Competition, skill, control combine with social
interaction to create avid devotees of ancient sport
by NATHAN WRIGHT, Staff Writer
After months of rain the sun came out last week, and so did the
bocce players at Lakewood Meadows Park in Windsor.
Windsor has a few bocce courts, and a group of Windsor residents
have been playing at Lakewood Meadows for more than a decade.
“It’s competitive, it requires skill and control,” said Robert
Fortini, explaining some of the reasons he enjoys the game. “It
takes a long time to learn the game.” Fortini’s fellow players
agree with him, and say some of Windsor’s best players are in their
90s.
Bocce is one of the oldest sports in the world, with roots
stretching back to ancient Egypt. The game is played on a
rectangular court, typically 12 feet by 60 feet, which is enclosed
by a sturdy siding. The court surface may be composed of crushed
seashells, dirt, clay, or grass.
Bocce, which in Italian simply means “balls,” is played with
nine different balls. At the beginning of the game, participants
split up into two equal teams. Teams can be composed of one, two,
or four players.
To begin the game, a pallino ball is rolled down the 60-foot
corridor to the opposite end of the court. Each team then takes
turns rolling one of their four balls towards the pallino. To score
a point, a team must get its ball closer to the pallino than the
other team’s closest ball. If the team manages to get a second ball
closer to the pallino than the opponent’s closest toss, two points
are awarded. Four total points can be earned in every frame if one
team is able to get all four of their balls closer to the pallino
than the closest single ball of their opponent. A team must score
12 points to win a game.
The games get very competitive, and the players often tease each
other as they play.
“We’re closing the door right here,” said one of the players
during a game last week.
“Sure you are,” quipped his opponent.
According to Enrico Colombo, some games get so heated that
players leave angry. “Some guys don’t come back for weeks,” he
said.
On Saturdays, as many 16 to 18 locals will show up to play on
the two courts at Lakewood Meadows. Many also play on Wednesdays,
and some of the players visit other courts around Sonoma County on
other days of the week.
Most of the players are retired, and think of Bocce as a social
time. “It’s good to get out and talk with the guys,” said
Fortini.
