Photos by Richard Schmon
Polo has long been known as the Sport of Kings — but this is a reputation Tiger Kneece is trying to change.
“It’s come a long way. People once thought of the sport as super-elite and that hurt the sport for years,” says Kneece, the manager of Aiken Polo Club. “Our general admission is just $5. You can watch a world-class polo game with players and horses worldwide for next to nothing. We want to offer the experience to everybody.”
Polo arrived in Aiken in 1882, six years after the game was introduced on this side of the Atlantic. The sport became an integral part of Aiken’s Winter Colony society and attracted many of the best players in the world. By World War II, Aiken was the center of America’s polo world during the winter months.
“Back then, wealthy New Yorkers came here to escape the harsh months of the North and brought polo with them,” Kneece says. “The horses came down on trains, were unloaded in downtown Aiken and then walked over to the barns.”
Aiken is perfect for the sport because of its climate and sandy soil.
“We have mild spring and fall seasons,” Kneece explains. “You can do things outside year-round here, but as far as the club activities, those happen in the milder seasons. We have Bermuda grass, too, so we can get 2 inches of rain and [still] play the following day. The sandy soil soaks it up. The Northeast clubs are clay-based and rain can put them down for five days to a week.”
Aiken Polo Club has five fields in downtown Aiken: Whitney, Winthrop and three on Powderhouse Road. In the spring and fall, the club hosts back-to-back games on eight consecutive Sundays, welcoming international and national riders with their horses to Aiken for the sport.
The public is invited to attend and watch from general admission locations ($5), tailgating spots ($50), or the Alan Corey Pavilion ($75), which includes catering from Park Avenue Oyster Bar & Grill and an open bar.
A day at the fields is like a big party. Kneece explains: “For general admission, bring your cooler and chairs and set up and watch. For tailgating, many people put up tents and set out a big spread and tailgate all day.”
Kneece said his job gets hectic during the athletic season. As the club’s general manager, he oversees all events, tournaments and education programs. For any particular week, there can be multiple practice games happening simultaneously on different fields.
“To pull off a game involves your field and setup crew. One game has eight players, and each player brings five or six horses,” Kneece says. “You also have paramedics, umpires and flaggers. There are a lot of moving parts.”
But for someone who has spent his entire life in the sport, it’s a dream job. Kneece’s father started playing at Aiken Polo Club, and the younger Kneece picked it up and played professionally, winning every major tournament in North America.
He led the Aiken Youth Polo girls’ high school team to victory for the USPA 2021 National Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Championship. Kneece coaches three interscholastic/ intercollegiate teams — a high school girls’ team, a high school open team and the USC Aiken collegiate team.
Aiken Youth Polo (AYP) is part of the Club’s mission to educate people about polo. AYP holds children’s clinics during the winter and hosts youth teams. There’s also the Aiken Polo Club Academy for adults.
“Someone may come to the fields and say, ‘Gosh! I want to give this a try. I’ve always wanted to do something like that!’ We have a polo school with horses, and we’ll set up the lessons.”
Kneece feels like Aiken loves and supports polo and is in a prime location to expose other areas to the sport.
“We feel like we have such big exposure in Aiken and the community,” he says. “We’d love to see people make the short drive from Augusta or Columbia to check it out. We want people to come out and enjoy a game. Heck, sponsor a team to get your business name out there. It’s not that far away, and it’s a lot of fun.”
For families looking for something to do, he says polo isn’t just family-friendly — it’s family-driven. It’s a great social event. There are green spaces and open air,” he says. “At halftime and after the game, kids go out on the field with footballs and frisbees and take advantage of having 10 acres right here.”
Aiken Polo Club
Fall 2024 CalendarSept. 29–Oct. 13
USPA Governor’s Cup 6 GoalSept. 29–Oct. 6
Women’s Fall Challenge 4–8 GoalOct. 13–27
USPA George Patton Cup 6 GoalOct. 20–27
Women’s Fall Challenge 8–12 GoalOct. 27–Nov. 10
USPA Players Cup 4 GoalGeneral Information
Location: Historic Whitney Field, 420 Mead Ave., in Aiken’s historic horse district.
Admission: $5 General Admission;
$50 Fieldside Parking;
$75 Pavilion (includes an open bar and catered food)
Contact: (803) 643-3611 or aikenpolo.org
Seen in the October 2024 issue of Augusta magazine.
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