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There is a glamour often missing from these modern times. It’s a sophistication that largely disappeared with the days of gloved hands, top hats and calling cards. Though it is rarely seen, it is still alive at the polo games.

A white tent pinnacled with a pennant shades the crowd gathering to sit, socialize, enjoy cocktails and watch the games unfold. Many of the ladies wear hats, even in the shade, for polo has many longstanding traditions and rules of etiquette, and though it is difficult—née practically impossible—to institute formality in a state known for its casual approach to most every occasion, the attendees at these games have managed to uphold the decorum for which polo is so unique.

Watching sharply uniformed polo riders leave dust clouds in their wake and hearing the crack of mallets hitting the ball—and occasionally an unfortunate player—is a riveting experience. Off the field, the players are polite, even subdued. Between games, the Argentinean professional players hired by U.S. hosts and affectionately called “Argies,” are back at their trailers, switching horses and playing with their children. And then, they ride onto the field. Within minutes, friendly men—and some women—have transformed into startlingly intense players and spectators.

Cameron Smith is a Seattleite that discovered polo three years ago when one of his Las Vegas clients was busy promoting a polo event in California. Cameron’s father, Ben Smith, a horse trainer,  was working with polo horses at the time. He introduced Cameron to a player, and, as Cameron tells it, before he knew it he was riding retired polo horses and taking lessons.

Cameron has been playing for only two years, but has already ascended from -2, the beginner level, to a 0. To put that in perspective, the highest possible ranking for polo players is 10, but that is comparable to being Michael Phelps in the Olympics. Over 80 percent of U.S. Polo Association players are below level 2. Cameron is quickly surpassing expectations.

It takes a team on and off the field to bring about the games smoothly. Cameron’s parents are always present, bringing the horses from their farm in Camino Island, snacks, and often his son, Colby. Pepe, Cameron’s trainer, prepares his horses for games and occasionally plays as a 0-ranked player, riding “green horses”—those with less than two years of game experience—in “lower flight” matches.

On the field, Cameron and his teammate George Dill are “Patrons,” which means they sponsor their team by hiring the necessary pro players for tournaments. Cameron and George’s most recent hired pros are Nicolai Galindo, who is a 4-goal pro, and Negro Gularte, a 2-goal pro. The rankings add up to six, which means they can compete in a six goal game against another team, also with a six rating.

The fashionable wife of an "Argie"

The juxtaposition of social grace and the grueling game is alluring. In the tent, one enjoys the company of spectators that are well-versed in polite society, but as friendly and welcoming as family. Most seem to know or at least know of everyone present, and rumor travels fast about newcomers. A handsome player—they all are, really—passed my editor and me, and then said with a friendly shout, “We’ve heard about you—‘the party girls!’” It’s very friendly rumor that flies in the air here; even the disagreements whispered about are thickly veiled and restrained. The environment is competitive but not petty.

Polo is a family game; it is not unusual to meet siblings, parents, grandparents and even extended family of the players and their friends. Children play together along the edge of the field and near the horse trailers, but they know better than to approach the horses without an adult- an occasional food and water request is the most parents hear from their children while observing the games, and even then, the ideology at work here is, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Parents feed any children asking, which is rather convenient if one wants a cookie after having consumed a soda. Biological mom may say “no,” but polo grandparents say “yes!”

The Governor’s Cup is the final game of the Washington season. It is played at the farm of the circuit governor, in this case, Northwest Circuit Governor George Dill. He oversees the games throughout Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. For the final game of the season, the governor flies in announcers and umpires with no association to the players or teams competing. There are 10 teams competing today, meaning there are a total of 20 chukkers- the periods in a game- that will need umpiring. Each game is played in four segments, which works out to be about 15 minutes long once you factor in penalties and stoppage, though official timing is 7 minutes and 30 seconds per chukker. Between chukkers, players must change their horses, emptying the field for a polo tradition- stomping the divots. During these breaks, children run around the field stomping the divots of sod back into the ground. While the children frolic, couples stroll arm-in-arm. Each lady holds the arm of her gentleman with one hand and her heels in the other. But soon the calm is again broken by the sound of galloping horses and shouting players.

Handsome Argie, Manuel

Each team is composed of four players, including both amateurs and pros of varying rank. The games are also ranked, and opposing teams must have equal combined player ratings. For instance, Cameron’s game for the day is a 6-goal game, meaning that both teams' combined player ratings must be 6. If there were any doubts regarding Cameron’s talent before his game, his being tasked to guard the best-ranked pro on the opposing team should have dispelled them. Though his team lost the cup, Cameron has had an excellent playing season, in which he has been pitted against pros with years of experience and quickly proved that he is a new force to be reckoned with.

Watching Smith battle on the field, one would not think of him as the friendly owner of Product Creation Studio, which handles engineering and product creation, and Emphasis Products, which deals with lighting design. Both companies are housed in the old Ford building he now owns, the bottom floor of which is being rented by luxury sports car maker Tesla. Cameron graduated UW in Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, then attended Stanford graduate school. At this point, one’s resume usually concludes. Graduating from Stanford and owning two companies is more than impressive, but Cameron is also a talented artist  and his rank in the polo community is rising exceptionally quickly. Though most polo players in the Northwest will retire from polo during the winter months, Cameron will head to Palm Springs for the start of the California polo season in November. It will mean a schedule that leaves him little time for anything but work and polo, and sometimes, he questions if it is worth the time and expense. But, should you happen to be in Palm Springs come November, you will see him on that field. It is always worth the time and expense when you love something as much as Cameron loves polo—evident from the gleam in his eye when he's anywhere near the subject—and it is a little too late to turn the horse around.