International Polo Club Looks To Build On Success In Upcoming High-Goal Season
The International Polo Club Palm Beach, the premier polo destination in the world, will host the largest field of high-goal teams and the most prestigious polo tournaments in the United States during the 2018 winter season.
Polo enthusiasts descend upon Wellington each winter to enjoy their love of the sport at the nation’s most prominent and well-equipped polo facility.
The 2018 high-goal season opens on Sunday, Dec. 31, and will conclude 16 weeks later with the USPA 114th U.S. Open Polo Championship final on Sunday, April 22. Polo matches are open to the public, with a wide range of hospitality and guest seating options that includes elegant grandstand viewing, field tailgating, stadium seating, field-side champagne brunch at the Pavilion, and exclusive sponsor boxes.
To enjoy polo in style, the luxurious brunch in the Veuve Clicquot Pavilion is back this season, featuring delicious breakfast and lunch options, a full bar and field-side seating on the patio. Guests will also be able to attend a meet-and-greet with some of the world’s top polo players throughout the afternoon. Each week, a different pair of players will be available for photos and autographs. The fun continues after the match with an after party at the Pavilion. Live entertainment and cocktails will be served to celebrate the winning team.
General admission is also offered for all of the Sunday afternoon games, and includes access to many of the food and drink options that IPC has become known for. The fun-filled Kids Zone will return for children to enjoy each Sunday afternoon. Bounce houses, games, face painting and more will be available to any child attending the 3 p.m. polo match. Multiple vendor areas and retail spaces are also accessible to all spectators while they are on-site Sunday. During half time of each Sunday match, spectators are invited onto the field for a complimentary glass of champagne and ice cream during the ever-popular divot stomp.
IPC offers a collection of nine polo fields accumulating 248 acres of pristine land, as well as the main grandstand, a croquet facility, meeting and breakout rooms, 7,000 square feet of indoor usable floor space, a private health club, a pool, tennis courts and sufficient parking options.
In addition to polo, the facility has proven to be an ideal site for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby and a variety of other sports. Just last June, IPC was selected as the Large Market Sports Venue of the Year by the Florida Sports Foundation. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has utilized the venue to host some of the largest sports events in the nation, including the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National Games, USA Field Hockey’s National Hockey Festival, the Florida United Lacrosse Cup Series Palm Beach Blast and the Florida Draw Lacrosse Classic.
Several updates have been made to the facility to continue IPC’s tradition of distinction. Five of the playing fields, including the main Engel & Völkers Field, have undergone major renovations in recent months to improve the quality of play during the season. Each of the fields were sprigged with a one-of-a-kind strain of durable Bermuda grass, which will lengthen their longevity and durability. These characteristics of field grass are crucial when hosting high-goal polo for a prolonged season and will benefit both the players and the venue looking ahead.
“The challenge is that over the years, the fields were overrun with common Bermuda grass. After two years of working with this grass, we decided to make a significant investment to make sure that these are the best polo fields in the world by replanting five of our primary fields with the best grass technology in the world,” said Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of IPC owner Wellington Equestrian Partners. “We’re eagerly awaiting the start of the 2018 season and believe that the significant changes happening at the venue will positively impact the overall atmosphere and experience for our players, members and spectators.”
In addition to improving the grass fields, IPC has also begun developing a new field surface that will create high availability and dramatically lower relative cost of ownership per polo practice. The special mixture of sand, felt, fiber and a unique binding agent allows for a safe surface for players and horses, while reducing cupping and divots created by horse movement that may impede the travel of a traditional grass polo ball. This approach has the potential to offset limited field access and the high cost of renting practice fields.
Whether one prefers a low-key match on the backfields during the week or on Sundays during the impressive 3 p.m. featured stadium game, IPC has options for all levels of polo enthusiasts. Ring in the New Year at the opening match on Sunday, Dec. 31 and enjoy all that IPC has to offer.
The International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. For more info., or to purchase tickets for matches or the Pavilion brunch, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.
INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB
2018 High-Goal Tournament Schedule
DECEMBER 31
Herbie Pennell Cup Final
JANUARY 7
Joe Barry Cup
JANUARY 14
Joe Barry Cup
JANUARY 21
Joe Barry Cup Final
JANUARY 28
Ylvisaker Cup
FEBRUARY 4
Ylvisaker Cup
FEBRUARY 11
Ylvisaker Cup
FEBRUARY 18
Ylvisaker Cup Final
FEBRUARY 25
C.V. Whitney Cup
MARCH 4
C.V. Whitney Cup Final
MARCH 11
Gold Cup
MARCH 18
Gold Cup
MARCH 25
Gold Cup Final
APRIL 1
Butler Handicap Final
APRIL 8
U.S. Open
APRIL 15
U.S. Open
APRIL 22
U.S. Open Final
Tentative schedule, subject to change. Sponsors listed at time of print.
The International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. For tickets and additional information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call (561) 204-5687.
