Austin Bocce League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association and donations are tax deductible.

RULES- Please give us your comments or suggestions. CONTACT COMMISSIONER, Robert Battaile

If you'd like to play on a team, or help get some courts built - please take our
Austin Bocce Survey to help us plan and keep you in the loop.

WALTER E. LONG PARK FOCUS OF AUSTIN COUNCIL ACTION

The City is planning to spend perhaps $800 million on Austin's largest and mostly undeveloped Park.
Walter E. Long Park is 10 times larger than Zilker. League Commissioner, Robert Battaile spoke
briefly before the Sept 19 Council meeting and shared the "BocceFutures" 20-page handout
along with presenting the models of the "ATX Bocce Pavilion" • "Gulliver's Golf & Gocce™"
(which is on a 2-acre 3-D scale model topo map of Central Texas) • Rounds™ Candlepin Bowling Center

Link to the eMag version at bit.ly/boccefutures or open the pdf file here.

This publication illuminates the depth and breadth of bocce throughout the rest of the US and around the world.
US competition, International Tournaments, Bocce Charity Fundraising power, Special Olympics - plus a
model of the ATX Bocce Pavilion and the Giant mini-golf and Gocce™ Course (also shown below).

Texas has a lot of catching up to do! Let's make sure Austin is leading the way.

Middletown Bocce League Building Courts

After I was evacuated during the devastating 2015 Valley Fire in northern California and I was organizing a community chorus to produce a benefit music video for the First Responders (valleyfiresong.org), I realized how good it would be for the community to have a bocce league there for networking, morale and rebuilding. I got the ball started but the Board members I wrangled did the final work to make it happen. Well done gentlemen. As an Honary Board member, I definitely am feelin' proud.

SUCCESS AT AUSTIN PARKS AND REC'S 10-YEAR PLAN MEETINGS!

Bocce was included among the sports in the consultant's Survey and did quite well! This Citywide Survey was publicized and widely distributed during December and January. All we really need is approval to build courts in several parks. We garned 17% support of the people supporting the addition of bocce courts to the Parks.   Commissioner, Robert Battaile at the Gus Garcia Rec Center 10-Year Plan meeting.

If you'd like to play on a team, or help get some courts built - please take our
Austin Bocce Survey to help us plan and keep you in the loop.

I started a bocce league in Santa Rosa, CA in 2009 and today they have 500 members playing five nights a week. I learned the game in St. Helena - a small town of 4,000 people with probably 600 members playing five nights a week on 9 courts. They publish the standings in the local paper every week.

We submitted a grant proposal to WeWork for their Creator Awards. It's a very interesting and motivated company that does good things. The Regional selection was in Austin in late June. While we weren't selected, it gave us a good chance to start honing in on the costs and specific methods and sites to work with. It also gave us a chance to speak philosophically about the benefits of getting out of the house and into the fresh air with friends and family. Imagine... LIVE social interaction without the use of a digital device... in person even. We proposed "LAUNCHING AUSTIN BOCCE" by building four Bocce Centers in Austin Parks. Two 4-court sites and two 3-court sites. All with lights, storage, tables, umbrellas and shade of sorts. Pétanque players can use the same surface courts. Cost: $173,220 I think we can stretch this budget by 20-30% with the help of local vendors, Austin's energetic volunteer base, and the City Parks and Recreation Department. This could enable us to build two additional "basic" sites. To view the 5-page pdf PROPOSAL, click here. Watch the 90 sec VIDEO below.

I’ve recently moved back to Austin after many years in Napa Valley. While I was there, I discovered bocce. Bocce is an amazing sport that provides heathy interaction and competition for all ages. It has a great balance of luck and skill such that everybody gets the occasional great shot. I especially love it when little old ladies beat the big truck drivers. I got my start in the St. Helena Bocce Leagues where almost one out of every four people play on a team. The standings are posted in the local paper each week. The shared food and wines were legendary. These pictures are from Juilliard Park in Santa Rosa. That's me throwing out the 2nd ball back in 2009. Still going strong and likely to continue forever.

My vision is about a dozen sites in Austin's city parks with three-four courts each and a central bocce pavilion with maybe 8 courts which is also the home of the US Bocce Open! Very fun for all. I think we can rally the citizenry and local businesses to raise the necessary funds. Bocce courts are not very expensive. The Austin Bocce League would coordinate the players, teams, league and tournaments. Costs probably $30-40 for a 10-week season. Teams are 6-12 people. We’d have workshops to teach the game and also sponsor people that couldn’t pay the fee. We need your energy and input to make this happen.

If you'd like to play on a team, or help get some courts built - please take our Austin Bocce Survey to help us plan and keep you in the loop. Triangle Park has two courts and you can check out a set of balls from nearby Mandola's Italian Restaurant. Guerrerro Senior Center has a court...and that's about it for almost all of Austin. Here's a good video that explains the game and how it can all change so fast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3slD-qDIW8

To be clear - while we're getting support and encouragement from City Council and Parks and Recreation, none of these designs are endorsed or approved at this point. All will require citizen input and involvement. Austin has the potential to have the largest bocce league in the country... if you want it!
Here are some ideas. See you in Court! Robert Battaile, Commissioner • robert@austinbocceleague.org • 512-662-2955

For our future courts, I'd like to suggest a "Five-in-One" design with a movable back wall that can be configured for 90' - 76' - 60' Bocce Courts or two 45' Petanque Courts. 90' is the international standard size. Petanque is a French version that uses smaller metal balls.

BAILEY PARK in Central West Austin has excellent potential with parking and existing lights. We have support from several of the local stakeholders and neighborhood association members to build two courts there. I'm trying to figure out how best to move forward to develop this site.

BULL CREEK PARK on the Northwest Side. Perhaps re-purposing the Volleyball Court is an option...?

Would this be epic? Dream on Robert.

How about PEASE PARK at GASTON GREEN? I remember the first Eeyore's Party and I hadn't even heard of bocce.

There are lots and lots of court designs online. Here's one I really like in Yountville. A very robust league there. More designs follow.

Two vets in wheelchairs were playing this morning.

Note the lights.