NEWS

In the heart of Wellington, Florida, the polo season thrives with the passion of players from around the world. Among these athletes are the father-son duo Chip and Camp Campbell, who head the Clearwater polo team. This year, Clearwater has ambitiously tackled both the high stakes of the 22-goal Gauntlet of Polo series and the 16-goal Wellington Polo Tour (WPT), recently clinching the prestigious Ylvisaker Cup.

As former USPA Chairman, Chip Campbell is a respected figure in American polo and has shaped the sport through his extensive involvement with the Association and his efforts in American horse breeding. His return to polo later in life and dedication to raising his children within the sport has left a lasting legacy.

Following in his father's footsteps, Camp Campbell has embraced the challenges and exhilaration of polo. His dedication is evident in the team's recent success and his commitment to continuing the Campbell polo legacy. Together, they embody the spirit of polo as a family endeavor, blending competitive ambition with a deep love for the sport and community.

Chip, could you give us a brief overview of your journey in polo and the Clearwater Polo Team organization?
“I learned to ride as a youngster from a polo-playing stepfather, came back to the sport at age 40 and raised my two children in the sport. Now I’m 59 years old. I got involved in the USPA early on as a Lieutenant Governor, Circuit Governor, Treasurer, President and ultimately USPA Chairman. Now I’m Chairman of USPA Global Licensing which is the “business side” of the organization.

I started Clearwater Polo 15 years ago or so and started breeding horses and pulling the best playing bloodlines I could capture at reasonable prices. We operate with several folks in Argentina at different ages of the horses and try to keep no more than 30 in the U.S. at any given time. Now, most of the horses we play are bred, broke and trained by us or bought as 2-year-olds.”

What does participating in the USPA Gold Cup represent for you personally and for the Clearwater Polo Team as a whole?
“This is our fifth year at the 22-goal level in Wellington and we own property in every place we play—we are invested. We spend the summers in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the fall in Point Clear, Alabama.

We aim to sell horses to high-goal and higher-handicap players if we can. We try to arrange our teams with good people at reasonable prices and seem to have the underdog position because we are always competing upwards and don’t like to play downwards just to win. When we win it makes it that much more special. We are always getting better, we have a long-term vision for the sport and strive to be generational like all the great families in the sport, especially the Argentine families. I have two children and a son-in-law who are currently active in the sport at different levels.

I had a good hand in creating the Gauntlet of Polo competition for the USPA along with David Cummings and others at the USPA. I would like to see the C.V. Whitney Cup be a stand-alone tournament and bring the Silver [Cup], Gold [Cup], and U.S. Open together and be grouped into the Gauntlet competition. They are all prestigious tournaments. These are the top three in the U.S. at this time. All of the USPA cups have varying levels of history and prestige and should be grouped and promoted by the USPA to its appropriate and deserving member clubs. I believe the USPA is now doing a much better job in this regard than in the past.

Due to my age and vanity, this is probably my last time to compete at the high-goal level and will pass on this benefit in the future to my kids. It is all about my kids at this juncture of life.”

Playing alongside your son Camp in a competitive environment like Wellington must be incredibly rewarding. What can you tell us about this experience?
“Anytime I can be on my son’s team and compete in a team sport is rewarding for me! Especially when we can win together—just like doing business deals together and succeeding.”

Could you share insights into how the Clearwater Polo Team prepares for high-stakes tournaments like the Gauntlet of Polo?
“We try to organize with folks that we can afford and who have a decent character and are going to bring the best effort and energy to the team. It is a long season and win or lose you have to get along or it is not worthwhile to me! We start planning and thinking about it 8-10 months in advance. The better teams that we all know are planning and thinking years in advance and that is our pitfall. I just don’t like being in the position of committing to something or someone that far in advance, too many things can come up that may change things, and when I tell someone I will do it I want to keep my word.”

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the Clearwater Polo Team?
“Pass the playing torch to my kids so they can raise their children in the sport like I did and maintain the funding to promulgate our polo activities for generations to come.”

How has being deeply involved in polo impacted your life and relationships, particularly with your family?
“When I was younger, one of my goals in life was to be seasonal where I lived during the year and with polo, I have accomplished that! I just have to bring all the horses, trucks and trailers and entourage of people that help with me. My life now revolves around the sport. I don’t know if it has cost me or saved me from doing bad deals as it occupies a lot of time and energy. I know it saved me from the first dot com bust! Thank goodness I have a sports-oriented wife and family—we all thrive on the sport, our polo-related properties/investments, and the healthy outside culture it brings our family.”

What makes playing the polo season in Wellington so special, and how does it compare to other polo experiences you had?
“The polo world is small and realistically; you have to come to Wellington if you want the highest level of focus and competition. When I first started, I was told ‘Go where the best polo is and don’t try to bring it to you.’ I tried both! Each venue here and there has its special qualities and I like changing things up. High goal some months, medium goal some months and low goal some months. It just depends on if you like where you are.”

How do you see the future of polo evolving, especially in the United States, and what role do you hope to play in that future?
“I am not as positive as some on polo in the U.S.—the USPA through its business has the current ability to throw an obscene amount of money into subsidizing this sport every year to make it worthwhile and relevant. Without it, there is no way the membership would or could support the sport. I suspect dues revenues only make up about 2% or so of the overall USPA budget. Additionally, the annual spend and investment to keep a small organization such as mine decent is daunting year in and year out.

I hope some younger [team owners] are coming along that can keep things going as I see a lot of aging player patrons and not too many young ones that are in for the long haul. We can only do our part at Clearwater and do everything we can to stay committed to the sport financially and personally and prepare the next generation to be willing to accept the obligations and organization the sport requires.”

Camp, can you share with us how you first got involved in polo?
“I first began riding and being around horses at the age of 12 when my dad got back into the sport after a 25-year hiatus. He played as a kid and always wanted to get back into it. When he did, I was first introduced to polo but didn’t grab hold of the sport until after high school ended. I played multiple sports throughout school, so polo was another sport I had to dedicate time to. I would rush home from football practice to ride a couple of horses while it was still light outside. It wasn’t until after school and sports were over that I became passionate about polo and the opportunity to participate in a competitive team sport.”

Winning the Ylvisaker Cup is a significant achievement. Can you describe your experience during the competition, and what it meant for you and the Clearwater Polo Team?
“I was joking with people around the barn that we were in new territory once we had reached the semifinals. It is not very often to reach a semifinal or finals of a tournament, especially during the season here in Wellington. We honestly surprised ourselves. It also took a little luck to get there. We put together a team that we thought complemented each other well. It not only was special for us to be in a final but to win was big for us and our organization. To win a tournament of that level not only reminds us of why we put in the time, money and effort to play the sport, but also fuels us to continue to get better. It is special for us to know where we started and where we are today, especially with the quality of horses and the time it has taken to get to this point.”

How do you believe playing in the Wellington Polo Tour (WPT) has contributed to your development as a polo player?
“I think the addition of the Wellington Polo Tour a few years ago was a great thing. The 16-goal tournaments all have had a good number of teams competing. Whenever you get to compete at that level, it will make you better. Every game we played was close and no team is the best.”

Being part of a team where your father is also a player must be unique—can you tell us about that?
“It is special for us that we can share in a passion that we both have. It starts with the horses and the horses are what keep us going. My dad always says after some time off the horse, ‘There is something therapeutic about riding a good horse.’ We have a small breeding operation and are playing nearly all the horses we have either bred or purchased as 2 year olds and made ourselves. That is very rewarding. Then there is playing and competing together. A father and son rarely get to play a team sport together. It’s not always kind words on the field if either of us makes a bad play! But I don’t know of a better way to spend time together than competing together and sharing a similar passion.”

With the WPT as a steppingstone, what are your personal goals for the future in polo? Are there any tournaments or achievements you are aiming for?
“I just enjoy playing polo at all levels and competing. Seeing the development of our horses is always exciting. Just this season I have seen a couple of our horses that I played last season make big jumps and are playing great in the 16 goal and with my dad in the 22-goal. I would say that my short-term personal goal for polo is to continue breeding and making horses to compete at a high level. Long term I would like my son and my other son on the way to be raised in the sport. I want to allow them to be well-mounted and have the chance to excel in the sport. Winning tournaments will come around now and then, but it would be great to continue polo with my family in a beneficial way.”

What makes playing the polo season in Wellington so special for you, and how does it compare to other polo experiences you had?
“Polo in Wellington is the pinnacle of polo in the United States. The best players and the best horses in the United States are here during this season. It is special to be here just to witness it. To be able to be here with my family and to experience it all is a blessing. The competition and level of play aren’t like anywhere else.”

How do you see the future of polo evolving, especially in the United States, and what role do you hope to play in that future?
“I think Wellington is the center for polo in the United States. It is nice to see the improvements that have been made to the National Polo Center. The number of teams and the amount of polo at all levels is very positive. Hopefully, more sponsors will come into the sport and there will be more growth. It requires a lot of people, a lot of horses and a lot of infrastructure to play polo. I hope we can gain the attention and enthusiasm for the sport from those who can help keep it growing. I hope to remain in the sport and be able to play with some competitive teams in different tournaments. If my role would be to one day get involved with the USPA or to help grow the clubs I currently participate in. I am open to whatever may come.”

All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.