One of the world’s oldest forms of recreation finds its way into the hearts of Reynolds Lake Oconee’s active residents.
When English scientist Sir Frances Petrial began exploring ancient Egyptian tombs, he certainly anticipated the discovery of mummies and various artifacts. What he least expected to find was a painting depicting two boys playing a peculiar game in which they tossed large spherical rocks at a smaller round rock. Much as Sir Frances was surprised at this discovery 7,000 years ago, so, too, were many Reynolds Lake Oconee residents bewildered recently when the same peculiar game surfaced at Linger Longer Park.
Yet this seemingly insignificant game we now know as bocce – from “boccia” (Italian for “bowling”) – has gradually gained popularity, spreading from the Italian-American neighborhoods in Philadelphia and New York throughout the country. There are bocce leagues in virtually every state, all unique in that they adopt a set of rules based on the style and forms originating centuries ago in Italy, where Bocce was refined.
Though there are many variables in style, certain standards in rules and equipment exist. Bocce in its modern form is played on rectangular courts, 60 to 80 feet long, with a surface of compacted sand, crushed granite, or traditional crushed oyster shells.
Nine bocce balls are needed: eight larger balls (four of one color, four of another) and one smaller target ball called the “pallino.”
From behind a “foul line” one team tosses the pallino anywhere within a designated area. The other team then tosses a 4½-inch bocce ball toward the pallino. They alternate rolling bocce balls at the pallino until each team has taken its four turns.
The team with a ball closest to the pallino at the end of the round gets a point. Normally each game is to 12 points.
It is worth noting that there are countless methods that require much skill in order to win a bocce game, so much that true bocce players often scoff at bowling as a “lesser game.”
The largest of five official bocce teams in the Reynolds Lake Oconee community is the Thorne-Birds, with a whopping 28 players. Composed mostly of couples, the Thorne-Birds enjoy Bocce for its social aspect as much as the intense competition, which always was followed by dinner at the Plantation Grille to celebrate – both victory and defeat.
Team captain Charlotte Thorne spearheaded the organized bocce games at Reynolds Lake Oconee. Thorne’s grandparents were from Italy and shared their love of the game with her, a passion she now shares with the others.
“It’s such a laid back, easy-going game, where everyone has a great time,” Thorne says.
Teammate John Fox, however, comes prepared for those who are more serious, using a special device to measure a bocce ball’s exact distance from the pallino.
“We use this quite a bit when there’s a disagreement,” he laughs.
While it’s unclear when exactly bocce arrived at Reynolds Lake Oconee, it has been played in some form for close to five years. Dennis Eubanks of the Thorne-Birds notes that the group began playing by sneaking onto the golf practice tees of the National Course.
A few years ago the Reynolds Lake Oconee recreation department built regulation courts at Linger Longer Park, using “Har-Tru,” the same material used for clay tennis courts. The facility has helped lure more players to the game, with the bocce teams ready to pick up the action in 2009.
Though many residents utilize these new courts, they still remain open much of the time. We invite all Reynolds residents to come and experience bocce.
In other words, there’s no need to wait another 7,000 years before discovering “boccia.”
