Ayala Polo Club was founded shortly after 1964 when Enrique Zóbel, nephew of Joseph McMicking (founder of Sotogrande), build Sotogrande's first polo ground, known as the ‘Playa’ field, located between what is today Sotogrande’s Real Golf Club and the beach.
Club de Polo Dos Lunas is a polo club located in in San Martín del Tesorillo near Sotogrande specializing in dressage and polo. It focuses its activity on preparing horses for top-level competition. It has its own polo fields with 34 boxes available for two teams during the summer Polo season or for practice time in winter season.
The Santa María Polo Club is by far the most well known polo club in Spain and also considered one of the best clubs in the world, providing exclusivity and glamour. It was the first polo field to be built in Sotogrande around 1965 and has since been improving the installations and reputation of the club.
The polo pony ranges from 14.2-16 hands (147-163cm) in height and are usually Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses. They are selected carefully for quick bursts of speed, stamina, agility and manoeuvrability. It is vital the horse remains responsive under pressure and not become excited or difficult to control.
Each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. The modern game lasts roughly two hours and is divided into periods called chukkas, of which there are four to eight, 7 minute chukkas. At the end of each 7 minute chukka, play continues for an additional 30 seconds or until a stoppage in play, whichever comes first. There is a four-minute interval between chukkas and a ten-minute halftime.
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, particularly India, Pakistan and China.
Although polo clubs proliferate across Sotogrande due to the sport's tradition in the area and the pleasant weather found across Andalucia, newer club Polo Valley has decided to approach the game from a different angle.
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, particularly India, Pakistan and China.
The famous grounds of Sotogrande have been dubbed the 'Wimbeldon of Polo Pitches', they are renowned as the best in the world. This is partly due to their location; flanked on various sides by a tropical nursery, the Guadiaro River, extensive blue skies, sun and distant mountains. Yet they are close to the main A-7 highway, so greatly accessible.
The grounds of Puente de Hierro are situated further north of the Guadiaro River and have three playing fields, two of them reserved during the International Summer Tournament for use in medium and low handicap matches. It was inaugurated in 1992 and it is here where the new five star stable blocks for 39 horses are found.
The grounds of Río Sotogrande are located on the west side of the Guadiaro River, opposite to the grounds of Los Pinos, and used in the International Summer Tournament and other winter and spring tournaments for high and medium handicaps.
Los Pinos is the main ground to the polo club, offering two unique and exceptional spaces surrounded by twenty hectares of parkland for the celebration of unique events. It is here where the high handicap matches of the International Summer Tournament and most of the winter tournaments are played. The ground has four playing fields and one warm up field.
