This subgroup is for Bay Area Friends of Europe members who want to play Pétanque.




Pétanque (pronounced "pay-tonk") originated in Provence, France at the turn of the last century. It's played with metal balls (boules) and, like horseshoes and bocce, is easy to learn and fun to play. You throw the boules while standing with your feet together in a circle. There's a small wooden target ball (the cochonnet), which you have to get as close as possible to. What makes the game so appealing, is that you can be way ahead for a while, yet lose a second later, or vice versa. Because nothing is decided until the last player plays the very last boule. If he or she moves the cochonnet or hits an opponent's boule out of the way, the layout of the boules - and thus your score - can change dramatically.

All games organized through BAFOE will be posted as BAFOE events and announced to the entire group. Members can also share information about Pétanque in the Bay Area on the BAFOE Message Board Pétanque forum. You can be notified by email of new postings by clicking on "Track this forum" on the forum page.

If you wish to be part of a community of Pétanque players, you can also join the "sister" Meetup group Bay Area Pétanque Players.

Contact the subgroup organizer at geoff@bafoe.org

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If you're a beginner, or want to know where to buy boules or play boules, click on the following links for some useful information:

Basic Rules of Petanque

Pétanque for Beginners

Where to Buy Boules

Places to Play Pétanque

Bay Area Pétanque Clubs

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