A friend taught you how to play bocce ball. You enjoyed the game so much that you are now planning to build a bocce ball court in your backyard. You are not alone. Many others already have bocce ball courts (see our picks for the best luxury bocce ball sets) in their front or backyards to make playing more convenient than driving to the nearest public court. Before getting started, the materials you will need are listed below.
Tools and Materials Required
Tools
• Sod cutter
• Circular saw
• Compactor
• Laser level
• Landscaping rake
Materials
• Base rock
• Decomposed granite
• Wood screws
• Oyster flour shells
• 1-inch stakes
• String
• 4 x 4’s or 6 x 6’s
Building the Court
1. Making court measurements
Start by measuring the court’s dimensions. A standard court measures 60 x 12 feet. But you can change the dimensions according to the size of your backyard. Even if you have a small backyard, you can still make a bocce court in it. For example, many people have 22 x 6 feet courts because of space shortage.
Make sure you start measuring from the longest possible corner of the backyard. Drive the stakes in each point to mark the corners. It’s best to cover the length of the court first. Tie strings as you drive the stakes. The length and breadth of the stakes should be at a 90-degree angle.
2. Digging the court
You have to dig at least six inches of dirt from the court area. Additionally, you also need to dig trenches where you want to set up the court’s border. Don’t throw away the excavated dirt, as you will need it later.
Use the landscaping rake to flatten the area. Apart from leveling, you also need to check whether it’s an even surface or not. Use the laser level to find out. Accordingly, you can use the rake again to flatten the uneven areas.
3. Build the court’s border
It’s not compulsory to build the court’s border. You can do it because it looks good. Drive the stakes into the ground to make the boundary. Cut the lumber using a circular saw. Lay the 6 x 6 or 4 x 4 on the plotted-out area. Use a laser level to make sure they are even. Fill the area with some of the soil you dug in the first step. Secure the ends by screwing the locks down.
4. Adding the first layer
Before you put down the first layer, you should make a French drain. The holes should face downwards in the drain to evacuate water quickly when it rains.
Use washed stones or coarse stones for at least 2 to 4 inches. This allows the court to drain water fast and not let it seep into the court. It’s best if you make a 4-inch first layer to facilitate drainage. Take a tamper or compactor to crush the stones. This helps to make an even surface.
5. Adding the second layer
The second layer should contain crushed stone gravel. It should be approximately 1 to 2 inches deep. Keep using the laser level after every step to check the court’s evenness.
6. Adding the third layer
Most people recommend using sand because it’s cheap. A few may also suggest installing Astroturf grass. Sand is definitely cheap, but you will need to rake the playing surface constantly to ensure that there are no bumps. The bocce balls will make the surface uneven after every game. Therefore, sand isn’t an option unless you don’t want to spend money.
