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Pétanque is a form of boules (or bocce, in Italian) where the goal is to toss or roll hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (literally "piglet") or jack, while standing inside a circle with both feet on the ground.
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Petanque is also known around the world as Boules (boule is ball in French, just as bocce is ball in Italian). It is an exciting game that was first played in France around 1907 and is quickly becoming very popular in America and around the world.
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Believe it or not, the game of pétanque has been played in New Suffolk since around 1965, when a group of French chefs had summer residences in New Suffolk. Their main activities were fishing, clamming, mushrooms picking but the most important activity was a game of Petanque, on the field at town beach or in a friend’s driveway.
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All that's needed is a friend or two, a flat open space, a set of pétanque balls, a small target ball (called the cochonnet) and the ability to aim and throw a ball.
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Traditional bocce is more of a bowling game, whereas pétanque is more of a tossing game, like horseshoes. Bocce players take steps before throwing, pétanque players stand still. Bocce balls are usually rolled palm up, pétanque balls tossed palm down, so they get backspin upon release. Otherwise, the objective is very similar.
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For recreational players, any level area of at least 7 meters (20 feet) will do. FIPJP rules require a court of at least 12 meters x 3 meters for regional tournaments, and 15 meters x 4 meters for national and international tournaments. So 15 meters x 4 meters (50′ x 13′) is usually considered the “standard” size for a pétanque court.
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We are happy to announce that the NSUPC has now a home court located in the southeast corner of the New Suffolk Ballfield. All games take place on our home court. But we encourage all our friends to get together on their own and play anytime, anywhere!