By Sharon Cohoon, Sunset senior garden writer
photographs by Lori Brookes
When Fred and Libba D'Ambrosi's pool at their property in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego began to leak, the couple decided to fill it in instead of repairing it. "The pool was here when we moved in," said Libba, "but we didn't especially like it." It was expensive to maintain and took up too much of the yard, she says, not allowing enough space for gardening. Not to mention leaving any room for the bocce ball court Fred had his heart set on.
Here's what their backyard looks like now after being remodeled by San Diego garden designer Kendra Berger of Revive Your Landscape.
Libba might not have been as convinced of the necessity of including a bocce ball court as Fred was to start with, but she's definitely an enthusiast now. "Bocce ball is the perfect intergenerational game," she says. "Anyone from youngsters to grandparents can play." It can be competitive, she says, if you choose, but it can also be approached much more casually. Played between sips of a glass of Pinot Grigio, say. Or between bites of pizza. And, since the ball is thrown underhand, injury is virtually impossible, even if guests imbibe a bit too much.
The court can be adapted to any size space you have, she says, and it's virtually maintenance free. "You can rake it smooth if you wish, but a few bumps and depressions make interesting handicaps."
When not in use, the court is still an interesting focal point, says Libba. And the flat clear surface is also a great place to set up buffet tables or extra seating for a large party. "Really, I think every yard should have a bocce ball court," she says. "I don't know any other sport like it--it's completely flexible."
Two more views of the court and the way Berger has fit it into the overall backyard design:
