Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of California, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (SBPRC) stands as a beacon for the sport of polo in the United States. Renowned for hosting some of the most prestigious tournaments in the country, SBPRC continues to elevate the sport’s profile and draw in players and fans from all corners of the globe.
While every tournament at SBPRC is treated with utmost importance, the club’s history of hosting high-goal tournaments like the USPA Silver Cup and the Pacific Coast Open adds a unique sparkle to its season. These tournaments not only highlight the competitive spirit of the sport but also attract a global audience, enriching the club’s legacy. “We are honored to be part of the history of these tournaments and strive to recognize the prestige these illustrious trophies bring to the season with world-class facilities and enthusiastic fans,” says the club.
In this context we spoke with Melanja Jones, manager of the Santa Barbara Polo Club who tells us the following about the club
We know that the club has some of the most important tournaments in the United States, what does that mean for the club?
At SBPRC we think all of our tournaments are important because everyone who enters approaches the competition with a fierce desire to win and challenge on the field, yet we recognize that hosting higher goal, historic tournaments such as the USPA Silver Cup and Pacific Coast Open adds luster to the season and entices polo players and fans to attend the club from all around the country and even the world. We are honored to be part of the history of these tournaments and we strive to recognize the prestige these illustrious trophies bring to the season with world class facilities and enthusiastic fans.
What goals do you have as a club for this year?
Our number one goal is providing a venue where people can enjoy the community of polo as well as the competition. We enjoy our identity as a club where everyone will try to step up the competition with better horses and talented players, whether in the 1 goal or the 16 goal, yet we are a also a club that wants people to enjoy the whole venue from the clubhouse parties to the tennis, and we want players to view SBPRC as a place to return year after year with their families. Because many of our teams stable on site we all get to know each other off the field as well as in the heat of the game and that is important to us.
What does the club have to offer new members?
Our new members come in two different varieties. We have a Polo Academy for beginning players that provides lessons on school horses, coaching chukkers, and arena. From there the new students progress to our Coaching League and Pro Pool. We also get new members with previous polo experience arriving from out of town, whether to enjoy the amazing weather and the beaches or to challenge in one of the tournaments, and for new players we help them get situated with local connections and a turnkey home away from home between the barns and all the recreational opportunities at our Tennis/ Gym/ Swim facility.
What can we tell ourselves about the 2025 season?
For the 2025 season, we are pleased to welcome back many long time supporters in our 12 goal, 16 goal, and 8 goal leagues, as well as some people stepping up to the next level. In the 12 and 16 goal we are thrilled to enjoy the support of Antelope, Klentner Ranch, BenSoleimani.com, 90210 Polo, Zahedi Chogan, Folded Hills, FMB Too, Mokarow Farms, and La Karina, as well Ivan Weiss stepping up from the Rincon League 8 goal to the 16 goal. Last year we did not have any FMB teams competing because they had some other things to take care of so it is wonderful to have Henry Walker back on the field representing the Walker family since that family has competed at the club for 3 generations. Our local players are very active in the 8 goal leagues and Pro Pool/ ProAm and typically we get a few out of state teams escaping to the coast for cool weather and hot competition during the summer in those leagues. It will be interesting to see how the new “Homegrown Player” rule implemented by the USPA affects the summer 16 goal season. Last year we sold out almost every Sunday Polo in both the 12 goal and 16 goal and I anticipate our enthusiastic fans turning out in force again to cheer for our talented teams.
