Upon being handed a hollow metal ball, my outstretched hand sank several inches. Technically called a boule, it was silver, scuffed up, and heavier than I expected.

I had joined the Sunriver Pétanque Club for a morning game on the gravel courts of Mary McCallum Park. The club, founded in 2019 by Gary Bigham, practices Thursday and Sunday mornings throughout the summer.

It’s a group that’s far more concerned with having fun than winning, delights in the game’s ties to French culture and is always welcoming new members into the fray.

What is pétanque?

The basic rules are simple. The objective is to throw a boule as close to a small wooden target ball, known as a cochonnet, as possible, (or at least closer than the boules of an opposing team member).

A cousin of other lawn games, such as horseshoes and bocce ball, pétanque in its current form can be traced to early 20th-century Provence. Today, it’s played in the streets of France outside of taverns, bars and in parking lots, said Paul Brennan, vice president of the club.

At Mary McCallum Park in Sunriver, space for five gravel courts have been graded for specifically for the sport. The outer reaches of the courts are designated with logs and sitting next to the courts on stumps are scoreboards with numbers that may be flipped over to keep track of each team’s score.

“Pétanque is French. The Italians have bocce and the English have lawn bowling,” Brennan said.

The game may be played with one, two or three-person teams, which are determined at random. Players are required stand within a designated circle from which they must through the cochonnet approximately 20-30 feet.

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From Provence to Sunriver

French culture infiltrates the game at the Sunriver club where the length the cochonnet must be thrown is measured in meters — not feet. If it’s unclear which ball has landed closest, a measuring tape is brought out and the distance is measured in centimeters and sometimes numbers are counted in French.

Bigham, president of the club, considers himself a Francophile. He was first introduced to the sport at the French American Chamber of Commerce’s annual picnic in Seattle. After relocating to Sunriver in 2016, he sought out others with whom he could practice the game.

Bigham eventually placed an advertisement in the “Sunriver Scene,” inviting players to gather at the Fort Rock Park baseball diamond. A handful of players showed up and played on the infield of the baseball diamond between first and second base, where the soil was just right, Bigham said.

The club’s roster has expanded from a group of less than 10 members in 2019 to approximately 35 players in 2023, according to the club’s website. It’s also one of seven clubs in the Northwest formally recognized by the Federation of Pétanque USA. As a result, members of the club in Sunriver can compete in FPUSA tournaments in North America, Europe and Asia.

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Camaraderie and community spirit

Bigham arrived once a game was already in play, but was seamlessly included on our team of two players by decreasing the number of balls we were each using by one. According to the rules of pétanque, teams of two play with three boules, but teams of three play with two.

One of the hallmarks of the club is inclusivity. Sign-ups are not required and sometimes people recreating on pathway in Mary McCallum Park will stop and join the game, said my teammate Gwen Gamble.

For many of the players, it’s this spirit of all-inclusiveness that keeps them coming back.

Bigham appreciates the social aspect of the game, in addition to having an outlet for his competitiveness, he said.

“It’s a very supportive environment,” said Kim Orzell, who joined the group in the spring.

“I love coming down because of the people,” Gamble said, adding that the level of competition is gentle. It’s a sport that she and her husband, Bob, enjoy doing together.

“It’s the community. We like the culture. We like the competition,” she said.

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Join in on the fun

Pétanque is suitable for players of all ages. It takes a short time to learn, but a long time to master.

“It’s really a very simple game, easily played by anybody, but of course there’s many, many rules,” Brennan said.

After learning the basic rules of the game, strategy starts to come into play. A perfect shot, called a carreau, is when a player knocks an opponent’s boule, taking its place. Then there’s added nuances like adding backspin or gaining increased control over the boule.

The Sunriver Pétanque Club welcomes newcomers to its games with open arms, which are currently held at 9 a.m. on Thursdays and Sundays. Meeting times change throughout the year and are held in the morning during the hot summer months and at 1 p.m. during the fall and winter.

The club also periodically hosts tournaments with the next one, the “Beat-the-Heat Tournament,” taking place on Aug. 11.

Note: Mary McCallum Park is restricted for use by Sunriver property owners and their guests so players must contact Paul Brennan for assistance with entering the park.

What: Sunriver Pétanque Club

When: 9 a.m. Thursdays and Sundays

Where: Mary McCallum Park, Deschutes Road, Sunriver

Cost: Free

Contact: sunriverpetanque.org or call Paul Brennan 503-201-5939

“It’s really a very simple game, easily played by anybody, but of course there’s many, many rules.” — Paul Brennan