The 3^rd Annual POLO CHALLENGE MATCH between Patrick Smith’s COMMANDO LOCK TEAM and Roy Link’s LINK ENGINEERING TEAM was held on the beautiful grounds of THE DETROIT POLO CLUB.  Over 150 sharply attired guests attended a delicious country barbeque held prior to the match.  A Best Lady’s Hat contest was held in addition to the usual Best Playing Pony (BPP) and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.  This year’s match was a round robin comprised of three teams – COMMANDO with Patrick Smith, Collin Mc Cosh, Paul Wheaton and Mark Frenchi.  Bob Donahey brought his Cleveland, OH team in to play as LINK ENGINEERING – they were Will Donahey, Mike Gruobert, Craig Fraser and Bob Donahey.  A team from & named KENTUCKY was comprised of Tanya Evans, Caleb Smith, Will Boland & Dan Lanham.  It was a hard fought & evenly matched game that saw LINK ENGINEERING (Cleveland) pull ahead in the sixth chukker for a one-goal victory.

The total crowd of approximately 250 spectators enjoyed solid & highly competitive play by all teams for this fun polo challenge.   The diverse crowd had spectators from all over Michigan & Ohio plus guests from Germany and Sweden. The weather was outstanding with temperatures in the low 80s.  The Lady’s Hat contest (judged by 2008 winner Jennifer Mejia and Sandra Stalmack & Pamela Dangovian) was won by a polo player and new University of Michigan teaching staff person – KODI SCHEER.  Runner up went to a beautiful Birmingham MI resident PATTY KAROUB with her happy & pretty 11 month old child SAMANTHA in her arms.

COMMANDO was the 2008 winner but this year’s victory & bragging rights go to LINK ENGINEERING.   Best Playing Pony went to T/2 a seven-year old gray thoroughbred mare owned and played by BOB DONAHEY.   A USPA best playing pony blanket went to T/2.  CRAIG FRASER won silver for his MOST VALUABLE PLAYER performance.  Ms. Scheer (who also won a silver USPA platter) presented the trophies to the winning team.

MERLE & VERA JENKINS (Merle is the founder of the Detroit club) were on hand to lead the crowd onto the field for “stomping’ in the divots” and enjoyed lots of good old Kentucky bourbon.   Sande Weiler was time/score keeper and George Kuper and Jerry Hutcheson chose the MVP.  Vera Jenkins selected the BPP.  Roger Redman of Detroit & Sarasota FL polo was umpire.  Jerry Hutcheson was the announcer/commentator.

The DPC has two back-to-back 8-goal polo tournaments coming late in August (including a employee scholarship fund sponsored by area 7-Eleven stores and Larry Penzien).  The DPC is always happy to welcome out of town players or spectators.  Their website is www.detroitpoloclub.com

The Detroit Polo Club will be featured in the September issue of Saddle Up! magazine.

The “GODFATHER” of the Detroit Polo Club, MERLE JENKINS and his long-suffering wife, VERA, are back in MI for the DPC summer season along with 20 + horses and three polo playing grandsons – COLIN MC COSH, JEREMY JENKINS AND STEPHEN JENKINS.

2009 DPC president, GEORGE KUPER, and his lovely wife, DANIELLE (also a polo player) are leading the DPC to an active & fun social season and a well organized match schedule. Quite a number of UM and MSU Polo Team members are working and playing at the DPC this summer. They are all welcome additions to the club and bring a lot of talent, fun & enthusiasm.

TANIA EVANS, Editor of Great Lakes Horse Sports, and her daughter (UM Polo Team member), OLIVIA FAJEN, have added speed and fun to our practices along with UM members JULIA SCHROEDER & CALEB SMITH. CALEB and KODI SCHEER (former UM player and now on UM staff) have taken on the handling of our DPC website and are doing a great job. SANDE WEILER our former website ace & club president has officially retired from active play but is still hanging about the polo grounds.

PAUL WHEATON (DPC Club Pro & Manager) has married EMMALYN PARTLOW (former MSU Polo Team President) and the happy couple is making their summer home in MI. Somehow or other Paul has convinced Emmalyn to do half of his job!! They both add a great deal to the DPC as managers and players.

DPC starts August with the 3rd Annual COMMANDO – LINK CHALLENGE CUP. PATRICK SMITH leads his COMMANDO LOCK team versus the LINK ENGINEERING team of ROY LINK. The event will also have a exhibition rugby match performed by the DETROIT RUGBY TEAM, a Lady’s Hat Contest and a VIP luncheon to help benefit the local – Hartland, MI – 4 H RIDING CLUB. Many trophies & awards will be presented and JERRY HUTCHESON will lead the cheering section and comment on this always exciting & fun match.

August will also bring the USPA OFFICERS CUP and the MID-AMERICA CUP to the DPC. Teams from Cleveland, Grand Rapids and Toronto are expected to compete against 2 or 3 DPC based teams.

DPC welcomes any out of town players or spectators. Their website is www.detroitpoloclub.com. CATARINA BJELKENGREN from Sweden and a recent MIT grad is now working in the area and has joined us for riding & stick n balling. CLEMENS WOGERBAUER of Zurich, Switzerland was a recent visitor and rider.

The schedule for our 2009 season is:

Ever dream of having a really unique corporate party, company picnic, wedding, shower, anniversary or other special event? We can help make your dream a reality with a special event package at the Detroit Polo Club. We offer a variety of options from full turn key packages where all you do is invite your guests and sit back and enjoy the game, to more modest field side events tailored to a tailgate party theme. All sizes of groups accommodated, all price ranges available. Events may be planned for any evening or Sunday afternoon from May 31st to October 1st.

• Corporate Parties
• Company Picnics
• Singles Events
• Weddings
• Showers
• Anniversaries
• Birthday Parties
• Family Reunions

Other Marketing Opportunities

• Field-side billboards
• Ads for products and services on our website
• Product Sampling and Announcements at Sunday matches

For more information on marketing and sponsorship opportunities, contact us using the form below!

The new website is up and running!

The Detroit Polo Club is located northwest of the Detroit Metropolitan area in Hartland, Michigan.

From Detroit:

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• Head southeast on MI-1/US-12/Woodward Ave toward W Larned St 0.1 mi
• Turn left at E Jefferson Ave 0.3 mi
• Continue on I-375 N 1.2 mi
• Merge onto I-75 N 9.8 mi
• Take exit 61 to merge onto I-696 W toward Lansing 18.4 mi
• Take the exit onto I-96 W 15.7 mi
• Take exit 148B to merge onto US-23 N toward Flint 7.8 mi
• Take exit 67 for MI-59 toward Howell 0.3 mi
• Turn left at E Highland Rd/MI-59 0.2 mi
• Turn left at N US-23 1.0 mi
• Turn right at Bergin Rd 1.5 mi
• Turn left at Chukker Cove 0.5 mi
• At the end of Chukker Cove, pass through the gate and continue straight to the tent (if you’ve come to watch a game) or turn right and follow the road (for lessons or to meet with an instructor).

From Ann Arbor:

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• Head north on I-94 Bus/US-23/Washtenaw Ave toward Palmer Dr
• Continue to follow I-94 Bus/US-23 1.0 mi
• Turn right at N Main St/US-23 1.2 mi
• Take the ramp onto MI-14 E 1.3 mi
• Take the exit on the left onto US-23 N toward Flint/Brighton 22.5 mi
• Take exit 67 for MI-59 toward Howell 0.3 mi
• Turn left at E Highland Rd/MI-59 0.2 mi
• Turn left at N US-23 1.0 mi
• Turn right at Bergin Rd 1.5 mi
• Turn left at Chukker Cove 0.5 mi
• At the end of Chukker Cove, pass through the gate and continue straight to the tent (if you’ve come to watch a game) or turn right and follow the road (for lessons or to meet with an instructor).

There are several classes of membership available at the DPC. All playing memberships also require that the player be a member of the United States Polo Association. Dues are assessed annually and cover a playing season from May 1 through October 15 each year although USPA membership is good year round for players who participate at more than one club.

Playing Member

Entitles a player to participate in all scrimmages, games, and tournaments. Players must demonstrate prior knowledge of the game and its rules and will be required to have a current membership in the United States Polo Association. As in the case of all member clubs of the USPA, a member must have a previously assigned USPA handicap or request that one be assigned through the USPA Club Delegate.

Student/Junior Member

Player must either be 18 years or younger and must have completed at least one USPA Player Clinic. Entitled to play in all scrimmages, games and tournaments, this membership is provided at a reduced dues rate. Family memberships are also available

Professional Member

Defined as a member who is employed in a polo playing capacity or is an accredited polo pony trainer or polo instructor. Requires USPA membership and is provided at a reduced dues rate. Determination of professional status is made by the Board of Directors of the Detroit Polo Club.

Supporting Member

Non-playing membership is also available at the Detroit Polo Club and entitles the Supporter to free admission to all games and practices, participation in all social events, a membership card and car sticker identifying you as a member of the Detroit Polo Club. Annual fee for this class is $150.00 for single membership and $250.00 for a family.

Other

For players interested in partial season memberships, there are several playing member packages available based on a per game or per month rate.

Lesson Packages: We offer single or group lessons, hourly or by the block. Instructors are USPA certified and horses and mallets are provided. Some basic riding skills are required

For more information, please contact us using the form below.
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