"A Polo Handicap is a passport to the world" (Winston Churchill)

For as long as there has been both man and horse on earth, there has
been Polo. In the beautiful foothills of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, both man and horse still work and play together, and we continue to embrace the sport as well as the tradition of Polo. Polo is an exciting game to watch, and an even more exciting game to play, so come and visit the Black Diamond Polo Club. We welcome players of any level to join us for regular chukkers and tournaments, lessons may be arranged, and spectators are free to enjoy our polo clubhouse while having fun watching a game and enjoying the scenery.

A polo match lasts approximatley one hour, and it is played with two teams, four players on each team. There are four (low goal) to six (high goal) chukkers in each match and each chukker is seven minutes long. Chukkers are analagous to periods in hockey. It is a fast game and there are many rules which all stem from creating safety for the horse and the rider. The players all have handicaps which start at -2 goals and reach 10 goals. In a "Zero Goal" tournament, all the players on one team must add up to zero. For example, a 2 goal players plus a -2 player, and a 1 goaler plus a -1 goaler all add up to a zero goal team. The highest handicap that a team may have is therefore a 40 goal team. This is rare, and the team would be dominated by Argentinian players!

Historically, "polo" comes from the Tibetan word "pulee" - which means ball. Polo served as a qualifying game for the Russina nobility in 600 BC. From Russia and Persia, the game expanded to Arabia and China. The first recorded match of polo was in 709 AD in China. The British, who are known today for their devotion to horse sport and in particular polo, first encountered polo in the 19th Century when young officers were tested. As a famous general, Geoffrey Dent explained, "Since polo closely simulates battle, I can watch my men and take note of how they react under pressure and stress"!.

Steeped in history and tradition, Polo is an exciting game to play or watch. Please feel welcome to bring the whole family to the Black Diamond Polo Club and enjoy the atmosphere.