The Sport of Kings -- The posh Palm Beach Polo and Country Club and the International Polo Club are two of the world's premier polo grounds and host some of the sport's top-rated players. Even if you're not a sports fan, you must attend a match at one of these fields, which are on the mainland in a rural area called Wellington. Rest assured, however, that the spectators, and many of the players, are pure Palm Beach. After all, a day at the pony grounds is one of the only good reasons to leave Palm Beach proper. You need not be a Vanderbilt or a Kennedy to attend -- matches are open to the public and are surprisingly affordable.
Even if you haven't a clue how the game is played, you can spend your time people-watching. In recent years, stargazers have spotted Prince Charles, Sylvester Stallone, Tommy Lee Jones, Bo Derek, and Ivana Trump, among others. Dozens of lesser-known royalty keep box seats right on the grounds.
Dress is casual; a navy or tweed blazer over jeans or khakis is the standard for men, while neat-looking jeans or a pantsuit is the norm for women. On warmer days, shorts and, of course, polo shirts are fine, too.
General admission is $10 to $20; box seats cost $75 to $100. Matches are held throughout the week. Schedules vary, but the big names usually compete on Sunday at 3:30pm from January to April.
The fields are located at 11809 Polo Club Rd. and 3667 120th Ave. South Wellington, 10 miles west of the Forest Hill Boulevard exit of I-95. Call tel. 561/793-1440 or 561/204-5687 for tickets and a detailed schedule of events.
