Happy 100 Years Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club!! This event raises American money for Will’s charity, and kicks off the 2011 summer polo season and celebrate the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club’s Centennial. If you read the Truffle, you know our main goal in life is to see more polo in Los Angeles. Exposition games like this one and Veuve Clicquot match polo with Nacho Figueras last year at Will Rogers are critical to the high stadards Angelenos expect in their leisure activities. Hopefully events like this will make the game more appealing and with that perhaps more brands will get together and sponsor games with great players. Will started off the game saying “I’m not a good loser and then went on to score 4 out of the 5 goals on his team that won them a victory. The Red Carpet began at12pm, Will and Kate arrived shortly thereafter. The games began at 4pm. On the list …  Prince William and Kate, Rob Lowe, Billy Zane, Rosario Dawson, Andy & Kim Busch of the Anheuser Busch family, Trustee of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Wesley Ru, chef Giada De Laurentiis (who cooked the Tiffanys sponsored lunch), US polo team captain Nic Roldan, Tiffany & Co. Chariman / CEO  Michael J Kowalski & Barbara Kowalski, former US Ambassador Glen Holden, his son and polo player Glen Holden, Jr. (playing today on Team Royal Salute), fashion designer Heidi Merrick, Super Club founder Tamsin Lonsdale, jewelery designer Susan Foster, LA Times’ Melissa Magsaysay, and more. Watch Will & Kate arrive on the red carpet, meet the teams and players for today and see pics from dozens of helicopters that left LA this morning and spent the day watching chukkas …

VIDEO: “Thank you Tiffany for the beautiful Foundation Cup, which I shall be picking up later” – Prince William

 

VIDEO: Will and Kate arrive on the red carpet:

*Note, this is how royalty walks the red carpet. It’s considered poor taste to self-indulge and so the way most people with class operate is to not. In America, red carpets are used as a way of promoting films and has also turned into to a stomping grounds for the press to clear up rumors and get new gossip. I much prefer the Brit way. Notice Catherine never crosses her legs at the knee either. All signs of breeding, which doesn’t cost a dime.

TEAM ROYAL SALUTE

GLEN A. HOLDEN JR.

Family: Glen is the son of Glen Holden, a US Ambassador

Education: University of Virginia – BS, Economics

Residence: Santa Barbara

Career: Insurance and investments. Working with his family-owned company, Security First Group, a Los Angeles-based marketing and insurance organization, and other companies, such as, CMB Investment Counselors, the TCW Group, The Capitol Life Insurance Company, Envestnet, Pacificor, LLC, Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company, and Ameriprise Financial Services in the Santa Barbara region.

Merits:

• Member of the CFA Institute since 1986, as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and has served on its Board of Governors.
• Won CFA Institute Daniel J. Forrestal, III Leadership Award for advancement in the area of professional ethics and standards of professional conduct.
• Member and President of the CFA Society of Los Angeles.
• Served as a Governor of the United States Polo Association (“USPA”) for 14 years
• Served as the Chair of the Finance Committee of the USPA, its Secretary and Treasurer, and on its Strategic Planning, Executive, and Tournament Committees.
• Treasurer and Board Member of the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club and is a Director Emeritus of Virginia Polo, Inc.
• Captain of the polo team at the University of Virginia.
• With his father and brother-in-law, Mike Sheller, and son, he is a several time winner of the USPA’s Presidents Cup and Governor’s Cup in California, along with numerous Club tournaments at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, where he has played for more than 35 years.

ANDY BUSCH

Family: Andy is the great grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch. Andy has 4 children

Residence: Santa Barbara

Merits:

• Andy took up polo at the age of 16 competing in clubs in Palm Beach, St. Louis, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Hawaii, Barbados and many others.
• Was asked to captain the US World Cup team for the Federation of International Polo hosted by the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club.
• Andy is one of the highest rated sponsors in polo today. He takes the game very seriously both on and off the field. Andy’s teams spend hours in season practicing, strategizing, attending pre-game meetings and reviewing films. In the off-season Andy continues to oversee Grant’s Farm, the St. Louis homestead of the Busch family since the late 1800’s.

SANTI TROTZ

Family: Born in Buenos Aires, he is from a polo playing family. His grandfather, father, and two brothers are all polo players. He is married to Josefina, and has four daughters, Valentina, Marina, Selena and Jasmine.

Residence: Although he is based out of Argentina, he is also a Santa Barbara resident, owning a condo right here on the polo club grounds.

Merits:

• Trotz has played in major tournaments in Argentina, England, India, and the United States.
• Trotz won the Pacific Coast Open many times with several different teams
• He was on the champion team while playing with Windsor
• Won it three times with Duende
• Led his team to glory in the Skins game in the Desert
• Won all of the 12 goal tournaments in Santa Barbara with several different teams, most often though with Antelope and Long Beach.
• Last year he was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 12 goal season by his fellow polo players.
• He also reached the Tortugas Final, which is the first leg of the Argentine Triple Crown, with La Espadana.

HRH THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE AKA PRINCE WILLIAM

Merits:

• He plays regularly in the United Kingdom to raise funds for charity.
• His father played on the UK high-goal circuit for more than ten years
• His grandfather was among the finest players of the post-war years
• Last autumn, Prince William completed his helicopter training and is now a fully qualified Search and Rescue pilot
• President of The English Football Association
• Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.

 

TEAM AUDI

WESLEY RU

Family: His son plays Polo and his wife, Clarisa, and daughters enjoy horseback riding.

Merits:

• Trustee of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club
• President of the Club for the past three years
• He has been playing polo for the 15 years
• Active player in many of Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club’s tournaments
• Ambassador of the Federation of International Polo
• Has played polo all over the world from Argentina, Mexico, Spain, France, India and China

MARC GANZI

Merits:

• Marc Ganzi is the founder and CEO of Global Tower Partners, a private real estate investment trust focused on the ownership and management of wireless communication facilities.
• He and his wife, Melissa, are avid polo players.
• Marc is the patron of the Audi Polo team and along with his wife are Audi Ambassadors.
• Under his stewardship, the Audi Polo Team has won US Open Polo Championship (2009), USPA Gold Cup (2011), The CV Whitney (2009), The Bombardier Pacific Coast Open (2008), USPA Cup of the America’s (2008 and 2010), The Robert Skene Memorial (2008) and USPA Bronze Cup on numerous occasions.
• Marc is the Chairman of the wireless industry trade association PCIA, where he is an advocate for the future of wireless deployment and technology in the United States.
• Marc is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and also serves on the boards of the Aspen Valley Ski Club, the YMCA of the Palm Beaches and Olympus Media Holdings.
• When he is not playing polo, he is an avid back country skier, enjoys fly fishing and golf.

Polo runs in the family, as wife Melissa plays with and against Marc in both high-goal and medium goal play year round and his father Wally Ganzi played many years in Indio, CA, Aiken, SC and Saratoga, NY winning many national high goal and medium goal tournaments. Son Grant and daughter Riley are hooked on the sport as well, and can be found at the forefront of youth polo events throughout the year. The family club, Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, serves as both the training facility for the Ganzis teams, but as frequent tournament venues for all levels of play which include spring and fall seasons that attract both locals and visiting players from around the world.

 

JUAN BOLLINI

Arriving in Florida in 1985, Juan Bollini made an immediate impact on the American polo scene. A talented 5-goal player, the Argentine native would have much to learn, but his dedicated, disciplined approach to the game of polo would pay off with one of the longest and most successful careers in the game. “I have been very lucky with the patrons that I have been able to play with,” the humble 8-goaler offers, “I have made many good friends over the years and have had a great deal of success with them as well.” His successes on the American polo scene range from the USPA Gold Cup at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club to the $100,000 International Gold Cup in Boca Raton.

Numerous wins in the East Coast Open, the Monty Waterbury, the Aiken Gold Cup and the Sunshine League Championships have only added to Juan’s extensive resume. Juan had always revered the careers of Memo Gracida and Gonzalo Pieres as being the best in the game not only because they played well, but because they elevated the games of their teammates, but that is his goal every time he rides onto the field. He points to the extended careers of brothers Carlos and Memo Gracida for their long and consistent reigns at the top of their professions, but at 8-goals and a trophy case full of silver, Juan has managed to continually take home championships for nearly three decades. His international victories are equally impressive including the British Open, but his talents haven’t limited him to the vast green expanses of the world’s international polo fields. Equipped with mallet and horse, Juan has also won championships in the snow and in the sand, scoring multiple wins in the St. Moritz World Snow Cup in Switzerland, the Snow Championships in Aspen, Colorado as well as the 2008 Miami Beach Polo World Cup on the sands of South Beach.

Entering a stage in life when most polo professionals have retired, Juan’s tireless work ethics, superb conditioning and attention to detail have maintained his high international handicap and supported his continued success on the field.

SCOTT DEVON

Scott is a second generation polo player and entrepreneur from Michigan. Founder of the Catamount Polo Team, Scott has won numerous high goal 22 and 26 goal tournaments at the IPC Polo Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Scott was named USPA Amateur Player of the Year in 2004 and raised to 4 goals. After a 3 year hiatus due to an injury, Scott has returned to polo and plans to play in the high goal next season. Scott has also served on the Board of the Polo Hall of Fame.

In addition to his polo pursuits, Scott owns Michigan based Cole’s Foods and the luxury watch and denim company, Devon based in New York and Los Angeles.

TEAM AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION

MELISSA GANZI

Melissa Ganzi is one of the very few female high-goal patrons in the sport of polo. Her list of championships include Santa Barbara Polo Club’s 2009 Bill Triller 20-goal, 2007 Western Badge and Trophy 20-goal, 2008 Mayors Cup, all at Santa Barbara; the 2009 WCT Championship in Wellington, FL; the 2008 Miami Beach Polo World Cup; the Aspen Snow Polo Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2009 the North America Cup in 2009 and was the first woman player to capture the Monty Waterbury Cup (2001).

Melissa was also part of a historic moment in the game last November when she set a world record for the most consecutive chukkers played, playing 30 chukkers in a benefit match for the Wounded Warriors project in Aiken, South Carolina.

Polo is a family sport for Melissa, playing with and against husband Marc in both high-goal and medium goal play. Son Grant and daughter Riley are hooked on the sport as well, and can be found at the forefront of youth polo events throughout the year. The family club, Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, serves as both the training facility for the Ganzis teams, but as frequent tournament venues for all levels of play which include spring and fall seasons that attract both locals and visiting players from around the world.

Melissa’s dedication to the sport manifests itself in many forms from sponsorship of youth polo events, and charitable functions like Best Buddies to her support of the Museum of Polo and instrumental part in bringing the the Westchester Cup international competition to the United States in 2009 (she donated over 30 horses for the British team to use) to hosting the Gay Polo League Tournament on her Grand Champions fields.

GLEN HOLDEN III

Glen Holden III or Glencito as most of his friends and family call him, was practically born into the wonderful sport of polo. Being the fourth generation of polo players in the Holden family, he learned to ride and play at a very young age. Most of his weekends growing up were spent in Santa Barbara watching his father, uncle, and grandfather play. Glen recalls “Some of my earliest and best memories are of polo at the club.”

Glen began to play competitively at the age of 12, but was short-lived, playing only a few tournaments with his father and grandfather. After playing for less than a year, it was decided that school and other extracurricular activities would take precedence over polo.

On his 23rd birthday, he went out to lunch with his father and received a box containing a brand new pair of riding boots. Glen asked his father, “These are great, but what are they for?” He responded, “I want you to play polo with your grandfather on his 80th birthday.” And so began an undying appreciation for this incredible sport.

Glen has had the privilege and pleasure of playing in a variety of tournaments and places with his amazing family and fantastic friends.

NIC ROLDAN

Nic Roldan was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Father, Raul Roldan, was a professional player and played for the Sultan of Brunei’s team for many years. At an age when most toddlers are taking their first steps, Nic was learning how to swing a polo mallet.

In 2001, Nic won the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open at the Santa Barbara Polo Club and four years later his handicap elevates to seven goals. The following year, his handicap is raised to 8 goals and he wins the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open for the second time in 2007.

Nic was selected in 2009 to represent the United States in the Westchester Cup against England and immediately following that, his handicap is raised to 9 goals. Shortly after, Nic is recognized in Vanity Fair’s 10 Hottest Horsemen. In 2010, Nic captained Prince Harry’s charity team, Sentebale, during the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governor’s Island and he won the 2010 USPA Silver Cup.

PATRICK M. NESBITT

Patrick M. Nesbitt, is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Windsor Capital Group, Inc., (WCG) which is based in Santa Monica, Calif. Nesbitt started his real estate career at age 13, rehabilitating residential projects in his hometown, Detroit, Mich.

Since he founded Windsor Capital Group over 40 years ago, the company has become the largest private owner and operator of Embassy Suite Hotels in the U.S. In addition, WCG owns and manages a number of other hospitality assets under Marriott and Hilton franchise agreements. In total, WCG owns and/or operates 25 branded hotels in 9 states across the U.S. The Company’s development projects also include office buildings, shopping centers, apartment complexes and exclusive residential developments.

Nesbitt is currently a member of the World Presidents Organization (WPO) and the Young Presidents Organization (G). He is the former President of the San Fernando Valley YPO Chapter and has served as Education Chairman for YPO’s Pacific Region.

As an educator, he has taught real estate law at the USC Graduate School of Business, lectured at Loyola Marymount and UCSB and has served on the Imperial Valley College faculty. Nesbitt has also conducted seminars nationwide on computerized multi-listing techniques for the National Association of Realtors.

Apart from his business-related interests, Nesbitt is actively involved in the high-goal polo circuit both nationally and internationally. He is the past Governor of the Pacific Coast Circuit and current Secretary of the United States Polo Association. Nesbitt also represents the U.S. as a member on the Council of Administration of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and serves as a member of its Marketing Committee. He is also the current Executive Director of the Pan American Polo Confederation and was the Executive Director of the 5th World Polo Championships held in Santa Barbara, Calif. in August 1998. Through these organizations, Nesbitt is working to return polo to the Summer Olympic Games, along with introducing polo into the Pan American Games.

His civic activities include fund-raising work as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Whittier College School of Law in Los Angeles and as a member of the Development Committee at his alma mater in Detroit, Catholic Central High School.

Nesbitt completed his undergraduate studies at the United States Air Force Academy and earned a Masters Degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan. He also earned his JD from Whittier College in California and has been a member of the Los Angeles County, California and American Bar Associations since 1982.

July 9th, 2011 – The Foundation Polo Challenge will benefit The American Friends of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry. An afternoon of food, drinks and polo graciously sponsored by Tiffany & Co. at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club 3300 Via Real Carpinteria, CA 93013. VIP Gates open at 11am – VIP Luncheon prepared by Giada de Laurentiis, Valet Parking. For more information and to purchse tickets — www.foundationpolochallenge.com

Audi announced it will be an official sponsor of The Foundation Polo Challenge sponsored by Tiffany & Co., a charity polo match taking place on July 9, 2011 to benefit The American Friends of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and the Polo Training Center of Santa Barbara.

The Foundation Polo Challenge will bring together the world’s polo elite in Santa Barbara at the famed Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.  The match will consist of three teams playing six chukkers and players will include Audi Polo Team members Wesley Ru, Marc Ganzi, Juan Bollini and Scott Devon. After the match, the day’s festivities will continue with an exclusive private reception and a three-course luncheon designed by celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis. This high-profile event will not only raise funds for two important charities, but will also kick off the 2011 summer polo season and celebrate the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club’s Centennial.