By Teresa Herriman, The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake residents have cause to be a bit jumpy about development, given the massive building spree that has occurred the past few years. However, Scott Corliss wants to assure his neighbors that the activity they are now seeing on his property at the old Kelley Farm does not include tract homes.

In fact, Corliss recently leased his land to a group of local residents who are establishing a polo field on the site, to be called Kelley Creek Polo.

"It is strictly a recreational endeavor," Corliss said. His family had considered creating a golf course at the site, but "golf courses are big losers these days," he said. "Playing polo seems a perfect use for the property."

Rob Petersen is leading the charge. An Enumclaw resident, Petersen explains that the closest polo field is in Roy. "From a logistics standpoint it's hard to practice during the week, he said"

Petersen has been involved with the sport for 25 years. His wife only recently hung up her mallet, he said.

Petersen's group includes B.J. Haugen, a man new to the sport; Mark Daines, a two-goal rated player; and George Dill, Fife farmer and broker. Dill is also the Pacific Northwest Circuit governor for the United States Polo Association.

The Kelley Farm, on the Sumner-Buckley Highway, lends itself well to the sport. There is already a barn and room for players and spectators to park. The farm includes several structures used by a previous owner as a brewery that was open to the public.

The grounds will include a natural grass field on 17 to 18 acres. "A polo field alone is about nine to 10 acres," Petersen said. He illustrated the need for such a large field of play. The ball travels more than 100 miles-per-hour and is often hit 150 yards, he said. The horse themselves are moving about 25 to 30 mph. Grooming a larger field allows the goal posts to be shifted, keeping the grass fresher, he added.

The group has begun preparations for a paddock to allow a spot for players to keep their horses overnight, a pasture and a practice area. "It will be a gorgeous facility," Petersen said.

There are no plans at this time for a club house. Corliss has mentioned the possibility of using the old Kelley home for that purpose, but the new group plans to start slow. "We need to establish and grow a membership and see if there's enough interest in this area," Petersen said. "We don't have a strong enough core to support membership yet."

Depending on the weather, players could begin practicing on the field in June.

Polo isn't an inexpensive game to play, although Petersen said there are ways to start without a lot of money. "The fact is, you can play it without spending a whole lot of money," he said. "I bought my first horse for $250 form a 4-H kid." Petersen, a manger for Piper Jaffary and Company, said he is in a better position today. "I want to give back to the sport which is so important to me.

"Right now my sense is to have practice on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and play games two weekends out of the month," Petersen said. A typical player has three or four horses. Teams consist of four players per side.

Corliss doesn't discount the possibility of future development. "There is a possibility of developing a community around the idea of polo fields in the valley," Corliss said. "One reason our family is interested is that polo fields are every popular in California and Arizona," he said.

"The vision we have at this point is to build a really nice community based around a polo field that would include a walking trail along Fennel Creek similar to the one in Auburn near Game Farm Park." Based on other polo communities, a development would include large houses on even larger lots.

In the meantime, Petersen and his group are leveling and filling the lower pasture that will become the first polo field. If there is interest, a second field could be established. That one would be built from the ground up to be pristine, a process that takes about a year and a half, Petersen said.

The project has not been without its difficulties. Recently Corliss received a letter from Pierce County stating he can't allow polo to be played on his property.

"I'm baffled," Corliss said. "The county isn't in favor of development but isn't interested in existed agricultural events. What do they want us to do?

"Dad used to have rodeo events on the property," he said. "It's strictly for fun."

Corliss likens the polo field to playing whiffle ball in his backyard, but that's not how the county sees it. "In their view it would be a commercial enterprise," he said. Corliss claims the field is a not-for-profit venture since there will be no charge to play or watch the games. Corliss said he is "hoping somebody will come to their senses."

Workers have been busy clearing and cleaning the western edge of the Kelley Farm near the highway the past few weeks, something that has cause consternation among his neighbors. Corliss said he plans to plant grass and pasture cows there this summer.

The 2.5 acre parcel had a nice stand of fir trees, he said, but they were beginning to show signs of disease and had to be removed. "I bought a great big lawn mower," Corliss said laughing. "Hopefully the place will look like a park by June or July."

Teresa Herriman can be reached at therriman@courierherald.com