FOR POLO enthusiasts Cowdray Park needs no introduction, but for the rest of us, the estate has been one of the leading British venues for the sport for the best part of a century, and boasts a range of pitches to international standard.

It’s an amazing game, one that really shouldn’t happen, but does. Whoever thought golf on horseback was a clever idea, really should have sought help.

Not for me, then – I have enough trouble with hitting golf balls and staying on horses when they take place on different days, so sticking the two together is a sure-fire recipe for black moods and trips to the chiropractor.

But still it goes on, and still it attracts the top end of the social scene – head down to Cowdray for the international Gold Cup events, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to spot a few familiar faces among the Bentleys and big hats.

We were lucky enough to be taken out on a clay pigeon shoot – the estate has its own facilities buried in the West Sussex woodland which are open to the public for both private and corporate occasions.

For me it was a first, and something I had always envisaged as having the potential, like polo, for immediate and lasting humiliation.

I am, though, as it turns out, a reasonable shot, the realisation of which has given my masculine sense of self-worth an enormous and much needed boost.

This really is a sport for anyone – on the afternoon we were there the club was being used by both a giggling hen party and a crack-shot European noble. Both seemed to be equally at home with the activity, regardless of how much success they were having.

Golf plays a major part in the identity of Cowdray Park, too – it has its own top notch facilities for both members and those taking advantage of the short breaks on offer. The golf course itself is fantastic, its fairways weaving around the hillside with breathtaking views of the South Downs complementing the long, challenging holes. There is a driving range on site, along with pitch-and-put practice holes and a putting green for warming up all aspects of your game before teeing off – useful if (like me) you haven’t played for a while. Lessons are available, too.

For those of a less aggressive nature, there are wildlife experience days to explore the natural diversity of the South Downs countryside.

Golfing breaks are good value too, with spacious and well-appointed accommodation available at the on-site lodge. The club offers a decent bar and restaurant for the evening, although when we were there, the facilities had been pretty much taken over by a party from the local football club, complete with disco, which rather spoiled the effect. If you’re planning a relaxing break, it may be worth checking in advance what is happening at the clubhouse, to avoid disappointment.

The estate is aiming to attract a sporting clientele, for sure, but this needn’t put less sporting couples or groups off. With the range of activities available, it’s easy enough to find something to suit, including exploring the estate’s ruined 16th century palace and shopping in the attractive town of Midhurst. For sci-fi fans, Midhurst holds some unlikely treasures – as HG Wells’ home town, it served as the setting for a number of his stories, including The Invisible Man.

Chichester is only 15 miles away, with plenty of good high street shopping and access to the coast.

About an hour and a half from Oxford, Cowdray Park is a sensible solution for anyone looking for something a bit different from the usual short break.