NEWS

As the new year begins, with a lot of polo ahead and many clubs preparing to host tournaments on the west coast, Eldorado Polo Club (Indio, California) have announced their 2023 schedule.

The new season will see an increased number of games, with levels from 2 to 12 goals, including two national USPA tournaments: the National Amateur Cup and Rossmore Cup, on top of the Pro Pool and the Women's Chukker League.

The club will welcome an impressive number of teams for tournaments at all levels, including eleven at the 0- to 4-goal level, six at the 6- to 8-goal level, and five at the 9- to 12-goal level. The club has also announced that they have renewed their agreement with sponsor Goldenvoice for four more years, plus an additional four years if both parties agree on the terms. As a result, the club proudly boasts 14 regulation playing fields, stabling for 1,100 horses, and an arena.

CLICKPOLO sat down with Eldorado Polo Coordinator, Mia Bray, to discuss the upcoming season.

What kind of polo do you offer at Eldorado?
"We offer a wide variety of polo at Eldorado. We play 12, 8, 6, 4, and 2 goal along with women’s polo and club leagues throughout the season. We are playing many USPA-sanctioned, circuit, and national events this year. Most are played in March, which include the Rossmore Cup, the Pacific Coast Circuit Governor’s Cup, and the National Amateur Cup."

What can you say about the teams taking part this season?
"I would like to introduce our 12-goal teams for the season. We have four returning teams including Bensoleimani.com, Antelope, Highwood, and Bush League. We are pleased to welcome Zahedi Chogan and a second Bush League team into the 12-goal this year."

How about the level of polo taking place in California?
"The level of polo in California is definitely growing, with not only more teams, but also higher-level teams. We are seeing more teams interested in playing better polo, which allowed us to add 12-goal back into the schedule in January and grow the participation in that league to six teams. At my summer club at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club [Carpinteria, California], we have also had the same experience, with teams interested in raising the level of play to 20 goals."

Many team owners and players from California went to Argentina. Does this help polo at Eldorado?
"We had a big showing of Eldorado players in Argentina. Many of our members were there improving their skills and their strings for the winter polo season. I also had the pleasure of playing in the Argentine Women’s Open with a few ladies from Eldorado."

Is there anything new at the club this season?
"This year we added 12 goal to the January schedule, so we are playing at our highest level all three months. With the addition of more polo, we incorporated more fields into our club. We have three new fields this year, which has allowed us to expand our capacity to a total of fifteen polo fields."

What’s your role as the club’s Polo Coordinator?
"There is a big team of managers at Eldorado that all work together in order to run nearly thirty games each weekend. I have been working at Eldorado for four years now alongside the same management team. My role includes scheduling, tournament formats, and general organizing. I love the season at Eldorado because I also get to participate in the action. I get to play throughout the season in the 4- and 6-goal leagues."

All photos courtesy of ©Kaile Roos.