Guards Polo Club Official Yearbook 2017 Official Yearbook 2017 | Page 41

social membership
BRINGING CLUBLAND
TO WINDSOR
Board Director Simon Mace, Chairman of the Social Membership Committee, believes
the arrival of Mosimann’s is just a first step in a major campaign to rejuvenate the
benefits of being a member of this great Club. Diana Butler finds out more
Image by Thomas Alexander Photography
“I
have two agendas,” says Simon
Mace, taking time out from moving
offices in London to unveil his
plans on revitalising the social membership
at Guards Polo Club. “The first is the
integration of everyone to make it a proper
club in the traditional sense of the word.
“I am as guilty as anyone in that I either
go down to Smith’s Lawn on a Sunday for
lunch, taking my wife, Cathrine [a former
Norwegian international show jumper]
and the family or I take friends. I never
phone up other members and ask if they
are going to be there. I know one or two
members who do that, but generally you
stick in your own little group. So I want to
try to have a more ‘clubbable’ atmosphere,
so that when I go into the bar I will know
two or three people there.
“When I go to one of my London
clubs – say the Turf Club or Bucks - I
invariably find about 10 people I know,
but that doesn’t happen at Guards. It is
used as a facility; it’s not a club – where
members meet up. And, when it comes
to interacting with the sport on the field
and with the players, that is not hugely
cohesive either.”
Simon, who has been a social
member since 1989, is passionate about
integrating the membership as he believes
that the success of the Club depends
on such inclusion. “How can we bring
members into a more clubby atmosphere?”
he asks, “I think we have to host more
Club events so that our members can
meet each other. We have to find a way of
bringing the players and the non-playing
members closer together too - that is
another big issue.”
“Secondly, we have a fabulous, premium
facility, with a super reputation,” he adds.
“I gave Neil 100% support in getting
Mosimann’s in to oversee the Clubhouse
– they are absolutely top notch and have
guaranteed to deliver what we want.
Mosimann’s is a big firm with a great
reputation and I really believe that they
can help bring people in.”
Simon is not one for making grand
statements and then sitting back and
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