For reservations, contact Barbara at orlmuh2@comcast.net.  Email confirmation.

Please provide your member # for billing.

  Deadline for signing up and no refunds after August 26^th.

The Village Challenge 2026 Bocce Tournament

Saturday, August 29th, at 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, and 1:30pm

Sunday, August 30th, 9:00AM – 1:00PM

Who Will Claim TOP PRIZE THIS YEAR?

Get ready for one of the most exciting events of the year as each Village sends their finest to compete in a head-to-head single elimination bocce tournament like no other.

With bragging rights on the line and village pride at stake, this is more than a tournament — it’s a celebration of friendly rivalry, community spirit, and competitive fun.

This is a single elimination tournament, with each game being 50 minutes long, where losers are out!

There will be a Captains meeting at 11:15AM on Wednesday, August 26th where teams will draw your seeding from a hat. Seed positions will determine which teams will have Byes in the first round of games.

If you are the captain of your Villages Team, register your team by filling in the form here, 2026 Villages Challenge Team Registration

Each Village may have only one team of between 6-8 players.  Planning and organizing a team is entirely up to each individual village.

NOT PLAYING?  Be sure to attend to cheer on your favorite village team.

For more information and to register, please contact Tim Robinson

Let the games begin!

Congratulations to our Spring Mixer Champions!

And our second place champs.

What a beautiful day for a championship game!  A festive Tiki lunch followed.

This week marks the first games of the competitive Spring Round Robin with a near record 38 teams and over 300 players.  We are ready to rumble!

Please visit our website for more information about tournaments and events:

www.villagesbocce.vgcc.club

 

The Pallino Post — Your Weekly (or so) Bocce Update

May 6, 2026

It’s the final week of the Spring Mixer! Playoffs begin Monday, May 11 with the championship game on Wednesday. We’ll head to the Gazebo after the final game on Wednesday for the Tiki Lunch celebration at 11:30. If you haven’t signed up yet, contact Barbara Orlando at orlmuh2@comcast.net

Yay! Someone sent me a picture! Here is the Breakfast Club team from the Spring Mixer. They are not in the finals, but they win the award for best breakfast. They are eating donuts! The picture courtesy of Jean Corrigan. Thank, Jean!

Katy, Mary, Miyo, Ron, Sue, Marsha, Laurie, and Jean (Captain).

Breakfast Club

The Bash is Back!

Welcome Julie Moss, our new Bash Director.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Friday bashes from 3 to 5pm at the courts. All three courts are reserved for your casual play. Everyone brings the goodies to eat, so if you plan to partake, please bring a nice appetizer for a dozen or more people. Watch for special themed events as well. I’m sure Julie has some fun ideas for our future bashes.

As always, I welcome any help with pictures, since I am still working and can’t attend the bashes. Thanks!

Skilz Training

Our next Skilz Training is on May 26 at 2:00 for advanced beginners players. This is limited to the first 30 players. Sign up at Advanced Beginners Skilz Class. For questions, contact Jeff Rose at jeffarose11@gmail.com or 408 489-1968.

Friendly Reminders (rules and etiquette)

The rule for ties has slightly changed. If two teams are tied at the end of the game, there will be another full frame (instead of a single roll-off). If this frame also ends in a tie, then there will be a single roll-off.

A message from our board president, Jana King

Bocce here in the Villages, is a game rooted in camaraderie and sportsmanship. Whether you’re playing casually among friends or in a tournament, the spirit of the game depends on mutual respect—especially toward referees, captains, and fellow players.

Referees play a vital role in ensuring fair play. Their decisions may not always please everyone, but they deserve to be treated with courtesy and professionalism. Questioning a call by the referee is part of competition; doing so respectfully is part of good character.

Team captains carry the responsibility of guiding their players and communicating with officials. Supporting captains—both your own and your opponents’—helps maintain order and keeps the game moving smoothly. A respectful exchange between captains sets the tone for everyone on the court.

The number of members who can play in a bocce tournament depends on the number of captains and referees who volunteer. If fewer people volunteer because of unpleasant experiences with unfriendly, uncooperative, or unsportsmanlike players, our tournaments will have to turn more players away.

Most importantly, bocce is about people. Every player deserves to feel welcome, valued, and respected. Celebrating good shots, accepting tough losses, and treating opponents with kindness strengthens the community that makes the game enjoyable.

In the end, how we play matters just as much as the score. Respect keeps the game fair and fun!

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Questions, comments, or requests can be directed to Vivian Hobbs at vivian@pineconelearning.com.

What a great finish to our Fall Round Robin! After weeks of fantastic play, close matches, and a record turnout this tournament— 320 players and 40 teams! — we wrapped it all up with a final worthy of the effort.

On Court 2, Game of Throws came out on top, defeating Bloodbath and Beyond in a hard-fought championship match. Both teams played with great spirit and sportsmanship all season long, and the final was everything we could’ve hoped for — competitive, fun, and full of good energy.

Game of Throws: Andy Altman, Tina Parsley, Espie Martinez, Todd Horvatich, Daniel Martinez and Tom Hunt. (Not Pictured: Rick Tobler and Renee Woolard)

BloodBath & Beyond: Wayne Weiler, Bobbie Hop, Dave Lanker, Jeanne Anne Whitaker, Jackie Berman, Roger Dahlberg, Maria Burn and Doreen Senior

Thank you to Kerry Besmehn for doing a fantastic job referring the match, and handling a traffic jam during the game!  

A big thank-you to all the captains, players, and volunteers who made this season possible. You’ve helped make Villages Bocce one of the best-run, most enjoyable leagues anywhere.

Many thanks to Barbara Orlando and the social team for putting on yet another fantastic event, Oktoberfest!!!