NEWS

The Houston Polo Club (HPC) (Houston, Texas) has a rich history, dating back over 90 years to the late 1920s. It was founded in 1928 and remains dedicated to the sport of polo. Located just minutes from The Galleria and Downtown, the club is situated on 26 beautifully landscaped and wooded acres. Access to the Houston Polo Club is available not only to polo players and their families, but also to others who may wish to experience the thrill of the Sport of Kings.

Polo tournaments are played throughout the spring and fall seasons, with final matches available to the public on Sunday afternoons. The Houston Polo Club is a full-service equestrian facility, available to riders of all disciplines. It boasts two polo fields, a stick-and-ball field and hitting cage, as well as a covered lesson arena, paddocks for turnout, and scenic riding trails.

A large club that frequently hosts players from all over the world, HPC places a special emphasis on creating a sense of community at their club. As the club has grown, more players have made Houston their primary polo landing spot, enlivening the level of play and ensuring back-to-back competitive seasons at the club. “What makes Houston special is that there are a group of professional polo players who call Houston their home. Our polo schedule is organized to help the pros maximize their jobs during the season since we are able to have a spring and fall season,” shared Executive Director and General Manager John Tasdemir.

To name a few, professionals Robert Orthwein, Mason Wroe*, Cody Ellis* and Steve Krueger* are all established in Houston as well as the renowned Jeff Hall, among others. The area is also currently home to nine of the 11 team owners at HPC, guaranteeing heavy team involvement in every tournament and a constantly competitive environment.

“We are a large polo club. Right now, we have over 140 players and it's the busiest we’ve been,” Tasdemir noted. “This season, we are hosting 12 Goal, 6 Goal, 2 Goal, ProAm, Margarita League in the Arena and the Polo School.” KC Krueger and head polo instructor Mark Prinsloo work alongside Tasdemir to keep the ball running at HPC.

Tasdemir remarked, “The thing we have learned is being able to have two seasons and multiple leagues tends to draw in organized, well mounted pros who are able to handle more than one league. This then allows our playing sponsors to tap into a bigger pool of professional players.”

Every year, the club looks for new ways to serve the entire riding community. Tasdemir shared, “Our Polo School and Step Up programs develop new players, from the youngest enthusiasts to new mature players, to join our polo community. Houston Polo Club takes special interest in developing the next generation of polo greats through our dedicated Junior Polo, Interscholastic and NYTS programs.”

Working diligently to continue growing their already strong community, the club offers its players myriad opportunities to get on the field, improve their game and connect with others. In closing, Tasdemir revealed, “Over our spring and fall seasons, we host six league levels ranging from beginner to 12 goal. In addition to league play, we host national USPA tournaments each season including the H. Ben Taub Memorial, the Delegate’s Cup, the Regional President’s Cup, the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap and the Southwestern Circuit National Youth Tournament Series.” Notably, this year also marks the 28th year of competitive women’s competition being held at HPC.

Learn more about the Houston Polo Club and the upcoming USPA tournaments they will be hosting below.

All photos courtesy of ©Kaylee Wroe.