Interscholastic Polo Season begins in Southern CA

What is an Interscholastic Polo Program?

The Interscholastic/Intercollegiate, also know as the I/I Program, was developed by the United States Polo Association to help grow the sport and recruit new youth players. Local clubs are encouraged to get young players together during the fall semester for organized competition and regional and national tournaments. These programs help develop strong players’ sportsmanship and horsemanship, plus they have a ton of fun doing it!

Who can play Interscholastic Polo?

Anyone! We have two teams in the San Diego program ranging from age 12 to 16 and we just had our first scrimmage against OC Polo.  Most kids have a strong riding background and some polo experience. San Diego Surf Polo Club also offers lessons to help develop skill, strategy and knowledge of the rules, so while you’re competing, you’re also training and developing as a player.

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Julie Empey is a die-hard polo fanatic. She’s one of San Diego’s best instructors and focuses her energy on our youth programs, including the Interscholastic/Intercollegiate program, Work to Ride Program and youth lessons. She also plays an integral part of southern California polo, connecting multiple polo clubs in the Pacific Coast Circuit to join together for tournaments and league play. Julie is an USPA Certified Umpire and USPA Certified Polo Instructor, making her one of four in all of California!

cpi-logoMore info:  760-994-7667 or

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  • We have 7 kids signed up in our Interscholastic Program ranging in age from 12 to 16.
  • October 8 kicked off our Interscholastic Polo Program with a scrimmage against OC Polo.
  • San Diego Surf Polo Club provides a string of polo ponies for the San Diego Interscholastic teams to ride. However, when they play against other teams, they are required to ride at least one horse they’ve never ridden, often belonging to the other team. This can be quite challenging for our students, but a great way to improve and develop horsemanship and riding skills.
  • According to the United States Polo Association, 150 women and 97 men compete in collegiate polo.
  • Students are able to receive a VARSITY letter in polo!
  • The Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Program is affordable and anyone can play!

 

USPA Rossmore Cup Finals & White Party to benefit the San Diego Film Foundation

The San Diego Polo Club hosted its USPA Rossmore on September 6, with its annual White Party to benefit the San Diego Film Foundation. The San Diego Film Foundation is an educational, 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that produces the annual San Diego Film Festival and hosts year-round, cinema-related events to foster and promote the film community in San Diego.

Guests entered the gates modeling their white ensembles. Before taking their seats, guests strolled around the venue, taking a look at our vendors including Buzz Box cocktails, JL Rocha leather goods, and Roast Coach.

For a quick (and fun) recap, watch the USPA Rossmore Cup & White Party Video below.

Brazilian-Dancers

Patrons enjoyed an intermission show of Brazilian Drumming/Dancing as they celebrated Brazilian Independence Day.

Sacha Boutros de Cázares had the pleasure of singing the national anthem. San Diego native, Sacha, has gone from gigging at a few San Diego clubs and U.S. festivals to touring the world and back, to having her recordings hit the top of the charts in Japan and on e­music, to even receiving a Grammy nod for best jazz and Latin jazz album in 2008 and 2013.

The feature match of the day began at 3:00pm between Twin Palms/Roseville Motors in blue and Pasion sporting the day’s theme of white. Merridee Books, Vice President of Development of The San Diego Film Foundation had the honors of doing the first ball throw-in.

The first chukker concluded with two goals from Graham Bray and Chris Maloney for Twins Palms/Roseville Motors. In Chukker Two, Kimo Huddleston and Diego Velarde each scored a goal for Pasion.

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Chukker Three left the game tied with one more goal from Patrick Uretz representing Twin Palms/Roseville Motors and another goal from Diego Velarde representing Pasion.

With the score at 3-3, the teams entered the fourth chukker. Uretz, Bray, and Maloney scored three goals for Twin Palms/Roseville Motors and Velarde scored once more for Pasion.

USPA Rossmore Cup - Twin Palms- Pasion

In the 5th chukker, Bray took a hard bump from the opposing team, knocking both him and his horse on to the ground. The horse rolled on top of Bray before running back to the tie rails. Bray sat on the field for some time and while his fellow players told him to take it easy and sit out for the remainder of the game, Bray pushed them aside, wiped off the blood and mounted up. In the final two chukkers, Bray played his hardest.

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By the sixth chukker the score was 8-7 with Twin Palms/Roseville Motors in the lead. Diego Velarde scored two more goals for Pasion. Maloney and Bray together scored three goals in the final chukker leaving the final score at 11-9, Twin Palms/Roseville Motors.

Alice Collins presented Chris Maloney with the Best Playing Pony Award for his horse Pulona.

USPA’s Mike Uretz presented the winning team with awards. Eric Hammon, Patrick Uretz, Graham Bray and Chris Maloney.

Needless to say, Graham Bray won the Most Valuable Player Award. He’s one of the most skilled horsemen in the sport and one of the toughest guys on the field.

USPA Rossmore Cup MVP

“Boots & Bolos” Pan American Cup

San Diego Polo Club Woodford Reserve Polo Classic Nacho Figueras

This past Sunday, June 28, the San Diego Polo Club had the pleasure of hosting its fourth annual Woodford Reserve Classic which hosted a charity polo match to benefit the International Testicular Cancer Foundation. First-time visitors Nacho Figueras and Hilaro Figueras supported the cause by joining La Jolla Polo Team and assisting their win.

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The second half of the tournament will be held at the San Diego Polo Club this Sunday, July 5. Gates will open for the “Boots & Bolos” Pan American Cup Finals at 12:30pm. The patriotic spirit will be everywhere this Sunday as guests are encouraged to sport their best pair of cowboy boots and their nicest bolos for Sunday Polo’s all-American event.

SDPC is excited to announce that during this Sunday’s intermission before the feature match, Cowboy Mounted Shooting will have its very own demonstration. Mounted Shooting is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the nation. It has attracted sponsors like Wrangler, Tony Lama, John Deere, Colt and Stetson. Riders compete in this timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The sport offers a variety of levels of competition to include riders from novice levels to the seasoned professionals. Competitors wear traditional western attire or late 1800’s period clothing. There are never any loaded guns outside of the arena.

In addition to this demonstration, Sunday Polo will host its very own watermelon eating contest.

Steven Ybarra will be singing the National Anthem during this Sunday’s intermission. One of the most gifted, honest musicians to emerge from San Diego’s thriving singer-songwriter scene in years, national recording and touring artist Steven Ybarra has captivated crowds across North America with his voice, guitar, and keen ear for that perfect melody. An accomplished and innovative standout, Steven Ybarra has put out eight captivating, heartfelt albums of passionate pop gems. Along the way he’s earned not just devoted fans, but numerous accolades, including four San Diego Music Awards. He has shared the stage with Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Gavin De Graw, Jason Maraz, Switchfoot, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jeremy Camp, Sugar Ray, and countless others. His modern country and pop songs have been featured on MTV, ESPN, and in motion pictures and documentary films. His albums Love Love Love and Best Days have helped build his solo career to what it is today, and now his 3rd CD, What I Really Want to Say, is set to catapult him all the way. Steven is currently signed with Pacific Records.

Join us this Sunday for the Pan-American Cup Finals.

Here is the link for tickets: http://sandiegopolo.ticketleap.com/pan-american-cup-finals-2015/

POLO FASHION: Opening Day of Polo His & Hers Ultimate Style Guide

Opening Day of Polo- His and Hers Ultimate Style Guide presented by

Sonya Berg logo

Just in case you haven’t heard all the hype yet, the 29th annual Opening Day of San Diego Polo Club summer season is only a couple of weeks away, on Sunday, May 31, 2015.

You know what that means, don’t you?  Well, for starters, Opening Day of San Diego Polo is an overall experience. It’s where chic meets sophisticated and trendsetting fashionistas; it’s the most adrenaline pumping and action packed spectator sport; it’s where family and friends reconnect and celebrate; it’s where the jet-setting, celebrities and elite social scene meet; it’s the food and libations (yes, plenty of sipping your favorite bubbly); it’s the divot stomping at half time (think Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman”); but most of all,  it’s one of the most grandiose glam meets stylish fashion fetes of the summer in San Diego!

The hot topic of the moment for all of you glam and dapper polo-ites is “What to wear to Opening Day of Polo?  Don’t you fret, I’ve got your back!  I’ve put together the Ultimate Style Guide to ensure you’re looking sharp and classy at this fashion-forward affair.

Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista | 6 Tips for Her | Opening Day of Polo Attire

WEAR: Dresses, skirts, rompers, jumpsuits, palazzo pants and slacks

Ladies dresses should be classy and casually sophisticated.  Consider slightly above the knee, mid-length or maxi sundresses or skirts in solids or printed fabrics.  Fabrics that are cool and flowy are perfect for viewing a polo match on a sunny summer afternoon.

Sonya Berg

For a more playful and sporty frock try a fit and flare dress in a graphic pattern.  Cutout dresses add a peek-a-boo effect without revealing too much.

Sonya Berg

 Nothing echoes summer and femininity like a strapless dress or halter dress in a bright color.  A touch of shimmer fabric like his turquoise strapless dress will take you from polo viewing by day to the highly anticipated 7th chucker after party sponsored by Riviera Magazine at night.

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If a fresh and flirty twist is what you’re looking for, choose a flowing dress, jumpsuit or floral romper in a lux fabric.  These are some of the selections by ASOS that would be a perfect choice for the younger generation to wear on Opening Day of Polo.  Just add a pair of sunglasses and a sassy hat for a look that’s whimsical and in vogue.

For a more refined and mature option try palazzo pants or slacks in breezy lightweight fabrics.  For a chic and classy look try something like these navy and white polka dot pleated silk pants available at Saks Fifth Ave., paired with a red or white blouse and coordinating hat and mini chain shoulder bag.

Martin Grant High Waisted Pleated Silk Pants

SHOES: Wedges, espadrilles, gladiator sandals or flat sandals

Remember to leave those stilettos at home ladies, not only are they a polo fashion faux pas, but they can turn your half time champagne sipping, photo posing and divot stomping fun into a hazardous experience!

Opt for a more practical and comfortable shoe like a wedge heel, espadrille or a pretty metallic or crystal embellished flat sandal.

If you want to get a little more creative and playful with your style you can add a pop of color with your shoes and accessories.  Try adding a shoe in a color that complements your attire, like I did by adding this chic lipstick red suede ankle strap wedge by Chloe to my simple solid navy cotton sundress.  Add a hat and a clutch in a similar shade of lipstick red to pull the look together.

Sonya Berg

You can refine your look even further with nails and toes that are polished to perfection in the same shade.  My favorite shade of red nail polish is Dior Vernis gel shine nail lacquer 999 Rouge 999.

If you’re looking for a wedge that will go with everything, start with a nude wedge.  These are my newest favorite wedges.  The Christian Loubitin Cataclou wedge in suede and embellished with gold studs.  It’s available in several colors at Neiman Marcus and Saks fifth ave.

Angie

COLORS: White, crème, pastels, bright colors, jewel tones, solids and prints

Now let’s talk about color…. soothing white, shades of crème, bright colors, rich jewel tones and light pastels are a staple for summer and polo because they help to keep you cool while looking fresh, and the jewel tones and bright colors look great on camera when your striking a pose. Pretty feminine floral prints, whimsical patterns and geometric patterns are current for polo.

Monochromatic is always an elegant look for polo whether your wearing a romantic silhouette like this ballerina inspired maxi column dress in ethereal white or this fluid fuchsia sheath.  If lady like floral prints are your thing this brush stroked oversized floral print body conscious dress in monochromatic coral red shades looks chic and is light as air in a mesh stretch fabric.

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This white & vibrant blue floral dress is a great way to wear a floral print that looks elegant and will keep you cool in warm weather.

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Gen Y Millennials may want to try a vintage romper in a playful floral print.  Floral print rompers not only embody spring and summer but they can add an eclectic style as alternative choice.

Monochromatic dressing makes a simple and chic background to showcase any statement accessory. This wide brimmed hat in bright fuchsia adds a cheerful pop of color that takes this ensemble from elegant to game on!

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Even against this basic black and white sheath a fuchsia hat makes a dramatic statement piece.

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If you want to sport one of the hottest colors trending the runway for summer 2015, then try something in any shade of aquamarine like this hot little strapless number by Flavio Castellani.

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Or this simple sheath in a shade of aquamarine by Nicole Miller.

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Soft yellow custard and every shade of yellow in between are trending for 2015.  If yellow is what you desire, try anything in saffron and marigold to amber and lime.  To find the right shade of yellow for you find one that compliments your undertones.  This chartreuse dress is a perfect pop of color that’s sharp and vibrant and sure to make you stand out amongst the polo crowd.  A dark wedge and this chic wide brimmed hat add the perfect contrast and add depth to complete this look.

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A graceful fit and flare dress with cut outs is alluring and elegant in this sophisticated chartreuse, black and white modern baroque print.

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Nautical is in for spring and summer of 2015.  Lots of classic red, white and blue is popping up everywhere!  Since solid color jewel tones will keep everyone looking sharp and they’re the secret to looking great on camera, you can’t go wrong wearing a bright color or jewel tone on Opening Day.  Like these jewel tones in his and her styles.

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Everyone will want to look especially polished too since the photo ops abound on Opening Day.  You’ll be taking picture everywhere from the step & repeat at the entry to the countless posings with your friends and the polo ponies and players.

This New Blue techno metal stretch dress with cut out waist by Nicole Miller will flatter the figure by accentuating the waistline and it will complement most skin tones to keep you looking great on camera.

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Vibrant electric blue is always stunning especially on brunettes.

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Black and White is another lively option for polo dressing; especially in a polka dot print lightweight knit dress or a tropical print sheath sundress. Or you can create a retro canvas for your pop of color accessories by choosing a simple black and white sheath like this one.

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Fabrics: Cotton, Linen, Silk, Organic,Breathable, Lightweight

Ladies when you make a summer outfit you need to think about the colors, patterns, textures and accessories as much as you think about the textiles.  You want to look stylish while staying cool and protecting your skin from too much direct sunlight.  That means you should consider lightweight and breezy fabrics that are natural and breathe.  Some examples of light and breathable fabrics are:  Linen, cotton and rayon (even though rayon is a synthetic fabric it’s made from natural raw materials and resembles those natural properties).  Light colors will stay cooler than dark colors because they reflect the light.  Another consideration is natural fibers absorb moisture from the skin and allow it to evaporate while synthetic fibers will be water repellent and allow sweat to build up, reducing evaporation causing discomfort and irritation.  Cut outs, flared skirts, flowing dresses, strapless dresses, halter dresses and sleeveless options made from these natural fabrics are an even better summer outfit option.  Don’t forget your sunscreen, hat and sunglasses for a little extra sun protection.

As you can see from these crisp linen dresses and stylish linen jacket, linen is one of summer’s joys!  It’s light and breathable, and it has a unique lightly wrinkled texture that gives it charm and makes it stands out in any ensemble.

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Hats: Structured Wide brimmed, Simple Straw, Floppy, Fedoras

Now you’re probably thinking…”Hey, wait a minute, what about the hats? Do we need to wear a hat to Opening Day?”

While hats definitely aren’t mandatory at Opening Day of Polo they are a great excuse to transform your outfit and add your own personal style and personality to your look while providing protection from the sun. Whether it’s a more casual sporty and polished look your wanting to achieve or an elegant garden party effect, hats can do the trick.

If you’re sitting in the VIP tent at Opening Day of polo, the dress tends to be similar to Opening Day of the races.  You will likely see daytime cocktail dresses with structured wide brimmed hats and color-coordinated hats like these.

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Sonya Berg

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Another very poloesque option, if dressy and sporty are appealing to you, is a wide brimmed straw hat with a solid color sundress or a sporty print with similar hues of a neutral colored wide-brimmed hat.

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Sonya Berg

Fedoras and other casual but stylish chapeaus are another option, especially for the more youthful crowd.

Accessories: Big Sunglasses, Handbags, Wraps, Accessories

For show stopping style…don’t forget your sunglasses!  Whether your wearing over-sized sunglasses to create that mysterious movie star look or a crystal embellished classic style for a more glamorous touch, sunglasses will come in handy to keep you from squinting on a bright sunny day.

I love the selection of trendy shades in every shape, style, size and color that I have found at Gaffos.com.

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The Tom Ford oversized shade is super chic!  For those of you who want to take your style factor to a whole new level it comes in some extra sweet colors like pink, fuchsia and lilac!

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Another shade I just love is the Prada Strass fashion sunglasses!  They have a thick rectangular ivory frame with whimsical black temples embellished with crystals.   They scream I’m a styleista!

Round smoke glitter sunglasses

High fashion round smoke glitter silver frames with wire temple .  Have just the right amount of retro.

Keep your styling simple by matching your accessories.  A small sophisticated clutch will take you from day to night, like this Prada nude snakeskin clutch from Neiman Marcus or this Chanel patent lipstick red clutch.  You can increase your glam factor by adding sparkling accessories like a ring, bracelet and earrings in gold or styles and colors that complement your ensemble and accessories.

Sonya and Angie

When choosing your handbag keep in mind that most of the day you’ll be sipping a glass of champagne with one hand while holding your cell phone in the other, so a small hands free bag is a stylish and practical option to take you from day until night.  I love the new playful multi color paillette baguette shoulder bag by Fendi, covered in festive paillettes in turquoise, orange, white and yellow hues.

Fendi Multi color Paillette Baguette

Another adorable option is the Givenchy Pandora mini box in exotic black and white snakeskin with orange color block.  It’s sure to standout against any white or coral ensemble like this color block tangerine and burnt orange linen sheath dress by Nicole Miller.

Givenchy Pandora Mini Box in snakeskin and orange

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Add playful texture to your attire with a feather hair accessory that complements your dress.

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Even though it will be warm and sunny during the action packed afternoon it could get a little chilly when the sun is setting and your dancing the night away at Riviera Magazines 7th Chukker After Party.  Don’t forget to bring a small complementary colored lightweight cashmere wrap, scarf, sweater or elegant jacket to throw over your shoulders at dusk to avoid the shivers.

 Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista | 5 Tips for Him | Opening Day of Polo Attire

WEAR: Sports Coats, Blazers, Patterned Shirts, Collared Shirts, Open Weave Twill Slacks or Chinos in white, khaki or colored and preppy attire

Opening Day of Polo is a festive affair and an opportunity for the well-dressed man to add a summer weight sports coats or blazer to his ensemble (jackets are optional) for a more refined style.

Summer-weave crisp cotton and linen button down collared shirts in both patterns and solid colors are a staple of a man’s Opening Day of Polo Attire.

The selection of pants worn to Opening Day of Polo range from dressy shorts in patterns and solids to Chinos in white, khaki and preppy colors.

White pants with a Glen Plaid sports coat in shades of blue will give an outfit a vacation look, especially when paired with a collared shirt in a complementary color like this tangerine mini check button down.

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COLORS: White, Light Shades, Crème Nuances, Jewel Tones and Preppy Tones

For the ultimate cool factor during a hot summer day of polo viewing, go with light, off white and crème nuances for your basic pieces.

If soft colors like pink, lavender, yellow and blue are unexplored color territory that you desire to venture, Opening Day of Polo is a great time to try these fashion forward colors out as one of your basic pieces such as your jacket, shirt or bow tie in a solid or print.

Shades of blue, stripes, madras, glen plaid, gingham check, mini checks and whimsical patterns are often seen on sports coats and button downs.

Combining preppy hues like navy, lime green and pink in solids and prints is another common for Opening Day Attire.

FABRICS: Linen, Cotton, Seersucker, Open Weave Twill and Poplin, Chambray and Madras

Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista What to Wear to Opening Day to Polo Seersucker Madras- what to wear to polo Madras swatch- what to wear to polo.JPG

Navy Gingham Large Gingham Lavendar Gingham Pink Gingham

The well-dressed man must consider several essential components when selecting fabrics for the attire he will wear for viewing polo on a warm sunny day at Opening Day of Polo.

First and foremost, the fabric should be lightweight.  The finer the thread, the looser the weave, and the more porous the material is the more the fabric breathes and the less work your body has to do to stay cool.   An open weave fabric made from natural fibers vs. synthetic fibers is preferred.  Synthetic fibers are typically non-breathable and are more likely to hold sweat and air in.

Cotton is the most common staple textile in most men’s summer wardrobe.  It’s light and breathable and it’s less expensive than linen.

Linen on the other hand is also a light and breathable fabric but it has a texture that gives it character and charm and makes it a unique choice for a button down shirt or sports coat.  Some men dislike linen because it wrinkles too easily.  This cornflower blue linen and cotton blend sports coat is an example of a blend of cotton and linen that has a hint of the composition of linen without all of it’s inherent wrinkling.

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Other open weave fabrics which are a smart choice for keeping cool and looking good all day long at Opening Day of Polo, are other light weight open weaves such as; seersucker, twill, poplin, gingham, chambray and madras.  These fabrics are a popular choice for everything from sports coats to collared shirts, dressy shorts and even some trousers.

SHOES: Driving Shoes, Boat Shoes, Loafers, Oxfords (light in color)

Men, leave your jeans and sneakers at home on Opening Day (unless you’re tailgating, that is).  Your shoes can literally make or break an entire outfit, so be diligent on selecting what to wear on your feet.  Nothing says classy summer style more than a pair of suede loafers or driving moccasins in a light color.  Match your pants and shoes for a lengthening effect and overall summer style, like this white Ferrigamo suede loafer and putty chinos.

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Want to have your own stand out style on Opening Day?  Why not try on a colored suede shoe?  Try it in a shade of blue similar to your jacket.  Then use a neutral chino and a complementary colored cotton button down, like this mini check tangerine shirt, to break up the blues and avoid looking overly matchy.

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ACCESSORIES & HATS: Bow ties, Cuff links, Straw Panama Hats, Fedoras and Boat Hats and Sunglasses

Want to create a signature look on Opening Day that will ensure you will be remembered?  Then try on a bow tie for style.  Jill Courtemache in Solana Beach carries a wide range of bow ties and hats for every guy.  You can even get a bow tie and a boat hat with a color coordinated ribbon band from her store.

Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista What to Wear to Opening Day to Polo Houndstooth Straw Hat Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista What to Wear to Opening Day to Polo Bowties

Remember when choosing a bowtie size that it should fit between the outside of a man’s eyes and the edge of the head to be well proportioned.   When choosing a color or pattern of bowtie remember to use different sizes and types of patterns like this yellow mini check patterned collared shirt, navy polka dot pocket square and tri-color shadow stripe bow tie that pulls all three colors together.

Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista What to Wear to Opening Day to Polo Bowties and Pocket Square

Cuff links are hip and they look stylin’ when used in place of buttons to hold a man’s French cuffs around his wrist.  Cuff links add an element of elegance and style to any man’s outfit.  What better occasion to transform your ordinary outfit into something suave and debonair than Opening Day of Polo? Remember to match your cuff links to something in your outfit and to wear a blazer or sports coat that complements the ensemble for a polished appearance.

Opening Day of Polo is the perfect time to wear a hat.  A hat not only provides protection from the sun but it’s the ideal accessory to help to finish off an outfit, adding a sartorial statement piece.  Add a Fedora, Panama hat or other straw hat to achieve the look that’s the epitome of a well-dressed man.  A straw hat with a band that complements your attire or a hat in a complementary shade of your ensemble is the key to wearing a hat well.  If your attending Opening Day with a date and want to score a few extra points in style and with your date, add a pocket square that compliments your dates outfit.  This is how the stylish man rolls as you can see:

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If you want to look like a rock star and you don’t want to be squinting in the sun all day at Opening Day of Polo, then don’t forget to wear a pair of superfly sunglasses!  Stylish sunglasses will keep you looking sharp while staying focused and avoiding the glare of the sun.  The following are some of my favorite summer sunglasses for men in 2015:

Saint Laurent Mobster Style
These sunglasses add a little mobster style film producer

Prada 60's inspired shades
Heavy frame 60’s inspired shades that keep you cool and contemporary

Mitsubishi multiple colorways
Mitsu sunglasses have an edgy aesthetic with a somewhat rounded frame that comes in different translucent colors

Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista | Style Tip for Tailgaters | Opening Day of Polo Attire

WEAR: Casual, Relaxed attire

For those of you who have decided to enjoy Opening Day of Polo in a more informal setting while tailgating from the back of your car and picnicking with family and friends, the dress is more casual and relaxed.  Women will often wear casual sundresses, rompers or shorts in light and graceful fabrics and wear a fedora or simple straw hat for sun protection.  Men may opt. for khaki shorts or jeans and a polo shirt in a light color.  Simple leather sandals are a comfortable shoe option that works well for polo spectators who are tailgating.

San Diego Polo Club Tailgating

Now that you will all be dressed for the occasion, the most important part of the day is to have fun and celebrate, enjoy your time re uniting with family and friends, make some new friends and enjoy the adventure of action packed polo and a festive social scene at Opening Day of Polo 2015!


Thank you to our vendors:

Women’s Dresses: Matti D Clothing, Del Mar (turquoise geometric patterned dress, navy blue cotton dress, aquamarine strapless and vibrant blue strapless dresses) & Nicole Miller, at The Forum in Carlsbad (remaining dresses).

Women’s Hats:
Jill Courtemanche Millinery, Solana Beach, CA (turquoise with black and navy accents formal wide brimmed hat, off-white structured with off white ribbon shown with navy cut out dress and black wide brimmed hat with baroque print dress) & Del Mar Hat Company, Del Mar, CA (remaining hats)

Men’s Clothing: Nordstroms Fashion Valley

Make up: Rene Gonzales www.candemakeupartistry.com

Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament at the San Diego Polo Club

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament

On July 5 & 6, the San Diego Polo Club played host to one of many tournaments organized by the Pacific Coast Arena League.  USPA members from all over California traveled to SDPC to compete in the two-day event hosted by both San Diego Polo and Poway Polo clubs.  Roughly 40 players and 80 horses gathered at our arena to compete against one another over July 4th weekend.   The club was bustling more than usual and playing host to our guests brought a wonderful, different, refreshing air to the club.  Many of the competitors over the weekend got their start at our Arena School lessons and now compete regularly all over California at various other clubs. Each day had 6 matches consisting of 4 chukkers of various levels of competition. From our Interscholastic teenaged players to our best A-rated players, the day was action packed with some of the most amazing arena polo you’ll ever see.  Some of the other clubs represented were OC Polo, Central Coast Polo, Lakeside Polo and Poway Polo.

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Maryam Jahani

Each day consisted of 6 matches, A-Flights, B-Flights and C-Flight Student chukkers. A-Flight is the more advanced and C-Flight is more beginner level, even though there’s still a lot going on in C-Flight, just watch!  For each match, 3 Awards were given:  Most Valuable Player, Sportsmanship and Best Playing Pony.  MVP is usually given to the player who contributed the most to the game, not necessarily who scored the most goals, an all around player acknowledged for their effort and skill, as well as their knowledge and respect for the game and rules.  Sportsmanship is given to a stand-out player who perhaps showed a mutual respect for another player, horse, or rule and did not put personal triumph above how the game should be played.  Perhaps an overall attitude toward the chukkers and other players. One young man was awarded Sportsmanship for initiating the “great game” handshake exchange to the other team’s players and to thank the umpires at the end of his match.   Best Playing Pony is given to the stand-out horse that performed brilliantly in terms of perhaps speed, ride-off, responsiveness to needs of the rider, and overall performance within the game.

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Heather_perkins

Arena polo is often mistaken as less exciting and more condensed than grass polo.  If you take just one quick moment to watch some chukkers of some A rated players, you’ll very quickly realize how scrappy, exciting, action packed and different Arena polo is from grass polo.  It’s amazing just how different the entire game can be within the 100×50 yard field.  You can often use the wall or boards of the arena as a “4th man” in your chukkers, using it for your team, or against the other team.  You can smack the ball against the boards at an angle to change the line of the ball to pass to a teammate, something you can’t really do in grass unless you hit it low enough to bounce it off the red boards on the ground.  The close contact in the arena is extremely exciting, sometimes looking more like a demolition derby instead of Formula One racing.  Most of the same rules still apply in either game – grass or arena – but the strategy tends to be much different.

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-sdpc

While hitting and carrying the ball tends to be much easier on the grass, since most people prefer to play golf on the green instead of the sand pits, imagine just how much more skill you might need to “play golf in the sand pits” all the time?  The arena ball tends to glance off mounds of sand or mud, or get stuck in hoof holes created by the galloping horses.  But to develop enough skill to work around that and STILL be a dynamite polo player, I’d say that’s a mission worth trying, and a feat often underestimated and overlooked. With the deck stacked against you in getting the ball to move anywhere in a straight line, you might argue that arena polo is harder.

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Julie Empey

New players may rush themselves through Arena as their end game or end goal might be to play on the grass.  Take one look at an arena tournament and you are in for one hell of a ride. You can see Everything right up close, you can hear the grunts of the horses, hear the clanking of stirrups during a ride off, see all the action up close from wherever you’re standing – it’s easier to see every detail.   Get ready to duck out of the way of a ball flying out of bounds!

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Niki Mobtaker
The next time you hear about an arena tournament at SDPC, come on down and check it out.  It’s really an amazing display of expertise horsemanship, and expert ball-mallet handling, turning in tight circles, dribbling the ball to keep it away from a fast approaching opponent.  It has non-stop ride-offs, precision maneuvers within the small space… it is a RUSH!

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Alvern Vorn Steeg

A very big thank you to SDPC Polo Manager Graham Bray for letting us host the two day tournament, it went off without a hitch, so thank you very much for everything!  A very special thank you to Dr. Colleen Wilson of Adeptus Nutrition for donating her equine supplements for the Best Playing Pony awards given to the best horse in each match voted on by the umpires and officials of each game.  Thank you so much to Kimo Huddleston who worked tirelessly all weekend umpiring most of the games, fitting in teaching some lessons, and dragging the arena in between chukkers.   A monstrous thank you to the Godfather of Southern California Polo – Mr. Russ Sheldon.  Most of the organizational details are old hat to him, this ain’t his first rodeo, a valuable resource in the polo community, a hard working man dedicated to keeping polo alive and attainable for everyone in the San Diego area.  Thank you to Megan Judge, Heather Perkins, Russ Sheldon, Graham Bray, Heather Chronert, Kimo Huddleston and Gillian Young, for your help in organizing and making it all happen.

San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Kelly Newton

And the best thank you of all – to all the competitors for coming down and enjoying the tournament with us!  We love hosting visitors and opening our doors to different players of all levels. We hope you enjoyed your time at SDPC, its picturesque setting, and hopefully you made it down to watch our Sunday Matches!   I know we’ll see some of you back over Labor Day weekend when we host the National Youth Tournament Series final matches.  That’ll draw visitors from all over the country to watch the kids (all under 19) play on the grass.
San Diego Polo Club Pacific Coast Arena League Tournament-Central Coast Polo
Thank you again for coming down to celebrate with us.

-Gillian Young

All photos by Jeffery Trout.

Welcome Letter from Marketing Director

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Good afternoon! I hope this email finds you well and that your year is off to a great start!All is well at the San Diego Polo Club. I’m happy to report that 2013 was a great year for us and that we had a very successful summer. We welcomed over 13,000 spectators throughout the season, with close to 3,000 on Opening Day alone. In addition, more than half of our events supported a non-profit organization and we are hoping to partner with even more charities this season.
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We are going through some exciting new changes at the San Diego Polo Club! We have officially welcomed founding member and board member, Chris Collins as the 2014 San Diego Polo Club President. If you read last year’s article, “A Family Legacy” in the San Diego Polo Magazine, you’ll know how influential the Collins Family has been in the history and development of the polo club. We are excited to have him as our President this season!We have also created a Steering Committee this season which will help make important decisions regarding the Club’s direction. I’d like to introduce the members of this group: Julia Samaniego, Joy Bancroft, Chris Maloney, Ellen Greenhill and Krista Bonaguidi. Thank you for all your hard work so far this pre-season.heather-chronert 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think a few of you will be quite pleased to see Heather Chronert back around the San Diego Polo Club this year, acting as Interim General Manager.

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New to the team this year, is Event Director, Krista Morrison. I will help Krista get acquainted with our Sunday Polo Events, Social Activities and Members! If you see Krista on Sunday, please introduce yourself.

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Our favorite New Zealander and Polo Manager, Graham Bray will be returning this season and has plans to bring in new teams for the summer.  He’s actively working with our field managers on improving our fields to make sure our grass is in perfect condition and ready for play come June! Also, be sure to watch for him on Field 1, as he’ll be returning to team StarMeadow again this summer!
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We are happy to welcome back Vanessa Shapiro as our Advertising Sales Director for the 2014 San Diego Polo Magazine. Sales are off to a great start and we are hoping to have an even bigger and better publication this year. I cannot wait for all of your to see our beautiful magazine. If you are interested in advertising, send an email to

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I am returning this year as the Marketing Director and will continue to maximize our marketing efforts by developing relationships with community leaders, charities, sponsors, media outlets and valuable partners, as well as manage our graphic design and social media marketing. I will also be training our new Event Manager throughout the season and look forward to introducing you to our new team.

You may have noticed that we are starting our summer season one week earlier this year. We will have 15 weekends of polo, so please mark your calendar for the following events:

28th Annual San Diego Polo Season Kick-Off Party on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 5pm

Opening Day presented by Land Rover of San Diego on Sunday, June 1, 2014 at 1pm

In addition to our 15 Sunday Polo events, we will host a handful of fun social events, including an end-of-the-year Spreckels Party. If you are interested in joining as a Social Member, please reach out to me with any questions.

If you know of a charity that we should partner with, someone that wants to start playing polo, or a business owner that has interest in advertising, please feel free to pass along my contact information. I’ll do whatever it takes to make our 2014 a huge success!

I look forward to seeing each of you on Opening Day!

Lindsey

Opening Day at SDPC

The place to be on Sunday afternoon was the San Diego Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe.  With perfect weather, gorgeous people, and majestic horses playing polo, there was no other way to spend the day.   The San Diego Polo Club had their most successful day in 26 years with a record breaking attendance of 2,000.

Riviera Magazine sponsored the event, along with BMW of San Diego and Mini of San Diego.  Riviera’s publisher, Jessica Cline, was our guest of honor and presented Hermes trophies to the winners, compliments of Neiman Marcus.

The San Diego Polo Club debuted their first fashion show, with dresses by Poppy, shoes by Shoes Me, accessories by Nomadic Fashion and shades from Raen Optics.  Corals and blues are the color of summer.  Fashionista, Michelle Guerin of the San Diego Union Tribune said it best in her recent article, this season offers a kaleidoscope of prints and pops of color.

The Feature Match between Jetsuite/Monteverde and Starmeadow/Adeptus was a riveting one.  Both teams were neck and neck throughout all six chukkers with Mariano Gutierrez scoring the winning shot for Jetsuite/Monteverde.

Thank you to everyone who came out for a glorious, sun-filled day of Polo!  Join us this Sunday for our Father’s Day celebration including antique biplanes, cars, and cigars.

Special thanks to Frank Tupas and Dominick Lemarie for photography!

Corporate Event

We had a blast Friday afternoon playing golf cart polo at the San Diego Polo Club with a group of about 70 people.  The Wild Thyme Company did a fantastic job with the food and presentation, while Zoe Productions helped tie in our Ralph Lauren theme.

Guests had an introduction to polo, followed by golf cart polo and dinner!

Meet Miguel Gutierrez

Our player profile this week features the somewhat shy Miguel Gutierrez of Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you are saying to yourself, that handsome face looks familiar, it’s because it graces our general admission ticket for the 2011 season. Miguel jokes it’s the first step in his eventual rise to fame. He hopes to someday upstage his cousin and fellow polo player Mariano Gutierrez, who was featured in the music video for Britney Spear’s Radar. Miguel wants to let Britney know if she ever wants to remake her Oops!… I Did It Again video, he’s available!

Miguel is a seasoned player who has professionally competed around the world and he comes to The San Diego Polo Club after finishing  a season at the North Church Farm Polo Club in London. Separate of Argentina, his favorite location to compete is Indio, California. Miguel says with a quiet voice, “I don’t know, I just love the mountains and the landscape of the desert and after playing there for so many years, it has become like a home away from home for me.”

There is no questioning his passion for the sport and when asked what he do would do if ever won the lottery, he softly remarks, “I’d still keep playing polo, I can’t really imagine doing anything else.” It’s a fitting answer, as polo is a tradition that is deeply rooted in his family. He learned the sport from his grandfather and he someday hopes to pass along the game to his own children.

When he’s not playing polo or dreaming of fame, he is usually listening to music or fawning over Rita, his fierce pittbull and in many ways the love of his life! Sadly, Rita was unable to accompany Miguel on this trip to San Diego and with a sad look on his face he tells us, “I really miss her….” It’s the first time the two have been apart since he rescued her from a gas station 10 years ago.