Finished Bocce Ball Court at Domaine de Manion

My husband, John, had a great idea to create a bocce ball court in our garden near our vineyard. I loved the idea because it would be a beautiful open space. They call it negative space in landscape design, where your eyes can rest for a moment. I loved the idea because there is so much else going on in the garden, and it would be close to our vineyard and social area where people gather.

Bocce ball is a great fun game for all ages. It is played throughout the world, in the category of boules sports, where players or teams play their balls towards a target ball. I see the game played a lot in Europe in the village squares. The French have a similar game called Pétanque.

The hard part was planning how to build a bocce ball court, using material which would fit in with the existing garden and property, and finding the right craftsmen to build it. We had our challenges—such as a substantial sloping grade to our property, where to put all of the displaced dirt to make a level court, an existing mature garden, and barely enough room to maneuver a bobcat loaded with rock. With skill, talent, lots of measuring, and luck, it was accomplished.

I thought it might be interesting to share with you the stages of how our bocce ball court was created. We had the 55’ long x 12’ wide space mapped out. Regulation bocce ball courts are 91’ long and 13’ wide. For backyard courts it usually comes down to how much space you have in your yard or property to dedicate to a bocce ball court. Our court size is moderately sized.

Beginning Open Space

First the space had to be leveled, and in the beginning it looked like we were creating a swimming pool with the north side cut so deep. The perimeter was measured and staked allowing for walking paths on the north, west, and south side. Serendipitously, the east side was created higher and became a natural retaining wall for the existing garden, and for players to sit on if they wished. Used concrete chunks were used for the perimeter wall foundation, as they wouldn’t be seen.

Laying Bocce Court Perimeter with Concrete Chunks

I had in my mind a stone perimeter bocce ball court to repeat the low stone wall in our courtyard and near our barn. The good folks at RCP Block & Brick in Leucadia, thought we were nuts. For me, stone is simply stunning, timeless, very European, and low maintenance.

Our skilled craftsmen patiently built each wall as if it were a jigsaw puzzle, carefully placing each stone in the right spot and at the right level. A labor of love.

Stone Walls of Bocce Ball Court Taking Shape

Next came the many layers that make up a bocce ball court. Leveling the court. Putting down gopher resistant 1/2” wire mesh. Installing dimmable side lights for playing the court at night. Adding a layer of weed cloth.

Installing Gopher Resistant Wire Mesh in Bocce Court

Installing French drains that drain into our vineyard for our rainy season. Grouting the stone walls with finish concrete.

Installing French Drains in Bocce Ball Court

Placing several layers of tiny stone, layer upon layer, packing each layer down, as the bocce court level rose higher. Adding a top finish layer of Black Pearl oyster shell dust from Earth Stone Rock for smooth rolling of the ball.

This whole process took a couple of months, with a few delays here and there. Please share if you play bocce ball or have a court in your backyard. It has gotten very popular, because it is a fun game, very social, and also a large space that requires no water.

Finished Top Layer of Oyster Shell Dust

Finishing touches like lining the pathways with walking bark and a few potted bougainvillea “Thai Delight’ create the finished look. The bocce ball court looks like it has always been here.

Finished Bocce Ball Court Looking South at Domaine de Manion

Now it is time to play and enjoy a glass of wine. Salut!

The Hard Work is Over, Time to Relax and Play Bocce Ball

Dear friends, I will be taking a summer break writing, and will resume this September. Merci always for all of your kind words, interest, and sharing!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie