Our Story
Beach Bocce was conceived after the tragedy of 9/11. My wife and I were raising young children and struggling to reconnect to the simpler things in life, especially quality time with family and friends. In the 24/7 “connected” society we live in today, we find more people sharing our plight, seeking down time with friends and connecting through traditional games and activities.
Growing up in New Orleans and living in the South my entire life, I've always vacationed on the nearby Florida Panhandle, in towns like Destin and Pensacola Beach. From the time I was a little boy collecting Easter eggs hidden in the sugar-white sand, to college fraternity spring breaks, to splashing in the emerald water with my young children, there was never a better place to be.
One summer we were visiting a friend who lived year-round in Grayton Beach, a charming hideaway between Destin and Panama City. He invited us to join what had become his daily routine: a short walk to the beach and a sunset match of Bocce with whatever drink suited his mood. He played Petanque, the French version of Bocce.
My family was immediately hooked, having never seen the game played before. After about three sunset “tournaments,” my wife observed that it was a shame that the metal Petanque balls were losing their color and beginning to rust. Our host commented that he refused to play with the larger Italian bocce balls, because they were so heavy to carry to the beach, even though they were made of a material that wouldn’t rust.
It was our “light bulb” moment! Why not marry the material of Italian Bocce with the size and portability of Petanque, for the perfect beach game: Beach Bocce. And to take it a step further, let's ditch the dull green and red balls for bright beach colors. We were on a roll, adding our own beach rules to account for the unique environment the beach presents, including hard sand, soft sand, driftwood, seaweed, rough surf and infinite other obstacles that vary on beaches everywhere.
We got to work designing our prototype set, locating a manufacturer who patiently revised and re-revised our sample balls until a year later we had the perfect colors, weight and size. We took delivery just before Hurricane Katrina struck our home, New Orleans, and the north Gulf Coast in 2005.
Growing up in New Orleans and living in the South my entire life, I've always vacationed on the nearby Florida Panhandle, in towns like Destin and Pensacola Beach. From the time I was a little boy collecting Easter eggs hidden in the sugar-white sand, to college fraternity spring breaks, to splashing in the emerald water with my young children, there was never a better place to be.
One summer we were visiting a friend who lived year-round in Grayton Beach, a charming hideaway between Destin and Panama City. He invited us to join what had become his daily routine: a short walk to the beach and a sunset match of Bocce with whatever drink suited his mood. He played Petanque, the French version of Bocce.
My family was immediately hooked, having never seen the game played before. After about three sunset “tournaments,” my wife observed that it was a shame that the metal Petanque balls were losing their color and beginning to rust. Our host commented that he refused to play with the larger Italian bocce balls, because they were so heavy to carry to the beach, even though they were made of a material that wouldn’t rust.
It was our “light bulb” moment! Why not marry the material of Italian Bocce with the size and portability of Petanque, for the perfect beach game: Beach Bocce. And to take it a step further, let's ditch the dull green and red balls for bright beach colors. We were on a roll, adding our own beach rules to account for the unique environment the beach presents, including hard sand, soft sand, driftwood, seaweed, rough surf and infinite other obstacles that vary on beaches everywhere.
We got to work designing our prototype set, locating a manufacturer who patiently revised and re-revised our sample balls until a year later we had the perfect colors, weight and size. We took delivery just before Hurricane Katrina struck our home, New Orleans, and the north Gulf Coast in 2005.
After a hard-fought return to life and work, we resumed our quest to spread the word and give everyone the opportunity to own the game we had come to love. A game clearly influenced by our New Orleans roots, a culture that celebrates art, music, food, and - most of all - relaxed time with family and friends. Today we have customers worldwide and cherish the feedback we receive from many, who joyfully unwind from their hectic lives over a game of Beach Bocce.
