KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--One of the oldest clubs on the East Coast, Brandywine Polo Club’s history is as rich as it is aesthetic.

Located on 300 acres set in the Brandywine Valley of Kennett Square, Pa., Brandywine Polo Club was started in 1950 by James McHugh, a former intercollegiate player at Yale.

Impressively, only a few short years after the club was established, the Brandywine Polo Club team won the 1956 U.S. Open Polo Championship® hosted at Oak Brook Polo Club in Illinois.

Polo has been termed the "sport of kings," or sometimes the "king of sports".

However, one does not have to be a king to afford to play this game which in recent years has again grown in popularity.

The enjoyment of playing can be achieved by owning only one horse or by having a whole string of polo ponies.

The challenge of the game is to combine highly skilled athletic ability and horsemanship with the efforts of super trained mounts.

 

YET, IT IS the terrific speed combined with body control and dart like turns of the horses which gives polo its appeal to spectators and players alike.

“A polo pony must have the speed of a racehorse, the tough quick responses of a cow pony and the agility of a show jumper. Then he must have more stamina than any of them.” Cecil Smith (1904-2000)

Brandywine Polo Club is committed to making polo accessible.

With a polo school that dates back as far as 1963, the Brandywine Polo School has continued to offer a comprehensive introductory program that is perfect for anyone interested in pursuing polo regardless of age or experience level.

It has safe school horses for every level within the school.

Its “Orientation to Polo” is a graduated program which covers everything from rules to riding skills, as well as training and safety which are key components of its program and the foundation for great players.

Brandywine Polo Club is located just off Route 1 at the Toughkenamon exit, next to the New Garden Airport.

The club has four tournament-sized polo fields and each field has ample parking for spectator viewing and tailgating as well as room for several private party tents.

In past years, Brandywine Polo Club has accommodated up to 3000 people for matches and can hold as many as 4000. There is a private patron area for event sponsors and VIP guests.

The Brandywine Polo Club’s season runs from late May through September during which it hosts regular Friday Night Polo (gates open at 4:30 pm) and Sunday polo games (gates open at 1:30 pm).

Friday Night Polo and Sunday polo is open to the public and is a perfect addition to any weekend, tailgating with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors and watching an exciting fast paced polo match.

Brandywine provides a spectator friendly atmosphere that brings people close to the sport.

Visit its website for more information about tickets, social memberships, tailgate reservations, directions and information about learning to play polo. www.brandywinepolo.com