Bocce ball is a fairly simple game to play. Building a bocce court, however, isn’t as easy of a proposition. The prep before the court building is extensive in itself.
You will need to measure your yard and then decide your court’s dimensions. You will have to spend time building the base by clearing weeds, grass, and debris, then adding each layer one by one. But, at the end of the day, having your own court is immensely fulfilling, and can be a welcome addition to your backyard if done right.
Is Building a Bocce Ball Court Easy?
Bocce ball is a fairly simple and fun game that can be played in your backyard. It is a widely played and loved game. The best thing about it is that you don’t need much to play the game, just 8 balls, an opposing team, and a court.
While the game can technically be played without a court, building one from scratch in your backyard is an option to consider. This article will walk you through the steps of building your own DIY bocce ball court.
Materials You Will Need
There are a wide array of materials one needs to construct a bocce court. For starters, you’ll need equipment such as a grass or sod cutter to remove your turf. You might also need a circular saw, deck screws, measuring tape, laser leveler, and safety equipment. Building materials include crushed oyster shell, crushed stone, decomposed granite, sand, wood, clay, packed dirt or soil, grass, etc.
Steps To Build Bocce Courts
Plan The Size
The first step to building a bocce ball court is to figure out the court dimensions. A regulation court is a 100 feet long and 14 feet wide. Of course, you probably won’t have a backyard of this size, so you do not need to replicate the full length to play bocce ball. You can alter the court’s size such that your backyard can accommodate it.
The smallest court size can go down to 22 feet long and 6 feet wide. When measuring the play area to build your bocce ball court, do not forget to consider the separate space for the frame.
Measuring The Bocce Ball Court
To begin measuring, stand in one corner where you want your ball court to begin. Mark this point and another adjacent one that is the desired length away from the previous corner.
Repeat the same process for the other corners based on length and width. You might want to use a string to plot straight lines, and once that is done, with the help of tape, measure and double-check to ensure the court’s dimensions are accurate.
Making Room For The Ball Court
The next step is to make room for the court by digging a trench in the area where you wish to place your borders or frame. The cross section should be deep enough to properly embed the frame. While a wooden border is preferred by most since it is easy to construct, you can choose to make a concrete one too.
Install The Frame
To install the wooden frame, use a circular saw to cut the wood such that it fits perfectly into the provided area. A regular saw will make this much more complicated. You might need to stack a few boards at a time to gain the required height.
Once the boards are in place, secure them by backfilling some soil. Use deck screws to connect the board pieces. This will prevent weed growth from penetrating the court and will ensure a sturdy frame that can withstand the force of a ball being thrown at it.
Level The Playing Field
Then you will need to level the ground for layering. Use a laser level to achieve precision. A level playing surface will make it easier for the bocce balls to roll on the court.
At this stage, you might want to install a French drain. To create a French drain, dig downward facing holes in the ground. Water will seep through the holes and prevent water logging beneath the court.
Good drainage is essential to prevent flooding in the court when it rains. The main court should also be built slightly elevated from the ground. Here are a few helpful links that will show you how to build a French drain.
Bocce Court Construction and Layering
First Layer
A bocce ball court has a minimum of three layers. The first layer needs to be course stone. This allows for water to flow through in case of water logging on the surface.
An added drainage layer prevents the court structure from being compromised due to excess water build-up. The addition of course stone makes the surface uneven, so you will need to use a compactor to crush the stone.
This layer should be 2 to 4 inches thick.
Second layer
The next layer should be 1 to 2 inches thick and is made of crushed and decomposed granite. Many more materials need to be laid on top of this, so make sure that everything is compact so that nothing spills over the surface.
Once again, use a laser level to align the layer accurately.
Third Layer
The final layer is made of oyster shells or shell flour. You can use this material to replicate a professional court since it is very compact and provides the perfect surface for rolling the bocce balls.
But since crushed oyster shell is a fairly hard material to get your hands on, efficient alternatives are sand and short grass. Since grass requires a lot of maintenance, consider using artificial turf.
The top layer should fill in about 1/2 to 1 inch of the remaining space.
As with the previous steps, level the surface once done.
Maintenance
Bocce ball court maintenance is fairly simple compared to other courts.
With every game, your surface will be left with dents and roll marks from the balls, so you will have to even out the surface.
You also need to remove any debris that accumulates on the top. Turf tops need to be regularly mowed and a crushed oyster shell needs to be scarified with lute once in a while.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know all about how to build a bocce ball court, treat yourself with a good game in your very own yard. The building might seem like it requires a lot of hard work, but the end results are definitely worth the sweat.
