News: November 2008

Preparing for the Future of Polo in America

by Danny Scheraga
Thank You For Helping  The Polo Training Foundation Enhance The Future of Polo in America

The Polo Training Foundation has made huge strides the past few years helping the growth of polo.  Ten years ago we were reaching less than 900 students each year.  In 2008 over 1500 students participated in PTF player and umpire training programs.  We have a fantastic staff teaching in the field with Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane, and Field Directors Kris Bowman, Wilbur O’Ferrall, and Robin Sanchez.  
Unfortunately, however, our country and the world are facing economic hardships not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  The PTF has not been left unscathed by this crisis.  Because of the downturn in the markets our investment accounts are not yielding as much income, leaving our budget $200,000 short for this fiscal year.  We pride ourselves on frugal management of our funds and therefore there is not much fat to cut out of our budget.  That said, we have been scrutinizing our expenses with a fine tooth comb in order to make a lean budget even leaner.
In a normal year we raise approximately $400,000 for our many programs.  This fiscal year we need to raise $600,000.  This number still represents a reduction of $100,000 in our previous years operating budget out of which we have squeezed every penny we could without a cut in our excellent instructional staff.
The good news is that with these cuts, with extra fund raising efforts, and some program incentives we are planning to continue our core instructional programs.

Brushy Creek
Robin Sanchez continues to do an amazing job at Brushy Creek and we plan to conduct the six weeks of camp in June and July followed by two more weeks in late August that have been the staple of this program since 2000.   The PTF is offering a holiday special for the five day camps in 2009.  Anyone who enrolls by February 1, 2009 will only pay $995 a substantial discount from the normal $1200 registration fee.  The fee includes room, board, horses and instruction. 

Robin would also be happy to set up specialty camps during school vacations or weekend clinics for anyone interested in furthering their polo education.   For more information contact Robin directly by phone: 817-645-8778 or email: polodutoit@yahoo.com. 

Florida Club Umpire Clinics
Bob Stuerzebecher will be conducting his thirteenth season of club umpire clinics at the Vero Beach Polo Club in South Florida.  The program includes classroom instruction, 2-3 days of on field experience with horses provided, and the opportunity to work with the referee (third man) in several matches.  The fee for the week long program is $350.  Bob takes a maximum of three students per week January through March so students receive a tremendous amount of individual attention.  To find a mutually agreeable date contact Bob by phone: 561-386-3991 or email: bobspolo@yahoo.com.

Thank You For Helping the PTF Enhance the Future of Polo in America

A message from Danny Scheraga
The Board of Directors and staff of the Polo Training Foundation would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to all of our benefactors and volunteers who have helped the PTF continue its mission to improve the future of polo in America.  This year we reached our annual giving goal because the donors gave over $465,000 to the PTF in the fiscal year that began July 1, 2007 and ended June 30, 2008. 


In spite of the economic downturn, The Polo Training Foundation continues to offer programs to help the growth of polo at a frenetic year round pace.  Kris Bowman tried for the iron woman award this past summer, driving across the country and back visiting countless clubs along the route.  Upon her return to the east coast she immediately went to work helping to develop the PTF-USPA joint venture plan for regional centers as well as organizing an umpire clinics and, a fund raiser during the PTF awards dinner at the fall meetings at The Great Meadows Polo Club.  The fruit of her labors makes the rest of the staff busier when clubs she visits then request clinics from Wilbur O’Ferrall for youth clinics, and Steve Lane directed umpire clinics. These are usually followed by attendance at Bob Stuerzebecher’s Florida club umpire school and Robin Sanchez’s Brushy Creek Camp.

 

In addition to umpire clinics scheduled this fall in North Texas, Great Meadows, and Cornell, the PTF is working on several new projects.   The previously mentioned joint venture between the PTF, USPA and member clubs to develop regional training centers is a major project that will take several years to complete.  The PTF is currently working on an endowment fund for the instructor at the North Texas regional center covering the Southwestern portion of the country.  Led by Patricia Yunghann’s and Ian Angus, the PTF is about to embark on an unrestricted endowment campaign revolving around a Monopoly-like game called Polopoly in which donors purchase properties on a game board similar to Monopoly but with a polo theme.   The PTF is supporting the educational side of the Young American Open to be played at Port Mayaca in April of 2009.  The tournament will include instructional playing and umpiring segments.  Robin Sanchez has been playing an expanded role in the Southwest Region, helping to develop a polo school at the North Texas clubs and working with Sunny Hale on the Young America tournament held at Broad Acres Polo Club in Norman, Oklahoma in September.  She has also significantly expanded the adult training programs at Brushy Creek and has much planned there for the Intercollegiate-Interscholastic season.

 

Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane again kicked off the year with a successful winter at the Eldorado Polo Club where he ran the Program Umpire School.  In addition to spending a tremendous amount of time training and certifying umpires, Steve also served as Chief Umpire at Eldorado.  Steve followed up Eldorado by umpiring the USPA National Intercollegiate and Interscholastic tournaments respectively helping the PTF continue their role in developing the 25%+ membership of the USPA that comes out of the I/I program.  Steve continued with clinics in places such as Menlo Park, Santa Rosa in California. He then headed back to Denver and Willow Creek.  Steve spent a month in England supervising and training their umpires before coming back to the States for a busy fall schedule.

 

Bob Stuerzebecher did several clinics in the northeast this summer and is planning on helping at Great Meadows and North Texas this fall.  He is getting ready for his  thirteenth series of Club Umpire Schools at the Vero Beach Polo Club.  Bob will be working closely with Steve to develop some new umpire instructors.

 

Wilbur O’Ferrall continues to travel the continent teaching youth clinics at member clubs, and our three major junior programs, in South Florida, at Eldorado, and the Wyoming Polo School continue to flourish.


None of our great PTF programs would be possible without the generous donations annually received from many who have a desire to help insure the future of polo.  The PTF strives to constantly improve upon the quality educational polo player and umpire training programs supported by gifts from those who see the vision for the future of polo.  Continual efforts must be made to communicate the good deeds of the PTF to the polo public so that polo players and umpires can have the best possible exposure to learning the game.

 

 The PTF is able to help grow the sport of polo because of many people who are out there helping to make sure that our 1500+ students taught during the year are properly supported.  The hard work of our Board of Directors, the many volunteers who help run our programs and help with fund raising, the independent contract instructors who are there in a pinch, our PTF employees including instructors and office staff, and most importantly our donors make this all possible because they truly desire to grow the sport of polo while maintaining the safety and integrity of the game.

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