How to Build a Bocce Court

An example of a beach bocce court.

The sport of bocce began when Roman soldiers started playing it during their down time from battles. It has ebbed and waned since then but remains extremely popular in various parts of the world. The secret of the game is the court itself, which adds a level of sophistication to the sport. While you can use almost any surface, there are some tricks that make a perfect playing surface.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Wood stakes and carpenter's rope
• Grass and weed killer
• Level
• Concrete footings (4)
• 4-inch in diameter perforated pipes (3)
• Compacted gravel
• Roller
• 2-by-6 wood planks ( at least 140 feet worth)
• Stakes

Instructions

Building a bocce court

1. Find the area for the court. The playing surface must be at least 60 feet long and 10 feet wide, and no greater than 95 feet long and 15 feet wide.

2. Remove any grass or debris from the proposed playing area. Make sure it is level.

3. 

   Colored bocce balls line the court.

   Place concrete footings at the four corners of the playing area. Make sure they have slots so you can put in the boundary boards later.

4. Place at least three perforated drainage pipes (four inches in diameter) along the length of the playing surface. Make sure the tips of the pipe are slightly outside the playing surface. Fill around the pipes with at least 9 inches of crushed gravel. Use a roller to compact the gravel.

5. Place a roll off garden plastic along the playing surface to prevent weeds. Place at least 3 inches of crushed gravel for the surface or use a clay foundation. It is easier to work with the gravel.

6. Use wooden planks to make the boundaries. The planks should be three inches by three inches by one-fourth of an inch. Slot them into the concrete foundations.Use spikes to nail the planks into the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• While wood is a common boundary for a bocce court, some people use concrete or brick.

• Paint the wood planks to give it a personalized look

• You may have to use a rake to smooth out the gravel surface.

References

• Bocce: Court Construction
• Bocce Mom

Resources

• U.S. Bocce Federation
• World Bocce Organization
• International Bocce Organization