Bocce ball is the earliest backyard game that was first introduced in 1500 B.C.
Because of its simplicity and adaptability, the game spread throughout the world.
Now this game is played in Olympic Sports, and it has become the world’s third most popular sport that can be played on any location, athletic ability, or at any age.
The game is played on a court that is usually 91 feet by 13 feet. Because of its thin and long nature, the best place to build a bocce ball court is side yards or an area along a fence or wall.
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Here’s The Cost of A Bocce Ball Court
The cost to build a bocce ball court depends on many factors like the contractor, location of the court, size of the court, type of material used in construction, excavation, the complexity of the job, and geographical location.
A standard bocce ball court can be built by spending about $17 to $27 a square foot. But the cost will be different for the DIY job. It could be about $6 to $11+ square feet depending on materials used during construction.
Building a bocce court is a unique job that every contractor could not perform. So it is always recommended to hire a professional and experienced contractor.
No doubt that a professional and experienced contractor will do this job for high cost, and he may demand about $10,000 to $35,000 or more. But he will make your court worth paying and will also save future expenditures.
If you want to read more about the cost related to build specific courts, we have already prepared :
How To Save Money
If you are scared of spending too much money constructing a bocce ball court, you can go with the DIY job.
If you do not even have little experience, you can take a guide from any professional or online blog post.
This all can help you a lot in the construction. When you are building court on your own, you can locally purchase many materials that will save your money.
One of the best things about the bocce ball court is that it is effortless to manage, requiring a seven-inch pull brush and some construction tools to keep the court in tip-top shape.
Factors Affecting The Cost Of Building a Bocce Court
Contractor Fees
Building a bocce ball court is a simple task that you can also perform by yourself. But if you are scared to do this task on your own or want to build a standard and professional court, you must hire a contractor.
A professional and experienced contractor can build the court in minimal time.
However, you should also be ready to pay a high amount of money for a professional contractor.
Cost of material
To start the construction of the bocce ball court, you will need many tools and materials. Tools may include a sod cutter, rake, a laser level compactor, and a circular saw.
And materials include sand, crushed stone, clay, and artificial turf.
The cost of these materials and tools can be different in different places.
However, it will all these accessories will add much to the actual price.
Experts always recommend using high-quality materials.
However, using high-quality material can be costly, but it will assure durability and save future expenditure.
Cleaning of Court
After each play, clean the bocce ball court to maintain stability and keep dust away. You can also buy the landscaping rake to make your court debris and dust-free.
However, this will add additional costs to the actual cost.
Wall construction
Also, consider the cost of building a wall around the court, which is a necessary to keep the ball inside the playing area.
Usually, experts recommend constructing about 6-18 inches high walls.
Excavation
To flatten the area for bocce ball courts, you should dig down the area of about 2 – 4 inches.
This will help to shovel out any rock or clumps of soil that can disturb the surface.
This excavation will assure to give you a full flattened surface. Otherwise, the playing surface can be distorted.
You can do this task on your own, but it’s better to hire any constructor that can do this task in minimal time and give better quality work.
Best Place To Build Bocce Ball Courts
Bocce ball courts can also be built in the backyard of the house. However, the standard court size of a bocce ball is 13 by 91 feet. But if you build the bocce ball court as your backyard game, you can construct it of any size you want.
The bocce court is usually constructed using rocks, and a top coat is made with either crushed oyster shells, sand, tennis court clay, or turf.
All the bocce courts, no matter where they are built and which size they have, all have the same drainage system.
A perimeter and weed cloth is installed within the court to prevent the growth of weeds in the future.
The Importance Of Drainage On Bocce Court
Proper drainage and even weed cloth is an essential part of constructing a bocce court, as, without them, the court can turn into a muddy, weedy, and mess in a few months.
The game is often played outdoors. However, indoor bocce ball has also become very popular. The outdoor game is the same no matter which surface you play on.
The important thing when playing outdoors, you need to make sure the playing surface is kept up. Otherwise, unfair and dirty courts will interfere with the game.
What are the rules for bocce?
The bocce ball game is played with nine balls between two teams, and each team may have one, two, or four players.
During the game, one of the players throws a small ball into the court.
Players then spin eight more softball-sized balls into the court to get as close to the small ball as possible.
The person who throws the ball nearest the small ball and his teammates whose balls are closer than their opponents get points.
This game is an excellent source of joy that anyone can play – young, old, male, and female.
Bocce Ball Court Construction Process
Building a bocce ball court is not a complex task, but you need to have a suitable surface to play on. The surface should be flat, and it needs to allow for a minimal bounce.
The best surface is made with decomposed granite, crushed rocks, or fine gravel.
Some bocce ball courts have also been seen to have a layer of the crushed oyster.
Many surface materials are available for the bocce ball court, including grass, clay, and artificial turf.
Professionals recommend materials like sand, oyster blend, and crushed stone as they allow the ball to troll straightly and quickly.
These materials are also helpful to absorb bounce and improve the drainage system.
During the construction, the contractors will level the area that you have envisioned for bocce court by cutting away the sod or hauling away the debris.
The importance of Balance on Bocce Court
It is very important to balance the court area because the randomly rolling of the ball will disturb the game.
Once the area is leveled enough, then the area will be measured and marked with any spray paint.
After the area is framed with the material, the material could be concrete or wood; you can choose any of your choices.
Wood is the most durable option that works great as a stringer side material as the ball bounces off it.
Concrete is the most expensive but is the best framing material.
After framing, about three inches thick layer of based rock will be laid that will be tempted down with a compactor.
After this, the layer of decomposed granite is placed to make the surface stronger. And then, the last layer of oyster shell powder is applied that helps to increase the speed of balls when rolled.
However, instead of oyster shells, stone dust, turf, sand, or tennis court clay can be used as an option as well.
Building about a 6 to 18 inches high wall around the court using rail ties, block, or cast concrete curbing is also necessary to keep the ball inside the playing area.
Caring for bocce ball court is also very important; you should brush the court’s surface after every play. You can also use a landscaping rake, which is specially designed for cleaning and removing debris.
Bocce ball on grass
Bocce ball game is a straightforward to play that can also be played on grass. You just have to organize the playing field area. The most level part of the yard has to be used for the bocce ball court. And the weeds also need to be removed so as not to create any holes.
Next, you’ll need to cut the grass as closely as possible without doing any damage. Be sure to remove all grass after harvesting, to make the yard as smooth as possible.
To mark out the court, you may use lawn markers or use a wood frame for the court to get your desired shape.
Also, place landscaping fabric into the court area so the weeds cannot interfere from below. And then place a thin layer of sand or rock and the artificial turf layer on the top.
