Sunday polo returns to historic Whitney Field in Aiken

Apr. 25—Polo is a sport entwined with history and tradition in Aiken.

On a sunny afternoon Sunday, it returned to Whitney Field after a hiatus.

Enthusiastic fans stomped divots and partied in the pavilion, which is named in honor of the late Alan Lyle Corey III.

Dogs big and small also were in the crowd.

"We played at Whitney Field though the season last spring, and then we started the renovation," said the Aiken Polo Club's manager Tiger Kneece. "The grass we had was gifted to club in 1952 by Clemson. We ended up abandoning it, taking every bit of it off and putting in a new hybrid called Latitude 36, so we have all, brand new, fresh grass.

"The old grass was outdated, and we wanted to go with the newest and the latest and the best," Kneece added."

The matches during the Aiken Polo Club's fall season in 2021 were held elsewhere.

"We missed Whitney Field tremendously because of the history that is here," Kneece said. "Players want to play here. Spectators want to be here. It's the best venue going.

"We also took the opportunity to do improvements to the pavilion," he continued. "We purchased brand new boards, did some painting and made multiple other improvements. And now, here we are on a beautiful spring day."

Whitney Field is the oldest polo venue of its kind in the nation that has been in continuous use. The sport was introduced in Aiken in 1882.

There were two matches Sunday that were part of the Jake Kneece Memorial 4-goal tournament.

Aurora defeated Mid State Roofing 6-4 in the first game.

Un Sta Ble beat Shepard Partners 11-8 in the second.

Attending Sunday polo games at Whitney Field is something that Mike and Donna Fanning enjoy doing together and they were glad to be back.

"It's a beautiful field, and they did a great job getting it up to where they wanted it to be," Mike said. "I like the laid-back atmosphere here and seeing a lot of the locals. You get to meet a lot of new people, too, that are in for the weekend or the season."

Donna described Whitney Field as "a great place to be with friends and watch some wonderful horses."

Polo is "a very Aiken activity," she said. "It's a great way to show off some of the assets Aiken has."

After Aiken County Council Vice Chairman Andrew Siders sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," he spent time in the pavilion with his wife, Joanna, and Lara Moggio of Switzerland.

The couple hosted Moggio when she was an exchange student, and their former guest recently returned to Aiken for a surprise visit.

"It looks like there are lots of new people here," Andrew said. "Everyone is excited about the new spring season."

Those new people included Ruben "Gurubee" Mahboobi of New York City and his wife, Andrea Brandon.

Mahboobi is the wellness coach for Boyd Martin, who competes in three-day eventing and trains in the winter at Stable View near Aiken.

Martin has been a member of the United States Olympic team three times.

"I make sure he is okay physically, mentally and spiritually," Mahboobi said.

The first-time visitor to Whitney Field is a fan of polo and equestrian activities in general.

"I love horses and seeing them perform," Mahboobi said. "The spirit of the horse is what attracts me to most sports that are horse-related."

He also likes Aiken.

"I think I'll be moving down here it looks like at this rate," Mahboobi said. "It's amazing. Aiken is a wonderful ambassador for the horse. The community is very passionate and spiritually motivated for the love of the horse. I follow the energy. That's what I do."

U.S. Army Col. Aaron Banner, who is stationed at Fort Gordon, was another spectator who was experiencing Whitney Field for the first time.

He has played polo in past and tries to find games to attend or participate in wherever his career in the military takes him.

In general at polo matches, there is "a good atmosphere," Banner said. "I think, in your mind, you think it's going to be pretentious and uppity, but it really isn't. It's really pretty relaxed."

He was impressed with Whitney Field and what it had to offer as a polo venue.

"It's great," Banner said. "The people are great, and the weather today is great."