Social Petanque on a Bounded Court
Introduction
These pages discuss a form of Petanque becoming very popular in the United States. It may be popular elsewhere, but I speak only from experience.
"Social Petanque on a Bounded Court" differs to some extent from the formal international game originated in France, with its very strict rules. "Social Petanque on a Bounded Court" retains the element of strategy found in the formal international game, but makes it fun for everyone!
Petanque is a game everyone can enjoy. Strength, height and age make little difference. Teams can be formed such that they are well balanced and all can enjoy. We were first introduced to this form of Petanque at Cypress Cove Resort. This is a fantastic family-oriented resort and players of all ages and skill levels are invited to play Petanque every morning!!
The most distinct characteristic of the game described here is the playing surface. It is bounded by timber, has fixed positions to throw from, and has fixed markers to speed measurement of the initial toss of the cochonnet (or jack). These elements speed play and alleviate interference problems when several games are being played at the same time. For example, Cypress Cove Resort has six courts that are often busy; traditional "open area" rules would leave this many ongoing games open to gross interference.
The courts at Sun Ridge Resort
Given that I am in the U. S. I am using feet and inches as units of measurement. Lumber comes that way here and so do tape rules. However, the dimensions are very close to those used in international play. International rules use different distances for different skill levels. The dimensions used here are fixed.
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