NEWS

As the 2024 Spring season approaches, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (SBPRC) stands ready to showcase its offerings in Carpinteria, California. Nestled between the scenic Carpinteria Foothills and the expansive Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is more than just a polo venue; it’s a vibrant community featuring diverse polo programs and other luxurious country club amenities.

Under the management of Polo Manager Melanja Jones, this Spring season will host four 12-goal tournaments between May and June. These tournaments are part of a schedule designed to attract players from different levels, providing a comprehensive polo experience that is accessible to all kinds of enthusiasts.

Santa Barbara also offers a Polo Academy and various league play options, emphasizing its commitment to developing players. Whether it is nurturing newcomers through its coaching leagues or hosting challenging tournaments for seasoned players, the club ensures that every participant finds their place in the sport.

A stunning location with a robust program lineup, Santa Barbara continues to be a cornerstone of the polo community in California and beyond, offering a unique blend of competition and leisure activities by the ocean.

Melanja, can you provide an overview of Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club?
“Santa Barbara is a polo paradise located so close to the beach that sometimes polo balls land beside surfers in the Pacific Ocean. We are a full-service club offering all levels of polo from high goal to coaching league, stabling for the polo ponies, as well as country club amenities with our lighted tennis courts, heated swimming pool, and gym.”

What makes Santa Barbara stand out among polo facilities in California?
“Santa Barbara stands out for the combination of luxury and ease. It is a stunningly beautiful facility that offers turnkey operations for polo. Stables, exercise track, arena, stick and ball, and practice fields are all available under the California sunshine with ocean breezes to cool the polo ponies off after matches. A sponsor can play a high-goal game one day and then cheer on their children at Junior Polo or the Pro Pool the next day, followed by a tennis match for the whole family. We also offer a full-service Polo Academy and three different leagues each season so the whole family can find something to do. Many players like to rent condos at the club and spend the whole day at the club and the beach. Santa Barbara offers many delicious options for people who enjoy fine dining and wineries”.

The 2024 Spring schedule features several high-profile events, what can the players and public expect?
“The 2024 schedule features several historic tournaments, including the USPA-sanctioned Legacy Series Lisle Nixon Memorial, which was won by Prince Harry and Los Padres in past years, and the Pacific Coast Circuit Intra-Circuit Cup. The 12-goal series is played out in front of a sold-out stadium every Friday and Sunday. Friday happy hour matches are enjoyed by all the locals relaxing with a craft cocktail on the way home after work, and for Sunday polo, the fashionistas in fancy hats and high heels arrive from Montecito and Los Angeles to cheer on their favorite polo player and post selfies at the halftime divot stomp”.

After the 12-goal series, there are plans to renovate the fields in preparation for the 16-goal season. What improvements are planned?
“Following the 12-goal series, our hard-working grounds crew takes two weeks to renovate the tournament fields to prepare for the 16-goal season. They scalp, aerate, fertilize, and sand the fields to prepare for the Silver Cup and the Pacific Coast Open. Fortunately, we have access to three more fields off-site for practices at the Folded Hills location in Gaviota and Piocho polo ranch in Santa Ynez, so that keeps everyone going and the horses exercised while we prepare the fields for summer in the break weeks.”

The Rincon League is mentioned as one of the country's most competitive 8-goal tournament series. Can you tell us why?
“During the summer, in addition to the 16-goal Ferguson Robert Skene Trophy, Silver Cup and Pacific Coast Open, our club runs a very competitive 8-goal series called the Rincon League. The Rincon League is one of the most competitive 8-goal tournaments in the country because of the confluence of high-goal players and horses playing both leagues, the matches are fast and strategic and feature some of the most talented young players in the country working their way up the ladder alongside veteran playmakers. Jesse Bray*, Jake Klentner*, [Felipe] “Pipe” Vercellino, Nicolas “Nico” Escobar*, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Will Busch and Cory Williams are all Rincon League alumni who developed skills in the 8-goal league that propelled them to higher-goal polo.”

What is the best way to get started for someone interested in participating in the club’s events or signing up for lessons?
“Our high-goal and competitive leagues get a lot of attention. However, we stay focused on growing locally because we are far from other polo centers. Our Polo Academy offers full service for beginner players of all ages, 12 months a year. If someone wants to learn to play, they can show up with boots and a helmet and the horse, tack and equipment is all ready for them. Potential players begin either in the arena or the stick-and-ball field and then progress up the "Polo On-ramp" through the Coaching League on the short field to Pro Pool and ProAM.”

One of the unique things about Santa Barbara is that when a beginning player is ready to make connections with professionals or buy horses, they are all there in the same barns, the same exercise track, and the same stick-and-ball field. So, it is an amazing place as far as making connections. It is truly a club because once you are here, you are part of the scene regardless of goal level. Our incoming President, Henry Walker, is putting a lot of emphasis on this being a member club to recognize the inclusive atmosphere at all levels”.

*Nicolas “Nico” Escobar is a Graduating Team USPA Member. Jesse Bray and Jake Klentner are Team USPA alumni. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback tot the sport of polo.