Worker bee The importance of having a good groom By C. Maybe Ortiz
Hiring a groom can be almost as important as choosing a bride (or groom). She or he must be knowledgeable, competent, willing, able and, dare we say, obedient. It’s helpful if he’s not encumbered by too many children and animals that would restrict his ability to travel. Also, his/her personal
Linda Martinez epitomizes all the finer qualities of a polo groom. She has been pleasantly assisting her husband Eddy and son Alan throughout their decades as professionals up and down the East Coast.
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attractiveness should be within certain boundaries to avoid unnecessary real or imagined threats to spouses. Some ridiculously lucky advanced players have received preparation assistance from one or more of their parents for extended periods of time. Recently a powerful 5-goaler had decided it was time to mount up and was heard to cry out pleasantly but firmly, “Mama!” Within seconds a perfectly tacked and wrapped high-goal pony appeared at his side. Polo used to be a two-person game—one to hit the ball and the other to dress and undress the horse. Now, it’s not just the pros who want to change steeds in the middle of a chukker. It’s not unusual to see the worker bee groom continuing his duties at the trailer while another human or two holds a mallet and the spare horse as close to the action as possible. Often a relative is conscripted into this position. Charlie Muldoon, executive director of USPA Umpires, LLC and a former 5-goal player, noted, “To me, grooms are equivalent to the pit crew in Formula One racing. They can make or break you in a game. Most pros have a lead groom that implements the game plan from the ground and if they (or the support staff) mess up, it can be costly to the player and his/her team.” “The Importance of Proper Grooming” was inspired by a recent news story. Things were going pretty well for golfer Segundo Oliva Pinto at the U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes in Oregon over the week of Aug. 10-16, 2020. Then on the 18th hole in the round of 16, Segundo’s second shot went into a bunker. His caddy “tested the texture” of the sand, according to Jack Baer of sports.yahoo.com. The USGA Rule 12.2, Restrictions on Touching Sand in Bunker, simply states, “YOU MUST NOT [my caps] … with hand, club, or rake.” Segundo lost the match. The caddy remains unnamed.
