The short answer: Poway Polo Club is an arena polo club in the San Diego area, and in 2021 it was the least expensive polo I paid for anywhere on my tour: $30 a chukker. The facility is simple, but the arena footing was good, the people were incredibly welcoming, and they matched me with a really great horse. Then they put my visit in their newsletter.
These notes come from my 2021 and 2022 tour, when I tried to visit every polo club in America as a playing USPA member. Seasons, contacts, and prices change, so check each club's Instagram or the U.S. Polo Association before you go.
Poway Polo Club at a glance
Where: The San Diego area. The club plays out of the Poway Valley Riders Association arena.
Founded: 1990, by Russell Sheldon and his family (U.S. Polo Association).
Format: Arena only. The USPA calls it "an affordable entry program into the world of polo."
Programs: Interscholastic and beginner programs. Sherry Sheldon Gibson, the founder's daughter, has coached Poway's interscholastic teams to two national championships, according to the USPA.
What I paid in 2021: $30 a chukker.
My visit
We played in the rain, and it was fun. Tommy was great and did a really good job pairing horse to rider. The horse I got was really great.
Afterward, the club's newsletter said: "We also had Amanda visiting from Sarasota Polo Club. She is on a mission to visit all USPA Polo Clubs in the United States." The same weekend, I visited HYT's arena polo in Burbank and watched a game at Will Rogers Polo Club. That was a good weekend.
Why $30 polo matters
Most people assume polo starts at country-club prices. Poway shows it doesn't have to. The USPA calls Poway an affordable entry program into the sport, and $30 a chukker backs that up.
For perspective, the most expensive chukker I was quoted on my tour was $500, also in California. I lay out the whole range in how much polo costs.
Who should go
Beginners, kids, and anyone in Southern California who wants a lot of riding for not a lot of money. Starting in the arena is the easiest way into the sport. If you're new, learn the basics first in polo rules explained.
For the rest of the state, see my guide to polo clubs in California.
Polo, wherever you are. That's PoloFlow, the app I'm building to make finding an affordable game and a good horse easy. Join the waitlist.
