For nearly 20 years, polo all but disappeared from Camden. The Kirkwood Polo Field sat quiet, the mallets stored away and the sport that once helped define the city faded into memory. That changed in 2023, when members of the Wateree Hounds organized an exhibition match that brought polo back to the field. In 2025, the revival took a more permanent shape as the Camden Polo Club was formally reinstated and organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Polo is played on horseback by two teams of four riders. Players move the ball down a large grass field using long-handled mallets, working to score goals while navigating horses at full speed. The sport blends strategy, athleticism and horsemanship, with strict rules designed to protect both riders and horses. Games are divided into short periods called chukkers, and teams switch directions after each goal to keep conditions fair.
Ned Towell, a joint master of the Wateree Hounds, has been one of the central figures in bringing the sport back. He said the difference this time is that polo is no longer just an occasional exhibition but something being built locally.
“Camden is experiencing a real rebirth right now,” Towell said. “After nearly 20 years without active polo, we’re seeing something different. People who live in Camden are actually playing polo again. We’ve had exhibition matches before, but this is the first time in decades that the sport is truly taking root locally.”
Through the work of the Wateree Hounds and others, a lease has been secured on the historic downtown field, one of the oldest polo fields in the country, Towell said. It was saved years ago from development and is now held in trust.
“This year, we also reestablished the Camden Polo Club’s charter with the United States Polo Association,” Towell said. “It was originally formed in 1900. One hundred twenty-five years later, it feels like a new era for polo in Camden.”
Today, that new era is being led by Michele Sanger, captain of the Camden Polo Club. Sanger, who played polo in high school and college, said her passion for the sport made her eager to help guide its return to Camden.
Sanger now oversees regular beginner practices and full-field sessions for more advanced players. While a few members own their own horses, many rely on rental ponies brought in from Aiken, helping make the sport more accessible to newcomers. Players from Charlotte and Charleston also travel to Camden to participate.
“Our goal is to rebuild polo here in a way that’s welcoming and sustainable,” Sanger said. “That means creating opportunities for beginners, investing in young riders and making sure polo is really a part of Camden again in a sustainable way. Not just something people watch, but something they can be involved in.”
Her vision extends beyond matches. Sanger hopes to secure a dedicated practice arena, develop a youth program and eventually acquire lesson and rental horses so the club can become more self-sustaining. She also envisions opportunities for local residents, including scholarships and programs that introduce young people to working with horses and careers in the equine industry.
As part of that effort, the Camden Polo Club is hosting a beginner clinic on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. The clinic costs $250 and includes a swing lesson, stick-and-ball time and a mock chukker. Additional beginner clinics are expected to be scheduled on Saturdays throughout the spring. Those interested can email michesanger@gmail.com for more information or to register.
Camden City Councilman William Wilkes said the revival aligns with the city’s broader efforts to celebrate its heritage while investing in the future growth.
“The City of Camden is proud of the work the Camden Polo Club, The Camden Hunt and Wateree Hounds have done to bring polo back to Camden and is honored to support events that celebrate who we are as a community and where we’re headed,” Wilkes said. “We look forward to continuing this tradition as we welcome the next generation to the historic Kirkwood Polo Field.”
For both organizers and players, the return of polo is about more than one sport. It is about reconnecting Camden to a piece of its identity and building something that can endure for years to come.
