Spring 1996 The Official Newsletter from Polo of Dayton

The Social Committee Proudly Presents
its 1996 Schedule


Three polo weekends for 1996 have been designated for Polo Parties. The first two will take advantage of the new Saturday matches, and the last will close out the Dayton Invitational Tournament and the season. Two Saturday matches are being added so that patrons, players, volunteers and fans can have more time to socialize with one another and enjoy the polo grounds, without the worry of a workday or school day to follow. A complete schedule for all the matches can be found on page three.

Our first social event will be, of course, the Kickoff Party 1996. It will begin on Saturday June 15th immediately following the match. Please note that this is not our first match, as we actually kickoff the home season on June 9th, but we wanted a better shot at warmer weather. John Hearne (513-298-1109) and Todd Roth (513-434-1800) will be running the show. Due to a tight budget, this event will be funded via party sponsorships. For $65, you can receive a Polo Staff polo shirt & season passes, invite your friends, and help Dayton Polo get off to a great new year. (If you are a Golden Patron, thank you, but we already have enough of your money. If you would like a shirt, we'd be happy to provide one at cost. And of course, your friends and families are always welcome.) Contact John or Todd for more information or to lend a hand.

Next will be our Mid-Season Mixer on Saturday August 3rd, once again beginning after the match. And yes, this time Dayton Polo is footing the bill. Kevin Krumholtz (513-291-1339) is the chairman for this get together and he will be announcing the specifics in the summer newsletter. Kevin is already assembling his committee, but there is still room for your ideas and some helping hands. Please contact Kevin directly.

Finally, for our traditional season finale, we will host Winefest 1996 on Sunday October 6th. Right now this one lies in the hands of Dale McCarty (513-848-7910). He knows nothing about wine. We would be thrilled if someone else would like to take the helm. The taste buds you save may be your own.

We are also planning additional events throughout the season. All ideas are welcome. Please don't be shy. Lets have a great year!


POLO PROGRAM INFO


A program for each season has been a traditional staple at Dayton Polo. It gives spectators a chance to learn more about the sport and the players. It also gives us a chance to thank those patrons and volunteers that make our Sunday afternoons in the sun possible.

Advertisements have been the primary vehicle that has paid for the production of the programs over the years. We appreciate the advertiser's support year after year. However, the programs have generally cost considerably more than the offsetting income from advertisements has generated.

As a result, the Executive Committee has decided to take a one-year departure from the traditional program style. In a year where returning Dayton Polo to profitability (or at least break-even) is a prime goal, we felt that this cost needed to be contained.

We will still have a program that addresses the major functions listed above, but in a slimed down format.

As a result there will be less available advertisement space. If you have advertised in the past and are interested in being featured in this new format, please contact Dale McCarty at (513) 848-7910 to discuss the particulars. As an added bonus, PMVisuals Inc. has agreed to provide a World Wide Web Home Page on the Internet for six free months to advertisers taking out a half-page or larger ad.


Dayton Polo is now on the World Wide Web at:

http://www.pmv.com/polo/


The Tunmore Editorial


Dave Tunmore is the newest player to the Dayton Polo squad. It is obvious that he has already acquired a love of the game, based upon the following editorial, which appeared in the February 1996 issue of Polo Magazine. The letter was a response to an article in the November issue of Polo Magazine. The article was a report on the 1995 U.S. Open tournament held at the Meadowbrook Polo Club, Long Island N.Y. in October.

Typically most teams involved include a team patron/player and three professional players. The team handicap is limited to 26 goals so there is usually at least one 10 goal player per team (highest rating possible) and in some cases two, with lower rated players accounting for the balance. Most patrons hold significantly lower ratings (and obviously wouldn't be playing if they weren't footing the bill). Money might not bring you happiness, but it will let you play high goal polo.

As a build-up to the U.S. Open several "lesser" tournaments are played and it was in these matches that the "Outback Steak-House" team, performed much worse than expected, losing all of their games. And to add to their problems, one of the team's 10-goalers was injured, preventing him from playing in the upcoming U.S. Open. At the last moment though, another 10-goaler was found and flown in from Argentina as a replacement.

The article didn't say, but it did imply that the teams' patron was at least partially responsible for the team's problems. So in order to overcome the shortcomings, a coach was hired to stay in radio communication with the patron during the matches. The rest is history, the team came back to win the tournament.



Dear Polo Magazine,

I just finished reading your November issue, in particular your report on the U.S. Open. I enjoyed the article very much except for one thing. It appears that as part of the fix for the Outback team's problems on the field, they decided to use the expertise of Mr. Ludwig (the coach) to help Mr. Gannon (the patron) in real time via radio. This raises a question, at least in my mind, as to the fairness of this tactic. While I'm sure there is nothing in the rules against the use of radio communication to the sideline during a match, it does seem that there are now in effect 5 people competing in real time against 4.

Call me a traditionalist but this seems unfair, regardless of whether it actually played a significant role. Wouldn't every level player benefit from having someone relay info and or directions during a match? I think so. While radios are a great coaching tool, I strongly believe they should be left at the trailer during a match. While I would like to believe that the radio use had no bearing on the Open's outcome, part of me thinks it did and that leaves a bit of a bad taste. Lets keep Polo out of the "techno-zone". Lets keep it 4 on 4.

Thanks for listening.

David Tunmore
Xenia, Ohio



ATTENTION: VOLUNTEERS WANTED


Many have been asking how they can get involved with Dayton Polo. Its really quite simple. Either call Todd, John, or Dale (their numbers are on the front page), or just show-up to a planning meeting (Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM in Bellbrook), or at the polo field for one of our work weekends. When weather permits, we will be at the field every Saturday from now until the season starts. To check just call one of the boys or check the Polo Phone at 435-POLO. Our new voice messaging system will tell you what's going on.



The 1996 Dayton Polo Schedule


June 2 - Sunday at Southern Ohio
June 9 - Sunday @ 2:00 PM Columbus
June 15 - Saturday @ 3:00 PM Cincinnati Land Rover
June 16 - Sunday @ 2:00 PM Southern Ohio

June 23 - Sunday at Columbus
June 30 - Sunday at Louisville

July 7 - Sunday @ 2:00 PM Cincinnati Crescent Paper
July 14 - Sunday @ 2:00 PM Cincinnati Land Rover

July 28 - Sunday at Cincinnati Land Rover

August 3 - Saturday @ 3:00 PM Louisville
August 4 - Sunday @ 2:00 PM Columbus

August 10 - Saturday at Cincinnati Continental Jewelers
August 18 - Sunday at Springfield
August 25 - Sunday at Southern Ohio
August 30 - Saturday @ 12:00 PM USPA Centennial Cup Tournament (Day 1)

September 1 - Sunday @ 1:00 PM USPA Centennial Cup Tournament (Day 2)
September 8 - Sunday @ 2:00 PM Cincinnati Crescent Paper

September 15 - Sunday at Columbus
September 22 - Sunday @ 2 PM Cincinnati Contenental Jewelers
September 29 - Sunday at Cincinnati Crescent Paper

October 5 - Saturday @ 12:00 PM Dayton Invitational Tournament (Day 1)
October 6 - Sunday @ 1:00 PM Dayton Invitational Tournament (Day 2)


· All home games are shown in Bolded Type.
· All home matches begin at 3:00 PM on Saturday and 2:00 PM on Sunday, except for tournament weekends which begin at 12:00 noon on Saturday and 1:00 PM on Sundays.
· Please check the Polo Phone (435-POLO) for information about the match on days of questionable weather.


ATTENTION GOLDEN PATRONS:


- Final payment is due for those who reserved a table with a $100 deposit

- Tables are still available (please fill out and return the form below); Contact Dale McCarty with questions

- Your membership now includes an Internet Home Page for six free months
(Contact PMVisuals Inc. at 1-800-413-1368)

Golden Patron Membership Request Form

Please detach this form and return it with your check for $325
payable to Polo of Dayton

______________________________________
Name
______________________________________
Name for your table
______________________________________
Address
______________________________________
City State Zip
______________________________________
Telephone Number

Seating Location Preference:__________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

Amount Paid:______________________________
RETURN TO:
Polo of Dayton
P.O. Box 294
Bellbrook, OH 45305



Volleyball
News & Views


Let the games begin! We're all ready for Summer and the blessings that Summer brings: sports, parties, games, and beer (not necessarily in that order). I'd mention sun, but I have my doubts about that ever happening again.

Polo is a great way to begin the festivities, but watching all those athletes fly around the field is going to make the rest of us long for some competition ourselves. What we are going to need is some good ol'..... VOLLEYBALL!!!

This year we will have two courts available. One for "pick-up" games, and one designated for Polo League play.

We plan to begin with a four team league, but according to the interest, we will be able to expand. You will be able to sign up at the Polo Field during matches, or if you are ready to go now, feel free to call Judy Doell, our Volleyball Chairperson, at (513) 435-4742.

A modest fee of $10/person will be charged to cover the cost of equipment and maintenance, as well as some nifty prizes. Free passes to Polo will also be included.

Polo League play will immediately follow all home Polo matches beginning June 15th (weather permitting). This will give us the first match to organize the league.

We hope that in the future we will be able to upgrade the courts to sand, have facilities to "hose-down", etc., but first things first.

We expect Volleyball to add to the recreation and fun of a day at the Polo Field. Your suggestions are always welcome and your participation encouraged. Call me with questions.

See you at the field!



Fieldside Cafe Comes to Dayton Polo


Dayton Polo is pleased to welcome Fieldside Cafe, a catering service run by Barbara Reed (a long-time friend of Dayton Polo). They will be running our concession stand for the 1996 season. Barbara has "specials" in store for us this year including pizza, chicken wings, veggies and cheeses. Not to mention more traditional fare like hot dogs, burgers, chips, candy and soft drinks. Additionally, be on the look-out for some table-side service, we think you will enjoy the change. They're open to suggestions, so don't be shy. Here's to a great new beginning!



In the next issue of the Stick & Ball:

Upcoming Events | Player Profile | List of Patrons
The Scoreboard | Information about the Mid-Season Mixer
The Stick & Ball is published four times annually: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn and is the Official Newsletter from Polo of Dayton. Admissions and comments should be sent to: The Stick & Ball, c/o Polo of Dayton, P.O. Box 294, Bellbrook OH 45305 or may be emailed to: polo@pmv.com



Polo is Dayton's best kept secret!


Copyright © 1996, Dayton Polo