The polo season in Irving officially kicks-off on Sunday, May 10, with the Las Colinas Polo Salutes the Mothers of Dallas and Pretty Woman Hat Contest at the Las Colinas Polo Club (LCPC). The Championship Field at LCPC, known throughout the polo community as one of the finest facilities in the country to play and observe the sport, is set on 24 lush acres. The manicured, green field coupled with white tents and chairs help create an ambiance as elegant as the sport itself.
Las Colinas Polo is played every Sunday through the end of June. Matches through May 24 begin at 5 p.m.; a 6 p.m. start is scheduled for games running from May 31 through the end of the season. Tickets are available day of play at the gate. General admission is $10; grandstand seating is $15; and children under 12 are free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.lascolinaspolo.com.
On Sunday, May 17, the Marco Polo World Foundation presents the 3rd Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival, a premier Asian sporting, cultural and educational event in North Texas. Situated on Lake Carolyn in Irving’s Las Colinas Urban Center, the action-packed festival features spirited dragon boat races, spectacular kites, traditional dragon and lion dances, ethnic food demonstrations, cultural programs and colorful performances. The multi-cultural event, which is open and free to the public, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.dfwdragonboatfestival.com.
The city’s premiere event is also one of the premiere events on the PGA TOUR, and the DFW area’s most anticipated social event of the season. The HP Byron Nelson Championship, played each spring at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas, will tee-off over Memorial Day weekend for the first time in tournament history. Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Rory Sabbatini and popular defending champion Adam Scott are a few of the professional golfers competing in this year’s Championship. Annually, the tournament is the most financially successful charity event on the PGA TOUR, raising more than $107 million for children and families served by Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers.
In addition to a move to Memorial Day weekend, the HP Byron Nelson Championship is implementing a number of initiatives to reduce the tournament’s carbon footprint. “Green” initiatives planned for the 2009 Championship include recycling aluminum, plastic, paper and food waste; eliminating numerous paper documents by moving to on-line only versions; and using bio-diesel fuel to power all on-site generators and recycled waste bags for trash receptacles. In addition, the City of Irving is providing Mustang Mulch - City-branded recycled mulch - which will be used in decorative areas on the tournament grounds.
“Environmental sustainability is extremely important to us,” said Charley Spradley, 2009 tournament chairman. “We want to make sure that everything we put into place today helps future generations. You can feel good when you attend the HP Byron Nelson Championship. What our tournament is contributing goes a long way. In 2008 over 80% of all waste was recycled, including food, aluminum, plastic and paper.”
The 2009 HP Byron Nelson Championship will be played May 18-24 on the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas. For more information, visit hpbnc.org.
About Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, Inc.
The Salesmanship Club has a rich history of serving children in our community. Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a proud partner of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, currently operates innovative programs for children and their families, including the J. Erik Jonsson Community School in Oak Cliff, and child and family therapy centers in Oak Cliff and the Stemmons corridor. From educational services for at-risk kids to therapy services for troubled kids, the charity beneficiary of the HP Byron Nelson Championship has continued to serve Dallas kids and families since 1920. Learn more at salesmanshipclub.org.
About Las Colinas Polo Club
Founded in 1996, the Las Colinas Polo Club (LCPC) is one of the premiere polo clubs in the Southwest. The club hosts more than twenty tournaments each year, drawing thousands of spectators to witness the dramatic and artistic sport.
About Marco Polo World Foundation (MPWF)
Marco Polo World Foundation initiated the First Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival in 2007. Its mission is to promote the new sport of Dragon Boating in the DFW region, showcase Asian culture, enhance intercultural understanding and celebrate Asian/Pacific Heritage Month. The Festival also promotes cancer awareness and works with private and public sector partners and community organizations to encourage regional and international participation.
