ACTIVITIES at the ELKS LODGE

A few months ago a group of San Mateo Elks gathered on a court that wasn’t called tennis or basketball or handball. It is a bocce court. The member turnout was outstanding with 23 Elks showing up for an introduction to this “oldest” of games.

Bocce was discovered by the Romans after they invaded Egypt. On the walls there they found drawings of people rolling smooth round stones towards a smaller round stone. The rest is history. They brought the game back to Italy and today it is one of the fastest- growing group-participation games anywhere.

Today the games popularity is because so many of us are in what we call the “Golden Age” and because many of us cannot play Basketball or Football or even Baseball competitively anymore. Bocce provides a very competitive venue that includes team play and strategy. But to every ones surprise, many young people are playing now and are flocking to Bocce courts everywhere.

Bocce play and playing is open to anyone who wants to learn to play this great game. We now meet at Beresford Park located at 26th and Alameda De Las Pulgas every Monday morning at 9:15 a.m.

Lessons are available should anyone desire them. These lessons are available on Mondays only.

There is an internet bocce site that sends a newsletter with a listing of bocce tournaments going on in our area and around the country. It’s free of course. Check it out: www.joyofbocce.com

For further information please e-mail tommybell1@yahoo.com or membership@sanmateoelks.org and leave your name and telephone number.

- Tom Belluomini