Petanque at the Biltmore

Starting this Tuesday the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables (Miami) will have weekly tournaments at 6:00pm.
With happy hour drinks.

<-- Click on the poster for details

An excellent way to unwind after work on a Tuesday evening.

Petanque at the Biltmore

Starting this Tuesday the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables (Miami) will have weekly tournaments at 6:00pm.
With happy hour drinks.

<-- Click on the poster for details

An excellent way to unwind after work on a Tuesday evening.

Florida tournaments

This time of year our RV friends in the South are heading back home (up North, that is). The end of another winter season with almost daily petanque play in hundreds of RV resorts. And regular tournaments, sometimes with close to 100 participants. Many resorts have increased their playing area, in some cases by simply tearing up the unused shuffleboard courts.
Here are a few souvenirs from ...

Green Acres in Dover:





Camp Inn Resort in Frostproof:



Citrus Park in Bonita Springs:



Many thanks to Gorden, Dennie and Allen (nice T-shirt!) for these pics. It was great to talk to y'all again, and I look forward to next season. Hopefully for a meeting in person.

PS: There must be a severe shortage of digital cameras in Arizona because I just cannot seem to get any photos from my buddies in places like Yuma!

Florida tournaments

This time of year our RV friends in the South are heading back home (up North, that is). The end of another winter season with almost daily petanque play in hundreds of RV resorts. And regular tournaments, sometimes with close to 100 participants. Many resorts have increased their playing area, in some cases by simply tearing up the unused shuffleboard courts.
Here are a few souvenirs from ...

Green Acres in Dover:





Camp Inn Resort in Frostproof:



Citrus Park in Bonita Springs:



Many thanks to Gorden, Dennie and Allen (nice T-shirt!) for these pics. It was great to talk to y'all again, and I look forward to next season. Hopefully for a meeting in person.

PS: There must be a severe shortage of digital cameras in Arizona because I just cannot seem to get any photos from my buddies in places like Yuma!

Petanque in Coral Springs, FL

Here's a great example of a location that screams for petanque. An old bocce court, smack in the middle of a populated neighborhood.

José, a regular player at Boca 2000, discovered it by accident when invited to a picnic in the park. Since he lives close by, he'd love to meet other players and/or teach beginners in the area.
Contact him at: nmbjoe (at) yahoo.com

The court looks a bit run down for bocce, but isn't that exactly how we like it? And look at those shade trees!
Thanks, José, for the tip. I have also marked it on the Petanque in the USA map. It cannot be stressed enough that players without a meeting place are - as they say in Belgium - like a bar without beer.

I'd love to put more and more spots like these on the map, even if today there is nobody playing. Shoot!

Petanque in Coral Springs, FL

Here's a great example of a location that screams for petanque. An old bocce court, smack in the middle of a populated neighborhood.

José, a regular player at Boca 2000, discovered it by accident when invited to a picnic in the park. Since he lives close by, he'd love to meet other players and/or teach beginners in the area.
Contact him at: nmbjoe (at) yahoo.com

The court looks a bit run down for bocce, but isn't that exactly how we like it? And look at those shade trees!
Thanks, José, for the tip. I have also marked it on the Petanque in the USA map. It cannot be stressed enough that players without a meeting place are - as they say in Belgium - like a bar without beer.

I'd love to put more and more spots like these on the map, even if today there is nobody playing. Shoot!

Petanque in South Florida

Fort Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel published a nice article today about the game and how important the influence of our French-Canadians friends has been in promoting it locally.

Let's hope the article also brings some extra spectators to the Coupe des Amériques being played today at Boca 2000.

Sun-Sentinel, 17 Feb 2008
(with video clip)

Petanque in South Florida

Fort Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel published a nice article today about the game and how important the influence of our French-Canadians friends has been in promoting it locally.

Let's hope the article also brings some extra spectators to the Coupe des Amériques being played today at Boca 2000.

Sun-Sentinel, 17 Feb 2008
(with video clip)

AFF Invitational

On Dec 8, Stephan of the Stuart petanque group borrowed the Boca 2000 terrain for a first "Amis Francophones de Floride" invitational tournament.
Father & son team Frédéric & Chris with Muriel won the tournament and Jim the 6, 7 & 8 meter shooting contest.
AFF is a group of francophones in S Florida, of various nationalities, presided by the dynamic Anaïde Govaert, whose husband Gui was the extremely popular Belgian Consul for Florida.
A great idea for any organization. Ask a club to borrow their courts and have a party! No better way to get new people involved in the game.

The nice trophy came from Stephan's new 13azero.com store with lots of petanque related goodies.

AFF Invitational

On Dec 8, Stephan of the Stuart petanque group borrowed the Boca 2000 terrain for a first "Amis Francophones de Floride" invitational tournament.
Father & son team Frédéric & Chris with Muriel won the tournament and Jim the 6, 7 & 8 meter shooting contest.
AFF is a group of francophones in S Florida, of various nationalities, presided by the dynamic Anaïde Govaert, whose husband Gui was the extremely popular Belgian Consul for Florida.
A great idea for any organization. Ask a club to borrow their courts and have a party! No better way to get new people involved in the game.

The nice trophy came from Stephan's new 13azero.com store with lots of petanque related goodies.

Boca Raton Tournament

Last week the Boca club had a little tournament, which was also a good occasion to celebrate the ...th birthday of John Rolland, FPUSA's president.

Thanks to Juan for the photo's!

Slideshow

Boca Petanque 2000 is holding an "open to anyone" tournament on Sat November 17, at the occasion of the visit of their sister club from France, Pétanque Club Fitounais. That will be an interesting event.
Details here

Boca Raton Tournament

Last week the Boca club had a little tournament, which was also a good occasion to celebrate the ...th birthday of John Rolland, FPUSA's president.

Thanks to Juan for the photo's!

Slideshow

Boca Petanque 2000 is holding an "open to anyone" tournament on Sat November 17, at the occasion of the visit of their sister club from France, Pétanque Club Fitounais. That will be an interesting event.
Details here

Petanque in S. Florida

South Florida's Sun Sentinel reports about Joan Soilleux' performance at the National Singles in Boston.

Boca Raton woman wins silver at petanque tournament - Sep 9

Petanque in S. Florida

South Florida's Sun Sentinel reports about Joan Soilleux' performance at the National Singles in Boston.

Boca Raton woman wins silver at petanque tournament - Sep 9

Petanque 100 in Gainesville, FL

A bunch of friends of the AF in Gainesville gets together 5, 6 times a year for a pétanque afternoon, and they didn't miss the opportunity to acknowledge the Centenary.


By the way, that spot is what I would call the perfect environment: trees for shade, irregular size, some bumps and branches. A bit of raking up the leaves before you start and you're all set to go. I don't know if there are bathrooms in the vicinity, and how easily accessible it is but we'll find out and put it on the Petanque in the USA map.

We're preparing a small file for clubs to present to Parks & Recreation Departments. Specifically to dispel the idea that pétanque requires manicured courts, prone to maintenance. These images speak a thousand words: "Give us some dirt, and we're happy!"

Many thanks to Didier for the photos.

Petanque 100 in Gainesville, FL

A bunch of friends of the AF in Gainesville gets together 5, 6 times a year for a pétanque afternoon, and they didn't miss the opportunity to acknowledge the Centenary.


By the way, that spot is what I would call the perfect environment: trees for shade, irregular size, some bumps and branches. A bit of raking up the leaves before you start and you're all set to go. I don't know if there are bathrooms in the vicinity, and how easily accessible it is but we'll find out and put it on the Petanque in the USA map.

We're preparing a small file for clubs to present to Parks & Recreation Departments. Specifically to dispel the idea that pétanque requires manicured courts, prone to maintenance. These images speak a thousand words: "Give us some dirt, and we're happy!"

Many thanks to Didier for the photos.