Bocce originated in ancient Egypt around 5200 B.C., and was passed down through the ages by the Greeks and Romans. According to the United States Bocce Federation, approximately 25 million bocce enthusiasts live in the United States alone. The simplicity of the game and low cost of equipment make it an ideal choice for family recreation. Building your own bocce court requires few materials and little time when compared to sports such as basketball or baseball.
Step 1
Cut eight pieces of 4-by-6-inch treated lumber to a length of 19 feet. Cut two pieces of the lumber stock to 12 feet in length.
Step 2
Demarcate the rectangular court outline using a chalk line. The measurements are 76 feet by 11 feet and 4 inches. Dig a pit within the entire area of the marked court that is 10 to 11 inches deep throughout.
Step 3
Lay down a 4-inch diameter, perforated drain tile along the center of the pit. The drain tile should run the entire length of the pit and then be routed outside of the pit to a low area or a storm drain. Fill the pit with 5 inches of finely crushed gravel.
Step 4
Wet the layer of gravel with a garden hose and compact it down to roughly 4 inches in depth. Use the height of the drain tile as a measuring guide.
Step 5
Fill the pit with a 5-inch layer of 21AA-grade gravel. Wet the layer of gravel with a garden hose and compact it down to roughly 4 inches in depth. The depth from the ground line to the gravel must be at least 2 inches after compaction.
Step 6
Lay down 2 inches of clay or a similar consistency surface, such as crushed limestone, and compact it until the court is level with the ground. Add a final layer of tennis court clay to the surface. The tennis court clay should be roughly 1/8 inch in depth.
Step 7
Set the treated lumber boundary boards on edge at the borders to for a 76 feet by 12 feet rectangle. Beginning at the outside corner of one of the 12-foot boards, make a mark 5 inches in toward the opposite end of the same board. Dig a hole here for a 4-by-4-inch treated lumber stake. The hole should be 36 inches deep or to the frost line, whichever is deeper. Measuring from the first stake, dig a hole every 4 to 6 feet around the perimeter of the court.
Step 8
Place a stake in each hole and fill the hole with concrete. Attach the treated lumber boundary boards to the stakes.
Step 9
Measure in 10 feet from each end toward the center of the court. Paint a line here along the width of the court to demarcate the hitting foul line. Measure in 6 feet from each end toward the center of the court. Paint a line here along the width of the court to demarcate the pointing foul line. Paint a width-wise line across the center of the court.
Things You'll Need
- 176 feet 4-by-6-inch treated lumber
- Shovel
- 4-inch perforated drain tile
- Fine gravel
- Course gravel
- Clay
- 4-by-4-inch wooden stakes
- Paint
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