Bocce League for Active Adults in California Central Coast Retirement Community

Formed in February of 2009 by two locals residents of Trilogy’s Central Coast Retirement Community, Bocce League Games have become a popular pastime for active adults in this 55+ retirement community.

Organized bocce league games began in the summer of 2008 when Trilogy Central Coast residents Don and Ruby Peissig offered free lessons to Woodlands residents to learn the game. Within weeks over 50 residents began playing regularly, forming a league and competing three times a week over the next several months.

The league grew in 2009 with slightly over 70 members (eight full teams plus substitute players) and is on track for a total of nine teams in 2010.

Not familiar with bocce? Bocce is a game played with two eight-person teams. Weekly league play consists of completing three 12-point games against an opponent: the first team to score 12 points wins each game. Bocce has elements of both lawn bowling and pool. Its goal, simply stated, is to throw your team’s four bocce balls in such a manner as to get them closest to a target ball (called the pallino). Your opponents also get to throw four bocce balls and can bank off the sides of the court and knock your balls away in an attempt to get theirs closest. One point is earned for each ball you have closer to the pallino than any of the opponents' balls. Successful bocce teams think very strategically, playing both offensively and defensively, as circumstances require.

California Central Coast Retirement Community

Bocce is a game with history - Egyptians played a form of it with polished rocks over 7,000 years ago and it was a favorite sport of statesmen and rulers in ancient Rome.

The club is open to all Woodlands residents, whether they live in the Villas, the townhouses, or in Trilogy Central Coast. Absolutely no level of experience with bocce is required. The game can be learned with only an hour’s playing time; skill development progresses swiftly. To play you must be a club member and you can join the club anytime during the year simply by paying the annual dues ($20). With your dues payment comes access to all club functions: league play, club meetings, awards luncheons, and recognition for winning records in league play.

Are you an active adult in retirement and have an idea of a club you’d like to start? Trilogy Central Coast supports active lifestyles. Trilogy Central Coast provides a written format for club submissions to be considered to its residents. Consider your Trilogy for your next retirement community and start a legacy of your own!

For more information about the Bocce League at Trilogy Central Coast visit www.mytrilogylife.com and read “Meet the Central Coast Bocce Club” by Celine Todd, editor.