Gutierrez brings with her many years of experience managing polo clubs, most recently in upstate New York at the Mashomack Polo & Preserve Club and in South Carolina at the Brigadoon Polo Club, but has also managed clubs in Florida, New Mexico and Canada. “We could not be more pleased about Rebecca joining our team,” said Rex Jensen, president and CEO of SMR. “We have tasked her with elevating the Sarasota Polo Club to be one of the best in the country by attracting new players and using her extensive polo marketing expertise to make it even better than it is now.”
The Polo Club will now be more integrated with the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, and overseen by General Manager Wayne Piazza. “It just makes sense to have two of our successful membership subsidiaries fall under one area,” said Piazza. “We plan on doing some renovations to the Sarasota Polo Club over the next year to spruce up the grounds with additional landscaping and plan to open this season with some really nice improvements.”
Gutierrez, originally from northern England, began her polo career as a groom in Australia. She started managing clubs after moving to the United States in 2001. Her husband is a 3 goal polo professional and has played in Sarasota before, which made her very familiar with the club and with Lakewood Ranch. “There is no better place in the country to play polo,” said Gutierrez. “Sarasota is one of the few clubs that really has everything – you have beautiful beaches, an amazing area to raise a family and fantastic weather year round. I am extremely excited to get started and plan on bringing in new players and making the upcoming season a memorable one.” Gutierrez is part of a big polo family — besides her husband, her mother-in-law has been involved in working, timing and helping to announce games in Boca Raton, Fla. for 40 years, and her father-in-law Benny, a former 8 goal player, was inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Fla.
About Sarasota Polo Club
With 130 acres of perfectly manicured grounds, the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch boasts nine world-class polo fields and a regulation-size arena. Polo leagues and tournaments ranging from 4 to 14 goal are played throughout the winter months. Located in the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Sarasota Polo Club offers easy access to two international airports and proximity to top-rated white beaches and golf courses.
About Lakewood Ranch
The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is the only high-end club in the area to offer three private courses: King's Dunes, Cypress Links and Royal Lakes. The courses offer something for every golfer. Our award-winning 44,000-square-foot clubhouse is nothing short of magnificent, with its majestic columns, graceful arches and elaborate finishes.
