Guest: Paola Zobel, President of Ayala Polo Club
Sotogrande’s story cannot be told without polo, and polo’s modern chapter here cannot be told without the Zobel family. In an episode of Charlie in Sotogrande, I sit down with Paola Zobel, President of Ayala Polo Club and fourth-generation member of the family that helped shape this extraordinary resort nearly six decades ago.
Paola speaks with rare honesty — about heritage, community, horses, family, and the night Cancha Dos, her beloved restaurant, burned to the ground. What emerges is not just a portrait of a person, but of a place in transition.
A Legacy With Deep Roots
Paola grew up between the Philippines, the U.S., and Europe, before ultimately choosing Sotogrande as home. She represents a modern, cosmopolitan version of the Zobel legacy — a family whose early decisions still define the resort’s tone today: discreet, family-centred, and unpretentious despite its elegance.
Her grandfather Enrique was the first to insist on a polo field here, back when Sotogrande was little more than forest and farmland. That insistence laid the groundwork for what is now one of the world’s most prestigious polo destinations.
Polo Today: More Professional, More Global, Still With a Heart
Under Paola’s leadership, Ayala Polo Club has stepped into a more professional era. The sport’s global calendar now moves like Formula 1 — Argentina, Palm Beach, Dubai, England, and then Sotogrande each summer.
Yet Paola remains committed to preserving the original spirit of polo in Sotogrande:
- A sport for families and aficionados alike
- Fields of a quality rivalled only by Argentina
- Community as the centrepiece, not exclusivity
- And an environment where the sport feels accessible, not intimidating
As she says, “Everyone is welcome, the ones who come for the game, the ones who come for community, and the ones who come for a drink.”
The Night Cancha Dos Burned Down
One of the most emotional moments in our conversation was revisiting the night Cancha Dos, Paola’s restaurant, caught fire.
At 3:08am the guard called. Paola looked out of her bedroom window and saw only flames.
She ran barefoot, prepared to open the horse corrals.
Within minutes, the wooden structure collapsed.
Cancha Dos wasn’t just a restaurant. It was her first “child.” A place built with instinct, not training. A gathering point for locals and players, known for its warmth as much as its Argentinian grill.
The fire didn’t just destroy a building; it stopped a rhythm, a habit, a community hub.
Rebuilding: Bigger, Safer, and Still With Soul
The good news? Cancha Dos is coming back.
Not as a new restaurant, but as an evolution:
- A slightly larger footprint
- A fully rebuilt structure (less wood, better acoustics, much safer)
- The same essence: meat, friends, laughter, and the feeling that you’re on the edge of the polo world
Paola kept every single member of staff, even through months of uncertainty. “Cancha wouldn’t be Cancha without them,” she said. That loyalty has become part of the restaurant’s identity.
While waiting, a temporary outdoor parrilla keeps the spirit alive, even if scaled down.
Sotogrande’s Growing Community
We talked too about Sotogrande’s transformation since COVID:
- Over 1,300 students at Sotogrande International School
- Families moving in year-round
- Young entrepreneurs choosing the resort as a base
- A new wave of buyers: golfers, digital nomads, relocators, Argentinians, Latinos, Northern Europeans
- And yes, the “secret” is finally out
Paola sees growth as a positive, provided the infrastructure keeps pace. More restaurants, better access roads, clearer expansion plans. But the soul of Sotogrande, space, privacy, and understated elegance, must stay.
The Future of Polo in Sotogrande
This summer, polo continues at Ayala and Los Pinos (which Paola rents and manages). The after-polo nightlife scene will be far more controlled, a deliberate choice to maintain the area’s tranquillity.
Meanwhile, Ayala is launching a Polo Academy offering riding and training from three years old and upward. The aim is clear: develop new talent and make polo accessible to families in the community.
A Final Reflection
Paola is many things: a leader, restaurateur, mother, and former show jumper, but above all, she is someone deeply committed to Sotogrande.
She sees its history clearly. She sees its future clearly. And she understands that the essence of this place is not luxury or glamour, but community, nature, sport, and a sense of belonging.
Her plans for Ayala and Cancha Dos reflect exactly that.
A legacy being protected — and rewritten — in real time.
🎙️ This post draws from insights shared in one of our episodes, available on YouTube and Spotify. For more on Sotogrande’s insider tips, tune in and explore other episodes too.
To discuss areas, schools, and commuting options, or to see a short list of homes that fit your brief, reach out to Noll Sotogrande Real Estate, our incredible Sponsor co-owned with Stephanie Noll, without whom none of this would be possible.
Thank you, Charlie.
