High Rollers

Bocce Is Becoming the New Craze in the Palisades Thanks to Veterans Gardens Project

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The Palisades Recreation Center has always been a haven for sports and now people of all ages are flocking to the public park in droves to play bocce at newly completed Veterans Gardens—the culmination of an initiative started seven years ago and funded entirely by Palisadians.

“A handful of local residents dreamed of how this place could quiet you, put a blanket over you, and gently remind you of the heart of a Palisadian,” says modern renaissance man Jimmy Dunne, a multi-platinum songwriter who spearheaded the project to build three world-class bocce courts and has since started three leagues at the state-of-the-art facility in the heart of town. “That area used to be a pile of dirt and old picnic benches. Now it’s a garden that is a lovely mirror of who we were, who we are and who we dream to become.”

The Senior League, consisting of 85 spry senior citizens, just wrapped up its first summer season and the “Bocce Brunch Bunch” playoffs were   full of drama and excitement. In the semifinals, Bocce Aces came out on fire against the High Roller, and it was a “Roll the Bay” fireworks show by the Steph Curry of bocce, Merrie Mac Seaman.

The Mob had a three-game thriller against Martini’s Marauders, with ‘Ira the Terrible’ roaring after he closed out a game-winning roll. Mike Martini closed the deal for the “Best Heckler” Award by trash-talking all players with hs disarming smile and sweet face. Resembling the heated Celtics-Lakers rivalry in the 1980s, Bocce Aces met The Mob in the finals.

Bocce Aces pummeled the mustached Mob in the first game 6-0, but the second game seesawed back and forth before Diane Tallant found herself with a ball in her hand to win the title for Bocce Aces if she dared to “Roll the Bay” on an extremely tough angle. She calmly pocket-pooled a perfect shot down the right rail to capture the title for the Aces.

Dunne recited a poem he wrote at the Senior League Picnic Party and gave certificates to the inaugural award winners. The league was in action at 11 and 12 o’ clock on Tuesdays and the idea was to use bocce as a catalyst to serve the largest growing population in the Palisades—seniors. The age range is 60 to 110 and the only prerequiite is to come with a smile on your face. The eight-team league will be expanding for the Autumn League as 35 new players showed up at a practice session Sunday afternoon.  

The Palisades League (for ages 30-70) includes 185 people divided into 16 teams (all with colorful names) that play Thursday nights and go out to dinner afterwards with deals at local restaurants like Hank’s and Casa Nostra if a customer names the secret bocce “word of the night.”

“It’s been amazing to see people who didn’t even know each other a few weeks ago bonding,” adds Dunne, who shared Citizen of the Year honors with co-founder Bob Harter in 2018 for their efforts to create the Veterans Gardens. “At it’s best the level of play has gotten so much better. The players have gotten into the strategy of bocce and their skill and technique is amazing. Being in these two leagues has reminded them of what they love so much about the Palisades.” 

There is also a Family League on Sundays at noon, which is followed by a pizza party. There are 35 players in that league, comprised of sons and daughters, grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles and moms and dads.

“Seven years ago I saw this upper park portion that wasn’t being landscaped with antiquated picnic tables that no one was using,” Dunne recalls. “I thought what if this could be reimagined with Palisading funding as a sanctuary to preserve what we all so love and use this amazing game to be a catalyst to draw people together?”

There are more exciting programs in the works at Veterans Gardens, including a chess league for anyone, from seniors to high school kids, on Saturday mornings—an effort to get people together who othwerwise would never sit across from each other. The wheels are in motion for a unified league for special needs kids with students from Palisades High that encorporates bocce, which is globally one of the most popular sports in the Special Olympics. Also on the horizon is a fitness club called “Happy Hour” consisting of 40-minute morning workouts followed by a breakfast of coffee and croissants.

Dunne credits his fellow committee members Harter, Bill McGregor, Rob Jernigan and Jay McCann with helping make the vision a reality.

“Those four guys dedicated thousands of hours to bring this to fruition,”   

says Dunne, who at the age of 27 drove through Pacific Palisades on the Fourth of July, saw the parade and knew instantly this is where he wanted to raise his family. “We also created an organization called the Blue Jays, a fraternity of women and men who passionately believe that giving back to the community matters. Blue Jays embody all the attributes that we so cherish as Palisadians—a caring, selfless heart, a positive attitude and a love and joy of life. They volunteer a few hours every week or two weeks, always with another Blue Jay, to help run the bocce, chess and fitness leagues and events at Veterans Gardens. They can walk vistors through the five “Gardens in the Park”—each dedicated to one branch of our military services.”

Bocce is closely related to British bowls and French pétanque, with common ancestry from ancient games in the Roman Empire. Developed into its present form in Italy, it is played around Europe and places with Italian immigrants, including Australia, North America, and South America.

A court must be 60 x 90 in order to hold USA Bocce sanctioned events. It can be played on various surfaces, all with different advantages and disadvantages. The finest courts create “the big three”—fast, flat and level play. Most clubs use ‘flat railings’; where balls can rest along the side rails.  A few courts slightly ‘ramp’ the sides, assuring balls cannot rest along the railings.

Official USA Bocce balls are 107 millimeters in diameter and weigh 920 grams. A smaller ball called the pallino is the target.

Games can be played one-on-one (singles) or as doubles, triples, and foursomes. In singles, each person throws four balls and plays both ends of the court. In doubles, each team member throws two balls, playing both ends of the court. In triples, nine balls are used instead of eight.  Each player throws three balls each and plays both ends of the court. In foursomes, two members of a team are stationed at opposite ends of the court and play two balls each (or all four players play both sides of the court and throw one ball each). It is recommended in league play for two team members to be at each end of the court.

A frame is a mini-match inside a game. In each frame, all balls are thrown, with the objective of having as many of your balls closer to the pallino than your opponent’s closest ball. Eight shots make up a frame, frames make up a game and games, in many cases, make up a match. A copin is flipped to see who rolls the pallino to start a match. The team that wins the toss can either roll the pallino or choose the color of the balls. The pallino must pass or be resting on the middle line and cannot hit the back rail. The pallino must be tossed underhand, just as any other shot.

A player may step on, but cannot step over, the foul line before releasing the pallino or a ball. A player can “follow through” into the court as long as the ball is released before stepping into the court. If a foot foul occurs, in the spirit of the game, either ignore it or gently remind your opponent of the rule. If a pallino or ball hits the backboard without first touching another ball or the pallino, it is a dead ball and removed from the court.

The object is to get your ball as close as possible to the pallino.Team members can choose to shoot in any order they like as long as each player throws an equal amount of balls. After all of the players have thrown their balls, the team with the closest ball or balls to the pallino is awarded points, one for every ball that is closer to the pallino than the closest competitor’s ball. You can score one to four points in a frame  with the exception of “Rolling the Bay,” a rule popularized in California that is now used in all USA Bocce sanctioned events and tournaments. Called  the 3-point shot of bocce, the “Bay” ball must successfully rest inside of the opponent’s closest ball, earning a bonus point.

Games are often played to seven points (best-of-three games), or a single game to nine, 10, 12 or 15.

Seaman was named the Senior League’s Most Valuable Player; Cindy Hicks was the Most Improved; Mary Meisler won the “Palisadian” Award—the highest honor for a Palisades Bocce Club player; and Delores Fritzsche and Maria Malloy won Greatest Fan Awards.

Dunne is excited to watch his neighbors’ curiosity for the sport grow before his eyes. The Autumn Senior League starts Aug. 24.  The next Palisades League starts Sept. 16. The Family League continues every Sunday.

To sign up, visit the website: palisadesbocce.com, e-mail  Commissioner Dunne at j@jimmydunne.com or call 310-529-1400.