Southampton Hunt & Polo Club, Water Mill

They call it the "sport of kings," but residents of the Hamptons don't even need a fiefdom to get into polo thanks to the Southampton Hunt & Polo Club. Beginners can ease into the sport during one-hour lessons that cover fundamentals. For students wishing to play competitively, the club offers a ten-hour training program led by professional players, who impart techniques such as riding polo-style, hitting, and game strategy before a graduation ceremony takes the form of real-life games on the field.

If you're already an avid player, Southampton Hunt & Polo Club hosts leagues and tournaments throughout the year. In the summer, hooves happily trample three grass fields and one regulation-size outdoor arena, moving to the indoor field at nearby Two Trees Stables for the winter and spring. From the exercise tracks to the stalls and turn-out area, the club boasts enough room to board 200 horses, all just a short four miles from the Hamptons' beautiful beaches, where seahorse polo is all the rage.