NEWS

While teams in Wellington, Florida, begin to battle for the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO®, action continues at full speed on the West Coast at the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, California. Ten teams competed over four weeks for the Pacific Coast Circuit Officers Cup, in the end it was Antelope who came out on top. Geoff Palmer’s historic organization is now led by his 20-year-old son Grant, who grew up playing at Eldorado.

“The tournament was very competitive. I had the idea to make this team last summer when we started to make plans for 2022. I enjoy playing with my friends and our handicaps worked out to play the 8-goal this month,” Grant told CLICKPOLO.

What can you tell us about your team for this tournament?

"Santiago [Trotz] has been playing with Antelope for many years and he's my mentor in polo. Bayne [Bossom]* and Ian [Schnoebelen] are two of my closest friends and our handicaps and positions seemed perfect to make a team."

What's the story of Antelope?

"Antelope started with my father Geoff in the 90s before I was even born. It's the street name of a ranch he used to own in Los Angeles, [California]. Since most polo teams are named after farms or ranches, he got the idea for Antelope."

What is your personal story with polo?

"I grew up playing at Eldorado, so it's like a home for me. My father played every season there while I was growing up, and I played in junior polo mostly. We played together the last five years, and now that he's getting out of polo, I like to make teams with my friends that I grew up playing with."

Can you tell us about your last season in California and your goals for this year?

"Last season in Santa Barbara wasn't as successful as we'd hoped, but I'm really excited for this year's 18-goal. I will continue to play the rest of the season at Eldorado until the end of March, and then play the 12 goal in Santa Barbara [Polo & Racquet Club] [Carpinteria, California] in May and June before the start of the 18-goal."

What are your long-term goals both as a player and the lead of Antelope?

"Long term goals are difficult to say, I hope I will be able to continue playing for a long time. Polo in California seems to be getting better every year, with more teams and better quality of competition."

*Bayne Bossom is an Active Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.