OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Petanque is bringing laughs, team spirit and friendly competition to the beach with every throw of the boule.

Petanque is an outdoor lawn game of French origin that is being played in Old Orchard Beach, thanks to local player Allen Hill who is organizing twice weekly games in Memorial Park.

The game is similar to Bocce, except instead of bowling, one throws the ball.

The object of the game is to throw the metal ball, or boule, as close as possible to a small wooden ball known as a cochonnet.

The word Petanque means “feet together” said Hill, and players must keep their feet on the ground while throwing the ball.

Players stand on the edge of the court in a circled off area to throw the ball. Sometimes, a player will get out a measuring tape to determine which ball is closest to the cochonnet.

One ball may look like it’s closer than the other, but when balls sit at different angles to the cochonnet, it’s hard to tell, said Old Orchard Beach resident Pat Carter.

Hill and his wife, Donna, started playing the sport in Florida, where they spend winters.

“It’s very social. It’s great for any age,” said Donna Hill.

Allen Hill approached town officials with the idea of building a town petanque court and it was discovered that plans for the court were in the original plan for Memorial Park, said Allen Hill.

The petanque court was constructed earlier this year as a project of the town’s Conservation Comission. The work was done both by town staff and an outside contractor, according to Public Works Director Bill Robertson.

The court size is 50 feet by 40 feet, said Robertson. Each individual court within the whole is 10 feet by 40 feet to accomodate a tournament with up to 10 teams, he said.

The flat court of hard-packed, sandy dirt is located in the front of the park near the gazebo.

“It’s such a great spot. The town’s done a great job,” said Donna Hill.

Allen Hill began organizing games earlier this year at 10 a.m. on Mondays and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. On a recent Tuesday, there were about 15 people at the court. He said he hopes to get a competition together later this year.

On a recent game night, Allen Hill and town Recreation Director Jason Webber offered friendly advice to players, and there were many laughs heard over the course of the evening. Throughout the evening, a smile seldom left Allen Hill’s face.

Carter said the game is a nice way to spend an evening.

“Everyone is so relaxed, it’s a great crowd,” he said.

“It’s very friendly competition,” said Mike Day of Old Orchard Beach.

Day said he had never heard of the game before this summer, but after playing for the past month, he just bought his second set of boules.

“I love it,” he said.

Day said the game has been easy to pick up.

“Al is a super teacher, and he’s patient,” said Day.

Allen Hill said the game is easy to learn, but there is a lot of strategy.

His wife said there isn’t alot of equipment to buy.

“It really is fun. All you have to do is buy the balls,” she said.

Donna Hill said she was talking to a teammate one time and discovered that she was in her graduating class from high school.

Martin Day, who was visiting the area from Cambridge, England, said he enjoyed the team spirit of the game.

“We’re all friends by the end of the evening,” he said.

Allen Hill invites everyone to come over and join in on the game. New to the game? No worries.

“Just come up and I’ll teach you,” said Hill. For more information, call Allen Hill at 937-2537.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.