GROUNDS PROJECT
The official opening of the new Prince Consort Drive (from left) Neil Hobday, Peter Svoboda, James Neighbour, Col Stuart Cowen, Brian Stein and Lt Col Sean O'Dwyer
Estate was content with our plans, the third was ensuring we could get planning permission. “As it was such a large project we decided to break it down into two phases. Phase one would be moving Prince Consort Drive and upgrading the Princes' Ground and phase two would be grounds four to eight, which will become three full-size grounds.” Planning consent was given by the local authorities in August 2018 and the Crown Estate agreed that the Club could start work in autumn 2018. “We had two major hurdles in getting planning permission,” said Stuart. “One was environmental, especially trees. The corner by Cumberland Gate has some historic trees and ancient forest around Fuzzy Clump, so we had to look quite carefully at some of the old oaks around there. The second hurdle was archaeological – what might be underneath Smith's Lawn? “At this stage we also started to look at drainage because there was concern that the run-off from the grounds into Obelisk Pond might cause algal bloom in the pond. So we have carried out a feasibility study into a reed bed at the bottom corner of ground eight. This is still in the planning stage – but the reed bed will filter any nitrates and phosphates in the water to allow clean water to flow into Obelisk Pond.”
Due to events taking place in the Park work could not start until late October, but the moving of Prince Consort Drive, was completed on time, in January 2019. The next stage – to strip away the top soil on the Princes' Ground, address some
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of the sub-surface issues, laser level it, replace the top soil and then start seeding with a drainage system underneath – started in March 2019. “The juggling act with grounds is always the weather and seasons,” said Stuart calmly. “You don’t really want to work on grounds over the winter but at the same time we don’t want to interrupt polo. So we are planning to have the seed bed on the new ground by the end of April/beginning of May so we can seed it in May. Hopefully, the grass will germinate and grow over the summer.
“The fencing will have to stay up to stop people walking on it but that will be the only sign that any work has taken place. However, having spent £600,000 on the field we don’t want someone taking their horse or car across there!”
“The fencing will have to stay up to stop people walking on it but that will be the only sign that any work has taken place. However, having spent £600,000 on the field we don’t want someone taking their horse or their car across there!” The Club’s aim is to start lightly playing
The Princes' Ground in 2020. Of course there is an art to growing grass and it is weather dependent, but the Grounds Committee is already thinking about phase two. “By the back end of 2020
we will be able to have a good look at where we are with Princes' Ground and understand the lessons learned from doing that development. We will then make a recommendation to the Board with regards to phase two. “Ultimately, we should be able to play more polo at Smith’s Lawn. We will have grounds that are more resilient and efficient so we can play more regularly, in more variable weather, with possibly a longer season. Also we won’t need to spend so much because we will have good soil, good turf, good irrigation and good drainage; so more durable grounds needing less maintenance. “All the grounds will be the same size and so can manage the fixtures wherever we want, allowing the Polo Office more flexibility with grounds scheduling. If we have a final of a low-goal tournament it can be played on one of our premier grounds at the height of the season because we will be able to play any polo, including the high-goal, on our other grounds, with better viewing on all grounds.” So, 12 years after that first Vision for the
Future strategy was drafted, Guards Polo Club is heading into the home straight. The world’s most famous polo club is in the process of creating the world’s greatest grounds in what is, without doubt, the finest location for a club. And thanks to that vision and the dedicated work of the Grounds Committee and staff, Guards Polo Club 2025 will be the club of choice for players, ponies and lovers of this great game worldwide.
GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2019
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