While Sotogrande was becoming known as a premier golfing destination , it also began to build its reputation as the epicentre of European polo . The sport was first played at Sotogrande ’ s Santa Maria Polo Club in 1965 and it forms a major part of Sotogrande ’ s vision for the future , in a resort that is becoming an oasis for equine sport .
The polo club ’ s biggest event is the Gold Cup , the culmination of the International Polo Tournament in August . It is considered Spain ’ s elite sporting event and it draws some 90,000 spectators each summer , among them royals , celebrities and business leaders from around 50 different countries .
Ringing endorsement came earlier this year when Gold Cup became part of the World Polo Tour . It means Sotogrande is just one of three venues outside of Argentina to host a Grand Slam polo competition and places the Gold Cup on a par with the US Open and British Open .
This promotion to polo ’ s super-league will ensure the biggest names in the game continue to be drawn to Sotogrande , among them the world ’ s number one , Adolfo Cambiaso , who joined in the celebration of the Gold Cup ’ s 45th edition this year playing for Team Dubai , as well as many of the polo club ’ s founding members .
The polo club hosts at least 25 tournaments a year , and it is the only polo club in the world to have the capacity to host 32 teams on its nine fields , four of them in the World Class category . Each year , some 220 teams , 800 players and 2,500 horses flock to the polo club , which is as much the hub of social life in Sotogrande as the scene of some highly charged battles on the field .
This year , that included spirited competition between 350 polo-playing lawyers from all round the world - participants in the annual Lawyers Tournament , which is held each year in one of the world ’ s most spectacular polo clubs – and in 2016 , that venue was Sotogrande ’ s Santa Maria . As the event ’ s founder , lawyer Eduardo Bérèterbide , comments : “ Santa Maria is one of the best polo clubs in the world and always attracts the best players in the world . It is without a doubt an ideal place to hold first-class events .”
With Sotogrande able to boast the same in its sailing and golf , it is a sporting estate that stands in a class of its own .
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