Petanque in the Bay Area

Geoff and his friends started up their monthly "Pastis & Petanque " meetups again at Flood Park in Menlo Park. Next one on May 23.
From the photos on their MeetUp page, it is obvious they're having a good time!

Petanque in the Bay Area

Geoff and his friends started up their monthly "Pastis & Petanque " meetups again at Flood Park in Menlo Park. Next one on May 23.
From the photos on their MeetUp page, it is obvious they're having a good time!

Petanque in Orange County CA

Veronique and her friends of Orange Accueil in Irvine get together with their boules once a month for petanque and hold their annual tournament in June.
I just got the film of last years' event. They're having a blast!
Kudos to Marc, le cinéaste, for the special effects and his choice of music(*).

Video Clip

(*)French folk, playing petanque in S California, on the music of Gloria Gaynor in a Dutch remix by Hermes House. How more cosmopolitan can you get?

Petanque in Orange County CA

Veronique and her friends of Orange Accueil in Irvine get together with their boules once a month for petanque and hold their annual tournament in June.
I just got the film of last years' event. They're having a blast!
Kudos to Marc, le cinéaste, for the special effects and his choice of music(*).

Video Clip

(*)French folk, playing petanque in S California, on the music of Gloria Gaynor in a Dutch remix by Hermes House. How more cosmopolitan can you get?

San Francisco City Hall

For many years the median of Civic Center Park, in front of City Hall was a shallow pool, and then a lawn.

During the summer of 2008 the City tore up the lawn to make Victory Garden, a vegetable garden that would also be the centerpiece for Slow Food Nation Festival.

Recently everything was flattened and the approx. 1/4 acre area converted into what may well be the largest public "boulodrome" in the nation. I doubt that was the City Fathers' intention but that doesn't matter...

Petanque "eagle" Ken of La Petanque Mariniere spotted it last week, alerted me, and went right away with a group of friends to play a couple of games.
At roughly 72 x 13 meter (236 x 43 ft) there is enough room for 18, and if you squeeze things a bit, 24 concurrent games. Over 100 players. A lot of shade in the bordering areas. All smack in the center of the city.


Let's hope this spot becomes a permanent addition to the growing list of prominent downtown petanque locations: Bryant Park (NY), Campus Martius (Detroit), Jamison Square (Portland), Buckingham Fountain (Chicago), Discovery Green (Houston).

With La Boule d'Or in Golden Gate Park, and this new site downtown, there's every reason to pick up your boules and get out in the open air in SF.

San Francisco City Hall

For many years the median of Civic Center Park, in front of City Hall was a shallow pool, and then a lawn.

During the summer of 2008 the City tore up the lawn to make Victory Garden, a vegetable garden that would also be the centerpiece for Slow Food Nation Festival.

Recently everything was flattened and the approx. 1/4 acre area converted into what may well be the largest public "boulodrome" in the nation. I doubt that was the City Fathers' intention but that doesn't matter...

Petanque "eagle" Ken of La Petanque Mariniere spotted it last week, alerted me, and went right away with a group of friends to play a couple of games.
At roughly 72 x 13 meter (236 x 43 ft) there is enough room for 18, and if you squeeze things a bit, 24 concurrent games. Over 100 players. A lot of shade in the bordering areas. All smack in the center of the city.


Let's hope this spot becomes a permanent addition to the growing list of prominent downtown petanque locations: Bryant Park (NY), Campus Martius (Detroit), Jamison Square (Portland), Buckingham Fountain (Chicago), Discovery Green (Houston).

With La Boule d'Or in Golden Gate Park, and this new site downtown, there's every reason to pick up your boules and get out in the open air in SF.

Second oldest club in America

La Boule d'Or celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. John Krauer, the actual president, was there in '59 and reminisces:

"I was at the courts in Golden Gate Park with a few petanque players waiting for the Mayor of San Francisco to come to the boules terrain. As the car made the turn to the DOG training field Jean Bontemps ran to the other side of the parking lot and directed the delegation to the petanque courts!!
Mr Christopher excused himself and addressed us with a few words and Jean gave him the BOUCHON and he tossed it and some of our 6 players played a few boules, and we tried to explain the game a little and after wishing us good luck, he left with the limousine.
This was a new playground; before they played in the Mission district next to 3rd Street.
Later after having learned the game a little and bought some boules, we started to play as a team. In October 1960 we had our first International Game. I was just watching. A team from Canada and another one from Tunisia and some from France where here and our team was playing against the Canadian in the final game and won.
I believe Andre Martin is the only one still alive, Armand Squiteri passed away last year, Charles Nicolas went back to France a long time ago. Andre is also living in France since about 1995 I guess.
That was the start of the first official Club in the USA."

John is originally from Switzerland and his charming wife (and accomplished shooter) Josse is from... Toulon.

A 1964 group photo, courtesy of Ken at La Petanque Mariniere :

To see the beautiful grounds and today's club in action, here's the slideshow of their Petanque 100 celebration in 2007.

Anniversary tournaments are planned for May 30 & 31.

Update 3/11/09
Title corrected. The oldest club in America, founded in 1958, is Le Mistral Club de Petanque, in Worcester, MA (west of Boston). Look at the nice old pics on their site.

Second oldest club in America

La Boule d'Or celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. John Krauer, the actual president, was there in '59 and reminisces:

"I was at the courts in Golden Gate Park with a few petanque players waiting for the Mayor of San Francisco to come to the boules terrain. As the car made the turn to the DOG training field Jean Bontemps ran to the other side of the parking lot and directed the delegation to the petanque courts!!
Mr Christopher excused himself and addressed us with a few words and Jean gave him the BOUCHON and he tossed it and some of our 6 players played a few boules, and we tried to explain the game a little and after wishing us good luck, he left with the limousine.
This was a new playground; before they played in the Mission district next to 3rd Street.
Later after having learned the game a little and bought some boules, we started to play as a team. In October 1960 we had our first International Game. I was just watching. A team from Canada and another one from Tunisia and some from France where here and our team was playing against the Canadian in the final game and won.
I believe Andre Martin is the only one still alive, Armand Squiteri passed away last year, Charles Nicolas went back to France a long time ago. Andre is also living in France since about 1995 I guess.
That was the start of the first official Club in the USA."

John is originally from Switzerland and his charming wife (and accomplished shooter) Josse is from... Toulon.

A 1964 group photo, courtesy of Ken at La Petanque Mariniere :

To see the beautiful grounds and today's club in action, here's the slideshow of their Petanque 100 celebration in 2007.

Anniversary tournaments are planned for May 30 & 31.

Update 3/11/09
Title corrected. The oldest club in America, founded in 1958, is Le Mistral Club de Petanque, in Worcester, MA (west of Boston). Look at the nice old pics on their site.

Petanque in wineries

Tasting wine is great. But doing something else at the same time is even more fun! Great video: look at that boule flying high at 1:31.
And a nice carreau by the winemaker himself!
A red target ball would make it easier on the eyes though :-)



Clos du Val on Google Maps

Petanque in Albion, CA

Here's a report from Toby in Albion, on the NW Coast of California. He's right about the court being awesome. Thanks for sharing! And thanks to all the people in area code 707 who order boules from us.

A few weeks ago you and I spoke about our Petanque group in Albion, California that meets each Tuesday Morning. We have a pretty regular group of 8 - 12 boulers each week. On Bastille Day (July 13), the Ledford House Restaurant, where our home court is, hosted an all-day event with bistro food, wine and a tournament with 16 teams from Mendocino, Albion and Willits. Of course, those reprobates from Willits swept the honors (as usual) ... Holy Cow, are they good! I will post pictures of that day and event later.

Here we are Mendocino's Finest, boules and all. The pictures are from yesterday at our weekly outing. These folks, believe it or not, are the backbone of the Mendocino Coastal Communities, even though we look like muggers, thuggers and thieves. I am the handsome guy in the red Petanque America hat.



We feel that we have the most beautiful Petanque court in America ... maybe the world. It overlooks the scenic Pacific Ocean, Salmon Cove and Salmon Point. As I mentioned before, you are always welcome to visit, we will provide accommodations and loads of scenic and cultural events.

All the best,
Toby

New blog of Petanque Marinière

La Petanque Marinière has put up a new blog, starting off with a bunch of pictures of the New Zealand visit to Sonoma last weekend, which they co-hosted.
That paella looks good!!!

New blog of Petanque Marinière

La Petanque Marinière has put up a new blog, starting off with a bunch of pictures of the New Zealand visit to Sonoma last weekend, which they co-hosted.
That paella looks good!!!

Petanque in Fort Bragg, CA

Pete and a bunch of friends are on a roll in the Northwestern part of California. They started on a baseball field in town, until they discovered a neat area on the waterfront, alongside the Noyo river and next to the crab pots. Players come from all along the Mendocino coastline.
Here you see several having a good time on one of their Sunday meets, and an up close of the ideal playing surface they found: it looks like a mix of crushed shells and twigs.
I hear the folks from Willits Boules Club are ready to drive to the waterfront any day now for a match!









PS: I like the proximity of the Bud Light sign!

Petanque in Fort Bragg, CA

Pete and a bunch of friends are on a roll in the Northwestern part of California. They started on a baseball field in town, until they discovered a neat area on the waterfront, alongside the Noyo river and next to the crab pots. Players come from all along the Mendocino coastline.
Here you see several having a good time on one of their Sunday meets, and an up close of the ideal playing surface they found: it looks like a mix of crushed shells and twigs.
I hear the folks from Willits Boules Club are ready to drive to the waterfront any day now for a match!









PS: I like the proximity of the Bud Light sign!

King of the Mountains at Oakhurst

Oakhurst did it again! With thanks to Jan Claire for his report:

May 17, 2008.

Petanque played strictly for laughs as the King penalizes any team which is walking away with the game score. Be winning at 12 to 1 and you can expect a visit from King Ingólfur “Tenaya” Arnarsson, 47th generation descendant of the original King Arnarsson who discovered Iceland in 874!

The King imposes such penalties as having to play with a magnetic cochonnet, tossing boules only with a three-person slingshot (bungee cords held by two players, the third pulling back to launch the boule), cubical-shaped boules, and such impediments as Carreau penalty cards (replace any of the opponent’s boules with one of your own), Backward Glance – one game must be shot by the offending team by facing AWAY from the cochonnet.

This is an annual event at Oakhurst which has proven as popular as some of the serious championships we host, and brings people closer together in enjoying that petanque can have its own sense of humor. The King is a benevolent king, consequently wide point margins are the antithesis of what he’s all about.

In reality – and this part is true - our “King” is the west-coast-famous Steve Bush of the Los Angeles Petanque Club who, with his wife Dolores, and Max and Gisele Legrand, visited Oakhurst and taught the locals how to play the game back in June of 1999. To honor that occurrence, and the fact that Oakhurst is now nine years old, the club named Steve Bush by his original name, King Ingólfur “Tenaya” Arnarsson.

Members of the club, and the King imposing a penalty on Oakhurst team captain Larry Adams:

King of the Mountains at Oakhurst

Oakhurst did it again! With thanks to Jan Claire for his report:

May 17, 2008.

Petanque played strictly for laughs as the King penalizes any team which is walking away with the game score. Be winning at 12 to 1 and you can expect a visit from King Ingólfur “Tenaya” Arnarsson, 47th generation descendant of the original King Arnarsson who discovered Iceland in 874!

The King imposes such penalties as having to play with a magnetic cochonnet, tossing boules only with a three-person slingshot (bungee cords held by two players, the third pulling back to launch the boule), cubical-shaped boules, and such impediments as Carreau penalty cards (replace any of the opponent’s boules with one of your own), Backward Glance – one game must be shot by the offending team by facing AWAY from the cochonnet.

This is an annual event at Oakhurst which has proven as popular as some of the serious championships we host, and brings people closer together in enjoying that petanque can have its own sense of humor. The King is a benevolent king, consequently wide point margins are the antithesis of what he’s all about.

In reality – and this part is true - our “King” is the west-coast-famous Steve Bush of the Los Angeles Petanque Club who, with his wife Dolores, and Max and Gisele Legrand, visited Oakhurst and taught the locals how to play the game back in June of 1999. To honor that occurrence, and the fact that Oakhurst is now nine years old, the club named Steve Bush by his original name, King Ingólfur “Tenaya” Arnarsson.

Members of the club, and the King imposing a penalty on Oakhurst team captain Larry Adams:

Petanque in Palm Desert

Of course I had to visit Gérard & his group in Palm Desert, about 125 mi east of L.A.
After a 2 hr drive through a pretty dry and barren landscape, with thousands of windmills, you arrive in a tropical, green setting, where water seems to be plentiful.


The grounds at Civic Center Park are somewhat unpredictable (sprinklers and concrete gutters here and there) , but nicely varied from soft to hard, and with lots of shade, tables and benches.

Several of their members are chefs, so you can rest assured that their picnics are always top of the line. They were at work when I stopped by, but I got to meet them at the San Pedro Open.
I found a new nickname for Gérard: CanaBOUM, because he misses few shots. And if William (from Hyères) is in charge of the picnic, they'll have to rename the club "La Boule du Dessert".

The club is only 5 yrs old, but growing fast and they are talking to the parks department to have a larger, dedicated area.
Thanks for the warm welcome!

La Boule du Désert website