Ever wondered where polo gained its Argentine fame? It started right here at the Hurlingham Club. This is not just any club. The Hurlingham Club is a cornerstone of Argentine sports and social life. It is steeped in history and tradition.
Founded in 1888 by Anglo-Argentines the Hurlingham Club mirrors its London namesake. The town of Hurlingham itself grew around this very club. The Hurlingham Club became its namesake.
Imagine the late 19th century. Buenos Aires lacked sports facilities. British citizens building Argentina’s railways yearned for familiar pastimes. They wanted cricket golf and rugby. John Ravenscroft envisioned a hub like London’s Hurlingham Club. He sought support but was initially turned down.
Ravenscroft persevered and gathered funds. Key figures like John Campbell and Hugh Scott Robson joined him. They drafted the club’s statutes. President Miguel Juárez Celman approved the Sociedad Anónima Hurlingham Club on November 22 1888.
Finding a location proved tricky. Belgrano Flores and other areas didn’t work out. Then Mr. Hill of the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway stepped in. He offered land near the railway tracks. Access was initially only by horseback. Members asked train drivers to stop at the club. Later the Hurlingham railway station was built. It provided daily service to Palermo.
The Standard newspaper reported rapid construction in 1889. William Lacey a professional cricketer oversaw the fencing cricket pitch and tree planting. Argentina’s first race track was built here.
January 6 1890 marked the first cricket match. It was against the Buenos Aires Cricket Club. The BAPR even provided a special sleeping coach for the players. May 16 1890 saw the inauguration of the first polo ground.
Rugby and football also have early ties to Hurlingham Club. A Hurlingham football team registered for the first Argentine Primera División championship in 1891. However the team withdrew before the tournament.
Golf joined the sporting roster in June 1892. The Campeonato Abierto de Hurlingham began one year later. It is now considered the oldest championship in the world. Horse racing occurred until 1910.
Today the Hurlingham Club spans 73 hectares. It boasts an 18-hole golf course. Five polo fields and stables for 300 horses are available. There are schools for polo horse riding and pony riding. Eighteen tennis courts include six grass courts. A cricket pitch two swimming pools three paddle tennis courts and an indoor complex complete the facilities. The club house offers function rooms restaurant bars and hotel rooms.
The Argentine Polo Association was founded here in 1922. The Campeonato Abierto de Hurlingham remains a major polo tournament. The Hurlingham Open is second only to the Argentine Open in importance.
The Anglo-Norman style club house designed by the Dumas brothers provides recreation. It offers restaurants bars and a members-only hotel. The Hurlingham Club hosted golf competitions during the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
The Hurlingham Club stands as a testament to Anglo-Argentine heritage. It is a vibrant center for sports and social gatherings. Its history echoes through the fields and halls. It shaped the community and Argentine sporting culture.