The first 12 goal tournament started at Cowdray this weekend and Guards had their first internal 15 Goal Match. The big 2 have swung into action as usual with I believe 10 teams at Cowdray in the 12 and 6 teams at Guards in the 15. While the other supposed larger clubs are struggling to generate much internal action over 8 goal level and will probably have to rely on outside entries to their HPA tournaments at the 12 and 15 levels, the question arises as to whether all the other clubs are just points of entry or has the proliferation of registered clubs that we have seen over the last few tears diluted the available resource in the same way that has happened with the lesser number of people that play in the arena? It has probably taken the economic downturn with people being less willing or able to travel and patronise each others’ clubs to bring this fully to our attention but I believe that the gravitation of people to the bigger and/or better facilities on both a national and local level will make for hard times indeed for quite a few of the affiliates during the summer. My advice is to concentrate on the core business and to be aggressively seeking new people to come into the game thereby building up a new resource that will next and in following years help sustain the business. A lack of flexibility and a failure to adapt to the new reality could well prove costly and time spent on activities that are unrealistic in these markets, just because you have always run/done it, will be I venture better used on growing new business. Additionally the proliferation of private facilities, both stable yards and boxes around existing clubs has led to empty space at traditional club facilities and a reduction in membership at the medium and large clubs. People can play polo 6 days a week WITHOUT joining a club per se. They can join a smaller (therefore cheaper) one and then play practise chukkas/matches and even weekend tournaments at private facilities as and when they want to. They will also find that they will get more flexibility as to timings as Club’s structures tend to be more rigid and as to level of play, as these events tend to be organised “on the hoof” so to speak. Payment is on a one off basis and charges are lower than those levied at the clubs. Pitches are very often in better condition and professional charges are less. Above all else because of the more relaxed atmosphere and essential non competitiveness of most of it the person paying sees more of the ball and there is far less aggravation so consequently more enjoyment. As far as they are concerned it is a win on many levels and they will continue to talk with their feet. Certainly in the Berkshire area, from the early days of renting a pitch at Coworth Park and a bit of activity by invitation at a couple of private grounds, the privateer circuit has proliferated immensely. North of London too I am told most of the activity is gravitating towards Newmarket and the good grounds there. It would appear that an old tenet may well come to pass, that in time of scarcity the strong get stronger as the weak get weaker and all the time predators lurk on the edges of the herd picking off the stragglers. My thanks to David Attenborough and watch this space.
Next as the dust begins to settle I will take a look at how the 22 Goal is going to shape up.