The Club was founded as small country Club by the Pearson family in 1910. In 1912, Major Frederick ‘Rattle’ Barrett became the first British 10-goaler and regularly played at the Club.
During WWII, the polo fields were ploughed as part of war effort and the Ambersham polo grounds were taken over by the Fleet Air Arm. The air hangers are used to store polo equipment and machinery.
Following WWII, John, the 3rd Viscount Cowdray set out to establish Cowdray as one of the most famous polo clubs in the world, securing its place at the pinnacle of the sport, nationally and internationally. Having lost his left arm at Dunkirk in 1940, he had an artificial arm adapted at the Roehampton Limb-Fitting Centre, assisted by his gunmaker, Churchills, so that he could hold the reins with a hook and continue to play. The 3rd Viscount proceeded to build his surviving string of twelve polo ponies to make the UK’s leading string. He loaned ponies to other players to increase participation in the sport. Beginning with Cowdray, polo was gradually revived on a smaller scale at other clubs around the country.