, presented by One & Only Palmilla of Los Cabos, Mexico. In that match, Club Polo Cabo beat Polo Azteca, 9-8, and was led by the play of team founder and San Diego Polo Club member, Tony Yahyai.
In the match that followed, local favorite Arizona Polo Club took on rival San Diego Polo Club. Six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amy Van Dyken made the first drop to get the exciting match started. Despite the tremendous play of Andres Camacho in the match’s second half, San Diego Polo Club beat Arizona Polo Club by a score of 9-3. San Diego Polo Club’s first half lead proved too much for Arizona Polo Club to overcome. Alvaro Tadeo led San Diego as he executed both offensively and defensively.
The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships’ Featured Match presented fans an opportunity to witness two of the world’s best polo teams face off against one another. Defending champion Clogau Wales Polo Team, featuring players Ricky Cooper, Pete Webb, and Roddy Matthews, faced Aspen Valley Club, led by Nic Roldan, Melissa Ganzi, and Juan Bollini. The Phoenix Suns’ Tyson Chandler, an NBA Champion and Olympic gold medalist, provided the first drop for the day’s most thrilling match. From the start, Aspen Valley dominated their counterparts and won 9-5 to be crowned the new champions of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. Roldan scored six of Aspen Valley’s nine goals.
In one of the most unique elements of the day, the Phoenix Symphony provided the musical backdrop to one of the featured match’s chukkers. Fans were regaled with classical music all while witnessing the two teams take on one another.
“Even though we weren’t able to defend our title, the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships have become one of my favorite polo events to compete in,” said Clogau Wales Polo Team captain Ricky Cooper. “It was a great crowd and we enjoyed ourselves fully.”