Oak Brook Polo Score Magazine 2015 by Hinsdale Magazine Group

$4 US JULY 2015 OAKBROOKPOLOCLUB.COM

THE HISTORY OF OAK BROOK POLO MICHAEL BUTLER

OAK BROOK’S ROYAL POLO WEEKEND

JAMES DRURY

OAK BROOK POLO CLUB TEAM CAPTAIN

VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK

PAST AND PRESENT

INTERNATIONAL DAY

contents

welcome

2015 ANNOUNCER .......................... 10

roster

PLAYER BIOGRAPHIES ...................... 12

sponsors

2015 SPONSORSHIPS ....................... 14

2015 season

SPONSORSHIPS ................................ 16 COMMITTEE MEMBERS .................... 22

general info

2015 EVENT CALENDAR ................... 26

articles

POLO 101 ........................................ 28 HISTORY OF OAK BROOK POLO ...... 30 MICHAEL BUTLER INTERVIEW ........... 34 VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK.................. 38 Q & A: JAMES DRURY ...................... 52 EVE BRANSON FOUNDATION .......... 62 U.S. POLO ASSN. .............................. 65

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

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welcome

By Gopal Lalmalani, Village President

Thank you for joining us! The 2015 season celebrates the 90th Anniversary of polo in Oak Brook. Throughout the season, the Polo Club will act as a host to several international visitors. Additionally, four exciting polo teams will play on the beautiful Prince Charles polo field to offer you the finest in polo competition. We hope you will take time to look through this magazine, as it includes background on the sport of polo, historical information, and information from our sponsors and supporters. On behalf of the Village of Oak Brook, the Oak Brook Polo Committee, and the Oak Brook Polo Club, we would like to extend our appreciation to our returning sponsors and advertisers for their continued support, as well as our new sponsors and advertisers for the 2015 season. Oak Brook Polo is a unique event that is tightly woven into our community’s history, and it is because of the consistent support of the Village, our sponsors and supporters that you are able to enjoy the renaissance of polo--the oldest team sport in the world. We hope you enjoy your time at today’s polo matches. As you may know, Oak Brook is a premier community, with spacious, prestigious residential areas, and a beautiful commercial district. To learn more about Oak

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2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

Brook as a place to live, work, play, shop, dine, and stay, visit www.oak-brook.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you for making the 2015 season a success!

2015 announcer Rob Wilkinson grew up in Zimbabwe, and has been playing polo since he was eight years old. He played for his country as a schoolboy touring England, and then went on to play for Colorado State University who became National Collegiate Champions in the 1990’s. Rob now plays, umpires, and commentates at a number of polo clubs in the Chicagoland area. He is currently a member of the Blackberry Polo Club, and looks forward to another successful Oak Book Season.

Wishing You an Exciting 2015 Polo Season

CLARENDON HILLS Part II: Middaugh Mansion

PETER BELL

KITCHEN WALK

Zen and the art of kitchen design

JENNY WATERS

Executive director, National Association of Women Lawyers

HINSDALE NATIVE NOW A LEADER IN THE AUTISM COMMUNITY

JUDY HSU

CLARENDON HILLS

THE BUZZ ON HEALTHY EATING CHEF AND BEEKEEPER SEAN CURRY

Part III: The Future

ANCHORED IN LIFE

THE AGE OF ELEGANCE

HINSDALE

The Drake Hotel undergoes extensive renovation

PART I: EXPLORING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

FACEBOOK TO FAMILY

CHRIS & PAULA MURPHY OF BURR RIDGE

HJWC international affairs committee confronts global women’s issues

OAK BROOK POLO CLUB AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL BUTLER

Proudly serving the communities of Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills and Oak Brook

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Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. @ Hinsdale60521.com 38 Blaine Street Ste. 2 | Hinsdale, IL 60521 | 630.655.3400 news@Hinsdale60521.com advertise@Hinsdale60521.com

player roster | biographies Matias Obregon (5 goals) Matias was born in Argentina and comes from a large family of polo players. At an early age Matias and his family were based in Chicago and he is happy to return to Chicago for polo. He now lives in Wellington, Florida and travels throughout the US for polo. Matias has played all levels of tournament polo but his favorite tournament was winning the Governor’s Cup in California with his twin brother Tomas. Wesley (Whistle) Uys (5 goals) Originally from South Africa, Whistle started playing polo with his Dad on their family farm. He moved to the United States 18 years ago to play professionally. In addition to playing polo Whistle also breeds and trains his own polo ponies. Whistle and his wife Shirra are based in Franklin, TN but they travel throughout the US for polo. Del Walton (3 goals) Born into a polo playing family, Del Walton found his way into the saddle at any early stage. He became a professional player at the age of 16. Career highlights include winning the 26 goal US Gold Cup twice and winning the coveted 26 goal US Open in 2005. He was most recently awarded MVP playing in the Bridgehampton 20 goal in 2013. His grandfather, Del Carroll, won the US Open numerous times during the years it was hosted at Oak Brook. He is married and has three sons. When not traveling, he is at home in South Carolina breeding and training future polo ponies. Tod Rackley (3 goals) Tod grew up in the Chicago area in a horse oriented family. He has participated/competed in pony club,

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4-H, horse shows, and fox hunting as a youngster. As a teenager he started playing polo and his career has taken him to competitions in South Africa, Argentina, Thailand, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. He currently is the manager of the Chicago Professional League. Jason Wates (3 goals) Jason (aka “Jamaica” or “JJ”) has been honing his polo skills over the last 6 years in the USA. Jason comes from a strong equestrian family in Jamaica. He has an impressive string of horses who are his “US” family and now he also has a doting best friend “Wally” who can be spotted under the truck enjoying the shade while Jason works. In addition to Chicago Jason also plays in Aiken, South Carolina. Dean Kleronomos (2 goals) Dean with comes from an active polo family that includes his father Angelo. Their Morgan Creek polo farm in Oswego has been host to several great competitions and many top polo players over the years. Dean is a practicing attorney and in addition to polo, he is a passionate soccer player and enjoys time with his family. Jack Murphy (2 Goals / Umpire) Jack Murphy has been riding and playing polo for most of his life. He has played professionally in Chicago and in many places around the country. In addition to playing polo, Jack is also the head umpire for Chicago International Polo. Rob Wilkinson (2 goals / Announcer) Rob Wilkinson grew up in Zimbabwe, and has been playing polo since he was 8Yrs old. He played for his country as a schoolboy touring England, and then went on to play for Colorado State University who became National Collegiate Champions in the 1990’s. Rob now plays, umpires, and commentates at a number of polo clubs in the Chicagoland area. He is currently a member of Blackberry Polo

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

Club, and looks forward to another successful Oak Brook season. Clifton Yandell (1 goal) Clifton who is married with one daughter, Natalie, has played polo for over 30 years. In addition to his experience playing across the US, Clifton has also played polo all over the world including Germany, France, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Guatemala, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, and Canada. Clifton has been an active member of the US Polo Association serving as Central Circuit Governor, a member of the USPA executive committee and chairman of the Central Circuit handicap committee. He currently serves as a member of Central Circuit handicap committee Bob McMurtry (.5 goal) Bob began his polo career in 2004, at the Barrington Hills Polo Club polo school. Bob has played polo in polo at the 4, 6, 8 and 12 goal levels in Chicago and Aiken, SC. Some of the most memorable matches for Bob include the Easter Seals’ Charity Match “Wine and Polo on the Prairie” in Peoria, IL, Chicago Beach Polo at North Av Beach and, of course, polo at the legendary Oak Brook Polo fields. Bob is excited for the return of polo to Oak Brook and wants to thank the sponsors and organizers for bringing the sport of kings back to Oak Brook. John Greene (1 goal) John has had a long and exciting career in polo spanning more than 30 years. He is the founder of Arranmore Farm and Polo Club in Oswego, IL that hosts many exciting polo matches and is home to the Arranmore Center for the Arts which hosts summer concerts and events on the beautiful rounds of Arranmore farm. John is the founder of John Greene realtors and John Greene Land based in Naperville. In addition to polo, John is also an avid fox hunter.

Bob Stevens (.5 goal) Bob began his polo career several years ago by following his wife Melanie to the Barrington Hills Polo Club polo school. Since then both Bob and Mel have become passionate players when they are not tending to business at their family business. In addition to Chicago, Bob also has a farm in Aiken, SC where he hopes to play more polo in the future. David Wolf (1 goal) A Chicago native, David has been playing polo for over 30 years, and has a riding history that dates back to the time he was seven. Like a number of Chicago area players, David got started in polo at Fairlane Farms with the Kuhn family. A professional in the international private equity field, his business his travels have allowed him to play polo in India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Jordan, Singapore, the Philippines, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, England, France, Italy and Finland.” Whitney Vogt (.5 goal) Whitney began riding horses at an early age but she got her start in polo in 1996 while serving as a Captain in the United States Army. She has traveled around the world for polo including competitions in Ireland, India, Argentina, Chile and Mexico as well as numerous clubs throughout the United States. Some of her favorite polo experiences include winning the Mackay Cup in Ireland and Chicago Beach polo. Jim Drury (0 goal) Jim Drury started playing polo in 1983. His Pinecroft team of 25 years has competed successfully in 12 and 16 goal tournaments at the Oak Brook Polo Club. This year, he is captaining the Oak Brook Polo Team. He serves as Chairman/CEO of James Drury

Partners, a board advisory services firm. He and his wife Peggy live in Barrington Hills. Adam Kaminski (0 Goal) Adam Kaminski, 26, of native Chicago Northwest Suburbs who attended DePaul University where he studied economics , finance and marketing before leaving school to dedicate more time to businesses he had already started. His entrepreneurial interests began at an early age. Today, Adam is a young entrepreneur with successful business interests spanning the automotive, retail, financial and entertainment industries. Most recently, he opened the U.S. Trading office for Graphene Trade in Chicago, offering investment opportunities in the exciting and rapidly growing nanotechnology sector. He also manages festivals, concerts and even bull riding events as a partner in the world’s second largest competitive bull riding association. Other business interests include flex fuel technologies for vehicles and specialty automotive parts. In his free time, Adam plays polo - a sport he was introduced to when he was 16. He sums up this pastime by saying, “It’s a sport that totally takes you away from everything else. You have to be focused 100% on the game when you’re on a horse chasing a ball at nearly 30 miles an hour.” Bill O’Leary (0 Goal) Bill began playing polo over 20 years ago and enjoys playing polo at many clubs throughout Illinois including Oak Brook. Rafik Boughadou (-1 goal) Rafik is originally from Algeria and has lived in Chicago for 14 years. His is the owner of Independence Chicago a menswear store on Oak Street in downtown Chicago. Rafik started playing polo in 2009 at the Barrington hills polo club. His favorite polo

experience to date occurred this past Spring when his team won the GPL tournament at the Grand Champions Club in Wellington, Florida. Samantha Falbe (0 goals) Samantha is from Lake Bluff and is the Owner and President of Intelligent Lighting Creations - Lighting provider for corporate events, installations and rock & roll concerts. She is a wife & mother of two boys 5 years & 1 year old. Samantha got her start in polo 13 years ago by taking polo lessons and learning to ride at the same time. She was immediately hooked. Her favorite polo experiences to date include the International Ladies Tournament in Argentina & the Chicago Beach Polo Tournament. Tony Natale (0 goal) Tony began riding jumpers and then playing polo in Texas as a teenager. His most interesting polo experience has been playing in Nairobi, Kenya. He volunteers as a diver at the Shedd Aquarium and at various hospitals’ animal assisted therapy programs along with his dog, Dante. What pays the bills is Tony’s work as a turnaround consultant, independent director and interim CEO. John Yavari (0 goal) John has been playing polo for several years in Chicago. In addition to polo John is also active in fox hunting and golf. Memo Font (0 goal) Memo is an avid player who enjoys playing with his sons Carlos and Alvaro. Memo is a practicing physician in Chicago and enjoys time on and off the field with his wife Mariana and their family at the Font Farm polo club in Plano, IL.

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THANK YOU to our 2015 sponsors platinum level HINSDALE60521.COM

Hinsdale M

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2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

2015 sponsors

gold level

silver level

Napleton Automotive Group

Oak Brook Rail, LLC

Taylor Educational

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sponsor opportunities for 2015 BE A PART OF THE LEGENDARY OAK BROOK POLO CLUB!

2015 season

SUNDAYS: July 12, 19, 26; August 2 (Rain Date) August 9, 16, 23; September 13 (Rain Date)

Corporate Entertaining, Group Outings, and Sponsorship Opportunities: Oak Brook Polo is a high-end, family, group, and corporate event, which is perfect for enjoying with your family, neighbors and friends, entertaining clients, rewarding employees, or raising your company’s profile. We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities that can work within your budget to provide great entertainment and excellent upscale exposure for your business. In addition, as a sponsor, you and your company are supporting RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and doing something great for the community. Season sponsors will enjoy a private tented area, field side seating for guests, and depending on the sponsor-ship level, you will receive a number of VIP tickets for access to the Oak Brook Polo Club VIP Tent.

elite co-titles sponsorship: $25,000 As the Elite Co-Titled Sponsor of Oak Brook Polo 2015, you and your company will receive: • Polo team names with your company, logo jerseys in your company colors • Company representative rides in lead car of opening parade • Company representative throw out ball at featured match • Company representative presents trophy to winning Polo team. Covered by media-photo opportunity, posted on all OBPC social media • Meet and greet with polo players at your tent after featured match • Tented field-side box seating (16) guests in premium location • A total of 96 complimentary VIP event tickets • Three (3) VIP field-side parking spaces • Complimentary champagne for Champagne Divot Stomp • Special offers on food and beverage packages • Two-page 4-color ad in the Oak Brook Polo event magazine, SCORE • Company logo on 2015 OBPC promotional video • Company logo on event signage • Company-provided banner displayed on-site • Recognition in announcements throughout polo matches • Name added to press releases, printed materials and media interviews • Company logo on Presentation Stand • 12 months company ad space on Oak Brook Polo Club website and Facebook page • RMHC Facebook and Website Recognition 16

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sponsor opportunities for 2015 platinum level sponsor: $15,000 As the Platinum Sponsor of Oak Brook Polo 2015, you and your company will receive: • Polo team names with your company, logo jerseys in your company colors • Company representative presents blanket to “Best Playing Pony”. Covered by media-photo opportunity, posted on all OBPC social media • Meet and greet with polo players at your tent after featured match • Tented field-side box seating (16) guests in premium location • A total of 96 complimentary VIP event tickets • Three (2) VIP field-side parking spaces • Complimentary champagne for Champagne Divot Stomp • Special offers on food and beverage packages • Full-page 4-color ad in the Oak Brook Polo event magazine, SCORE • Company logo on 2015 OBPC promotional video • Company logo on event signage • Company-provided banner displayed on-site • Recognition in announcements throughout polo matches • Name added to press releases, printed materials and media interviews • Company logo on Presentation Stand • 12 months company ad space on Oak Brook Polo Club website and Facebook page • RMHC Facebook and Website Recognition

gold level sponsor: $10,000 As the Gold Sponsor of Oak Brook Polo 2015, you and your company will receive: • Polo team names with your company, logo jerseys in your company colors • Company representative presents prize to MVP. Covered by media-photo opportunity, posted on all OBPC social media • Tented field-side box seating (16) guests in premium location • A total of 96 complimentary VIP event tickets • Three (2) VIP field-side parking spaces • Complimentary champagne for Champagne Divot Stomp • Full-page 4-color ad in the Oak Brook Polo event magazine, SCORE • Company logo on 2015 OBPC promotional video • Company logo on event signage • Company-provided banner displayed on-site • Recognition in announcements throughout polo matches • Name added to press releases, printed materials and media interviews • Company logo on Presentation Stand • 12 months company ad space on Oak Brook Polo Club website and Facebook page • RMHC Facebook and Website Recognition

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2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

Tee Off

with the

Bohne Foundation Join us at the 3rd annual Golf Outing to benefit the Bohne Foundation.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2015. The fundraiser will be held at the Oak Brook Golf Club, located at 2606 York Road in Oak Brook. Proceeds will benefit the Bohne Foundation. The Bohne Foundation is dedicated to comforting the destitute, encouraging the hopeless and aiding the neediest members of our global community.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO PARTICIPATE w Dinner Sponsorship $5,000 SOLD w Drink Sponsorship $3,500 w Lunch Sponsorship $2,000 SOLD w Breakfast Sponsorship $1,500 w Cigar Sponsorship $1,500 w Hole Sponsorship $1,000 w Entertainment Sponsorship $1,200 SOLD LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE w Golf Foursome HURRY! $1,500 w Single Golfer $400 w Dinner Tickets $150

REGISTRATION 11:00 A.M. SHOTGUN START 12:00 P.M. COCKTAIL RECEPTION 5:00 P.M. – 6 P.M. DINNER, PROGRAM, AWARDS & PRIZES 6:15 P.M. – 8 P.M. WHO WE’VE SERVED Oklahoma Disaster Relief Effort • Muscular Dystrophy SOS Village • Local underprivileged schools • Peacemakers League of Chicago • Africa Children’s Home • Youth Camps Crisis Center of South Suburbia • American Brain Tumor Assoc.

ONLINE REGISTRATION www.bohnefoundation.org/registration/ For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Gina Kaktis at 708-576-4207 or gina@bohnefoundation.org.

sponsor opportunities for 2015 silver level sponsor: $5,000 As the Silver Sponsor of Oak Brook Polo 2015, you and your company will receive: • Signed polo ball and photo with polo team. Covered by media- photo opportunity, posted on all OBPC social media • Tented field-side box seating (6) guests in premium location • A total of 36 complimentary VIP event tickets • One VIP field-side parking space • Full-page 4-color ad in the Oak Brook Polo event magazine, SCORE • Company logo on 2015 OBPC promotional video • Company-provided banner displayed on-site • Recognition in announcements throughout polo matches • Company logo on Presentation Stand

bronze level sponsor: $3,000 As the Bronze Sponsor of Oak Brook Polo 2015, you and your company will receive: • Tented field-side box seating (6) guests • A total of 36 complimentary VIP event tickets • Half-page 4-color ad in the Oak Brook Polo event magazine, SCORE • Company-provided banner displayed on-site • Recognition in announcements throughout polo matches • Company logo on Presentation Stand *All sponsors may purchase additional discounted “VIP Event Tickets” up to the number of complimentary tickets offered with the sponshorship level. Price includes admission to event and entrance into the VIP tent. In addition, all sponsors may purchase discounted supplemental general admission tickets.

sponsorship and group ticket sales Interested in being a sponsor or purchasing a group of tickets? Please call 630-368-5095 or email us at oakbrookpolo@gmail.com. Additional information is also available online by visiting www.oakbrookpoloclub.com

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KĂŬďƌŽŽŬ ĞŶƚĞƌ ZĞŶŽǀĂƟŽŶ

Photo credit @ Alren Kennedy

ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ ũƵƐƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐƐ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ďĞƩĞƌ ĨŽƌ ŽƵƌ ĐůŝĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ 'ƌĂǇĐŽƌ ŝƐ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϵϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ͘ ǁǁǁ͘ŐƌĂǇĐŽƌ͘ĐŽŵ

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2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB COMMITTEE MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO

Thank you!

FOR MAKING THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!

CO-CHAIR BEVERLY TAYLOR CO CHAIR JAMES PEHTA

BRYAN CORY RAVENSWOOD EVENT SERVICE

BETH MARCHETTI DUPAGE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK TRUSTEE LIAISONS DON ADLER JOHN BAAR

VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK MEMBERS RICK GENIX DONNA BETTIN SHARON DANGLES TREY VAN DYKE

DON’T MISS OAK BROOK POLO IN 2016! 22

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2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

HAT DAY Sunday, July 12th Honoring the members of the Oak Brook Infant Welfare and Oak Brook Women’s Club. Invite friends & family to participate in our Hat Day parade.

DON’T MISS IT, BE A PART OF IT!

LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL DAY Sunday, August 9th The Oak Brook Polo Club proudly welcomes the members of Lion’s Club International

PLEASE JOIN US AS THE 2015 SEASON CELEBRATES THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLO IN OAK BROOK.

CLASSIC CAR DAY Sunday, July 19th A stable of classics you won’t believe! Automobiles from yesteryear and classics of today.

OAK BROOK POLO IS A UNIQUE EVENT THAT IS TIGHTLY WOVEN INTO OUR COMMUNITY’S HISTORY, AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CONSISTENT SUPPORT OF THE VILLAGE, OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE RENAISSANCE OF POLO— THE OLDEST TEAM SPORT IN THE WORLD.

INTERNATIONAL POLO DAY Sunday, August 16th at 1pm Welcoming the Delhi Polo Club from India! Plans are for a four chukker match with the Oak Brook Polo Club, led by team captain James Drury.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME AT THIS YEAR’S POLO MATCHES AND EVENTS. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE 2015 SEASON A SUCCESS!

Event details are available at WWW.OAKBROOKPOLOCLUB.COM

FAMILY DAY

BRITISH DAY

Sunday, July 26th

Sunday, August 23rd

Bring the kids for a fun-filled day with a special appearance from Ronald McDonald. Activities include face painting, balloon art and magic.!

A special event honoring the English Speaking Union of Chicago. Try the famous PIMMS Chukker drink— another Polo tradition from the Brits!

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Experience history for yourself. “When Dad talked the Braeshier’s into opening the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook a class act had arrived. We all enjoyed its elegance. It became the home away from home. And great fun, particularly when the British team visited and Lord Patrick Beresford jumped into the pool from the high board with his umbrella. Great to see it coming back.”

— MICHAEL BUTLER

Built in 1962, The Drake Oak Brook has undergone an extensive renovation to return the property to its prior glory. Representing elegance and traditional service, complimentary shuttle service from the Oak Brook Polo grounds to the polo brunches and after parties will be available.

VISIT THEDRAKEOAKBROOKHOTEL.COM TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CONTACT OUR GUEST SERVICE MANAGER, JUSTINA PIKOR FOR INQUIRIES. PHONE: 630.571.0000 | EMAIL: JPIKOR@FHGINC.COM

The Drake Oak Brook | 2301 York Road | Oak Brook, IL 60523

polo 101

GETTING TO KNOW

the game

The Game Six Chukkers (periods), seven minutes and thirty seconds each. The field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. On the end line at each end are goal posts, 24 feet apart. Points are scored by hitting the ball between the posts. Each time a goal is scored the teams change direction of play. It’s like hockey on horseback. It is legal to “hook” the hitter’s mallet. The game is very physical and can be dangerous. In between chukkers there is a fourminute break for players to change ponies and get a drink. After three chukkers there is a ten-minute “half time.” With time-outs for penalties and the like, a typical match lasts oneand-a-half hours. Players There are four players on the field for each team, wearing a jersey numbered l through 4. The roles of each player are: l. The Forward: Always out in front waiting for a pass. 2. The Hustler: Quick and aggressive with fast ponies. 3. The Pivot: The quarterback. 4. The Back: Defender. There are no goalies. Needs to be very physical and have a good backshot. Helmets are required, and some have face masks. Players wear padded knee guards with long boots. Some may choose to wear elbow pads.

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Mallet It’s a solid bamboo cane with a hard wood head. The mallet ranges from 50-54 inches in length and you hit the ball with the side of the mallet, not the end. All players must hold the mallet in the right h and; left-handed play is not allowed. The Ball Today’s polo b all is solid plastic, weighing 1/4-lb., and is a little larger than a baseball. Historically polo balls were made out of wood. The Horse They are called ponies. Most are former race horses, high -speed Thoroughbreds with exceptional abilities. The tail is braided to stay out of the way of the mallet. The mane is clipped off so the player can see the ball, and to prevent the reins from being tangled in the mane. The idea is for each player to have six ponies one for each chukker. Horse Equipment The saddle is English. A girth, over-girth and breastplate help hold the saddle in place. Two sets of reins are used. A martingale, a part of the harness, keeps the pony from th rowing it’s head and blocking the player’s view. The lower legs are wrapped for support and protection. The Shots Players actually stand up in the stirrups when hitting the ball. The shots are made from the “off” side, which is

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

the right side of the horse. The left side is called the “near” side. With reins in the left hand and a mallet in the right hand, the player is only holding on with his legs. Handicap Players are rated on a scale of minus - 2 to l 0 . Beginners start at minus 2. In handicap matches, each team adds up the ratings of its players to arrive at a team rating. The difference of the two teams’ ratings is awarded as points to the lesser skilled team as the beginning score of the game. Foul When you hear the umpire blow the whistle it ‘s just like basketball somebody foul ed. The other team gets a free hit. The most common foul is crossing the line. Forty percent of all the points in a game are scored from the foul line. Rules Polo is governed by the United States Polo Association. The rules are so complex it takes over 80 pages in the USPA Rule Book just to explain them. In a nut shell: Don’t hit your horse or anyone else’s with your mallet. You can’t play left-handed. No dangerous riding.Abusive play and foul language are not allowed. If a player comes off his or her horse or off the field, the clock can continue to run; if a horse falls down, stop the clock. The team with the most points at the end of six chukkers wins. If the game ends a tie they play sudden death th overtime.

polo plays & fouls

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history of oak brook polo A QUAINT COUNTY VILLAGE BUILT ON THE

tradition of polo By Beverly Taylor

and horse ranching in South Dakota and Montana. FO played polo with his cowboys on the infield of the racetrack, which he owned. The tradition and addiction to polo was passed on to Paul Butler, Michael’s father. In 1922, Paul formed the Oak Brook Polo A 1929 PHOTO OF EDWARD HILLMAN, JR., PAUL BUTLER, Club and built four CARL CRAWFORD AND T. L. CRITES Photos provided by Kathleen Maher, Village of Oak Brook more polo grounds and more stables with stalls for about Michael Butler grew up playing polo 60 horses. On the grounds was a small in Oak Brook and around the world. clubhouse, known as Polo House. In As Michael recalled those days where those days, polo was dominated by Kings really did play on the Oak Brook the east coast establishment mostly Polo Fields, he reminisced, “Nothing has around Meadowbrook in Long Island had such an influence on my life than near Westbury. Michael remembered the sport of polo.”The history of how Oak going with his father to watch him play Brook and the game of kings became at Meadowbrook. Paul Butler became synonymous started with a small paper more involved with the paper company mill built on the Fox River in St. Charles. and, as the cattle business dwindled, Julius Wales Butler moved from the the property north of Hinsdale was no east coast to Illinois and became longer used for cattle. Paul and his partners with Oliver Morris to create the family moved to the farm manager’s prosperous, JW Butler Paper Company. house, where Michael, his brother Frank When traveling from St. Charles to and sister, Jorie grew up. The property Chicago, the village of Hinsdale was now known as Oak Brook and became a convenient stopping place. consisted of several thousand acres Frank Osgood Butler, Julius’s and approximately 16 farms. Paul son, eventually operated the Paper Butler rented the farms to his friends, Company. He settled in Hinsdale and mostly polo players, for an incredibly began to acquire quite a bit of property small amount of money. This helped to north of the village. The property was establish a social and used for the cattle business to fatten sporting scene for the area. Other up the cows before going down to activities such as fox hunting, shooting the stockyards. FO, as he was known, sports, golf and tennis were slowly became considerably involved in cattle 30

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added. Paul became more interested in developing the property; however, his task was to find something of interest to attract people to Oak Brook. At this particular time, Meadowbrook was sold to a developer and the USPA was looking for a place to host national polo tournaments. Butler proposed to build a polo plant in Oak Brook, which would have a great advantage by being in the middle of the country instead of on one of the coasts. The result of his efforts was the creation of 13 Polo grounds, stables for 400 horses and a horse showground. Two Polo grounds were joined to allow for an airstrip where the prop planes of those days could land. And land, they did…royalty, dignitaries and celebrities were all attracted to Oak Brook and Polo. Hosting the USPA tournaments provided the ambiance in Oak Brook that something special was happening and created the appeal to live the good life that Oak Brook offered. Polo was the social sporting scene, which attracted many people. It was a brilliant approach and can lay claim that Polo created Oak Brook. Jorie and Michael Butler managed the Polo Club for many years. The Oak Brook Polo Club was the largest polo plant in the world at that time. Yes, Kings, Queens and celebrities all were drawn to Oak Brook Polo. Prince Charles, Cecil Smith, Maharaja and Maharanee of Jaipur, Lord Cowdray, Major Ronald Ferguson, Lord Patrick Beresford, Audrey Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, Gov. Kerner, King Hussein, and countless others enjoyed beautiful afternoons of polo. The tradition continues in Oak Brook.

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oak brook’s royal polo weekend

INTERVIEW WITH

michael butler

Oak Brook’s royal polo weekend in 1986 started out as a personal invitation from Oak Brook Polo Club chairman Michael Butler to his friend, Prince Charles, England’s Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne. This event would mark the first time the Prince of Wales would play with an English team on American soil. The U.S. team included Butler, Adam Butler, Stuart MacKenzie and Geoffrey J.W. Kent, while Prince Charles’s team members included Andrew Seavill, Martin Brown and Oliver Ellis. MICHAEL BUTLER Once the game got Photograph provided by the Oak Brook Heritage Center underway, it was six chukkers of pure excitement. There were several spills, though not serious, including one in which Prince Charles was Well, it came about when I was getting run down by one of his teammates. ready to run for the U.S. Senate. The The final score of the game was 12-10, governor (Otto Kerner) and Mayor in favor of the prince and his team. of Chicago, Richard [J.] Daley, both We talked with Michael Butler, who were quite fond of me, and I was quite now resides in Woodland Hills, Calif., to fond of them. I ran for state senate in discuss that royal polo weekend and DuPage County. I was not elected, more. but I got more votes than Kennedy or With your family’s history in Oak Brook and polo, you made many political connections with the likes of the Kennedy family and Mayor Richard J. Daley. Can you talk to us about that?

Douglas or anybody—but I still didn’t make it, because they don’t elect democrats in DuPage County. [Sen. Robert] Kennedy asked me to help Otto Kerner to get re-elected governor of Illinois, so I wound up becoming a

manager of his campaign. He was re-elected. So, you knew Bobby Kennedy. Did you meet JFK as well? My real connection was with JFK. I did a lot of work for him when he was a senator and I was an advisor in the Middle East. I was doing commercial work in the Middle East. My job was to be a part of certain things military and commercial, and what was going on in the Middle East. Bobby and I had never been that close, but when [JFK] died, Bobby changed quite a bit, and Bobby was the one who got me into politics. What was it like to be around JFK and Bobby Kennedy? It was terrific. I really loved Jack, and wound up the same way with Bobby. Bobby and I didn’t get along too well while Jack was running, because Bobby was sort of the bulldog of the whole operation—even though I was [providing] planes to JFK, like this very famous photograph [that] was sent me by the editor-in-chief of Time [magazine] that shows Jack in front of Butler Aviation reading a newspaper at night. I never did politics with Jack, except to help him. My job with Jack CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

all things

outdoor

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PHOTO COURTESY OF OAK BROOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

oak brook’s royal polo weekend CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

was strictly to report what was going on in the Middle East. When I visualize the 1970s and ‘80s with Oak Brook on the international stage for polo, that must have been an amazing time. Can you take us back and tell us what it was like in those days? It’s astonishing how much the village [of Oak Brook] has ignored that history. That’s one of the great things that any country or city could have this kind of history. At that time, from 1954 to 1979, it was the largest polo club in the world, and there were people coming from all over the world. We had 13 polo grounds and an air-strip, so we would have people coming in with planes all the time to land and play polo. The Beverage family from Detroit came in a four-engine plane, and I’ll never forget that day as long as I live. You had people like the Maharajah of Jaipur, Baron de Rothschild, all sorts of famous Americans—and of course, Prince Charles. When did you first meet Prince Charles? I’ve known him quite well before [Oak Brook Polo]. I got to know Prince Charles very well when I moved to England, which was in the ‘70s. What was that relationship like, and do you still keep in touch with him? We’re friends and have a very good relationship. Besides my relationship with him, he played on the Rolex Team, which was run by my sister and brother-in-law. [He] played a lot of polo; polo was in [his] family. I gave him polo ponies to play at California and on several other occasions. We played at Oak Brook in 1986. Originally, it had quite a to-do with Ralph Lauren. My relationship with Ralph sort of fell apart, because he didn’t realize there was a big battle going on in the U.S. Polo Association (USPA). I wanted the USPA to work with Ralph Lauren; there were people in the

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polo association who did not want to have him. Because of that, Ralph and I sort of didn’t have communication anymore. The idea of Prince Charles playing originally came from him; and so I wound up going to Marshall Field, and wound up sponsoring him. It took a lot of money for charity to get him in. I am picturing a night at the Saddle Club in Oak Brook. Was that the gathering place after the match? There were two gathering places; one was the polo club itself, and every Sunday night after playing, we would change into our black ties and be joined by the ladies, and there would be a dance. The other place was called the Saddle Club, and that was casual and informal. It was loved by all and greatly missed. It was run by Phil Zapata, and he did a wonderful job. When did the Saddle Club cease to exist? I started the Saddle Club about 1960, before I started to play polo. I didn’t start polo until about 1963 or 1964. I played for about 30 years. I had a bad right arm when I was seven [from] an accident with a pony, so they said I could never play. I did a lot of showjumping and a lot of fox-hunting, so I was very active with the horses; but I couldn’t play polo, which was really my life’s desire. One day, [my] father [Paul Butler] and I were walking to the stable around 1962, and he said, “Maharajah Prem Singh wasn’t going to come to Oak Brook this summer; why don’t you take his ponies and start playing?” I was just in seventh heaven, so I wound up playing on my father’s team. Jackie Murphy, who was one of my best friends, played position 2, and Cecil Smith, who was the world’s ranking player in those days, was playing 3. I played back, 4. It was an incredible experience. How did King Hussein of Jordan’s visit come about?

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

He came the first time to this country with his entire entourage, and it was because of my work in the Middle East with the Hejaz Railway, which Lawrence and the Arabians destroyed in World War I. Part of that railroad was in Jordan. I got to know the king, and I invited him to come to America, so he called me and told me he’d never been to America. So, his first trip was to Oak Brook. He was a fan of Hugh O’Brien, so [I] invited Hugh. I want to go back to the Saddle Club. Tell us about the scene with the Hollywood celebrities; William Devane, Tyrone Powers, Stephanie Powers and others who came to watch polo matches in Oak Brook. Stephanie Powers, William Devane, Granger Hines, the authors of Hair— the Saddle Club was a very informal and causal place. We used to have food fights there, and things like that. You couldn’t do that in the polo club; it was completely different. For all the years that Vilage of Oak Brook did not have polo, do you think they missed an opportunity? Yes, I definitely think so. They took one of the best polo fields in the world, and turned it over to a range on the golf course. It was torn up, and now we have to try and put it together again. I don’t think people understood or cared about what a fabulous piece of history it was. Now you have a government in Oak Brook which has an interest in this. I keep telling them the most important thing in the world is to use every PR device possible;— otherwise what’s Oak Brook known for? It’s a very interesting sport. It has its biggest worldwide resurgence now. Chicago used to be the center with Oak Brook. Everybody’s very excited about it, because it’s an opportunity we’ve never had. n Interviewed by Scott Jonlich, Publisher of Oak Brook Polo Club Score Magazine and Hinsdale Magazine, Inc.

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VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK

past&present

By Mike Ellis, Hinsdale Magazine Contributing Editor

ounders are an important concept involved in the history of any place. In America, we esteem those Founding Fathers who sat through the sweltering summer heat in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft and construct the document we call the United States Constitution. The names Washington—Jefferson—Adams—Madison are immortalized, not only in our history books, but also as the names of towns and streets throughout our nation. FRANK OSGOOD BUTLER

village of oak brook While many people were involved in and have contributed to the development of Oak Brook over the past 50-plus years, the central root of that growth is aptly represented by the name Butler, as Paul Butler and his father, Frank Osgood (F.O.) Butler, were chiefly responsible for planting the seed that has blossomed into the unique village that is now home to more than two dozen beautiful subdivisions, McDonald’s corporate headquarters and one of the Midwest’s premier shopping malls.

Oak Brook’s Heritage For newer residents to the greater Hinsdale area, it may be difficult to envision that much of the space you now see sprawling with homes, retail stores and corporate offices was once open farmland. This statement may be applied to many parts of the area, but is especially true of Oak Brook as late as the 1950s and early 1960s. Vestiges of Oak Brook’s heritage can be traced to the last decade of the 19th century, when F.O. Butler, president of the Butler Paper Company, settled on First Street in Hinsdale, several miles south of present-day Oak Brook. The paper company had a plant in downtown Chicago and a mill in St. Charles, and Kathleen Maher, president of the Oak Brook Historical Society (OBHS), said this location was an ideal “stopover” between their locations, and that a number of people from the city had summer homes in and around Hinsdale in those days. At one time, Maher said the Butler Paper Company was the largest family-owned business in Chicago. According to the historical society, in 1906, F.O. Butler and his brother Julius Frederick purchased the Natoma Dairy on 31st Street, and

thus came into possession of a large portion of property in present-day Oak Brook. The same source relates that, 15 years later, he built Butler School, a tworoom school, on land he had donated at 31st Street and Spring Road. This building, now known as the Oak Brook Heritage Center, is one of three sites in Oak Brook on the National Register of Historic Places. In a short time, this school supplanted two smaller, oneroom schoolhouses nearby. About the same time, in 1922, F.O. Butler’s son Paul established the Oak Brook Polo Club; this was the first known use of “Oak Brook,” as the village itself would not be incorporated for several decades. The Butlers were an illustrious family that owned property in various states across the country, including ranches in South Dakota and Montana. Maher said this is where family members, including Paul Butler, developed their passion for polo, and even used the sport to train members of the cavalry during World War I. “They had these huge ranches where they raised horses for the cavalry,” Maher said. “That’s where they played polo; they called it ‘cowboy polo’ in South Dakota.”

Paul Butler and the Birth of Oak Brook While his father was engaged with the family paper business, Paul Butler served in the first World War as a cavalry officer. Butler emerged from the war as an aviator, and this is when Maher said he first developed his love for flying that ultimately led to him launching Butler Aviation. “His father didn’t believe that [aviation] was something that would make any money,” Maher said. “Paul

being of the nature that he was thought, ‘This is the wave of the future; this is something we can make money at.’ The paper company was really not his first love.” Butler, an innovator by nature, soon built Butler Aviation into a company that at one time, Maher said “pumped more fuel than the Air Force did.” As Paul Butler expanded his fortune, having also acquired ownership of his father’s paper company, he amassed more land north of Hinsdale. According to the OBHS, at one point, he owned 3,600 acres of land in what is now the Village of Oak Brook. In the meantime, during World War II, residents in the Fullersburg area between Hinsdale and Elmhurst founded the Oak Brook Civic Association for civil defense purposes in 1942. Maher said this was the second known use of “Oak Brook.” According to the historical society, over 300 people resided in this area, with kids attending Butler School before proceeding to Hinsdale Township High School. In the early 1950s, the civic association created a volunteer fire department, which the village ultimately assumed control of in 1967. “They were the citizens’ group that, along with the Butler family, actually became involved in the direction of how Oak Brook would be developed,” Maher said. In 1955, the proverbial seed that would become Oakbrook Center was planted when Marshall Field & Company purchased a farm at the corner of Ill. Rte. 83 and 22nd Street that belonged to Otto Ahrens. About the same time, the Tri-State and East-West Tollways were built (now Interstates 294 and 88, respectively). According to a special advertising section in the Chicago Sunday Tribune from 1961, CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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Paul Butler founded the Village of Oak Brook, originally called the Oak Brook company.

the Tri-State was originally supposed to pass through the heart of Oak Brook, but Butler convinced the tollway authorities to divert it to its present course along the village’s eastern boundary. According to a 1964 Tribune report, these roadways were instrumental in attracting businesses to Oak Brook’s commercial sector, as well as the mall; but Maher said they were not part of Butler’s original plan to develop Oak Brook. On Feb. 21, 1958, a petition sponsored by Paul Butler created the Village of Oak Brook, originally called the Oak Brook company.

The Butler Vision According to the OBHS, when Oak Brook was incorporated, it had 103 residents, all contained within one square mile. All of the land on which the village currently rests previously belonged to Paul Butler, which is why he is properly styled the founder of Oak Brook. With no railroad to structure his village around, the innovative Butler structured his community in quite a unique manner. His “vision” included a mixture of: • Prominent corporations • Residential subdivisions with large lots • Open space • “Superior” schools “Paul Butler lived here; this was his home,” village trustee John Baar said. “What he developed was really near and dear to his heart.” Maher explained that the best initial draw to Oak Brook was polo. In

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those days, Oak Brook featured nine polo fields, and was billed the “polo capital of the United States,” hosting the sport’s U.S. Open from 1954 to 1978. “Polo literally drove everything,” Maher said, adding that Butler rented out farms to polo players, some of which also resided in the early subdivisions.

Corporate Climate In the early years, major companies like Eastman Kodak and Brunswick had regional offices in Oak Brook, but the bevy of corporate headquarters for which the town is presently known did not arrive until future years. “Paul Butler’s vision was that we would have the commercial area where we would have ‘Fortune 500’ companies, and that caliber of people,” Maher said. Almost entirely vacuous in the 1950s, Maher said the corporate corridor began developing in the mid-1960s and 1970s, as large offices began to be constructed. By the 1980s, global fast-food giant McDonald’s had fixed its corporate headquarters and expansive “hamburger university” campus in Oak Brook. The village is also currently home to Ace Hardware, Blistex, Inland Real Estate, Hub Group and A.M. Castle. Up until this year, the Portillo Restaurant Group based its corporate

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

operations on Spring Road, and Dominick’s had its district offices on the corner of 22nd Street and Jorie Blvd. In addition to corporate facilities, a number of office plazas align Enterprise and Commerce Drives off of 22nd Street near the mall. Art Osten, who served as Oak Brook’s interim village manager from April through September, said he feels the village’s well-established commercial atmosphere creates a “synergistic” effect that is appealing to businesses large and small seeking office space. “There’s a synergy of working near other businesses,” Osten said. “It attracts a lot of talent, and businesses want to be where the rest of the talented people are. “And in Oak Brook, you really can’t find a better place than that. We’ve got so many corporate headquarters here, and they like it not only because it’s a place that they can live; but it’s working with each other and interacting with each other.”

Residential Subdivisions With the desire to attract premier companies, Maher said Paul Butler also envisioned corporate executives residing in the town in which they worked. Thus, Butler fleshed out the concept of subdivisions, that is, selfregulatory communities that would feature custom homes on large lots. “[Butler’s] idea in building Ginger Creek and Brook Forest and York Woods and those subdivisions was to provide the type of residential area that would attract the people who worked up in the commercial area,” Maher said.

Photo provided by the Village of Oak Brook BRIARWOOD LAKES SUBDIVISION

Having shot for the stars in terms of the corporations he could attract, Butler aimed high in creating Oak Brook’s first subdivisions, forging a relationship with the Arizona-based Del E. Webb corporation, one of the nation’s largest construction companies in those days. The first subdivisions were Ginger Creek and York Woods, both of which were promoted in a 24-page special advertising section published in the Sept. 17, 1961 edition of the Chicago Sunday Tribune. According to the Tribune ad, York Woods had 250 home sites, each of which was situated on a half acre or more. The same source relates that Ginger Creek was centered around a lake and designed for only “a few people...to preserve the natural tranquility and beauty of the area.” Soon after, construction began on the Brook Forest subdivision off of 31st Street, which also housed Oak Brook’s main elementary school, Brook Forest Elementary, which feeds into its District 53 counterpart, Butler Junior High. Over the past few decades, a plethora of subdivisions both gated and non-gated have emerged. Some

of the larger ones include Hunter Trails, the Midwest Club, Saddlebrook and Trinity Lakes. The original subdivisions were not gated, and most of the roughly 25 presently spread across Oak Brook remain open. Unlike in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, where the village is solely responsible for regulating home construction, subdivisions like Ginger Creek and York Woods are also selfregulated through homeowner’s associations comprised of residents that live in them. Trustee John Baar, who is also president of the York Woods Community Association, said his subdivision, like many others, possess architectural control; that is, the association reviews any prospective new homes or additions to be built within the subdivision. Baar said this process is not as constricting as it sounds, but rather helps new residents “understand the aesthetic standards” of the individual subdivisions. The presidents of the homeowner’s associations hold regular meetings with the village president, a seat first held by Ted Mohlman in 1958 and

currently occupied by longtime resident and cardiologist Dr. Gopal Lalmalani. “I try to gauge the pulse of the community,” Lalmalani said, “and one way of gauging the pulse of the community is by meeting [with] the presidents of these homeowner’s associations to discuss what are their issues, what are their problems...and what are the things we need to do to take care of the issues that they’re facing.” Some of the relatively older subdivisions were not completely developed initially. Lalmalani said when he moved to Hunter Trails in 1987, there were far fewer homes than exist in that community today. New construction in Oak Brook subdivisions continues today, although many of them are fully or nearly fully developed. You might think that expansive homes on large lots translate into premium prices. But one interesting aspect of Oak Brook is that despite the fact it boasts some of the largest homes and best schools in the Western Suburbs, the price of land is lower than in comparable suburbs. In addition, thanks in large part to Oakbrook Center and other retail shopping scattered throughout the town, Oak Brook residents do not pay a village property tax. “This is one of the few communities in the area that does not have a local municipal property tax,” Lalmalani said. “That’s a tremendous [benefit].”

The Sports Core Another component of Paul Butler’s unique vision for Oak Brook is open space, represented by the 260-acre Sports Core situated east of Ill. Rte. 83. The Sports Core property CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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offers residents a plethora of outdoor activities, and includes the town’s 18hole public golf course, Oak Brook Golf Club, swimming pool, tennis courts, banquet facility, soccer fields and polo field. Rounding out this open area of the village is Butler National Golf Club, which sits adjacent to the Sports Core. Finished in 1973, this course hosted the Western Open annually from 1974 to 1990. “The Sports Core was named the sports core, because the Butlers felt like it was the ‘core’ of this community,” Maher said, adding that sports and outdoor activities have “always been a part of Oak Brook.” According to the OBHS, Oak Brook residents voted for a tax to acquire the Sports Core property from Paul Butler in 1977 for $11 million—which was quite a bargain for such a large amount of property.

“Superior” Schools Regardless of what other amenities a town may offer people, having a high-quality public school system is essential to attracting families seeking to provide their children with an exemplary education. This fact was not lost on Paul Butler, who made it a priority to have “superior” schools in Oak Brook to complement its residential subdivisions, retail shopping malls, corporate corridor and expanse of open space. While Oak Brook schoolchildren attend a number of school districts, depending on where they live within the village, the main school district is District 53, comprised of two schools: Brook Forest Elementary (K-5) and Butler Junior High (6-8). In 2012, Chicago magazine ranked Brook Forest and Butler first and second, respectively, among all elementary schools in DuPage

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County. Lalmalani said the quality of Oak Brook schools drew him and his wife to Oak Brook. One differentiating aspect at District 53 is smaller class sizes, which trustee Baar, who also taught science at Butler Junior High for 30 years, said allows teachers to provide a high “level of service” to their students. “We have a long tradition of excellence in the schools,” Baar said. “It’s a real partnership between the community, the board and the teachers.” Baar and superintendent Dr. Heidi Wennstrom said because all Brook Forest students proceed to Butler, kids spend eight or nine years in school together, creating a close-knit environment among students, parents and teachers. “We are a family-centered school with unparalleled parent involvement,” Dr. Wennstrom said. “Our students know each other early on, and spend many years together. “We strive to create a culture that is respectful and nurturing among students, where appropriate risks and challenges are welcomed and encouraged, and students can be leaders.”

A Vision Realized If you look across the Chicago area, you won’t find a community organized quite like Oak Brook. With all of the commercial and retail properties situated within the village, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

OAK BROOK HERITAGE CENTER

Oak Brook is really a small town of only about 8,000 people. Oak Brook is home to one of the world’s largest corporations (McDonald’s), one of the Midwest’s premier outdoor shopping venues, and has hosted the PGA’s Western Open and the United States Polo Association’s U.S. Open. It is remarkable that none of the above would have been possible without the work of a single man, Paul Butler, who envisioned possibilities for acres and acres of farmland in his possession that others may have promptly dismissed as a chimerical, visionary scheme never to be accomplished. Butler may have died in 1981, but his legacy lives on in Oak Brook through his innovative vision that continues to be implemented today. The three part Oak Brook series was featured in the October, November and December 2014 issues of Hinsdale Magazine. Please visit www. Hinsdale60521.com to read all our digital issues.

Classic Car Day AT OAK BROOK POLO

Sunday, July 19th, 2015 (Oak Brook Polo Grounds)

A stable of classics you won’t believe! Automobiles from yesteryear and classics of today. Browse the fabulous collection of beauties that will bring back fond memories. Whether you “rocked around the clock” in your 1955 Ford, dreamed of racing a 1963 split, rear-window Corvette Stingray or admired the elegance of the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, you are guaranteed to find “the” cars of the 20th and 21st Centuries at Oak Brook Polo on Classic Car Day.

EVEN T DETAIL S AR E AVAIL ABLE AT W W W.OAKBRO OKPOLO CLUB.COM 44

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BEST WISHES FOR THE 2015 OAK BROOK SEASON

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FAMILY DAY SUNDAY, JULY 26TH Bring the kids for a fun-filled day with a special appearance from Ronald McDonald. A few of the many activities include face painting, balloon art and magic tricks. Polo players will be autographing your very own souvenir polo ball — take advantage of this special photo op! A kid-friendly menu will be available. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicago land and Northwest Indiana, the Oak Brook Polo 2015 Season partner, will receive a portion of the ticket sales.

EVEN T DETAIL S AR E AVAIL ABLE AT W W W.OAKBRO OKPOLO CLUB.COM 48

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DR. PETER T. HARNOIS, a Hinsdale Central alumnus, is no stranger to the Greater Hinsdale community. A 1982 graduate of the University of Illinois’ College of Dentistry, Dr. Harnois has been practicing dentistry in Hinsdale for over 31 years. Dr. Harnois is currently the President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. He lectures internationally to properly educate and train his fellow dentists around the country on emerging technologies in dentistry that he utilizes in his own practice, such as Botox® and Lumineers®. His philosophy is to provide the most gentle and minimally-invasive cosmetic and metalfree dentistry with natural results; and he uses NuCalm®, a natural approach to relax his patients and eliminate their dental fears and anxieties. DR. ZIVILE Z. CHIRBAN is in her 31st year of practicing dentistry, and her goal is to assist her patients in acquiring and maintaining beautiful smiles. She is passionate about keeping apprised of the latest developments in her field to ensure that her patients receive the best possible care. Dr. Chirban graduated from the University of Illinois’ College of Dentistry in 1982, and is currently a member of the Illinois State Dental Society and American Dental Association. DR. MICHAEL J. KOWALCZYK graduated as a valedictorian from Oak Park - River Forest High School in 2004. He graduated with honors

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from Emory University in Atlanta and obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Kowalczyk completed a post-graduate residency at the University of Florida where he gained skills in wisdom teeth extractions, surgical implant placement and sedation dentistry. In 2013, he received his Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. HINSDALE DENTISTRY’S roots date to 1969, when it first opened its doors in Downtown Hinsdale. Dr. Peter T. Harnois grew up in Hinsdale, and is actively involved in the community. Hinsdale Dentistry’s practice is located at a new state of the art, high-tech facility, overlooking Salt Creek and Fullersburg Woods at 911 N. Elm Street. The dentists and entire team at Hinsdale Dentistry are committed to providing worldclass dental care for its friends and families in Hinsdale and surrounding communities. Hinsdale Dentistry utilizes the latest, cutting-edge dental technologies to supply the most gentle patient treatments. It also provides a broad range of treatments and dental technologies. They have the ability to save lives with early detection using Oral Cancer Screening and can now straighten their adult patients teeth in 6 months or less with Six Month Smile®, a cosmetic braces system.

Oak Brook Polo Club Proudly Welcomes The Members of Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club International Sunday August 9th | Oak Brook Polo Grounds 50

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THE CIARDELLI & STEUCK TEAM PRESENTS

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Q&A: james drury

THE GAME OF POLO

past, present & future Michael Butler played against regularly during those years. I was asked to play on various teams with the Kuhn’s and others, but it wasn’t until the early-mid ‘90s that I had my own team, Pinecroft Farm, playing at Oak Brook. We were fortunate to be one of the better teams in those days. My love for playing there continues today, as captain of the Oak Brook team.

JAMES DRURY AND CAUTIVA

Q: Tell me about your

association with Oak Brook Polo? I’ve been playing polo since 1981. I took my first lessons at Walt & Shirley Kuhn’s Fairlane Farms in Naperville, where a lot of us got started. Walt and his sons John, Dick, and Steve were a team that

What are some of your reflections of playing polo? My earliest memories are as an eager beginner and spectator at The Oak Brook Polo Club in the ‘80s. Oak Brook’s long history of hosting the International U.S. Open had just ended after 25 years. Michael, and his son Adam, continued to play under the blue and green Oak Brook banner, and were generally considered the hardest team to beat. The quality of polo remained very high. I remember watching polo players

from all over the world competing every Sunday. Antonio Herrera from Mexico, Stuart Mackenzie from New Zealand, and Geoffrey Kent from England. It was an extraordinary athletic event to behold. Eight players riding beautiful thoroughbreds at high speed, thwacking a little ball with a long mallet, up and down the field. I developed a strong respect and appreciation for the history, sportsmanship, and danger of the game. I’ve broken 16 ribs, punctured a lung, and fractured a wrist. While the action may be intense, a polo match is not a matter of life or death. The best players consider it simply a game between friends who share a love for the sport.

How did Oak Brook Polo fare after the Butler years? Very well, during the years that followed, my team, Pinecroft Farm, and others emerged on CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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Q&A: james drury CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

the scene – John Greene’s BMW Motorsports, David Wigdahl’s Dahlwood, Angelo Kleronomos’ Morgan Creek, and Bill Read’s Merrill Lynch. We competed at the 12 and 16 goal level, surpassed only by 26 goal winter polo in Palm Beach. The competition was predictably intense, but we always went home as friends. John, David, and I continue to play the game actively today, hoping to pass it on to the next generation.

How can someone interested in playing polo learn the ropes? First of all, come to Oak Brook and watch the game. Introduce yourself and express your interest to some of the patrones, the playing owners of the teams. We’re always looking to recruit new players to the game. There are places to take lessons. We’re going to encourage people to learn more about the game at the Oak Brook matches this year. You don’t need to buy a horse to learn how to play. There are horses that can be loaned to get you started. Usually, a beginner starts out playing indoor arena polo, three against three, compared to four against four outdoors. The practices are geared to the riding proficiency of the beginners. Give them lots of space and allow them to carry the ball forward unimpeded – if they can.

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Q: People may have the

impression that polo can be an expensive sport to play? As a beginner, it’s not expensive to get started. You can go out and buy a helmet and some mallets, use some loaner horses, pay for lessons, and play in practice matches. When you decide you really like the sport, you’re going to need to buy a couple of horses. You can play in a practice of four chukkas, each a 7.5 minute period of play, doubling up on each horse. Today, you can probably buy an experienced polo pony with 3 or 4 years left in its career for about $6,000-$7,000. That will get you into slow-paced polo that is safe and easy to learn. If still having fun after a year or two, you’ll then probably want to buy 2 or 3 more horses, a little younger, and join a local polo club with annual dues of $5,000-$15,000 per year. The final step is organizing your own team and hiring players. At that point, you’re making a serious financial commitment. If you start to play higher goal polo at the 10 to 16 goal level and above, you need to own six to eight horses yourself, and you need to hire 2 to 3 professional players as teammates.

Does one have to be a good rider on the horse? At some point, yes. It is essential. It can be a dangerous sport and

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

you have to be able to control yourself and your horse on the field. I took riding lessons for 6 months, simply to learn how to ride well. I then took jumping lessons for another 6 months in case I didn’t like polo. Never go on the field unless you know how to ride safely, or you can injure yourself or someone else severely.

What are the biggest challenges today in attracting international teams to play at Oak Brook? If they come in for a tournament, one of the challenges is that they will play only one match at Oak Brook, and that is on Sunday. Other matches during the week will be played at superb privately owned polo fields throughout the area. In the heyday of Oak Brook Polo I’m told there were 16 polo fields here. As long as we have the Cecil Smith Field available for the International Championship match that will be the main attraction for our spectators. With the village’s commitment to significantly improving the quality of the Cecil Smith Field, I believe we will be able to offer our international guests a championship field experience. n Interviewed by Scott Jonlich, Publisher of Oak Brook Polo Club Score Magazine and Hinsdale Magazine, Inc.

Oak Brook Polo Club Proudly Welcomes The Delhi Polo Club and Mr. Vikram Singh Sodhi

Sunday August 16th | Oak Brook Polo Grounds “OAK BROOK, BUILT ON AMERICA’S POLO CAPITOL, A SALUTATION TO INDIA, THE CREATOR OF THE SPORT OF POLO.” – Michael Butler, whose family founded the Village of Oak Brook, as well as Oak Brook polo in 1922

D E L H I P O L O C LU B v s OA K B R O O K P O L O C LU B BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY!

International Day at Oak Brook Polo welcomes a polo team from the Delhi Polo Club India, on Sunday August 16TH on the Oak Brook Polo grounds in Oak Brook, Illinois. “We are pleased to host this special team, who will be escorted by Michael Butler from their appearance in Hawaii on August 9TH, commented Jim Pehta, Co-Chair of Oak Brook Polo. “We are working to broadcast this event to the web, so that polo fans around the world can watch this polo match unfold.” Oak Brook Polo has a long history of welcoming teams from across Europe, including an appearance by Prince Charles in 1986 which was attended by over 4,000 polo fans.

“OAK BROOK, BUILT ON AMERICA’S POLO CAPITOL, A SALUTATION TO INDIA, THE CREATOR OF THE SPORT OF POLO.” — Michael Butler, whose family founded the village of Oak Brook, as well as Oak Brook Polo in 1922

Vikram Singh Sodhi, managing trustee, Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation, and owner of the Delhi Polo and Riding Club, will be joining his team for this rare opportunity to see his team from New Delhi compete against the Oak Brook Polo Club. He established the Delhi Polo and Riding Club in 1995, which is a fully developed polo and equestrian facility of International standards. Plans are for a four chukker match between the Delhi Polo and the Oak Brook Polo Club, captained by James Drury. A total of two matches will be broadcast starting at 1:00 PM as well as a web link for viewing around the globe.

INTERNATIONAL DAY | SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 TH AT 1:00 PM EV E N T D E TA I L S A R E AVA I L A B L E AT W W W. OA K B R O O K P O L O C LU B. C OM 56

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Thank You

Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consulate General of India

We sincerely appreciate the help and support of your office in helping to make International Day a special opportunity to share the sport of polo on International Day at Oak Brook Polo on August 16th, 2015

2015

OAK BROOK

polo season POLO PICNICS GROUP SALES PRIVATE PARTIES w w w. o a k b r o o k p o l o c l u b . c o m

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BRITISH DAY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd

Oak Brook Polo Club has a long tradition with British Polo teams! In 1986, Prince Charles was a special guest, along with his British team, for a Royal Polo weekend. The British team, with the Prince of Wales as Captain, won the coveted first-place silver cup! The Union Jack and American flags will be flying this August with plenty of red, white and blue to be seen! Try the famous PIMMS Chukker drink— another Polo tradition from the Brits!

A special event honoring the English Speaking Union of Chicago.

EVEN T DETAIL S AR E AVAIL ABLE AT W W W.OAKBRO OKPOLO CLUB.COM 60

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eve branson foundation:

THE STORY OF POLO AND

helping others

BRITISH POLO DAY IN MORROCCO SUPPORTING THE EVE BRANSON FOUNDATION

While visiting the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to support her son, Richard Branson, on his latest record-breaking balloon attempt, Eve Branson spotted a Kasbah. Drawn to the spirit of the people she met and the majesty of the mountains, Eve suggested that Richard should buy the Kasbah. Richard was up for the idea but in return tasked Eve with helping to support the surrounding villages, and so the deal was struck between mother and son. Eve came up with the idea of the first polo match in Marrakech at new Jnan Amar polo club! This was very well received and we are delighted that the event will form part of the British Polo Day series. British Polo Day

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EVE BRANSON WHILE VISITING THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS IN MOROCCO TO SUPPORT HER SON, RICHARD BRANSON, ON HIS LATEST RECORD-BREAKING BALLOON ATTEMPT

bridges cultures and celebrate the heritage and traditions of the sport, partnering with some of the World’s best luxury brands, such as Land Rover and Hackett while raising significant money for good causes. 16 years on and the Eve Branson Foundation (EBF) is going strong. Through providing healthcare, craft houses, water wells, language training and income-generating skills the EBF has helped hundreds of girls and young women in the Atlas Mountains to fulfill their potential. The EBF stays afloat through the annual fundraiser. This year, through a chance encounter, an advert Eve spotted about a Polo Club opening just outside Marrakech, the idea of a

2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

Polo Match was born. Undaunted by the prospect of polo actually being a good way of raising money (Richard thought this was a mad idea), Eve and Amar Abdelhadi, owner of the new club, set about creating a fundraising polo match. The Eve Branson Foundation continues its work in the field, and the charity is changing lives, through continual fund raising efforts as well as the spark and determination Eve Branson has and inspires those around her. For more information visit www.evebransonfoundation.org Weedon, Georgie “Eve’s Girls: The Story of the Eve Branson Foundation.” Gingerwink 2014. Web. June 2015.

OAK BROOK POLO 2015

EXPERIENCE THE RUSH 2015 OAK BROOK POLO CLUB MAGAZINE

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U.S. POLO ASSN. BRAND 125TH

anniversary

The U.S. Polo Assn. brand celebrates the 125th anniversary of the sport of polo in the U.S. USPA Properties, Inc. announced the U.S. Polo Assn. brand’s 2015 global celebration plans for the 125th anniversary of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the national governing body for the sport. Revenue from the sale of U.S. Polo Assn. merchandise supports a wide range of programs that promote the sport of polo and development of youth players such as Team USPA and the Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Program. Last September, as a teaser event leading up the 125th anniversary year, U.S. Polo Assn. and the United States Polo Association were the presenting sponsors at the first-ever U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo

player profiles, a live event feed Challenge. The arena polo match and a selling link to the exclusive was played in the park’s Trump Rink, merchandise. A social featuring several media campaign to young, talented “The misconception engage fans, using players who are that polo is inaccessible the hashtag # USPA125 the faces of the was also rolled out in U.S. Polo Assn. “Live is diminishing, and January. Authentically” newcomers, whether “We are extremely campaign. It was a athletes or spectators, pleased with the very exciting event, are experiencing success of the U.S. Polo as the sport returned just how fun and Assn. brand, assuring to its roots in New continued financial York City, back to approachable the where it all began. game of polo truly is.” support for the programs of the U.S. – David Cummings, USPA Properties Inc. Polo Association. “I am To celebrate the especially proud that 125th anniversary our brand is increasingly popular with year, the U.S. Polo Assn. brand the younger generation,” said David has established a number of Cummings, a competitor himself commemorative programs and and president/CEO of licensing events for 2015. Exclusive and limited management company USPA edition 125th anniversary collections Properties, Inc. will be available at U.S. Polo Assn. stores and online around the world. Our brand mission is to provide Included in select retail locations funding to the USPA, and we want will be a limited edition t-shirt with to further underscore our official a special 125th anniversary logo standing with the Association and created by designer John Snyder, its legacy as the true face of the winner of a design contest that sport in America. We congratulate took place in the spring of 2014 in the U.S. Polo Association on 125 collaboration with Creative Allies. years of organizing, promoting and All the exclusive and limited edition managing this incredible sport that merchandise will be featured in a we are all so passionate about!” special advertising campaign with real polo youth players, highlighted For more information on the U.S. Polo Assn. in various media outlets throughout brand, please visit: www.uspoloassnglobal.com the year. or shop at: www.uspoloassn.com Other plans include a dedicated 125th anniversary section on the U.S. Polo Assn. global website with news, updates and special announcements, including polo

For more information on the United States Polo Association, please visit: http://uspolo.org USPA Properties, Inc. “The U.S. Polo Assn. Brand Celbrates the 125th Anniversary of the Sport of Polo in the U.S.” Market Wired January 6, 2015. Web. June 2015.

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