The Austin Polo Club dates back to 1925, making it one of the oldest polo clubs in America, and was founded by American polo legend George Miller in partnership with former Mayor and Austin Country Club founder, Lewis Hancock. 

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The Austin Polo Club was initially located at the original Austin Country Club, bouncing around between fields located on the outskirts of East 6th Street, the old miller field near Montopolis bridge, and makeshift fields around Austin, often using local ranch lands for matches and practices.

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In the early days, the club was primarily composed of local ranchers, businessmen, and enthusiasts who shared a passion for the sport, and often, a stronger passion for the horses. Many of those who stumbled into polo back in those days grew up in the saddle on a nearby family ranch or spent countless hours horseback during their military tenure.

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Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Austin Polo Club quickly became a social hub for polo enthusiasts in the Austin area, attracting more members and drawing large crowds from the local community and hosting teams from nearby cities such as San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. Despite challenges such as the Great Depression and World War II, the club maintained its operations and contributed to the promotion of polo in Texas.

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Like many recreational organizations, Polo clubs nationwide experienced a pause in activity during World War II. The societal focus shifted towards supporting the war, and activities like polo took a back seat to more pressing national priorities. Many of the club’s members, players, supporters and even ponies, were called to serve in the war. Resources such as horses, equipment, and finances were redirected towards the war effort, leading to a national polo hiatus.

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After World War II, America experienced a significant resurgence in polo as veterans and new players brought renewed energy to the sport. Many servicemen who had played polo or were involved in equestrian activities during the war returned home with a strong desire to continue playing. Polo was often included in military training as it enhanced horsemanship and teamwork, which fueled interest among veterans. Polo's military connections provided a base of skilled players who were eager to reengage with the sport. The post-war economic boom in the United States led to increased disposable income and leisure time, allowing more people to participate in sports and recreational activities like polo.

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George Miller, an Austin based rancher and horse dealer, was instrumental in organizing the initial group of players and supporters who would form the core of the Austin Polo Club, including forefathers of Texas polo and hall-of-famer’s such as 10-goaler Cecil Smith and 8-goaler Rube Williams. Miller, Williams, and Smith were well-known for purchasing prospective polo ponies from Texas ranches and turning them into America’s top equine athletes. The wiseman and his prodigies often dealt horses and competed seasonally on the highest stages of American polo as “The Austin Polo Team”, from summers at Meadowbrook polo club on Long Island to the winter season in Palm Beach, Florida. Cecil Smith was a legendary figure in the polo world and had a significant connection to the Austin Polo Club and the broader Texas polo scene. Miller, who died in 1946, got to be one of the first big dealers in polo ponies, and Smith became his chief disciple. He is remembered by The George Miller Memorial, a high-goal tournament played at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida.

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Cecil Smith was born on February 14, 1904, in Llano, Texas. He grew up on a working ranch and developed an early interest in horses and rodeo, which eventually led him to polo, Smith began punching cattle with his father, Sidney Smith, when he was scarcely 12, and his cattle-working kept him on the move so much that he never finished high school. One day, a crotchety, polo-loving man named George Miller, who owned a livery stable and playing field in Austin, came through Llano with a string of pony prospects. These were the days before jeeps were used to herd cattle on the western ranges, and the best early training a polo pony could get was to ride down young beef on the hoof. The training came naturally—in sudden stops and turns and galloping pursuits after rambunctious calves.​ Miller invited young Smith to drop by and play some polo. Smith did, along with a few other cowhands, and as one of "George Miller's boys" was thereby launched on his unique career as a dealer-player that has kept him always on the move. ​By the age of 22, he had achieved a 10-goal handicap, which is the highest rating a polo player can attain. He maintained this prestigious rating for over 25 years, longer than any other player in history.

His legacy is remembered through various honors and recognitions, including his induction into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 1990.

 

​​​As Austin grew and urban development encroached on the outskirts of town, in a story as old as the sport itself, polo clubs often fall victim to land development and are pushed further and further out of town. As the city expanded, the club tried time and time again to adapt by relocating to new areas, in an effort to not let the tradition die. The Austin Polo Club has been through numerous phases of both glory and dormancy since its original founding in 1925, and now operates out of Two Wishes Ranch, conveniently located 20 minutes from Austin Bergstrom airport, 20 minutes from San Marcos, 1 hour from San Antonio, and 30 miles south of downtown Austin, near the Circuit of The Americas Formula-1 track.  The current facilities consist of 1 regulation polo field & 1 practice field, with state-of-the-art irrigation, an option for conveniently located stabling, and an “indoor” polo arena. We are a spring and fall polo club and play 4-6 goal pro pool as well as host the Zilker League for our new players. We have hosted International Polo Challenge's with teams from Argentina, England, Mexico and USA competing in a knockout style tournament.