The Gun Club was formed in 1860 at the Hornsey Wood Tavern which stood in what today is Finsbury Park in Harringay, London The creation of the park in 1867 forced a relocation and Frank Heathcote received the permission of Richard Naylor to promote live pigeon shooting at his Hurlingham estate. His next step was the formation of the Hurlingham Club for this purpose and 'as an agreeable country resort'. The club leased the estate from Naylor in 1869 and in 1874 acquired the land outright for £27,500. The pigeon today forms part of the club's crest. Until 1905, clouds of pigeons were released in the summer from an enclosure near what is now a tennis pavilion. The Prince of Wales, an early patron, was a keen shot and his presence ensured the club's status and notability from the beginning. The current patron is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Polo
In 1873, the club published the rules of polo, which are still followed by most of the world to this day. Polo was first played at the club on 6 June 1874. On 18 July 1878, the club along with Ranelagh became the first to play a sports match under floodlights. In 1886, the club hosted the first international polo match between England and the United States. The polo matches for the 1908 Summer Olympics were played at Hurlingham. Three teams entered: Hurlingham, Roehampton Club, and a combined British and Irish team. Roehampton won. The Westchester Cup was played at the club in 1900, 1902, 1909, 1921 and 1936. Before the Second World War, Hurlingham was the headquarters of British polo. The governing body of British polo is called the Hurlingham Polo Association. However polo is no longer staged at Hurlingham after the size of the club was significantly reduced after the war when the polo fields were compulsorily purchased to build council housing. The Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park has succeeded to the status of the leading British polo club.
Golf
There is a nine-hole par 3 golf course which is open in winter months
Croquet
Hurlingham has been at the centre of world croquet for many years. The Croquet Association had its headquarters in the club from 1959 to 2002. Top-ranking international competitions are regularly held on the lawns, at one time the finest in the country, though the CA headquarters have since relocated to the Cheltenham Croquet Club.
Other sports and events
Other sports include lawn tennis, cricket, bowls, skittles, squash and swimming as well as fitness facilities and a gymnasium. Games such as bridge, backgammon and chess are popular indoor pursuits. The club has also hosted the Grand Prix Ball and the Concours d'Elegance.
Membership
Members must be proposed and seconded by two current full members of the club. There is currently a thirty-year waiting list for membership, but children of current members are given preference when vacancies do arise. The club's membership is closed. The club currently has around 13,000 members – of which around 6,000 have full voting rights.
