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| Polo in Sotogrande |
Polo in Sotogrande
by Saskia Mier
The famous grounds of Sotogrande have been dubbed the 'Wimbledon of Polo Pitches' - they are renowned as the best in Spain, and possibly Europe. This is partly due to their location, flanked by a tropical nursery and the Guadiaro River, with a stunning backdrop of brilliant blue skies and distant mountains. Yet they are close to the main A-7 highway, and so are easily accessible. Field polo is very much still considered as a sport for the wealthy, with players from the international jet set visiting from all over Europe to play throughout the year.
Polo arraived in Sotogrande thanks to a Philippine couple, Joseph Rafael McMicking y Ynchausti and his wife Mercedes Zobel de Ayala y Roxas. Manila-born McMicking, who had British heritage on his father's side, was the heir to a Philippine multi-national company, Ynchausti y Compañía, while Mercedes was a member of the prestigious Zobel de Ayala family.
The McMicking family created the Sotogrande development (read Sotogrande history), and in 1965 Mercedes' nephew, Enrique Zobel, built the first polo field, known as The Beach Ground (the early existence of Santa María Polo Club). A couple of years later, from 1967, the ground was used for private and family tournaments.
Watching Polo in Sotogrande
It is free to watch the polo matches in Sotogrande. The most interesting ones for the newcomer are the Summer International Tournament Matches which take place from late July until the end of August at Los Pinos polo ground in Sotogrande. Check the fixtures match times and Read a practical guide to visiting the Polo at the Los Pinos fields.
The polo pony ranges from 14.2-16 hands (147-163cm) in height and is usually either thoroughbred or thoroughbred crosses. Polo ponies are selected carefully for their ability to move in quick… More →
Each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. The modern game lasts roughly two hours and is divided into periods of play called chukkas, of which there are four to eight, 7-minute… More →
Polo originates from ancient Persia from the sixth century BC to the first century AD. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century, the game was eventually passed from Persia to other parts of Asia… More →
Polo Clubs in Sotogrande
Ayala Polo Club (in nearby San Enrique) has hosted and organised the prestigious International Tournaments since 2022, although the matches are mostly not held on their grounds, but at Santa Maria. The Alaya club is presided over by Iñigo Zobel, son of Enrique Zobel, the founder of polo in Sotogrande. Read Sotogrande History.
Santa Maria Polo Club has Los Pinos and Puente de Hierro fields with facilities both on and off the field. Santa Maria's Rio Sotogrande fields, the epicentre of Sotogrande Polo in the 1990s, is now only used for stables and training horses.
Polo Valley is a new fully equipped complex, see below and read more about Polo Valley.
Other clubs are Club de Polo Dos Lunas in San Martín del Tesorillo. Club de Polo La Capilla in San Martín del Tesorillo. La Querencia Polo Club in Sotogrande. Tres Rosas Polo Club in Sotogrande. Iridike Polo Club in Jimena de la Frontera.
Learning to play polo
After watching polo, you may be intrigued to try the majestic sport for yourself. Anyone, even without previous riding experience, can have a great polo experience at Polo Valley. There are courses and training available for everyone from the absolute beginner to the seasoned player. More info about Polo Valley.