Who, Where, When… The Classic City Pétanque Club plays at Lay Park, in the beautiful historic heart of Athens, Georgia, a city renowned for the University of Georgia and its music, art, culture, and party scenes. Our new Lay Park courts are the very first dedicated pétanque courts in a public park in Georgia. Pétanque in Athens was initiated by Le Boule Dawgs, a group of faculty and students at the University of Georgia. Though they played for several years, Le Boule Dawgs is defunct as of October 2016 but their legacy lives on through the Classic City Pétanque Club. The Classic City Pétanque Club is a group of regular players interested in bringing the game of pétanque to a wider audience in Athens and Northeast Georgia. The Classic City Pétanque Club plays at the only public pétanque terrain in Georgia at the Lay Park and Community Center, 297 Hoyt Street and along the railroad tracks behind 585 Barber Street. Pétanque is a quick and easy game to learn and it is an enjoyable, social activity that utilizes and develops concentration, strategizing, mindful focus, and body-mind coordination. There is no cost at all to play, and we have any equipment you may need. Some Club members play throughout the week so a pick-up game is always possible. Beginners and all ages and skill levels are welcome! ⦿We play pétanque on Mondays and Thursdays, at the four dedicated pétanque courts at Lay Park, 297 Hoyt Street, Athens, Georgia, past the swimming pool and tennis courts. We also play pétanque on other days of the week and in other locations to introduce pétanque to the greater Athens community. It’s best to check our Facebook page or web page for up to date play days and times. Pétanque is a learn as you play activity--so lessons, previous playing experience, and equipment are not required to join in the fun.⦿More about pétanque and our plans for Classic City.⦿ We plan to introduce pétanque to the youth of Athens with summer pétanque camps at Lay Park through Athens Leisure Services and by hosting pétanque classes and teams for our high school French Classes and French Clubs. We will offer Pétanque classes for staff and students of the University of Georgia French Language Department. The Classic City Pétanque Club of Athens Georgia emphasizes that pétanque is a quick and easy sport to learn, with an ancient, fascinating history, and provides many mental and physical benefits. The sport of pétanque is gentle on the body, requiring finesse and brains, rather than brawn. It is an enjoyable, social, competitive game that utilizes and develops concentration, cooperative strategizing, mindfulness, focus, and body-mind coordination. Pétanque’s health benefits include stress relief, improved flexibility, light cardio, and the positive mental and physical impacts of this social, outdoor activity. It is a game of concentration, coordination, and camaraderie. We invite everyone to come learn about this little-known, but quintessential, part of French and world culture. Our club realizes that education and skill development are essential to ‘growing’ the sport of Pétanque—so we regularly schedule skill building and practice sessions to help our members develop their pointing, shooting, and strategizing. ⦿ For more information check out the Classic City Pétanque website athenspetanque.org or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/boulesathens/⦿ We all look forward to meeting you and sharing this great sport in Athens— pétanque. ⦿
