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dreams and continued to improve and reach goals. I
have been blessed enough to play polo for my entire life
and have grown a passion for introducing the sport to
new players and helping them achieve their goals. I strive
to recreate the supportive environment of my youth to
foster all my players. The lessons learned on the field and
in the arena have shaped my life and have shaped the
lives of many others that I have taught.
The game is challenging for sure, the joy of bonding with
your horse and the adrenaline rush of galloping down a
field while hitting a ball is unmatched! The satisfying click
of the mallet head striking the ball. The rush of hitting the
perfect pass and having your teammate pick it up. Making
the shot that nobody expects, these are only a few
of the thrills that have driven me to play this lifelong sport.
You add these feelings after a hard, sweaty match to
the BBQ with your teammates AND competitors, rehashing
all the best plays of the match as the main topic. The
hooks. The bumps. The goals. The near misses. The cheering
crowd. The adrenaline. The rush. The love of the sport.
And doing it all with your closest friends.
But the players are not the only ones having fun. Tailgating
isn’t just for football anymore. A polo match is the
perfect venue to enjoy a tailgate with your friends and
family. You can set up camp just 10 yards from the action.
This close you can feel the ground shake when the
ponies gallop past. You’re close enough you might have
to duck from a stray ball. Unlike other sports where you’re
in the nosebleeds, a polo field is large enough everyone
has a field side seat. Enjoying the match with your friends
and family can even include the four-legged members,
this has in fact provided some of the best impromptu
entertainment ever. While it’s not encouraged, I once witnessed
a Dachshund chase down a player and his pony
the full length of the field with his unsuspecting owner in
tow. The PA announcer’s call was as hilarious as the actual
event. Just goes to show that everybody can enjoy
polo and a polo match will always keep you on your toes.
For all these reasons and more, upon retiring from Cornell
after almost four decades of coaching Intercollegiate
Polo as the winningest coach in Cornell Athletics history,
I decided to create Team Resolute Polo. With my new
team I am bringing back the heart and soul of polo to
the heart of horse country in Ocala, FL. We are recreating
the fun, friendly, supportive and creative environment
of the polo clubs during the sport’s heyday because
returning to our roots will carry us into the future. With the
passion that polo inspires in all who have ever played it,
creating clubs that foster this feeling will make the future
very bright.
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