GEARHART – When you think of polo, perhaps royalty comes to mind – Prince Charles, English polo clubs. Or maybe its Ralph Lauren: Polo – a logo for fine clothing. But Gearhart? Probably not. That’s about to change.

On Sunday, a crew filming for Animal Planet’s television show “Untamed and Uncut” was in Gearhart at a new facility, Polo Ridge, near Surf Pines. The TV segment involved a polo accident that had a good outcome, but that’s all the director would say.

Several years ago, Pam and Dale Wideman, owners of Rare Discovery and the Purple Pelican gift stores in Cannon Beach, developed property for a home and equine facility, including a state-of-the-art barn, an indoor riding arena and an outdoor polo field.

Now the property sports large areas of green with bright white fences rolling along the curves of the sand dunes.

On Sunday, the arrival of the film crew prompted Pam Wideman to host an unveiling of the field with demonstrations of polo at Polo Ridge, which sits on the Flying Monkey Ranch. The ranch is dedicated to Dale Wideman, who is suffering from a long illness.

Recently, Brandon Alcott, a young, strapping, dark-haired polo coach for Oregon State University, heard about the Widemans’ polo grounds. Always looking for a way to expand the sport, Alcott contacted Pam Wideman.

Alcott and Wideman both liked the idea of drawing community members to the sport which both have enjoyed for many years. Alcott’s parents played polo and he began at age 4.

The plan to form a polo club on the Coast grew from the ground up, Alcott said.

Cameraman Bill Rice films Brandon Alcott, center, and JIm Berry for a segment to air on Animal Planet’s “Untamed and Uncut,” in the barn at Polo Ridge development in Gearhart.

Photo by SUE CODY – The Daily Astorian

“Connecting with Brandon was fantastic,” Wideman said, noting that he has great credentials, a business degree and has played polo and polocrosse his whole life. He was on the Washington State polo team and is a coach at Oregon State.”

The two have partnered to form the North Coast Polo and Polocrosse Club. The first clinic will be held June 19 through 21 for adults wishing to learn polo and polocrosse. People can bring their own horses, though Alcott said he hopes to have some horses available to rent.

“This is a great opportunity for teaching polo and polocrosse,” Alcott said. “It’s a great spot to grow the sport. The field is just beautiful. It’s laser level.”

Two sports

In polo, two teams of four players hit a ball with a mallet, somewhat like golf. The game is based on teamwork, and only one player on a team is allowed to score. It is strict and fast, Alcott said.

Polocrosse is played like lacrosse with a net head on the end of a shaft. Players can carry and throw the ball. It is played with three players per team and the horses stay together. Players can’t cut each other off and collisions aren’t allowed. “Polo is more technical,” Alcott said. “Both games complement each other.”

“I think this will be something different for the community,” Wideman said. Not only can people learn the sport, but people will be able to participate in watching different events.

On a huge, flat ridge overlooking the polo field, are nine 2-acre lots that will be put on the market soon. The home sites will be directed toward equine people, Wideman said. Owners will be able to board their horses and use the arena and other facilities.

She said, “I want to continue with the visions my husband and I had together.”