Pacific Coast Circuit Delegate's Meeting held at the Santa Barbara Polo Club
9:30 AM-12:15 PM Member's Club House August 25, 2001

Meeting was called to order by Governor Patrick M. Nesbitt

The following members and guests were present:

1. Patrick Nesbitt, Governor Pacific Coast Circuit and President/Owner Bella Vista Polo Club
2. Sandy Herron ­ Administrator PCC/ Secretary Bella Vista Polo Club
3. Tom Narozonick-Delegate/General Manager SBPC
4. Susie Solvin ­ San Francisco Polo club member/Central Valley Club (Reporter)
5. Lynn Thompson ­ Horse Park Delegate
6. Elizabeth Caselton ­ Horse Park Reporter
7. Lloyd Segal ­ Will Rogers Delegate
8. Bud Dardi ­ Santa Rosa Delegate
9. Denny Geiler ­ Playa Grande Delegate
10.Ernie Darquea ­ Centaur Delegate
11.Alex Jacoy ­ Eldorado Delegate
12. Andres Huertas ­ USC Polo/CEPA
13. Kim Fischer ­ UCSB Coordinator
14. Greg Wolff ­ Stanford Coach and Coordinator
15. Doug Reeder ­ PCYPH President
16. David Cummings ­ USPA Executive Director
17. Megan Towle ­ Cal Poly Coordinator
18. Mike Mora ­ Cal Poly Polo Club Member

REPORTS ONLY ­ NO DELEGATE

1. Modesto ­ Wilbur O'Ferrall
2. Monterey Bay aka Silicon Valley ­ Ted Schlosser
3. Tri Valley- Kathy Batchelor
4. Fairgrounds of Silicone Valley ­ Terry Sampson
5. Pebble Beach ­ John Walworth
6. Napa ­ Andy Anderson

NO RESPONSE AS OF 8/22/01
1. San Diego ­ Tom Goodspeed
2. Central Valley ­ Bob Kelley
3. U.C. Davis ­ Christina Burger
4. Sutter Buttes ­ Craig Bryant
5. California ­ Leo Cosenza (filed later ­ report follows)
6. Westmont ­ Christine Walker
7. Cerro Pampa ­ J.P. Thieriot (filed later - explaining that Club's usage of property (polo field) is being challenged by local county authorities because of "Use Permits" for zoning of property which is "Dairy" VS "Recreational" use. The club is currently trying to work out the problem.)
8. Deer Creek ­ William Devane
9. Empire ­ Bob Peutz
10.Greyhawk ­ Kimberly Thomas (filed later ­ Getting out of polo as of next year)
11.Los Coyotes ­ Mike Hakan
12.Menlo ­ William Garlock

Club Reports

Cal Poly Polo Club ­ Report given by Megan Towle, Collegiate Coordinator
8 horses 3/4 new players and 6 or 7 returning players coming back next year. Facilities to play are not readily available. School is discussing building a new covered arena. Oakfield Farms Paul McKee has a full size arena and field. Megan wants to possibly start up a new club in the San Luis Obispo area plus put week end demonstration matches at the Madonna Inn for at least a couple of week ends. Field has good visibility, right on Highway 101. Megan also wants to continue coordinating alumni matches throughout the central coast.

Poway Valley Riders Association ­ Report given by Sherry Sheldon with written report by Club Delegate Russ Sheldon
Poway Polo is going strong in San Diego/Southern California.
We presently have twenty-one (21) active members of which Ten (10) are USPA members.
Poway Polo has a PTF sanctioned Youth Program, that is encouraging new young players to take up the sport of Polo.

We have held three clinics for new first-time-players, two more are scheduled for this fall. Poway schedules new player teaching lessons on Thursday, 6:30 to 7:30 and club chukkas at 7:30 with guest players welcome.
Polo weekends are spent either hosting Arena Tournaments or traveling and playing in other club tournaments.

Poway is proud of our Interscholastic 2001 National and Western Regional Championship Team
Poway is hosting the USPA National Arena Sherman Cup (3-6 Goal) Tournament Nov. 2-4, 2001
Poway Polo Players participate in both Grass and Arena Tournaments at Eldorado, San Diego, Santa Barbara, California, Playa Grande and Lakeside Polo Clubs
Poway Players Grass ratings range from B to 2 goals and Arena ratings range from B to 6 goals
Poway is working with two (2) new Intercollegiate Women Players from California Poly Polo Club San Luis Obispo and wish them well for the coming year.
Poway USPA members attended the USPA Sponsored Umpire Clinic hosted by San Diego Polo and Tom Goodspeed. Four (4) members have Umpire Certification pending.
Poway Players have donated two horses to USPA California Poly Polo Club, San Luis Obispo
Poway Polo invites each club to send an Arena Team to the three (3) USPA National Arena Tournaments being hosted by Santa Barbara (0-3), Poway (3-6) California Polo (6-9)

Bella Vista ­ Report given by Patrick Nesbitt, President of the Club
Owns the property near SBPC with fairly new grass field. Building a new house overlooking the field but in the process of getting permits to build, wasn't supposed to play polo on his own field per the county. (Santa Barbara County) Currently in litigation with county so now starting to play regular polo games. Played first tournament, a 12 goal in July and a couple of high goal tournaments in August.

Central Valley Polo Club Report given by Susie Solvan
Club has a big field with season starting in April, takes off August, and then reopens. Handicap range is ­1 to 5. Susie may start her own club. First Club tournament this year was a fund raiser for Cal Poly, U.C. Davis, and Stanford with matches by collegiate club members and alumni.

Eldorado Polo Club Report given by Alex Jacoy
Last year season broke every record 34 teams in January then went to 38. 200 players currently playing, in spite of economy. Although costs have gone up, the club has held the line and has not raised the rates and that gives a sign to the polo community saying "we appreciate your patronage" . Club talked to Ambassador Holden's family regarding 40 acres on 5th and Madison and put another field in so now has 14 fields.

Centaur Polo Club aka Greater Los Angeles Report given by Ernie Darquea
Club putting in lights . Currently taking most of the members and playing at Will Rogers and around Los Angeles area. New brochure out on Learning to Play Polo. (sample provided) Regulation size polo arena, access to 3 adjacent riding/training arenas, box stall barn, covered pipe corrals, private tack boxes, complimentary lessons to full-care boarders, viewing deck, available for groups & private parties, miles of beautiful trails. Year round polo services for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. New players provided with horses and instruction. First lesson free, Intermediate players can refine their playing skills and take advantage of boarding, horse leasing an transportation services. No club membership is required ­ student and players can play by the chukker or month.

Horse Park Polo Club although Lynn Thompson , Delegate, was present she asked Elizabeth Caselton to give report.
Day to day operations are conducted year round. Built new arena which is now complete and played this summers. The club is basically a training field. Mia Di Giovanni is bringing in new beginners. The club will soon be starting the winter season in October with the Founder's Cup Invitational. 15 players are actively playing in the club. Stanford players are also there. Have a great hitting cage right next to arena.

San Francisco Polo Club Report given by Susie Solvin
Club hasn't been doing much this summer because this is a covered arena and most people are out playing on grass fields while they are open. But, when it starts to rain they play indoor arena Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the San Francisco Polo Club.
Additional comments by Governor Patrick Nesbitt­ would like to get arena polo going north of the San Francisco area. San Francisco Polo Club would be a good club to do this. Relatively easy to get to, has a great hitting cage and nice facility. Dr. White has an arena in Napa and has children that play in pony club. Ralph White, President of the Santa Rosa Polo Club is active in interscholastic play. Discussion on eye protection or face mask required by September 1st

Santa Barbara Polo Club Report given by Tom Narozonick, Delegate.
2001 has been a busy year. Celebrating 90 years of polo at SBPC. The season started in Spring with 4-6 goal teams, then 12 goal with 9 teams and 20 goal limited to 8 teams, so as to not be too hard on the fields. Mr/Mrs. Glen Holden sponsored party last week for FIP (Moulon Rouge) and last night was the end of season High Goal Gala at the Biltmore Hotel . During the season, occasionally used Tom Barrack's polo facility in Santa Ynez and Patrick Nesbitt's facilities here in Summerland to give Santa Barbara fields a rest. This year, the club initiated advertising with a change, by putting new program in SB Magazine (insert). Community visibility and local newspaper coverage was greatly improved. A professional umpire program hosted film review meetings so sponsors, patrons or anyone could attend to go over the plays. One highlight of the year, was when polo manager, Nick Jones put together a 36 goal match benefiting the Braille Institute charity. Mrs. Skene agreed to the last minute organization and the event went really well. Collegiate programs and interscholastic programs are building through the Santa Barbara Polo Club School which now include Ojai and Thatcher Schools. There are currently 22 horses, John Westly coaching, and Christine Walker and Kim Fisher assisting with the program. The club is now considering doing mid week casual polo. The city of Santa Barbara hosts largest equestrian parade in the country during Fiesta week in August, and SBPC rode in the parade . FIP hosted umpire clinic with Steve Lane, Reggie Ludwig, etc. Will be putting on another clinic Sept 23, 24, 25. Josephine Jones has been reengineering the SBPC web site, to put scores up right after tournaments conclude. Matt Walker won Most Improved Player of the Year Award. All participants in meeting was given complimentary SBPC coffee cups as gifts from the club.

Santa Rosa Polo Club Report given by Bud Dardi, Delegate
Cerro Pampa had a problem with the county so most of those players have been playing out of Santa Rosa this year. With the addition of 5-7 Cerro Pampa Club members, the membership is now up to about 27 members. The club plays mostly 4-6 goal polo. There have been a couple of successful charitable events including "Polo, Wine and All That Jazz" for Jr. Achievement. The club is in their second year of rebuilding the field and it is in great shape.

Playa Grande Polo Club Report sent in by Dennis Geiler, Delegate
Located in Huntington Beach, about a mile from the Pacific Ocean so it enjoys year around, perfect polo weather. The polo club is located at the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center which is an equestrian center that is operated on a long term lease from the City of Huntington Beach. The Club is given the right tu use one arena exclusively for polo as long as an active, growing program continues. The club has been in that location for more than 10 years. Previously it was located in Anaheim and operated by Judith Baker and Kim Kelly. The polo manager is Heather Schuberth. She took over almost a year ago. The comments that visitors give us have been very encouraging. They like the clean atmosphere of the club office and the friendliness of the club members.

The club has about 15 regular members and about 30 polo players that come to tournaments or come to play on an irregular basis. The club is open year around. The tournaments range from 0 goal to 10 goal. We consider ourselves a feeder system for the sport of polo. We take the raw beginner and teach them to ride, play polo an have respect for the game. Our members range from age 25 to 74 (Jack Clymer). We have almost equal distribution between men and women. Their occupation backgrounds go from truck drivers, flight attendants, sales people, to attorneys and accountants; a great cross section.

Playa Grande hosts a good many tournaments which are well attended by the other clubs, especially Poway. The club has trailering and participates in all the other club's tournaments. The premier summer tournament is the Pacific Polo League. It is played over three wee ends. It is played at a different club each day. So far this year, it has been played at California Polo Club, Poway Polo Club and Lakeside Polo Club. This week end is the finals and will be played on both Saturday and Sunday at Playa Grande Polo Club. There are three levels in the tournament ­ 3 goal, 1 goal and 0 goal. There are ten teams participating. Considering split chuckers there are approximately 36 players from four polo clubs. The league has been played each summer of at least the last 8 years. The league takes a great deal of volunteer effort and the club is especially appreciative of the help from Leo (Cosenza) at California Polo Club and Russ Sheldon at Poway Polo club. Besides the regular polo on Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday, there are lessons given pursuant to the schedule of the student. The club participated in the Umpire Clinic held at San Diego Polo Club. It is anticipated that at least three members will be come certified umpires. Come visit anytime.

Stanford Polo Club Report given by Greg Wolff, Stanford Team Coach.
The club members have four clubs to play out of, but Horse Park's arena is home arena. Santa Clara was also under renovation, so traveled a lot this past year. The club has 18 horses but will have about 20 people, 10 of which are the core of the team. They will be playing USC, Hosted second alumni week end this past April. Formed an Alumni association, and started an endowment. $5,000. Have a formal dance at the end of each season. Silicon Polo Club, Menlo Polo Club, and Horse Park Polo Club are all close enough to use. In exchange for Greg umpiring at Menlo, two or three kids get to play at Menlo. The club had to move out of their previous tack room so now need a shipping container to convert into a new tack room of their own. Also needs a gang mower. Practice Field is not in very good shape, so gang mower would help prepare the field. Going to the administration and look into the possibility of fencing off 1/3rd of the field to save for polo as the rest of the current field is used for so many multi purposes, that it is in poor repair for polo. Lynn Thompson pointed out that Stanford Club (former) President Christine Burger is the winner of the West Coast Player of the Year Award.

USC Polo Club Report given by Andres Huertas, USC Advisor and CEPA Founder
No facilities on campus, but would like to build a practice cage and small grass field that they are working on. Has CEPA to assist with collegiate polo. USC has been a fairly strong club and they never lack students, and actually have had to reject students because they don't have enough horses. Has a good relationship with California Polo Club with full stadium lighting and polo school, so USC integrates into their program from Tuesday to Sunday. California Polo realizes that there is a need for more horses, and California will buy more horses so will have a core of 24 to 40 horses so then could be a support for more schools. Mix of students is 70 percent undergraduate students and 30 percent graduate and faculty members. The other big effort is to integrate former alumni into the program. The club will have both men and women'' s teams. Club needs to make contact with the San Diego area for more donations and funding. CEPA (California Equestrian Polo Association - a 501 C-3 Foundation - is going to also establish a presence in the desert. Report on CEPA follows later in meeting.

UCSB Polo Club Report given by Kim Fisher, Collegiate Coordinator
Club was down to one student but put together a summer program which brought in six students. Two car washes are planned for fund raisers, promoting sponsorships, and discussion to raise dues. T shirts, hats, etc. may also be sold to raise money. Regarding recruiting new members, the goal is, in addition to the six members we have now, to get five more students every year. UCSB Sport Club retreat will be here at SBPC next month. The Southern California Alumni Tournament will be a two day event next spring. Would like to see an alumni league. Working with PCYPA and Santa Barbara Polo School.

Will Rogers Polo Club Report given by Lloyd Siegel
Club is going into 48th season. Play is from 0-2 Goal. There are approximately 25 full time members and 75 part time members. When players took back the club nine years ago, the club decided to involve charities. The have raised over $1.4 million dollars in charitable contributions. The club has put together a team from Iran, England , S. America, Iran, and Beverly Hills. The Post (newspaper) did an interesting article where they interviewed the horses. (Brought samples of articles in papers and were passed around.) Currently the club is replanting field with new irrigation systems.

Tri-Valley Polo Club Report submitted by Kathy Batchelor, Delegate
Club has moved to the new location right next to Fred Mannix's new ranch and one block from Deer Creek. The Thermal address is 64100 Jackson St. Thermal, CA 92274 and the phone is (760) 399-4303 Cell phone is (760) 485-2563. The club will be in full swing by Eldorado Season. We have 7 pastures all leading up to the lake. A stick and ball field, show barn with paddocks and a 20 stall pipe barn and turnouts. Hauling each day during the season to Eldorado is available as are club grooms for games or season. We have horses for sale and/or lease and lessons as always. We have guest housing on site for grooms and guests. So, once again we are ready to play.

Pebble Beach Polo Club Report submitted by John Walworth, Delegate
The club is inactive. All of our former members have either left polo or are now supporting the Silicon Valley Polo Club of Morgan Hill, CA (formerly Monterey Bay Polo Club). The Silicon Valley Polo Club has one full size field and one small field with nice new facilities, a good pro, and an active polo operation. I have paid the dues for Pebble Beach Polo for the past several years because I hated to give up the name. Pat Herman had wished to continue the name as did I. We hoped that someday it might become active again. This does not appear to be realistic at this time. I am planning on discontinuing the dues payment next season.

Modesto Polo Club Report submitted by Wilbur O'Ferrall
This summer and fall season has been great with polo being played on the outdoor field on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning at 5 PM. As soon as the first rains hit in the later fall season we will move back into the indoor arena. Michael O'Ferrall is managing the club and is getting ready for the U.C. Davis kids to come back to school again and work on their Intercollegiate teams. The Modesto club has between 8-12 members at a time playing and has horses, equipment, and lessons available through Michael O'Ferrall. Anyone interested in coming to play there should organize it through Michael at (209) 847-2678

Silicon Valley Polo Club Report submitted by Frederick (Ted) Schlosser
The Silicon Valley Polo Club (formerly Monterey Bay Polo Club) has experienced a very successful season. After assuming ownership and management of the former MBPC, the new founding members have enjoyed the freedom to expand the clubs activities. Membership continues to grow from 16 members in 2000 to 26+ members in 2001 spanning the ratings from ­2 to 4 goals. Some of the new members represent introductory level players, while others are reciprocal members of neighboring clubs. Our club continues to encourage new members interested in all levels of the sport. The growing membership base has enabled us to have at least two formal games both Saturday and Sunday as well as informal games on Wednesdays. The clubs biggest addition is a newly completed covered and lit indoor polo arena, which has excellent footing for both exercise and play. Some discussion has taken place between the club and Danny Scheraga about the possibilities of holding the interscholastic and/or intercollegiate polo tournaments in our new arena. Some additional features include the following:
Two polo fields recently over-seeded with hybrid Bermuda grass
Stabling for 100+ horses with optional stalls, paddocks & turnouts
Current remodeling of original residence and pool/patio area for member clubhouse
Street signage encouraging spectator attendance at polo matches
Ongoing negotiations to encourage corporations and charities to use polo matches as a backdrop for their events.

Ongoing solicitation of corporate sponsors for banner signs along field side fences
A growing number of horses are available for lease by the chukkar or by the month
Professional polo instruction is available for both riding and hitting lessons
This year we will have hosted three tournaments. Bi-weekly tailgates and bar-be-cues continue to draw players and spectators together Plans to build grandstands, spectator lawn and designated public parking area Plans to build a hitting cage to USPA/Mac Linfoot specifications

The Silicon Valley Polo Club is thriving, and hopefully will soon be recognized as one of California's premier year-round polo facilities.

USPA Report given by Executive Director David Cummings

"Congratulations" on communications. Pacific Coast Circuit is very active. USPA has 275 volunteers composed of officers and 22 committees and only 5 paid full time staff members. Trying to keep up with changes in the sport. One of the major focuses is on membership. Everybody needs to be a member of the USPA. It is a requirement in the rules, to participate in clubs, everyone must be a USPA member (requirement not strictly enforced) but prefers to be voluntary. There is a need to run clubs more professionally. Trainer meetings will be held this fall in Ft. Worth. October 10 ­14, 2001 will be USPA Committee meetings and October 13th the Board meeting for Governors, which includes all delegates that would like to attend. We will be suggesting the elimination of proxies in place of voting by ballot for Circuit Governor elections. Governors at Large terms are proposed to be changed from two year terms for Governor at Large to (one-year) terms. During the meeting period of Oct 11-14 there will also be a schedule of a number of social activities. PTF awards and dinner party will be on Friday, and finals of The Silver Cup on Sunday. Everyone is invited to come and participate in both the meetings and the social activities. Any ideas and suggestions please use e-mail (uspa@uspolo.org ) or written correspondence to the USPA (Suite 505) 771 Corporate Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. There will also be USPA meetings (Arena/Junior Committee) during Polo America which will be in Las Vegas the following week starting October 18-21, 2001.

California Polo Club Report Called in by Leo Cosenza (received after meeting adjourned)
Club is hosting USPA National Arena Delegate's Cup October 5 and 6, 2001 USC program starting very strong in two to three weeks 25-30 students. Club also offers a very strong interscholastic program. New Players came to Bella Vista Polo Club recently and played against Miguel Torres' students and local Santa Barbara Juniors.

Foundation Reports

Pacific Coast Youth Polo Association (PCYPA) charitable foundation report given by Doug Reeder, President
PCYPA started with Joel Baker. Henry Walker rescued the program. Foundation now pays John Westley to coach and Bud Linfoot volunteers teaching strategy, etc. Currently working at Santa Barbara Polo Club School with 22 horses. May get horse numbers into low 30s. Relationship between SBPC which takes care of horses in exchange for using the donated horses for the commercial part of the school.

Collegiate Equestrian Polo Association (CEPA) charitable foundations report given by Andres Huertas, Founder and Treasurer.
Wants to establish scholarships with one for men and one for women, even if starting as only partial scholarships. Also want to to a magazine for youth polo. Currently need someone to manage horses. Will have Tom Goodspeed give two clinics a year and work closely with other clubs in Los Angeles to the desert and south to San Diego. UC-San Diego should have a polo club get established. Suggest putting a "clearing house" on the PCC web site. More information available through web site CEPA-polo.org (The CEPA report, in full, is on a Power Point Presentation. Anyone wanting to read it in the original form can e-mail sandyherron@aol.com and will have the Power Point presentation e-mailed to them.)

Old Business

1. Gov. Nesbitt: Please review www.pccpolo.com web site and make sure you're information is up to date.
2. Name changes for Monterey Bay, now Silicon Valley Polo Club is being protested by Fairgrounds of Silicon Valley and Greater Los Angeles Polo Club has changed name to Centaur Polo Club of Los Angeles.

New Business

1. Fund Raising efforts going on by local CEPA and PCYPA Foundations, plus need another foundation for Northern California
2. Horse Donation Program will use web site as clearing house
3. Covered arenas are being proposed by Santa Barbara Polo Club, and Cal Poly University. Silicon Valley aka Monterey Bay has just covered a new polo arena.
4. Collegiate Handbook is online at www.pccpolo.com as an ongoing effort to present a template for schools.
5. Regional Collegiate competitions are not being moved this year (finals will again be in Sacremento in February 2002, but are requesting change of venues for the following year to Eldorado, Santa Barbara, or Silicon Valley as possibilities
6. Washington U and Oregon U are going to be approached via their Governor as to the possibility of changing them into the Pacific Coast Circuit because they are both in the same conference of play as all of the PCC collegiate clubs.
7. Polo Expo will be held in Las Vegas at least one more year, but may be open to moving about the country. It is being held October 18 to 21, 2001, the week following the USPA meetings in Houston October 10-14, 2001

Announcements

1. Delegate's Meetings for the Pacific Coast Circuit are held twice a year. The next meeting is to be Saturday, March 23, 2002 9:30 AM at Eldorado Polo Clubhouse. Every club is urged to send a team. In previous years there were as many as 42 teams that participated. Please try and send a team, and at least someone to represent your club.

The next Delegate's meeting after that will be during the finals of the Pacific Coast Open, usually the last Saturday of August, at 9:30 AM at the Santa Barbara Polo Club Member's Clubhouse. Please put these dates on your calendars so as to know what other scheduling of play may conflict with the meetings.
2. New Lieutenant Governor for Northern California is Ted Schlosser to assist the Governor stay in closer touch with polo activities North of Santa Barbara. Russ Sheldon continues as Lieutenant Governor of Southern California.
3. Hospitality Tent is available for PCO finals tomorrow. All Delegates, families, friends are invited as the Governor's Guest.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:15 PM