From the first recorded games on the Steppes of Mongolia to the gin-soaked cavalry clubs of India and on to the emerald pitches of England and the pampas of Argentina, polo has always been a truly international sport. As a player or spectator, expect to reach for your passport to experience the very best of the polo season. Join Charley Larcombe on a trip around the world.
This tournament’s home ground is referred to as ‘La Catedral’ - which tells you all you need to know about the gravitas surrounding it. Dominated by La Dolfina, a team headed up by the ultimate 10 goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, this is the tournament most precious to all professional players. Like the Super Bowl, this final pits the best-of-the-best against each other and has produced some of the most memorable moments in the history of the sport. (Editor’s note: Look out for next month’s in-depth report on where to stay, what to do, and where to watch The Argentine Open)
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The original snow polo tournament, Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is arguably the most dazzling too. Played on a frozen lake in the Engadin, the high-end hospitality (which boasts never-ending champagne, a carnival of cocktail parties, and a black-tie gala held at the legendary Badrutt’s Palace) is second only to the high-level sport. Today’s tournament welcomes 15,000 guests, sponsors, media, patrons, and professional players and treats them to an unforgettable experience. Book your private jet now.
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The U.S. Open is the culmination of the Gauntlet of Polo, a three-tournament series showcasing some of the highest level of the sport displayed in North America. The 22 goal competition is played on world-beating grounds in the equine epicenter of Florida and draws the very best players and patrons. The 2022 edition presented a record-breaking field of 20 teams for the first time in its 100-year history, so expect pomp and ceremony at the newly relaunched National Polo Center which promises to take the sport to the next level. The polo is exceptional, the Sunday brunches and social scene are legendary.
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Now in its fifth year, the World Polo League is the only 26 goal polo tournament played outside of Argentina – that means it’s the highest level of the game you can watch without flying into Buenos Aires. Launched by Grand Champions Polo Club, the world-class league attracts a large, international field, pitting the greatest players and organizations against each other. The club also hosts a range of events throughout the year from grass roots level to the upper echelons of the sport including the International Cup which welcomes record crowds, and Sunset Chukkers and Cocktails, a concept of late afternoon games with good friends and great food.
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One of the two major UK high goal tournaments on the calendar, The Queen’s Cup is played in the Royal family’s back yard, Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park. The stakes are high and players fly in as paid assassins for one of the most competitive tournaments in the world. Enjoy the razzmatazz of sponsor, Cartier’s final’s day hospitality and keep an eye out for who will present the cup to the winning team – historically, the late HM The Queen did the honors.
The Gold Cup takes place in the long, end-of-summer shadows of the castle ruins at Cowdray Park Polo Club. Known as the ‘home of polo’, competitive matches have been played at the Club since 1910, yet a hiatus during WWII where the grounds were ploughed for the war effort, nearly ended the game in the UK. Fortunately, the passion of owner, the 3rd Viscount Cowdray revived the ailing sport, and it is his inauguration of The Gold Cup in 1956, that cemented his position as a founding father of modern day polo. The tournament remains Europe’s premier high goal spectacle.
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The Colorado mountain town boasts pristine pistes, luxury hotels, exceptional restaurants – and a rather fantastic snow polo tournament. The likes of polo professional and Richard Mille ambassador Pablo MacDonough and model and athlete Nacho Figueras have taken to the snowy pitch for sporting battles against the backdrop of Mount Sopris. Find yourself in Aspen from July to September? Combine breath-taking hiking and mountain biking with the summer season at the nation’s fastest growing polo club, Aspen Valley.
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