IT WAS A NAIL BITER DOWN TO THE FINISH
THESE WERE THE SKILLFUL PLAYERS THAT WON!
ON 3/19/2026 THE BOCCE CLUB HELD ITS SECOND TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR
IT WAS A NAIL BITER DOWN TO THE FINISH
THESE WERE THE SKILLFUL PLAYERS THAT WON!
ON 2/19/2026 THE BOCCE CLUB HELD ITS FIRST TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR
UNFORTUNATELY I WASN'T A WINNER--BUT THESE SKILLFUL PLAYERS WERE!
I updated the Bocce Pictures Gallery with photos taken at the 2026 February tournament. They are not all flattering pictures. But the pictures reflect the day as it was. And I wouldn't be Howie if I did not forget to shoot some pictures of the nice lunch we also enjoyed. Sorry about that.
About The Bocce Club
Welcome to the Solivita Bocce Club web site, where you find all the latest club news and updates. The club meets, and plays regularly on:
CURRENT BOCCE HOURS!
Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM
Thursday mornings at 9:00 AM
Tuesday evenings at 7:00PM
If you are new, come about ten minutes early.
Everyone is welcome to come and play with us, even if you never played before. If you like it, you can join the club. But first try it out a few times, and then decide if you want to become a paying club member. And again, beginners are welcome (we have great teachers).
We are the most relaxed and chill group of people you will ever meet. Some of us are so excited to play, we don't even get dressed in the morning--we come in our pajamas!
Solivita has four well maintained bocce courts at Freedom Park. It is a beautiful place to play the game, and there isn't a better group to play with than the Solivita Bocce Club.
Bocce is a fun and easy game to learn, but a difficult game to master.
It can be played by young and old, and court number four has a swing open gate to accommodate persons who use a wheelchair.
So, how do you play?
I personally don't play that well, but that is a story for another time.
The basic rules are simple.
There are two teams. Each team gets four large bocce balls. There is also one small ball called the pallino (or pallina).
The team that goes first rolls the pallino on the the court. It must pass the half way mark, but not hit the board at the far end of the court. You can roll it down the center, bank it off the side boards, it doesn't matter.
After the pallino is rolled the same player rolls a large bocce ball trying to get it as close to the pallino as possible.
Then the player from the other team tries to get their large bocce ball closer to the pallino than the first team.
After the two large bocce balls are rolled, the team whose ball is furthest from the pallino rolls again trying to get closer to the pallino than the other team.
After each roll, the team whose ball is closest to the pallino steps aside and allows the other team a chance to get closer than them. This continues until all the balls are rolled.
Once all balls are rolled, the team with the bocce ball closer to the pallino wins the round, and if they have two or more balls closer to the pallino than the other team's closest ball, they get that number of points.
Basically, you want to have more balls closer to the pallino than the closest ball of your opponent. There are other rules, and once you start playing everything will fall into place.
That is the basics of bocce!
And you won't find a prettier place to play the game than here in Solivita!
1 - The Bocce Club has been having an awesome 2025 season. We now have monthly breakfasts, more tournaments, and a lot of new people coming out to play. So, welcome to the new players that have joined the team, we are glad you have joined us!
2 - We will be creating a new poster with pictures taken from the 2025 Halloween Tournament. It should be hanging in there soon. When? Your guess is as good as mine. We are old, and every time we sit in front of the computer working on the pictures, we fall asleep. So, it will be completed as soon as we can keep ourselves awake long enough to complete the project!
2025 HALLOWEEN TOURNAMENT
And talking about the 2025 Halloween Tournament, it was a tough one this year. Twenty-eight people participated and rather than straight bocce, bowling pins were set on the courts as barriers. Knock over a pin, and you either lost a point, or the opposing team gained an extra point, depending on the score at the the time. And many pins fell. Who knocked over the most? My lips are sealed!
Here are some pics from the tournament. The complete set of pictures are on the PHOTOS Page.
Pins As Barriers
We did have one incident, two escaped convicts tried to crash the game. Luckily, a police officer was on hand to arrest them and take them back to their holding cells!
Whether people were in costume or not. It was a fun day, and everyone was in the holiday spirit.
And Of Course There Was Food Galore!
Remember, the complete set of pictures (over 150) are on the PHOTOS Page.
***
People ask, what is the hardest thing about bocce. I think it is the sun!
LOL
4 - We updated the Bocce Pictures Gallery with photos taken at the February and March tournaments. They are not all flattering pictures. But the pictures reflect the days as they were...people arriving tired and sleepy, but becoming energetic, playful and happy as the days progressed.
5 - And below are some of the pictures you will see in Bocce Pictures Gallery I hope you go there to see all the pics!
RECAP OF THE BOCCE HALLOWEEN TOURNAMENT ON 10/31/2024
The Annual Bocce Halloween Tournament was an interesting event to say the least.
It all began as it should. The courts looked great and people were excited.
Some folks arived in costume. And others in regular street clothes.
A nice spread was prepared with bagels, pastries, fruits, coffee and more!
After Bob did some last minute court cleaning it was time to mingle and eat.
But then...then, the sprinklers came on!
The sprinklers watered the golf cart parking area, which has no grass, just rocks.
The sprinklers watered the covered pavillion, which has no grass.
The sprinklers watered the bocce courts, which have no grass!
But nothing stops the Solivita Bocce Club from having a good time.
Hurricane Milton didn't stop us, so a little water on the court wasn't going to stop us either.
And the games began as scheduled!
The competition was fierce.
In the end, the winners were...
Sara Bugielski, Jackie Erickson, Andy Piscopo and Kathy Lightfoot
Congrats to you all!
To see more pictures from the event CLICK HERE
Remember, the photo page has all the pictures we took during the last year and a half.
Use the Drop Down Box to select other picture groupings.
A TRIP DOWN BOCCE MEMORY LANE!
The Bocce Courts Were Hit Hard By Milton
See what happened!.
Hurricane Milton attacked the bocce courts, but we fought back!
Despite the devastation, the courts are playable. We give our thanks to Shellie and Howie for doing some late night cleanup on the courts, and to Castle management for doing followup work in getting the courts ready for play.
Bocce Court Bocce Damage
Probably The Hardest Hit Area In Solivita
Bocce Cleanup
Shellie Getting Courts Ready
I Know, You Are Asking
Who The Heck Is Shellie?
Howie pretending to work while Shellie actually is working!
As You Can See
Nothing can keep the club from playing Bocce...not even a hurricane!
CLICK HERE FOR REGULAR CLUB DAYS AND HOURS!
Bocce Courts Repair Update!
9/30/24
All GOOD
Bocce is back.
Court Repairs are done.
YAY
BOCCE REPAIR TIMELINE
Hello everyone, this is Howie. Jim Carlton, and I, visited our old friends, the bocee courts, today, Sat 8/17, to check on the repair progress.
The courts are looking good!
It appears most of the concrete work, painting, major crack repairs and drainage is completed. The ball racks have a nice fresh coat of paint, and it appears all of the piping and valve work is done.
Although all of the boards are now looking good, one or two of the boards appear to be slightly warped.
The courts are now filled with fresh gravel, it and seems the gravel is level.
In a nut shell, it is all looking good.
Unless something unexpected happens, we should see other on the courts again the day after Labor Day!
Below are some pictures of the courts I took today, Saturday 8/17 and a few I took while the repairs were in progress.
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB DAYS AND HOURS!
The 2024 Spring Dinner Was A Big Hit
Read All About It And Check Out The Pics
SPRING 2024 SOLIVITA BOCCE CLUB DINNER
When I arrived it was quiet. A few people were there getting things set up. As I walked, with my camera in my hand, I said to myself, "This time will be different. Maybe I will get some flattering pictures of the group."
As I continued walking I also continued talking to myself, "Who are you kidding, Howie, for every nice picture you take, you will take five pictures of people with their eyes closed!" So I decided I will ask Lottie to take a few pictures during the evening. This way, I can blame her when people complained about the pictures. "Yea, I know, Jackie, that is not a good picture of you. I feel what you are saying. I even told Lottie we shouldn't post that picture, but you know Lottie...once she makes up her mind about something there is no stopping her."
Actually, the truth is, with Lottie's help I knew we could get some very nice pictures. And that is what happened. We may have a missed a person or two (sorry if it was you), but the shots we took of the Spring 2024, Solivita Bocce Club Dinner, came out very nice. (And no, I am not patting myself on the back because most of the nice portrait shots below were taken by Lottie, not me).
But at the start of dinner I took some typical, Howie, random shots of the people arriving, sitting around, and getting settled. Here are a some of those.
And as usual, our host and club president, Jackie, did a great job putting the event together; as did the many club members who helped her set things up, carried things in, arranged the tables and chairs, and helped serve all of us hungry folk. As they say, it takes a village to have a terrific evening at the Venezia Club House.
And during the evening, Lottie and I annoyed everyone to pose for some pictures. The following are the results of our perseverance.
For those of you that couldn't make it, the dinner was a very nice evening. The food and company was great. Everyone was in good spirits. Jackie, thanks again for putting it all together. We all know it isn't easy coordinating the get togethers. So thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts.
And a special thanks from me and Lottie to Shellie for taking a few pictures of us. Who is Shellie you ask? That's Jim's wife. Who is Jim you ask? That's the person you don't recognize if you don't see him without his hat, right Frank?
OUR WINTER TOURNAMENT 2/15/24
It was on a pleasant Thursday morning we held the Solivita Winter Tournament. The morning began with coffee, juice, bagels and pastries, and ended with the crowning of the Winter Bocce Winners. The games were close and there were many rounds of extremely competative play. Everyone was rolling their best...well, not everyone--your humble writer/photographer, Howie, rolled so bad the opposing teams thank him many times over!
Although the games were serious business, everyone seemed to be in good spirits--warm, friendly and playful at times. The club is comprised of a great bunch of people and the pictures below, and in the gallery illustrate what I mean.
Players Enjoying Breakfast As Others Select Cards At Random To Determine Teams
The Club's Fearless Leader, Jackie, Is The Super Woman That Makes It All Happen
The Club Has Some Of The Nicest People You Will Ever Meet
And The Club Has Some Cut Ups as Well
In The End It Is About The Game
The Games were Close
And The Winners were Joan, Steve and Sara
CONGRATS!
There are about 300 pictures to check out, and you know what? Maybe you will see one of yourself I didn't mess up!
And don't forget, You can us the drop down box on the gallery page to cycle through all the different sets of pictures from other events.
HALLOWEEN GAMES
It was a lovely evening for the Halloween Bocce Tournament. Some people arrived in costume, some in Halloween colors and others, such as myself, were not so bold. It was a beautiful evening when the games began, but when the sun was setting, it did present a challenge to the players facing west. The tournament was a real nail biter. In fact, it was so competative, the games continued well into the dark, and still a winner could not be declared until the final, sudden death round that was held on Thursday morning, 11/2, at 9:00 AM.
Below is a pictorial summary of the event including a shot of the winning team, but the complete set of 300+ photographs taken can be seen in the Picture Gallery by clicking here or on the PHOTOS link at the top of the page in the left hand column.
Getting Ready For The Games
The Courts Are well Groomed
A Bewitching Jackie Chilling Before Her Work Begins
Jackie's Work Begins--Getting Ready To Feed The Hungry Players And Observers
The Members Arrive In Great Holiday Outfits
After everyone arrived Jackie served hotdogs with all the trimmings, and there were potato chips, sodas, candy. And a special thanks to Steve and Fran for bringing Buc-ee's famous Beaver Nuggets. After everyone enjoyed dinner, it was time to head to the courts and let the games begin!
The games were very competative. So many great rolls and unbelieveable shots. The scores were neck in neck in all the games. The games continued until after the sun went down. But during sunset, players facing west had a tough time dealing with the sun in their eyes. And everyone was happy when the sun finally went down and Vinny called out to Howie, "Howie,Turn On The Lights!" To which Chet turned to Howie with a smile and said, "The Boss Has Spoken."
In The End It Came Down To A Sudden Death Game, Which Was Played Thursday Morning.
The Two Teams Playing Were
Gary, Bill, Ethel and Ted
Against
Rich, Kelly, Steve and Nancy
Unfortunately Nancy Couldn't Be There For The Final Game So Kelly Rolled Four
And Lo And Behold
Kelly, Rich And Steve Were The Winners And Halloween Champs!
Bocce Halloween Winners!
If you want to see the full set of 300+ pictures click HERE!
Howie tried his best to get good shots of everyone!
We had our Ice Cream Social--What did you miss?
See pictures and read all about the Ice Cream Social further down on this page.
BUT FIRST - THIS!
BOCCE IS HARDER THAN YOU THINK - ESPECIALLY, BOWLING PIN BOCCE
When people hear I play bocce ball either they don't know what it is, "Bocce, what the hell is that?"
Or they think they know what it is. "Oh, that game where you just roll balls."
Well, I will tell you what the hell bocce isn't. It isn't a game where you just roll balls, that's for sure.
For most, bocce is a game of a little skill and a lot of luck. But for the small group of elite players (some of whom are in our club--not me, of course), bocce is a challenging, skillful game of talent, focus, and precision.
In Solivita we play on outdoor clay/gravel courts, whose surfaces are always different. When you get to the courts you don't know what to expect.
The courts may be wet, dry, loose, compact and so on, all of which affect the speed and roll of the balls. And as a game progresses, the balls stir up the clay/gravel even more; further altering the speed and path of upcoming rolls.
Just like an expert golfer must know how to read the green if they want to sink a thirty foot putt, an expert bocce roller must know how to read the clay/gravel if they want to get the points for the round.
When I first started playing I didn't have, or understand, all of the nuances, or subtle qualities, needed to play the game. And one time I was going to try a very difficult shot. The club president, Jackie, was my partner. As she watched me pick up my ball, and line up my shot, she shook her head in disbelief.
Unhappy with my plan, in a loud, boisterous voice, she admonished me from the other end of the court, "Howie", she yelled, "You don't have the skill set for that!"
But stubborn me, I tried the shot anyway.
And guess what?
She was right!
Luckily for me, Jackie is a nice lady because I truly deserved to get the Malocchio, or Evil Eye from her. Instead, I only got a disapproving head shake, and a few more words of reprimand (which I deserved.)
Although my game has improved over time, I am still humbled by so many of the great players on the team such as Jackie, Ted, the Eds, Dave, Joan, Bob, Sarah, Camille, Rich and especially Leo just to name a few. (If I left your name off of the list, and I left off a lot of great players, don't bust my chops when I see you next. It is like an invitation list to a big event--where do you cut the list? I cut this list at ten.)
Bocce might be a fun simple game to play, and it is. We have a great time. We socialize, kid around, share stories, tease one another, but the game itself--well, bocce is a challenging and difficult game to master. It takes a lot of practice if you want to be really good at it. And hopefully one day, I will be as good as the people I play with on the team!
Talk about playing, and fun--recently we played Bowing Pin Bocce, with pins set up on the court, offering an additional challenge. Hit a pin with the pallino, aka pallina, and get an extra point. But knock down a bowling pin with a bocce ball, and the opposing team gets a point. It was fun, and a few of those pins did go down.
Here are some pictures...
ED SETS UP PINS AT BOWLING PIN BOCCE
VINNIE READY TO ROLL
GREEN BALL STOPS SHORT OF KNOCKING PIN OVER
NOT EASY BUT A LOT OF FUN
LOOK AT THOSE TRACK MARKS--READING THE COURT TAKES SKILL
A PIN GOES DOWN
WHAT KIND OF PHOTOGRAPHER WOULD I BE IF IT DIDN'T GET ONE PIN GOING DOWN!
There are more pictures (35 to be exact) taken during the day in the photo gallery. (Link to the gallery is near the top of this page on the left.)
But first here is a link to a 45 second video of one of the best indoor bocce rolls you may ever see. Trust me, it is insane! https://youtu.be/e4ohG2I0NA8
On Tuesday evening, June 13th, the Solivita Bocce Club held its Ice Cream Social. This gave the team members a chance to sit around and socialize as they enjoyed a cup of refreshing ice cream on a hot, humid Florida evening. Following the leisurely get together the games began. And as a bonus for me, your humble writer, I was able to walk around annoying everyone with camera in hand taking pictures throughout the night.
When you are done checking this page out, see the complete, unedited set of over 200 pictures in the Photo Gallery. A link to the gallery is at the top of this page on the left. But first, check out the overview below!
Our team captain, Jackie is already annoyed with me, and event hadn't even started!
But seriously, it was a nice evening.