The Polo Club
1953
The Will Rogers Polo Field is the Only Remaining Polo Field in Los Angeles County California.
Will made his home in Beverly Hills during the early twenties. In 1922 Will bought the property above Sunset Boulevard commanding a view of western Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean, where he built a small weekend cottage. In 1926, he built a polo field on the land. In 1928 Will, his wife Betty, and their three children – Will Jr., Mary, and Jimmy – moved to the ranch, and the home was enlarged to it’s present size of thirty-one rooms.
Today, the grounds and the ranch buildings are maintained as they were when the family lived here. The living room – with it’s comfortable furniture, porch swing in the center room, and many Indian rugs and baskets – is most revealing of Will’s personality. The mounted calf was given to him to rope in place of roping his friends.
The attractive patio was often used for dining. The north wing of the house contains the family’s bedrooms. Will’s study, the library, and Betty’s favorite, the sunroom.
His ranch reflects his roots in horsemanship, starting with the polo field, which is the first thing you see when you look south from the parking area. The field is the only outdoor polo field in Los Angeles county. Featured in many movies and TV shows, the polo field features a gentle slope that forms an area for viewing the polo action.
Up from the parking area are the ranch buildings, including the visitor center, which once the ranch guest house. The visitor center features a film on the life of Will Rogers, literature and an audio tour of the grounds. The ranch buildings and grounds are maintained as they were when the Rogers family lived there in the late 1920s and 1930s. But the park is more than just an historic site, it’s also a working ranch. The park still retains many of the western equestrian activities that were a part of Will Rogers’ life. Up the hill from the main guest ranch, above the green expanse of lawn, are the stables, which have recently been renovated.
If you come out and watch our games, be aware that an enormous amount of “behind the scenes” preparation has made this event possible. Each player has two to four horses; which require feeding, cleaning and daily exercise during the week preceding each game. Most of the players board their horses elsewhere, which means that earlier in the day, they trailered their horses to the park for the game. The horses are then brushed and “tacked up” in their special saddles, bridle and leg protection wraps. The players dress in their white joudhpers, team shirts, boots, knee guards and riding spurs. Between chukkers (periods of play), players and grooms, frantically change horses and adjust their tack. A thousand details can go wrong (and often do)! But, at that sublime moment when the mallet touches the ball, it all seems gloriously worthwhile.
Will Rogers Polo Club Events
Are you looking for a unique fund-raising event for your organization? Is your group bored with the idea of another “rubber chicken” banquet at a local hotel? How would you like an event this summer that combines the outdoors, buffet lunch, an exciting sports presentation, and raising money? Well, have we got the event for you!!!
Will Rogers Polo Club cordially invites your non-profit group to schedule a fund-raising event on a Saturday or Sunday during our Summer Polo Season. Invite your donors, contributors, and corporate sponsors to join us under white-canopied tables for an afternoon enjoying the exhilarating game of polo at Will Rogers State Historic Park.
The Park is located in Pacific Palisades, overlooking the ocean. The park was originally the private estate of Will Rogers; famed humorist, newspaper columnist, movie star, and polo player. In fact, the Will Rogers polo field is the last remaining field in Los Angeles California.
There is no finer spectacle in the world of sports than polo. The horses are thoroughbreds, breathtakingly beautiful and conditioned to perfection. The players are unique athletes, successfully balancing horsemanship, gamesmanship and ball control while galloping at top speeds.
To begin the event, mounted players will explain the rules, the equipment, and the horses to your guests to enhance their enjoyment of polo. Then there will be three polo matches; the teams named after each of your sponsors.
As if that weren’t enough, throughout the day, your guests can also enjoy a catered luncheon, silent auction, raffle, fashion show, pony rides for the kids, and escorted tours of Will Rogers’ home.
