All posts by wellingtonINSIDER

Feature Stories

Elizabeth Fountain Brings Her Clients A Lifelong Passion For Interior Design

Elizabeth Fountain Brings Her Clients A Lifelong Passion For Interior Design

By Julie Unger

Design has always been a passion for Elizabeth Fountain, owner of Elizabeth Fountain Interiors in West Palm Beach.

“I’ve been doing it my entire life. I remember as a little girl, there was a store in the town I grew up in,” Fountain recalled, adding that she would frequent the store with a friend. “We would purchase all of this stuff, we’d come back to our homes, and I would decorate both of our rooms. I’d decorate her bedroom, I’d decorate my bedroom, and in six months’ time, we’d completely redo everything.”

Later, in college, Fountain was the go-to decorator for her friends’ apartments.

“It never occurred to me to do this for a living,” she said. “In college, I majored in international business.”

When her husband suggested she pursue decorating as a business, Fountain wasn’t sure what to do. She had a successful career as a professional speaker focusing on communications that took her around the world. She didn’t have any decorating credentials.

However, one day Fountain had someone from a consignment store come to her home to look at some furniture she wanted to sell.

“She came over to the house to look at what we had, and she said, ‘Who did your house?’ I said ‘I did.’ She said, ‘Are you a designer?’ and I said ‘No.’ She said, ‘Well you ought to be.’”

With so many people telling her the same thing, maybe there was some truth to it, Fountain thought.

At the time, Fountain and her husband, a general contractor, had just moved to Florida. When she visited a friend who had also just moved, she noticed that the friend had barely unpacked.

“I went back a month later and offered to decorate,” she said. “They purchased all of the things that I recommended for them to buy. That was really the beginning of me doing this professionally.”

That pivotal moment occurred in 2002, and the rest is history.

“I quit my speaking career, and I became an interior decorator,” said Fountain, who recently opened a boutique showroom in West Palm Beach.

The showroom is open to the public. With more than 3,000 square feet of show space, Elizabeth Fountain Interiors showcases furniture, rugs, carpeting, flooring, artwork, mirrors, accessories, lighting, fabric samples, wallpaper samples, carpet samples and catalogues from vendors. “We are a full-service interior design firm,” she said. “We do floor planning, we sell furniture — we sell everything you absolutely need for your home.”

Fountain prefers to come to clients’ homes to see how they live before creating a design plan.

“Design isn’t taste or style,” she said. “You have to take into consideration how the people live — their lifestyle. Are they casual? Are they formal? Are they into animals such that you’re going to have all sorts of dogs and cats and kids running around the house? You have to take all of those things into consideration.”

Her firm is able to come in and completely redo a house. Fountain is respectful of clients’ budgets, and works to stay within the budget and not surprise them in the end with a larger bill than they were expecting.

“If I see it can’t be done for the amount of money they want to spend, I tell them that up front,” she said.

Working with many different budgets, Fountain’s reputation has been built on more high-end customers, she said.

The key to decorating, Fountain explained, is to do what the client wants, because it’s their home.

“It’s our job to really get into the personality of the people who live in the home and create their nest based on that, because that’s where they will feel the most comfortable,” she said. “With my training in communication, I think that has really helped me in being successful in this business — to really listen, not only to what they’re saying, but to listen and look and observe, and then give them what they want.”

While Fountain doesn’t have a favorite style, she is often attracted to contemporary, transitional and earthy styles.

The best part of her profession, she said, is the creativity. Working with a client, putting together their vision, and then unveiling it, she said, is very fulfilling.

Fountain’s advice for those looking for an interior designer to make their dream home into a reality is to find someone you feel comfortable with.

“Find somebody who they really click with, who they feel comfortable with, who they feel understands what they’re saying,” she said. “Because we’re in the construction business, I have actually worked with other designers, and I am appalled by the way they treat their customers… I think respecting your customer is very important.”

Located off of Decorator’s Row, which is off of Antique Row in West Palm Beach, the Elizabeth Fountain Interiors showroom is located at 5908 Georgia Avenue. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with appointments on Saturday.

For more information about Elizabeth Fountain Interiors, call (561) 801-2474 or visit www.elizabethfountaininteriors.com.

Facebookpinterestmail
Wellington Health

Retina Group Ophthalmologist Dr. Kevin T. Kelly Protects Patients’ Vision

Retina Group Ophthalmologist Dr. Kevin T. Kelly Protects Patients’ Vision

Story by Deborah Welky • Photo by Abner Pedraza

It wasn’t so long ago when a diagnosis of macular degeneration — a common eye problem in seniors — meant almost certain blindness.

“The prognosis was pretty grim unless it was caught really early,” recalled Dr. Kevin T. Kelly, an ophthalmologist partner with the Retina Group of Florida. “We had laser, but most patients don’t even notice that their vision is being affected until it’s near the center of vision.”

But by then, it used to be too late. “Once the blood vessel burst, and it bled or scarred, it was over,” Kelly said.

Fast forward to 2017, and this fairly common condition can be treated with medication — and the expertise of ophthalmologists trained in retinal care. “You think your vision is lost but, after we dry up the blood vessel, the macula is preserved and the patient is able to see,” Kelly said.

Kelly practices at the Wellington office of the Retina Group of Florida, which is located on the campus of Wellington Regional Medical Center.

A New Jersey native, Kelly completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, earning degrees in chemical engineering and biology. He continued on to medical school at Rutgers, and completed his medical internship at Staten Island Hospital. He completed a residency in ophthalmology at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. That was followed by a two-year fellowship in retina care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“Many fellowships are only six months, but all the ophthalmologists in our practice have completed their residency and done two-year fellowships in retinal surgery,” Kelly explained.

Those ophthalmologists include Dr. Darin Goldman and Dr. Eduardo Uchiyama, who work with Kelly at the Wellington office. Kelly sees patients in Wellington four days a week, and can be found at the Stuart location of the Retina Group of Florida on Thursdays. Other offices are located in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, Plantation and the main office in Fort Lauderdale. Surgeries are done on the retina equipment at Broward Health Imperial Point.

The practice continues to grow. This is due largely to an aging population, as well as a growing prevalence of diabetes, which is known to cause vision problems.

“I opened my office in 2007, and began working with Retina Group in 2009. We see patients with diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, macular degeneration and uveitis, an inflammation of the eye sometimes associated with autoimmune diseases,” Kelly said. “We focus exclusively on the retina and even cater to other ophthalmologists when they encounter a tough problem.”

In the case of eye emergencies, the Retina Group is available around the clock.

“What makes us unique is we’re available 24/7,” Kelly noted. “Someone is taking the call.”

The Retina Group gets referrals from across Florida and the nation, especially for those patients who live in Florida only part of the year.

“I have one patient who I’ve been working with for 10 years, keeping his macular degeneration in check,” Kelly said. “Since 2007, there are new medications to treat it. Today, rather than being blind, his vision is 20/25. The point is, you still have a chance.”

The Wellington office of the Retina Group of Florida is located at 1397 Medical Park Blvd., Suite 240, on the campus of Wellington Regional Medical Center. To make an appointment, call (561) 784-3788 or visit www.retinagroupflorida.com.

Facebookpinterestmail
Wellington Home

Home In Wellington Classic Estates Features The Finest In Equestrian Amenities

Home In Wellington Classic Estates Features The Finest In Equestrian Amenities

Story by Deborah Welky • Photos courtesy Lisa Timm

There are only 10 properties available in Wellington’s newest gated equestrian community, and the first one to be developed has set the bar high. Wellington Classic Estates is located at 50th Street South and South Road, just about a mile south of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and bordered on one side by the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The main house is situated on five acres, with another four available next door, and includes four bedrooms, three baths and a cabana bath. In addition, there is a one-bedroom, one-bath guest house and a fully appointed barn complete with grooms’ apartments and equestrian amenities.

Living Room: Vaulted ceilings keep everything cool in the formal living room. Look out the windows through the large covered patio to the equestrian action taking place in the home’s private arena.

Facebookpinterestmail
Wellington Real Estate

Shane & Peggy Clarke Share A Mutual Love For The Real Estate Business

Shane & Peggy Clarke Share A Mutual Love For The Real Estate Business

Story by Matthew Auerbach • Photo by Abner Pedraza

It takes a lot of hard work to keep a partnership together and thriving over the years. When that partnership is both professional and personal, the achievement is that much more impressive. Such is the case with Shane and Peggy Clarke of Keller Williams Realty.

The Clarkes have found success in both their marriage and their work. Shane was born in New Zealand, while Peggy originally hails from Boston. They wound up in Wellington for different reasons: he, for the great golfing; she, for the relaxing lifestyle and beautiful year-round weather.

They met while working independently in the real estate business. It didn’t take long to realize that they shared similar views of their profession.

“We have the same vision, and work to achieve it with love, respect and a sense of humor,” Peggy explained. “It helps that we know and complement each other’s particular strengths. We can also agree to disagree at times, but we make the tough decisions together. We can’t imagine not working together.”

The Clarkes have been serving the community for 26 years. Over that time, they have become experts at handling all areas of the real estate buying and selling process.

“We specialize in all facets of real estate sales, including some commercial dealings,” Shane said. “We are certified by the Institute of Luxury Home Marketing and have earned the special acknowledgement of being members of the Million Dollar Guild. We are passionate about this business, and it brings us pleasure to find the perfect homes for our customers.”

They have an extensive knowledge of the area and pride themselves on knowing the details of the local real estate market. Their association with Keller Williams allows them to use their know-how to the fullest. “We have associated ourselves with Keller Williams Realty, as they are a high-achieving, progressive company that puts their agents first,” Shane said. “They have implemented models and scripts that direct agents to reach their maximum potential.”

While the support from Keller Williams is crucial to their success, the Clarkes know it is their deep involvement in every transaction that keeps them flourishing.

“We have always created a personal brand for all of our marketing products, which stand out and get us noticed,” Peggy said. “We will not sell a customer a home that we would not buy for ourselves. This has made us successful, and most of our business has been generated by personal referrals from past customers.”

The Clarkes have four children, all of college age or beyond. Raising a family was a big reason they chose to settle in Wellington.

“We love living in Wellington,” Shane said. “We were drawn to the young families, A-rated schools, organized sports and activities, equestrian events, quality hospitals and fine doctors. Having close proximity to the beaches and many fine restaurants in the surrounding areas is also a big plus.”

The Clarkes don’t have a crystal ball when it comes to predicting the future of the real estate market. Still, their instincts lead them to believe that the future is strong for both buyers and sellers. “While mortgage rates remain low, they have risen over the past few months,” Peggy said. “With these changes, we may see sellers being more flexible with their pricing to generate a contract.”

Shane also expects more people coming into the market.

“We are seeing more first-time buyers than usual,” he said. “Area rent prices are increasing, which is motivating millennials and others to move to purchase.”

The Wellington office of Keller Williams Realty is located at 12008 South Shore Blvd. To reach Shane and Peggy Clarke, call (561) 798-0888 or (561) 307-1506. For more info., visit www.shanepeggy.com.

Facebookpinterestmail
Feature Stories

Young Equestrian Leah Greenstein Aims For Stardom In The Show Ring

Young Equestrian Leah Greenstein Aims For Stardom In The Show Ring

By Y.A. Teitelbaum

At first glance, Leah Greenstein is a typical teenager in many ways. She gets up early and goes to school and spends a lot of time on her phone. But the 15-year-old is passionate about horses. And that separates her from many teens.

She is one of the up-and-coming riders to watch during the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival, which is underway at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington. Greenstein, who turns 16 next fall, will be competing in the Children’s Hunter and Children’s Jumper divisions, proving grounds for potential grand prix riders.

The ninth-grader begins her day with three hours at the King’s Academy from 8 to 11 a.m., and then returns home for her daily riding routine that begins around noon under the scrutiny of trainer Steven Gregorio of Aster Hill. She is also watched closely by her dogs — Sophia, a 9-year-old Chihuahua that the family rescued, and Gracie, an 11-year-old Saint Bernard.

Greenstein’s horses include two jumpers and one hunter for the 2017 season. Branson, an 8-year-old, is her hunter. The jumpers are Lorenzo and Quo, both 9. All three are recent additions to Greenstein’s stable, having been purchased in the first quarter of 2016.

“I have a lesson first, then I’ll hack the other two later,” said Greenstein, who frequently rides several of Gregorio’s horses throughout the daily sessions. “I usually ride four horses a day; it depends. It’s six days a week, with Mondays off.”

And her dogs are her constant companions, whether it’s in the practice ring or at home.

“My dogs are always there, sitting in the ring, or on the outside of the ring. They follow me everywhere,” Greenstein said. “Quo — he’s so good to the dogs, so nice to them. Lorenzo and Branson chase them.”

Greenstein is focused on riding, forgoing other sports. At home, she typically declines offers to play basketball at the hoop in the driveway or throw a football around with her younger brother. Like many equestrians, however, she finds time to support a charity. For Greenstein, it’s Place of Hope, which provides a safe, nurturing environment for foster children while they’re in state custody.

“My plan for 2017 is being really competitive in children’s hunters and jumpers,” said Greenstein, who expects to participate in WEF shows almost weekly. And for the first time, she is planning to compete in selected events on the fall indoor circuit at the Capital Challenge in Upper Marlboro, Md., followed by the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg. She also hopes to qualify for the prestigious National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky.

Greenstein has been champion and reserve champion several times and won numerous ribbons in her brief career at major shows in Wellington, Lexington, and Tryon, N.C., on all three of her horses and two of Gregorio’s mounts.

That’s a long way from her start at a local summer riding camp when she was 8.

She and Gregorio acknowledge that Greenstein must continue to improve. They have already seen a large leap of progress over the past year. Part of the improvement is from having better horses, but she is also spending more time in the gym.

“We’re at a horse show almost every week of the year,” Gregorio said. “She has improved tremendously, and she gets tons of mileage; on top of her three horses, she usually shows mine. More time in the ring has made her better and better and better.”

The pair are virtually inseparable and have a special bond and that extends from the barn to their local restaurant choices, including Lutina’s Pizza and PDQ.

“When I don’t see him for one day, it’s kind of weird,” Greenstein said. “Even on Mondays, on our day off, we’re at the barn. Obviously, we’re together so much, we usually get along — not like not get along, but kind of older brother, little sister; sometimes dad, sometimes brother.”

They share one brain cell, according to her father, Alan. “Steven took her to a whole new level,” he said.

“Leah is an extremely outgoing young lady, very talkative, extremely talkative,” said Gregorio, who met Greenstein about five years ago. “She tends to overthink things and be a little bit of an anxious person. But that’s better than being lazy and sitting on the couch.”

Greenstein agreed with Gregorio’s assessment.

“I’ll be telling her to do something and before I can finish, she picks up a canter,” Gregorio added. “She’s just anxious, always wanting to get to the next step too soon.”

Greenstein is able to observe the world-class riders at WEF and other venues, but doesn’t have a favorite or someone she wants to emulate. Her emphasis is on improving at a slow and steady pace.

“I know what I want to show in; I don’t know who I want to be like,” Greenstein said. “I just want to be a good rider, do the junior hunters and some junior jumpers eventually when I’m older.”

There’s no doubt that Greenstein loves what she does. Her favorite part of competing in the epicenter of the winter equestrian world is simple.

“Being around the horses and meeting many people,” she said.

Facebookpinterestmail
Wellington Table - Signature Dish

Try The Spinach Eggs Benedict At Oak Bistro & Wine Bar Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Try The Spinach Eggs Benedict At Oak Bistro & Wine Bar Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Oak Bistro & Wine Bar has become known throughout the western communities for its weekend brunch specials, and if you stop by, be sure to order the Spinach Eggs Benedict.

Oak’s Spinach Eggs Benedict is special. The fresh brioche bun is the perfect bed, warm and cozy, for fresh-cooked spinach and expertly prepared poached eggs. Over the eggs is a generous serving of homemade hollandaise sauce.

The meal is a favorite for owners Lisa and Brian Jacobsen.

“It’s special because we only do it Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., as part of our brunch. During season, from Jan. 9 through May 1, we are doing Monday Funday, so that will be brunch on Mondays as well,” Lisa said. “We make everything from scratch.”

Homemade, gluten-free home fries, tossed in rosemary, are added to the plate.

“That’s what makes them the best,” she said, noting that the entire dish can be prepared gluten-free as well.

Every few months, Oak Bistro changes its menu, Brian noted. The new menu for 2017 features several unique dishes and will be in effect until spring.

“And then we’ll change it again, when it will be geared toward lighter flavors. During the wintertime, it’s more hearty,” he said.

With each season’s menu change, the artwork on the walls, supplied by the Wellington Art Society, changes as well.

One of Brian’s favorite dishes is Oak’s Bacon Burger.

“The bacon burger is a creation I came up with,” he said. “The bacon is actually in the burger. We take a mix of ground beef and ground bacon and make that into patties. The bacon permeates throughout the whole burger. If you’re a true bacon lover, you can always add bacon on the top, you can add cheese, you can add a fried egg. You can really kick the burger up a notch or two. To have the bacon actually cooked in the burger is something that is very unique. Each bite that you’re getting is going to give you a nice bacon flavor.”

Another big draw would be the Bacon Wrapped Dates, which debuted on the menu shortly after Oak Bistro opened just over two years ago. They take dates, stuff them with goat cheese and wrap them in bacon, serving them with a balsamic glaze on the bottom.

“Once you take the sweetness of the date, the creaminess of the goat cheese and the smokiness of the bacon, it all combines so well together that it’s absolutely delicious,” Brian said.

Few places offer bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys during brunch like Oak Bistro does, even letting diners switch between the two. Brunch is a relaxed atmosphere where diners aren’t rushed. Reservations, however, are suggested.

Everything is made fresh to order. The menu features breakfast tacos, a build-your-own omelet, eggs Benedict, cinnamon French toast, and an egg, meat and cheese sandwich. Cappuccino, espresso, hot tea and coffee, as well as cold brewed coffee from Hollywood Brewing Co., is also offered. “It’s just a good time,” Brian said.

Regular menu items are also available during brunch, Lisa added, such as the popular Charcuterie & Cheese Board, the Puff Pastry Tart, Croque Monsieur and Soupe Du Jour.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming back our snowbirds and equestrian people,” Brian said. “Many small businesses close on Monday, or have very limited menus on Monday, so we wanted to create something that was fun and give people a place to go.”

During the off-season, Oak Bistro doesn’t serve brunch on Monday, but during equestrian season, it is a special treat, especially when many equestrians are off on Monday.

Happy hour is daily from 4 to 7 p.m., and every Thursday evening, there are wine bottle promotions. Limited quantities are available of a reserve wine list that is not listed on the menu. Oak Bistro has more than 25 craft beers by the bottle and four on draft. Draft samples are available. There are nightly entree specials, as well as American-style tapas; sharing is suggested and encouraged.

Oak Bistro & Wine Bar is located at 11051 Southern Blvd., Suite 210, in Royal Palm Beach. It is in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza in between Stein Mart and Rack Room Shoes. For more information, call (561) 753-6217 or visit www.oakrpb.com.

Facebookpinterestmail
Feature Stories

POLO THE WORLD’S TOP PLAYERS ARE BACK TO COMPETE AT IPC THIS SEASON FACES OF

POLO 

THE WORLD’S TOP PLAYERS ARE BACK TO COMPETE AT IPC THIS SEASON FACES OF

It’s the time of year where world-famous athletes come from all corners of the globe to play polo in Wellington. Along with the action — horse and rider pairs flying down emerald-green fields, all eyes on the goal posts — is a whole other set of entertainment, whether it is people watching, high fashion, tailgating, the halftime divot stomp, Sunday brunch and more. The International Polo Club Palm Beach attracts the best of the best, playing in its annual winter high-goal season. Once again, IPC is the place to be to see the action. As we do each year, Wellington The Magazine is highlighting just a small handful of the amazing athletes you will see vying for top accolades on the polo field. Turn the page and meet the Faces of Polo 2017.

Facebookpinterestmail
Feature Stories

Field Maintenance Is A Longtime Labor Of Love For IPC’s Ray Mooney

Field Maintenance Is A Longtime Labor Of Love For IPC’s Ray Mooney

By Kayla Anderson

Almost as soon as the last polo pony stepped off the field at the end of the 2016 season, the grounds crew shifted into offseason mode: an eight-month process of field repair, grounds maintenance and facility upgrades to prepare the International Polo Club Palm Beach for an even more spectacular 2017 season.

IPC hosts the annual United States Open Polo Championship and several other high-goal tournaments that attract the sport’s top players and teams from around the world.

“It’s an honor to take care of the fields for these guys,” said Ray Mooney, director of facilities at IPC. “To see all our hard work right up front and have the top players in the world appreciate the fields, it feels really good.”

Few spectators realize what goes on behind the scenes to make IPC the showplace it is. The equipment and technological requirements needed to operate the facility (which Mooney likened to maintaining an 18-hole golf course) are extensive, requiring a three- to four-year development plan.

He supervises a 20-person grounds keeping staff, including a mechanic, and contracts a soil expert and a laboratory to analyze soil samples, determine nutrient content and develop a custom fertilizer. Field repairs, particularly after the intensity of the winter high-goal season, are no easy task. The limited sunlight and cooler temperatures during the winter months prevent the sensitive Bermuda grass from growing. So as soon as the season ends, eight polo fields — covering more than 150 acres — must be aerated before the rainy season starts in July to allow for significant root growth.

“For us, summer is the time to keep up with everything,” Mooney said. “As soon as the season ends, we’re out on the field mowing, aerating and making repairs.”

And field upkeep is only the beginning.

“We have thousands of light bulbs in the facility, hundreds of sprinklers, 40 air conditioning units, miles of fencing and acres of landscaping that we look at during the offseason,” Mooney added.

While his responsibilities are never-ending, often entailing 12- to 14-hour workdays during polo season, Mooney’s work is a labor of love. This season will mark his 11th year at IPC, and he takes pride in his team’s efforts to make the fields look and play their absolute best.

Mooney has maintained and prepared polo fields for more than 1,200 high-goal polo matches, including the most prestigious and competitive polo tournaments in the United States. He also has extensive experience in golf course construction, project management, property management and turf management.

To prepare for this season, Mooney and his team began testing different types of Bermuda grass to make sure that the best one is implemented on the fields. A large area of the main field was sodded with a special sod called “419 sod” to ensure that the field stays primarily 419 Bermuda grass this year.

The grounds crew has also installed Latitude Bermuda grass so it can be tested right next to the Celebration and 419 Bermuda grasses. Mooney is always looking for the next and best grass to keep the fields in top condition.

New ownership at IPC brings along upgrades to the maintenance equipment. Mooney and his team have acquired new tractors, several new carts and a new sprayer. They have plans to continue to upgrade the facility’s maintenance equipment.

While Mooney’s primary focus is to ensure that all aspects of the facility are primed to run smoothly for the 2017 polo season, he and his crew also tend to the needs of the club’s other events.

IPC constantly strives to remain an integral part of the greater Wellington community, hosting events such as weddings, lacrosse games, the USA Field Hockey National Tournament, AYSO soccer tournaments and more.

Facebookpinterestmail
Feature Stories

Hard Work And Determination Pay Off For Newly Minted 10-Goaler Hilario Ulloa

Hard Work And Determination Pay Off For Newly Minted 10-Goaler Hilario Ulloa

By Shayna Tanen

As a boy, Hilario Ulloa always dreamed of playing in the Argentine Open. He also dreamed of being one of polo’s elite 10-goal players.

In 2013, he played the Argentine Open, and in 2014, he not only played in the U.S. Open against Valiente with his team Alegria — he won it.

And now, for the 2017 season starting Jan. 1, the United States Polo Association will officially rate him as a 10-goaler, in addition to his 10-goal handicap in Argentina.

Ulloa’s dreams have come true, and then some.

Ulloa grew up in Argentina watching his father and expert horse breeder Carlos “Polito” Ulloa train and breed polo horses. He was always surrounded by horses and polo players who visited to pick up horses from his father, he recalled. That was the beginning of his relationship with the sport.

He remembers playing polo on ponies as a 6-year-old with his older brother Salvador Ulloa, who preceded him in professional polo.

“I loved horses, and I loved riding horses,” Ulloa said. “So it was a way to have fun with my brother.”

Fun gradually turned into work, as Ulloa started playing professionally around age 16. His brother, now 32, was 17 when he turned pro.

At 30 years old, Ulloa is ranked as the No. 11 scorer in the world, according to the World Polo Tour in December. He won the East Coast Open in 2016, the U.S. Open in 2014, the C.V. Whitney Cup twice, and the Deauville, Piaget and British Gold cups, among a wide array of other victories and achievements.

For the 2017 season, Ulloa will play three 20-goal tournaments and the U.S. Open at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

He trains for these games every day, beginning his morning at the barn. He checks on his horses, rides them and trains them. Then he goes to the gym for an hour or more midday, and finally practices with his team in the afternoon.

Ulloa’s training isn’t all physical. He prepares mentally by watching videos from his own games and his opponents’ games, “to see what went wrong and see what the team did wrong in several ways.”

And his family is always right there alongside him to provide support, he said.

“They follow us everywhere,” Ulloa said. “They know our horses, they know what happens in our games. We are very united.”

That goes for when Ulloa is in Wellington, too. He has been visiting Wellington and playing at the International Polo Club since 2010.

“It’s an amazing polo club, amazing facility, great polo players,” he said. “I think IPC does a great job in having one of the top clubs in the world.”

When he’s not winning matches and working hard on the field, Ulloa is most likely with his family or hosting a barbecue at his Wellington home. He is married and has two young daughters, and they love going out to eat — especially for sushi at Kontiki.

Like his home in Pilar, located in Centauros, Argentina, Ulloa appreciates the equestrian community in Wellington.

“I love to drive on the road and see people riding horses,” he said. “It’s such a huge city of polo and horses and people who work with horses, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else.”

Additionally, Ulloa said most of the polo players who play in his town in Argentina also move to Wellington with their families.

“Of course, the country is different, but the way to live is quite similar. It’s a big community of polo people around the world,” he said.

While Wellington is one home for Ulloa, his go-to vacation spot would be at his farm in Argentina, about three hours away from his home in Pilar, he said. One of the most memorable and difficult matches he has ever played was in Argentina, too, at the 2013 Argentine Open playing for Alegria.

When asked about his best polo memory, Ulloa said, “It’s no doubt that it’s December 2013, when we won the semifinals of the [Argentine] Open… It was a great moment I’ll never forget in my life.”

In that moment, many of his childhood dreams came to fruition.

“I was so happy, I couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “It was such a good memory because it was in this country [Argentina], with my family, my friends, the people working on my farm, everyone supporting us.”

The win didn’t come easily, and Ulloa said that playing against Ellerstina in the semifinals was probably the hardest match he has ever played. The level of concentration was unbelievable, he said. With eight chukkers, high temperatures and fast horses, Ulloa said jokingly that after the match, “Me and all of our teammates were dead.”

As a player, he plays for his team, and said he does his best to help the team perform well.

Ultimately for Ulloa, it’s his love for horses that fuels his passion for polo.

“I love waking up every morning to go to the barn,” he said. “And to know how the horses feel… to see if they are all sound and all set… I love what I do. I love that my family has a nice life. I work hard also for my family.”

Now that Ulloa has reached his lifelong dreams of playing the Argentine Open and earning the coveted 10-goal rating, he is looking toward the future to create new challenges and achieve new goals.

While he is in Wellington this winter, his top priority will be to win the 2017 U.S. Open at the International Polo Club. Ulloa made it to the semifinals in the 2016 Argentine Open, and next season, he aims to win the final.

Facebookpinterestmail
Feature Stories

International Polo Club Ready For An Action-Packed 2017 Season

International Polo Club Ready For An Action-Packed 2017 Season

Every winter season, world-renowned players and polo enthusiasts flock to the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington throughout the week and on weekends to experience the electrifying sport of polo.

It is indeed a new year for polo in Wellington, as IPC was purchased at the end of the 2016 high-goal season by a new partnership headed by Mark Bellissimo. Bellissimo’s partnerships also own and operate the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and the Wanderers Club.

Players and spectators will enjoy an enhanced polo experience for the 2017 season, thanks to major improvements made to the fields. Special attention was given to upgrading the stadium field, where Sunday’s featured matches are held.

Sunday polo has become a tradition at the International Polo Club. While club members have access to private box seats in the grandstand, an abundance of seating options allow guests to watch polo for as little as $30.

IPC also offers the opportunity for guests to tailgate on either side of the Pavilion. Polo fans can purchase a tent for the season, which includes 12 complimentary tickets, enjoying their own food and beverages.

The Pavilion, meanwhile, hosts more than 700 guests each Sunday for its Champagne Brunch. The Champagne Brunch features an ever-changing array of delicious culinary items spread out over various stations. A seat at brunch starts at $125 with tables available for groups. Beginning at $200, guests can snag a seat at the Coco Polo Lounge, which includes a specialty food display, a gift item, field-side lounge seating and a complimentary glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne. With a fun atmosphere and a prime sidelines view of the polo match, the Pavilion is a prime ticket to the action.

During halftime, guests pour onto the field to ceremoniously stomp the divots, stepping on tufts of turf unearthed by the horses’ hooves. Spectators can enjoy complimentary champagne, mingle with others and see the latest fashions.

Families are always welcome at the International Polo Club. Free of charge this year, IPC will offer the Kids’ Fun Zone — an area near the bleachers that offers fun children’s entertainment while the match is on. Every week, new activities and special events will be presented to youngsters ages 5 to 10. Weekly features may include face painting, crafts, games, ponies, a petting zoo, a fire truck on display with education about fires, interactive sports with youth coaches, a giant slide, bounce houses or a rock climbing wall.

During the 17-week season spanning from Jan. 1 through April 23, IPC will host four 20-goal tournaments and three 26-goal tournaments, including the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship, considered the top three polo tournaments in the United States.

Whether one prefers a low-key match on the backfields during the week or Sunday’s 3 p.m. featured stadium game, IPC offers options for all levels of polo enthusiasts.

The International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. For more information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call (561) 204-5687.

Facebookpinterestmail