The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Final will be played for the first time in Wellington at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. with Susan G. Komen Florida as the charity partner of the tournament.
The exciting day of championship polo is the final event in the competition and will feature world-class women’s polo players, a pink tailgating competition and brunch at IPC’s exclusive Mallet Grille, while increasing awareness and support for breast cancer.
“With one in eight women in the United States affected by breast cancer, it is a disease that impacts our players, our followers and our friends and loved ones,” polo professional Jennifer Williams said. “Our sport has the power to increase awareness about early detection and save lives through a strong partnership with Susan G. Komen Florida.”
Fans of polo and supporters of breast cancer will experience a number of fun and inspirational activities throughout the day, starting with the championship event at 11 a.m. that is expected to be surrounded by a sea of pink tents vying to win the “Most Spirited Pink Tailgate” contest. Mid-match, there will be a pink champagne divot stomp, followed post-match by a delicious poolside brunch at the Mallet Grille. Komen Florida is offering a variety of sponsorships at all levels, and tailgate spaces for twelve and stadium boxes for eight are available.
“We are grateful to the United States Polo Association, U.S. Polo Assn., the International Polo Club and the Women’s International Polo Network for giving Komen Florida such a visible presence among the polo community to share our message and educate more women about breast cancer,” said Kate Watt, executive director of Komen Florida. “The funds we raise through the championship event will help us increase access to quality breast healthcare for those who can’t afford it and decrease the 2,700 deaths from this disease in our state every year.”
The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship and Komen Florida will have additional opportunities for awareness when a small callout is made during the U.S. Open broadcast on CBS Sports in April 28 at 2 p.m. and in the new “Women in Polo” show that will air in Palm Beach County.
At the championship tournament, entry is free, but parking is $10. Tailgates are $300 per spot and include 12 parking passes and tournament tickets. Stadium boxes for eight are $400. For more info., contact boxoffice@internationalpoloclub.com or (561) 282-5331.
Post-match brunch at the Mallet Grill is $55 per person. Contact rsvp@internationalpoloclub.com or (561) 282-5333 for more info.
Sponsorships range from $2,500 to $10,000. Contact Denise Mariani at denise@komensouthflorida.org or (561) 514-3020 for info.
The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship dates back to the 1930s in California. The first tournament was presented by the United States Women’s Polo Association in 1937 at the Golden Gate Field in San Francisco. Women were officially welcomed into the United States Polo Association in 1972 with Sue Sally Hale becoming the first woman member. The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship competition did not resurface until the early 1990s. On the centennial of the USPA in 1990, a U.S. Women’s Open was officially sanctioned and held at Empire Polo Club in California. After a few years of competition, the event once again lost momentum. It was officially recognized as a national tournament in 2011 and has been hosted at the Houston Polo Club for the past seven years, becoming the largest annual women’s polo event in the U.S.
