WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL BLOG for La Pétanque Marinière in San Rafael, California. LPM has been an active Marin pétanque club since 1972 and affiliated with the Fédération of Pétanque USA, since 1975. We welcome people of all abilities, ages and nationalities to come and enjoy pétanque with us.

The Pierre Joske Courts are located on Civic Center drive in San Rafael. (click for directions). Casual games are played every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from about 1 pm. Tournament play is usually held on the second Sunday of every month.

Please consult the links on the sidebar to the right for more information on clubs in the bay area, nationally and world wide.

If you would like to play but haven't any boules, please contact our President, Christine Cragg. They can bring some for you to use, as well as introduce you to the basic skills and techniques of pétanque. In addition, if you are looking to purchase boules but are unsure as to which size and weight are right for you, we have a range of different examples from which to choose.

Friday, June 29, 2012

LPM July Tournament



Pétanque Partner Finder has created a Partner Finder for the Select Triplette Tournament on  Sunday – July 8, 2012. 


See you on the 8th!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Bastille Day with the VOMPC

ALLONS ENFANTS DE  LA PETANQUE!!!!!!  The day of glory has arrived...

Yes, that's right, VOMPC's annual Bastille Day Celebration the Grand Concours de Petanque is a little more than two weeks away!  We shall be celebrating on the actual date this year, Le Quatorze Juillet, making it that much more special.

Our host Peter Mathis will be directing the random triples tournament and Ravenswood Wine is providing the wine (glass of wine with lunch and tournament prizes).  Tournament registration closes at 10:00 am ($5 entry fee).  It's always an enjoyable day in the field and you just might get your name engraved on that gigantic trophy.

Chef Christine Piccin will once again grace us with her creative culinary presence.  The menu is refreshing and imaginative.  From the Amuse of Chilled Watermelon Mint Soup to the dessert of Chocolate Mousse Profiterole Cake with Whipped Cream and Edible Flower Confetti (for a complete menu please see the attachment).  We are only able to serve 150 people and it's always a sellout. In other words, RESERVE EARLY!!!
Lunch is $20 per person and reservations are necessary.  We have a cut-off date of July 11th but it may be sooner if we reach the maximum.  Please call the hotline 707 343-9465 or go online at www.vompc.org.  

For entertainment this year we have a dapper young accordianist JD Limelight, who will play French Cafe music during our fabulous repast. The day would not be complete without Jean-Michel "Le Facteur" Poulnot leading the French National anthem, La Marseillaise, sing along.  I have attached the condensed version with translation (subject to interpretation) so that everyone will be able to belt it out with authority.

It promises to be another thoroughly entertaining day and we hope to see you there!

Merci, A+

Shannon Bowman
Valley of the Moon Petanque Club
Communications Committee

Friday, June 1, 2012

Great news For Pétanque in San Francisco


Pétanque court proposal sets out for support in implementing a new court in San Francisco's Panhandle Park with use of the community opportunity funds grant.
The French game pétanque and the Italian version bocce ball are  games with growing popularity. Michael Varner, pétanque player of five years and Panhandle neighbor, is a member of La Boule d’Or, the oldest formal pétanque club in the U.S., and needs support in his proposal for new courts.
There are two locations in the City where there are bocce ball courts already: La Playa Park at Judah and La Playa, and Aquatic Park at Fisherman’s Wharf. La Boule d’Or has terrain in Golden Gate Park also, near 36th Avenue, but the remote location hinders its growth and popularity, says Varner. He is looking to have a more centralized location.
For the rest of the article, click here.