International Polo Club Palm Beach Hires Ray Mooney as Director of Facilities and Operations

WELLINGTON, FL (June 12, 2006) – Highly regarded turf professional Ray Mooney has been hired as the Director of Facilities and Operations at International Polo Club Palm Beach, it was announced by John Goodman, owner and president of International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Goodman says Mooney’s primary responsibility will be to maintain and improve the club’s seven world-class fields.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity and the challenge,” said Mooney, who moved to Wellington from Lynchburg, Virginia. Mooney has a degree in turf management from Rutgers University and an accounting degree and an MBA from the University of Chattanooga.

There were more than 120 games played on the club’s seven Bermuda-grass fields last season, according to IPC Polo Manager Jimmy Newman. With some 20 teams expected to participate in the 2007 season, keeping the fields in excellent condition is a major priority, according to Newman.

“The fields are healthy and in good condition,” said Mooney. “The goal is to maintain the fields and to continue to have the best polo club fields possible.”

Mooney replaces long-time IPC superintendent Barbara Bunin, who retired in May.

Mooney is experienced in agronomy as Golf Course and Development Superintendent for Poplar Grove Club in Amherst, Virginia, which was ranked No. 8 in the New Upscale Semi-Private clubs in 2005 by Golf Digest magazine. It was there that he assisted in the construction of the facility and growing-in of the golf course.

He also worked at The World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL, Hilton Head National in Bluffton, SC, The Farm Golf Club in Dalton, GA and at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club. Mooney also served as a volunteer for three Masters Tournaments from 1995-1997. In addition, Mooney will be a consultant at Goodman’s semi-private Wellington Golf & Country Club.

“Ray brings a lot to the club in both his vision and his experience,” said Goodman. “My goal is for the polo club to have the best fields in the world and Ray is more than capable of improving on what’s already been done. Barbara (Bunin) did a great job getting the club where it is today and I really appreciate all of the hard work she put into the fields. It’s difficult to keep the fields in premium shape when we play in the winter and the best time for the fields is in the spring and summer after our season is completed.

“When the polo fields are in good shape, it makes the polo even better, especially since we have most of the world’s best players playing on our fields,” added Goodman.

In addition, Phil McLellan, who has supervised field maintenance at the South Forty and for Orchard Hill and White Birch, has been hired as a consultant to work with Mooney on the polo fields.

The 2007 high-goal season begins Sunday, January 14 at 3 p.m. with an opening round contest of the 22-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup. The season concludes with the Stanford U.S. Open Championship on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. More than 50,000 spectators are expected to watch games at the polo facilities throughout the 15-week season. The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687.