SANTA BARBARA POLO CLUB:

Amongst California’s first clubs, The Santa Barbara Polo Club, founded in 1911, is the third oldest United States Polo Association, (U.S.P.A.), club still in existence in the United States.

The 1970’s saw the arrival of yet more polo families as the Holdens, the Ringers, and the Conants came to town.  In 1970 Robert Skene began constant meetings to procure the club.  Developers had their sights set on a mobile park and miniature golf course and, in order to hold them off, Robert Skene sub-leased the club for $4,000.00 per month.  In 1974 the Fleischmann facility was to be renovated to encourage a new renaissance in polo.  “The Santa Barbara Polo Club, Inc.” bought the property and construction of the envisioned facility began, concluding with the provision of 141 deluxe condominium units, 2 swimming pools, a jacuzzi, eight tennis courts, a tennis clubhouse, an exercise track for the horses, an arena, stabling for 350 horses, and three turf fields.  The original clubhouse was left intact, and now renovated.