If you have ever played bocce ball, you know it is a perfect combination of fun and excitement. The fun game is easy enough to play and will keep people of all ages occupied for hours.
For this very reason, everyone wants their own bocce court. You can either drop a couple of thousand dollars and build a DIY bocce ball court or reap the benefits of this article to get your own court for cheaper!
Before You Begin
Before you decide how to build a bocce court, you need to consider a few things beforehand. You’ll need to decide the location and size of your court.
Choosing a Spot
Choose a spot in your yard that you don’t use a lot and won’t limit the functionality of the remaining space.
Good drainage is recommended, preferably a french drain, but a water-prone spot can work too with the correct measures.
Bocce Ball Court Dimensions
A regulation court measure 13 ft by 91 ft (4m by 28m), but you can go smaller.
A good rule of thumb when constructing custom-sized bocce courts is to keep its width to length ratio between 1:5 to 1:7.
What You’ll Need for Bocce Court Construction
It’s better to equip yourself with the necessary materials before moving on to construction. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need for construction!
Tools
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Circular Saw
- Drill
- Stapler and staples
- Framing square
- Tape measure
- Tamper
- 4-foot level
- String
- Post Level
- Hammer
Materials
- Decomposed granite
- Marking paint
- Crushed stone
- French drain (only if you don’t have good water drainage)
- Crushed oyster shell
- Artificial turf (Optional)
- 4 x wooden stakes
- Exterior grade decking screws
- 4×4 #2 pressure-treated boards
- 2×6 #2 pressure-treated boards
Instructions
Read through our instructions carefully to ensure you understand the process. You might need to adjust the dimensions (per your space) and materials (per availability).
Tip: If the bocce court is being constructed on an area prone to collect water, consider installing a french drain.
Establishing the Court’s Dimensions
Mark the corners
Use the tape measure and marking paint to mark the four corners.
Place a stake
Place and drive a wooden stake in each corner, this will help outline the court’s dimensions and make the work easier!
Calibrate the stakes
You’ll need a framing square to check the string. Use it to determine if the stakes need to be adjusted.
Remove the sod
It’s time to work on your playing surface. Grab the flat shovel and start by removing the sod directly under the string.
Once you’re done with the edges, proceed to de-sod the whole court.
Digging corner holes
Start digging four corner holes, each one being at least 1 foot deep.
Place corner posts
Grab the 4×4 corner posts and place them in the holes with an excess of 1 foot. To make sure the posts are firm, start tamping them layer by layer.
To ensure the posts line up, use a level and square between tamping.
Once the corners are firm in place, add the string again around the court.
Mark the location of secondary side posts
You’ll need the marking paint to mark the location of each secondary side post. These make up the sides of your bocce court.
The challenging part is deciding on dimensions if you are building a custom bocce court. You can do so easily by following this handy method:
A span of more than 4 to 6 feet between posts (between each post) isn’t recommended.
Identify the center point between two side posts and mark it. Keep marking the middle until the spot between marks is less than 6 feet long.
Set side posts
You can use the same process as the corner posts to set side posts in their marked locations.
Building the Frame
Since this part includes manual work involving tools, it is recommended that you wear safety glasses and equipment to protect yourself.
Cutting side rails
You’ll start by cutting the side rails (2×6 boards) accordingly to the bocce ball court size.
Ensure that the ends fall on the post so they can be fastened together efficiently.
Fastening the side rails
When attaching the rails, use exterior-grade decking screws. You’ll need to place a board on the ground against the post and screw it.
Lift the other end on the next post, and to ensure it’s leveled, place a level in the center of the board. Once it is in position, screw the board in place.
If you cannot level the rails, there’s likely extra dirt at the bottom of the post. Remove the dirt and try again.
You can use the same method for the end, side, and bottom rails!
Remove excess post
After everything is in place, it is time to remove the excess post. Before cutting the extra post, mark a line on each one equal to the height of the top rail.
Fastening the top frame
The 2×6 boards of the top frame will lie flat on posts. Cut the boards to the required length the same way you did the rails. Make sure the ends line with the top of the posts.
Installation of the Gravel Layer
shoveling
This will be the first layer of your bocce ball court, and it encourages drainage.
Ensure there’s enough gravel for a 2/3-inch layer.
Packing
Get rid of the uneven spots using a tamper or compactor.
Lining
Install a landscape fabric above the gravel layer to prevent the hassle of removing weeds every other month.
To make sure it stays in place, staple it to the side rails.
Installation of the Crushed Layer
Shoveling
Use enough decomposed granite for a 2/3-inch layer. Once you are done shoveling, use a screed tool to level the granite perfectly.
Screed tool
To build the tool, you’ll need a 2×4 straight board with a length greater than the court’s dimensions.
Fashion a piece of plywood to match the interior width of the court.
Place the 2×4 board on the plywood. Use screws to fix it so that the length of plywood below matches the desired height of the second layer.
Screeding the surface
Once you have the screed tool, place it above the bocce court frame.
Have a friend grab the other end of the screed tool. Move the plywood to the opposite end, and it will level the surface by getting rid of any high spots.
Packing
Use a compactor or tamper to pack the second layer.
Installation of the Top Layer
The top layer can be turf or sand.
Typically this layer is for aesthetic purposes, but it can prevent bocce balls from getting ruined because they will be easily scratched on a rough floor.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have your own bocce court, it is time to send out the invites and ask everyone to come over for a competitive game night!
To make sure the game keeps running throughout the night, install some lights and maybe a whiteboard to keep track of the scores. Happy bocce-ing!
