Houston Polo Club: A Spectator's Guide to Sunday Polo

At a glance

• Where: 8552 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024 — 26 wooded acres just inside the 610 Loop
• Seasons: Spring: April through early June (Sundays, typically 5 pm). Fall: mid-September through mid-November (Sundays, 5 pm in September, 4 pm in October, 1–2 pm in November; check the schedule for exact times).
• Tickets: Red Oak Courtyard: typically $18–$45 per person; children 2–12 at a special rate, under 2 free. Box seating: $260–$1,300 for groups of 4–20. Buy online or at the gate.
• Parking: Complimentary but limited; rideshare (Alto) encouraged for popular matches
• Time needed: Allow about 3 hours: arrive 30–40 min early, then a 2.5-hour match including halftime divot stomp

The Houston Polo Club is at 8552 Memorial Drive, on 26 wooded acres just inside the 610 Loop — one of the few major polo venues in the country located inside a large city. The club traces its roots to 1928, when the Houston Polo and Riding Club was founded by Houston business owners and horse enthusiasts. It is one of the largest polo clubs in the United States by number of registered players.

Matches are open to the public on Sunday afternoons during two seasons: spring (April through June) and fall (September through November). You buy a ticket, show up, and within a few hours you understand polo, stomp the field at halftime with a glass of champagne in hand, and wonder why you waited this long.

How polo works

A polo field measures 300 by 160 yards — about the same space as nine American football fields. Two four-player teams on horseback compete to drive a white ball through the opposing team's goalposts using a long-handled mallet. A match is divided into four to six chukkers, each running seven minutes of play-clock time. A full match runs roughly 2.5 hours in real time, including breaks between periods.

The horses are the standout element. Each player brings multiple horses to a match — one per chukker — because the pace is intense and no horse plays the full game. Between chukkers, grooms prepare the next horse near the sidelines. Arriving 30 to 40 minutes early lets you watch the pre-match player parade and explore the stable area before play starts.

What happens at halftime: the divot stomp

At halftime the gates open and all spectators walk onto the field. During the first half, the horses' hooves tear up the turf, leaving small clumps of displaced grass — called divots — scattered across the field. Spectators tamp each clump back into its hole with their foot, smoothing the surface so the second half can be played safely.

The club hands out complimentary champagne during the stomp. You will be standing on a 300-yard field with the players' horses cooling off nearby, champagne in hand, alongside a few hundred other people doing the same thing. First-timers almost universally say this is the moment the afternoon clicked into place.

Wear flats or wedges, not heels. The field is natural grass and the surface is uneven.

What to wear

The dress code calls for stylish, comfortable attire. For men: a collared shirt with tailored shorts or casual pants. For women: a sundress or capris with flats or wedges. Hats are strongly encouraged and most spectators lean into the tradition.

Some matches go further and run a best-dressed contest. The Texas Open (typically mid-October) awards prizes for finest boots and hat. The Santori Classic (September) has its own contest. Check the specific match page at houstonpoloclub.com before you go.

Outside food and beverages are not allowed. The club's on-site concession, The Lymbar, serves South American-inspired food and premium drinks. The Red Oak Courtyard Lawn also has a Champagne and Caviar Bar.

When to go: spring vs. fall season

The spring season runs from early April through early June, with Sunday matches typically starting at 5 pm. The fall season runs from mid-September through mid-November. September matches typically start at 5 pm; start times shift to 4 pm in October and 1–2 pm in November as the days shorten. Check the schedule at houstonpoloclub.com for each match's exact time.

Fall is the better season for Houston's weather. September can still be warm, but by October the evenings are genuinely pleasant and the 4 pm start means you finish in the cool of early evening. The fall schedule typically runs ten consecutive Sundays, with a named tournament each week — the Texas Open (mid-October), the Galvin Agency Classic, the Harvest Cup, and the Houston Women's Polo Championship (mid-November) among them.

Spring has its own appeal: the Houston Classic and the Fiesta Cup in May, and a longer season overall. If you are going for the first time, a mid-October fall match is the sweet spot for weather and atmosphere.

Tickets and seating

Red Oak Courtyard — covered tables with seating. Tickets typically run $18 to $45 per person. Children ages 2–12 are admitted at a special rate; children under 2 are free in this area. Tickets are available online through the schedule page at houstonpoloclub.com or at the gate on match day. Arrive 30–40 minutes early for parking and to browse vendors before the match.

Grandstand Box Seating — enclosed boxes for 4 to 20 guests, with professional wait staff included. Boxes run $260 to $1,300 depending on box size and date, and can be reserved by the day or for a full season. Box guests are shuttled from the parking area to the Grandstand by golf cart. Contact the club at 713-370-4990 to book.

Groups of 21 or more can ask about private tented areas and corporate event packages through the same number.

All ticket sales are final. If a match is rained out, the club credits your tickets toward a future match within one year.

Getting there and parking

The Houston Polo Club is at 8552 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024. From downtown, take Memorial Drive west; the club is about one mile east of Loop 610. From the Galleria/Uptown area, it is a short drive east on Memorial Drive.

Parking is complimentary but limited, and attendants direct traffic on match days. The club's rideshare partner is Alto. For popular matches — the Texas Open and the Houston Women's Polo Championship draw larger crowds — plan on ridesharing or arrive at least 40 minutes early.

Food nearby and things to do after

The club's own concession covers food during the match. For dinner before or after, River Oaks is a short drive east on Memorial Drive — our River Oaks restaurant guide covers options across price ranges.

Memorial Park, directly across Memorial Drive, has 1,466 acres of trails and a golf course if you want to extend the afternoon. Buffalo Bayou Park is a few minutes east — a good sunset walk after a late-afternoon match.

If the horses got you thinking about riding, our guide to horseback riding near Houston covers lessons, trail rides, and facilities across the area.

Save this: first-match checklist

• Check the schedule at houstonpoloclub.com and note the start time — 5 pm in spring, 4 pm in October, 2 pm in November
• Buy tickets online for popular matches (Texas Open, Women's Championship) — gate tickets are available but featured events can sell out
• Men: collared shirt with tailored shorts or pants. Women: sundress or capris with flats or wedges — no heels on the turf
• Bring a hat — polo has a hat culture and several matches run best-dressed contests
• Arrive 30–40 minutes early to catch the player parade and stable access before the match starts
• Walk the field at halftime — complimentary champagne is served; stomp divots back into the turf
• Pack binoculars — the field is 300 yards wide and far-end plays are hard to follow without them
• No outside food or drinks — The Lymbar concession is the food option on-site
• Rideshare or arrive early — complimentary parking fills quickly for featured matches
• No pets — service animals only, per ADA guidelines

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Houston Polo Club open to the public?

Yes. Sunday matches during the spring season (April through June) and fall season (September through November) are open to the public. You do not need a membership to buy tickets.

How much are tickets to the Houston Polo Club?

General admission to the Red Oak Courtyard typically runs $18 to $45 per person. Children ages 2–12 are admitted at a special rate and children under 2 are free. Box seating for groups of 4–20 runs $260 to $1,300. Tickets are available online at houstonpoloclub.com or at the gate.

What is the divot stomp at polo?

The champagne divot stomp is the halftime tradition at every Sunday match. Spectators walk onto the playing field and use their feet to tamp grass clumps — divots torn up by the horses' hooves — back into the turf. The Houston Polo Club hands out complimentary champagne during the stomp.

What should I wear to the Houston Polo Club?

Men should wear a collared shirt with tailored shorts or pants. Women are advised to wear a sundress or capris with flats or wedges — not heels, since you will walk on natural turf during the halftime divot stomp. Hats are strongly encouraged; some matches run best-dressed contests.

When is polo season in Houston?

The Houston Polo Club runs two public seasons: spring from early April through early June, and fall from mid-September through mid-November, with matches on Sunday afternoons. The fall season ends with the Houston Women's Polo Championship in mid-November.

Where exactly is the Houston Polo Club?

The Houston Polo Club is at 8552 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024 — about one mile east of Loop 610, just inside the Loop on 26 wooded acres adjacent to Memorial Park.