Amidst the immense popularity of sports such as football, basketball and baseball, another athletic pastime has found a home on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Polo, also known as the “Sport of Kings,” is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious sports, with the likes of princes, dukes and earls generally taking part in past eras.     

Nowadays, this horse-powered activity is more accessible than ever before, and residents from around Baldwin County have been exemplifying that reality for over 50 years.     

The Point Clear Polo Club brings people together on Fridays and Sundays for an afternoon of camaraderie, competition and connection. With games taking place at the Polo Ground in Silverhill, the weekly event becomes just as much of a social gathering as it is an athletic competition.

“The club was created in 1970, and it was started by several people, one of which was my father,” said Hutch Radcliff, the club’s president. “It’s been passed down generations, and now I have children and nephews that play. We’re just all crazy about the sport."

Straying from the posh roots of the pastime, there is no dress code for spectators, and attendees are allowed to bring their own drinks and snacks. Many people opt to tailgate out of their cars or under tents, and there are even food vendors that make appearances as well.

“As a spectator, you can come in and it’s a little intimidating at first with 50-plus horses in one spot and all the trailers,” said MeiMei Parrish, the club’s marketing director. “But once you get to the venue, it’s a very laid-back environment. People just hang out and meet new friends, and some of the players will ride by, wave to spectators and let them take pictures.”

Outside of the playing field, an average of 300 fans mingle amongst themselves and interact with the ponies. A plethora of individuals also look forward to the halftime divot-stomping, which allows spectators to take to the field and help maintain the grounds.

“It’s a chance for fans to stretch their legs because a polo field is the size of roughly nine football fields,” Parrish said. “And a lot of people think of the movie ‘Pretty Woman,’ so they want to be part of that scene in a way.”

With admission being free, people of all ages are invited to attend, and pets are allowed as long as they are on a leash. Reserved tailgate spots are available.

“We want everybody to be involved, enjoying a casual event,” Radcliff said. “Come as you are, tailgate, bring your dog or whatever you want. Make it a fun activity for your family.”

And on top of all of that, the club also offers an eight-week polo school, with Parrish being one of many proud graduates. No prior experience with playing the sport or riding a horse is necessary, and all needed equipment is included in the $1,000 fee.

Sessions are hosted three times per week. For more information, contact Megan@HiddenViewFarmPolo.com.

“The club itself is very open and welcoming, and the school always looks to invite new people who might not know about the sport,” Parrish said. “If someone said ‘polo’ to me in the past, I would’ve thought of the Ralph Lauren logo. So I came into this not knowing anything, and now I’ve just fallen in love with the horses and people.”     

The club’s fall season will begin Oct. 4 and run through Nov. 1, with a spring season to follow in 2027.

The renowned Sunday games generally take place at 1 and 3 p.m., while matches on Friday occur at 2 and 4 p.m. Public practices are also held at 4 p.m. every Wednesday during the season.

“The club is looking for the next generation of polo players,” Parrish said. “So we just want to let people know there’s polo in Fairhope that families can come check out for free.”