Miguel Novillo Astrada is no stranger to building—whether its plays on the field or shaping long-term visions beyond it. As one of the most respected figures in international polo, his legacy includes a historic 2003 season in Argentina, where he and his brothers, Javier, Eduardo and Ignacio won the Argentine Triple Crown—becoming the first and only team of four siblings to achieve this feat.
Novillo Astrada has been a consistent presence in top U.S. tournaments for over two decades, winning the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 2002, the C.V. Whitney Cup twice (1998, 2012) and the East Coast Open in 2015, among many other finals appearances. Now, after years of competing at the highest level, he’s turning his attention to shaping the future of the sport.
Alongside a group of fellow polo legends including Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Martín Nero, the Pieres brothers and Hilario Ulloa, he has launched Plyrs Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. The goal is not just to build another set of fields, but to create a full-service polo environment that supports both high-goal and grassroots competition.
“After so many years competing in the U.S., we feel it’s our turn to give back to a country that has given us so much.” – Miguel Novillo Astrada
Miguel Novillo Astrada alongside a group of fellow polo legends have united to establish the Plyrs Polo Club. ©Guadalupe Aizaga
Tell us about Plyrs Polo Club.
“It’s a new club we started with Juan Sánchez Elía two years ago while we were playing together in Palm Beach. Later, players like Gonzalo, Nicolas and Facundo Pieres, Juan Martín Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, Mariano Aguerre, Alejandro Poma, Nick Manifold and Hilario Ulloa joined the project. The idea was to build this club in Wellington, [Florida,] just ten minutes from the National Polo Center. We are in the heart of Wellington and already have five fields and 14 barns, with stalls available to rent. The goal is to make it easier for people to play polo in Wellington and to support the USPA and the local polo community.
We saw an opportunity similar to what we have in Pilar, Argentina, where everything is centered around one place. We made this investment to help American polo. We’ll offer quality practices and tournaments at 6, 8, 12, and 16 goals. We believe in supporting low-goal polo because that’s where many pros and [team owners] get their start.”
“We’re dreaming big.” – Miguel Novillo Astrada
It’s rare to see a club launched with so many top players. How did that come together?
“We all share the same vision of investing in Palm Beach [Florida] and creating something long-term. Every time a private property was sold, it seemed to go to show jumping or dressage and we’d lose a polo field. We’ve all spent years in the U.S. and have seen how the sport has evolved here. At some point, you start thinking about why you rented for so long and now it’s harder and harder to find places to rent or play. So, we’re returning to the traditional club model, where everything is in one place: the fields, the barns, the tracks, the training space for both players and horses. That was our vision and that’s why it was easy to move forward with it.”
How did Minuto Siete come into the picture?
“Minuto Siete, with Manuel Cereceda leading, is betting big on Palm Beach [Florida]. They see the same opportunity we do—to promote polo with their successful style, which has worked very well in Argentina and Sotogrande. It will take the club to the next level and elevate the low-goal circuit too.”
Co-founded by the sport’s biggest stars including Hilario Ulloa, the Plyrs Polo Club boasts five fields and 14 barns. ©Plyrs Polo Club
What activities have you had so far and what are your plans for 2026?
“This year, we opened the fields and held a number of high-goal practices. We also hosted a very successful 16-goal subsidiary final. We seeded the fields in October and November 2024, started playing on them in January and February [2025] and by March, we had a fast-paced final. We also hosted matches for the women’s league. These practices helped us test the fields. For 2026, we’re planning a full calendar with weekly practices and tournaments at the 12- and 16-goal levels and we want to add 6- and 8-goal events.
Our idea is to bring in the format we use at Flying H [Ranch] Polo Club [Big Horn, Wyoming] in July and August; a Pro-Am league where [team owners] and pros mix and rotate each game. It’s competitive polo, but more friendly. It’s been very successful and helps bring in more people.”
In 2026, Plyrs Polo Club is planning a full calendar with tournaments at the 12- and 16-goal levels with aspirations to add 6- and 8-goal events. ©Plyrs Polo Club
What is your vision for this club?
“We’re dreaming big. Since we’re all players involved as partners, we share the ambition to make this a top-tier club, with perfect fields, well-organized tournaments and a high level of polo. We want to give back to American polo and lower the barriers to entry for both players and [team owners].
One of our goals is to support the USPA and Team USPA and bring more high-goal American players into the sport. After so many years competing in the U.S., we feel it’s our turn to support the growth and the effort [USPA Chairman] Stewart Armstrong and the USPA are putting in. This is our way of giving back to a country that has given us so much throughout our careers.”