Pre-event conference at the Wanderer’s Club. Left to right: Palm Beach Chapter President Tom Van Horn, Washington, DC Chapter President Gwendolyn Sutton, CEO of Hotels At Sea Lisa Spoden, Chairman of Hotels At Sea, Captain of the International Circumnavigators Club Polo Team and Chairman of the International Polo Tour Tareq Salahi and Breanna Gunnell, accomplished female polo player at 4 goals. All photos on this page © by Ingrid Webster for Polo Promoters LLC.
What was supposed to be “a Polo match with an ensuing lobster dinner” turned out to be an outstanding evening of excitement, fun, food and camaraderie. To call this event spectacular would be an understatement. Friday, November 22, 2024 was on track to be a special day where memories were made.
Entering the well-manicured grounds of the Wanderers Club, you could sense an adventurous mood wafting among the crowd. The anticipation on that day was difficult to beat.
For good reason: The Circumnavigaters Club of the Palm Beaches held its Season Opener by sponsoring a Polo Match and the ‘Circumnavigators Club Polo Team’ at the Wanderers Club in Wellington. Promoted as ‘Polo & Lobstermania’, it attracted a good crowd to a full house.
From the club’s brochure, as submitted by the Club’s President, Tom Van Horn:
“The Circumnavigators Club is an international organization devoted to bringing together those men and women who have circumnavigated the globe for the purpose of making the world a better place through friendship and understanding.
The Club was organized in 1902 when two Americans, sailing across the Indian Ocean, discussed their good fortune to be going around the world. Upon their return to New York, James H. Birch, Jr. and John D. Morrison founded the Circumnavigators Club along with E. H. Patterson.
Today the Club, headquartered in New York City, has over 750 members worldwide.”
Now imagine going to a club meeting, and you’re treated to a Polo game where you sit literally next to the action. You’re so close, that you can feel a slight draft when the players race their ponies past you. And while you’re sipping your cocktail, the impeccable field in front of you is alive with speed and skill.
You knew immediately that this was something special. Not your typical Polo game, and not your typical lobster dinner.
Thanks to the mastery of Tom Van Horn, President of the Circumnavigators Club Palm Beach Chapter, the evening was so enjoyable, and it went so smoothly as if there was no effort at all to stage it.
Make no mistake. An event like that requires weeks, if not months for planning and lots of “labor of love” if you will. Fortunately, Tom had the most capable help to pull it off. His wife Judy, who is the Vice President of Hospitality, Tareq Salahi as team captain and owner of ‘Hotels at Sea’ as well as the International Polo Tour, and countless support staff by both the teams and the Wanderers Club.
An evening of perfection.
What made this interesting for me as an observer and Polo fanatic, was the concept of bringing an equestrian sport to a club meeting for the enjoyment of all. The game, the cocktails, the adventurous club members, the special dinner – it all combined into an energized experience that will linger for times to come.
The Circumnavigators Club of The Palm Beaches Thanks Levi Jones and The entire staff of The Wanderers Club for an unbelievable customer experience and to Ricky Bostwick and Bostwick Polo LLC for organizing the Polo for this fantastic event.
Bowl-in of the Polo ball by the Umpire
Nobody should leave an event without a souvenir
You would think that this pony is floating, when in fact it’s the rhythm of its gallop that lifts it off the ground
A gorgeous backdrop for the game: the building of the Wanderers Club that houses all its amenities
Who will get to the ball first?
Together they’re invincible: The Circumnavigators Club and Hotels At Sea
Tailgaters in their rows of golf carts keeping a close eye on the game
Polo is an art on its own. Stealing the ball from another player takes practice!
The evening illumination of the field was mesmerizing
Yes – people sat THIS close to the action
Getting the pony right in front of the coveted white orb
Left to right: Organizer and President Tom Van Horn, Lisa Spoden CEO Hotels At Sea and Nancy Johnson, Member of The American German Club of The Palm Beaches who starts her six month Circumnavigation in December
Player’s Parade in front of an applauding crowd after the game
Done with a great job: Team Captain Tareq Salahi and his best player, number three Marcos Bignoli!
The Circumnavigators Club Polo Team with Tom and Judy Van Horn (center)
Two hard working teams that made for a fantastic game
While the players were presented with gift bags, the umpire got to celebrate with the ladies
Decorations by the Wanderers Club created a harvest mood for its guests
Looks like it was a great time. Sorry that I missed it.
Jay
What an unforgettable evening! The polo match was nothing short of exhilarating, with the thundering hooves and graceful plays creating the perfect backdrop for a spectacular night. The atmosphere at the elegant country club was absolutely enchanting, and the dinner that followed, a true “lobster mania,” was a feast for the senses—succulent lobster prepared to perfection.
What really set the evening apart, though, was the fascinating company. I had the privilege of conversing with some truly inspiring people who had circumnavigated the globe, each sharing tales of adventure, cultural discoveries, and the unique challenges of their travels. Their stories brought a sense of wanderlust and wonder to the evening, and it was a true reminder of how interconnected the world is.
Overall, it was an extraordinary blend of high society elegance, thrilling sport, and captivating conversation—a night that will be remembered for years to come.