In “Join the Club” (season 4, episode 12), Weekends with Yankee cohost Richard heads to the Myopia Polo Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, to see a match and learn more about the sport in which players wield mallets and ride horses at speeds of up to 30 mph. Hoping to take in a New England polo match or learn how to play yourself? Learn more about notable New England polo clubs in the following roundup.
A scene from Myopia Polo Club from season 4 of Weekends with Yankee.
One of the oldest continuously active polo clubs in the country, the Myopia Polo Club on Massachusetts’s North Shore holds Sunday matches from May through September at its magnificent Gibney Field. A rich mix of history and athletic energy in a beautiful natural setting make a Myopia Polo Club visit a memorable experience for players and spectators alike. You may also recognize the club from the 1968 movie The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway — the film’s polo scenes were shot here.
Established in 1876, Newport Polo is the home of the Westchester Polo Club, America’s first polo club. It’s also the host of the Newport International Polo Series, which features teams from across America and around the world. Enjoy seasonal public polo matches and year-round polo instruction.
The oldest intercollegiate polo program in the U.S., Harvard Polo was reestablished in 2006, building on a tradition that dates back to 1883. The team practices regularly at the Harvard Polo and Equestrian Center in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.
Founded in 1903, this club represents not only the oldest team sport at Yale but also one of the oldest collegiate polo programs in the United States. Home to players from both the university and the surrounding community, the Yale Polo Club’s stately facility and world-class horses are available for everything from beginner riding lessons to advanced polo training.
Founded in 2014, the Boston Polo Club prides itself on training and player development (its high school team ranked fourth in the nation twice in the past five years). Whether you’re a spectator, a prospective student, or an experienced player in search of a league to join, the Boston Polo Club has what you’re looking for. Services include boarding, beginner and advanced polo lessons, and horse leasing for competitions.
Located on more than 100 acres in beautiful Canaan, New Hampshire, the Heritage Farm Polo Club offers group or private riding lessons for both children and adults, rules coaching, horse leasing, and polo practices and matches.
Founded in 1962, Sugarbush Polo Club is the oldest club in Vermont and welcomes everyone to learn more about the game, whether you are a beginner rider, a seasoned professional, or somewhere in between. Lessons (including horse and equipment rental) are available to the public, as well as horses for sale or lease. Hoping to take in a match? Spectators are welcome to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the show with family and friends.
Located in the heart of Connecticut’s Farmington Valley, the Farmington Polo Club hosts polo games on most Sundays during the summer season and arena polo games during the fall. It also offers private and group lessons, tailgating at matches, and facility rentals.
Established in 1981, the Greenwich Polo Club is one of only a handful of high-goal polo venues in the country. Of special note are its Sunday matches, open to the public, throughout the summer and early fall.
Located at Folly Farm at the base of Talcott Mountain in Simsbury, Connecticut, the Simsbury Polo Club offers year-round lessons and pony leasing, along with summer grass polo, practices, and tournaments. The public is welcome to attend for field-side tailgating and halftime divot stomping.
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