PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Okay, I am taking a respite – at least for a day — from blogging about such weighty topics as the fate of capitalism in the face of left wing wackiness or whether Trump’s wall constitutes an emergency.

I had a new experience a couple weekends ago – attending a polo match here in La Quinta, California.

It was something I always wanted to do, but, having done it once, I have no real desire to attend again. Still, for the first time, it was an interesting experience.

Some perceptions:

• I am not a horse guy, but the polo horses are beautiful and impressive animals.
• The riders are good, too, with an ability to lead their mount to go from an easy trot to a substantial gallop in what looks to be only a few feet. Then, they often stop on a dime
• I wondered whether guys on horses with long wooden mallets, which they swing hard, would create safety issues for riders and horses. No. This polo rule governs play:

“Line of the Ball: Once hit, the ball creates an imaginary line as it travels, and the player or players on the line have the right of way.”

• I have not read all of the polo match rules, but I suspect they don’t measure up to golf rules, though the match is still played outdoors and not in a pavilion or stadium, which means the need for more rules.
• I talked about a polo match with a friend of mine here who has been to more than one event. I asked about safety and other issues. He made this telling comment: “At all costs, riders are worried about their horses, taking great care of them.”
• No wonder, the horses are beautiful animals which, as I understand it, have retired from racing, but have moved on to polo. Yhey are “thoroughbreds” and look like it.

And this final question.

Why do many women wear big hats at events involving horses? I have seen this during television coverage of the Kentucky Derby and I saw it at the polo match, as well.

No problem with that style, but I have no answer to the probing question of why.