March 7, 2018, was the big day when APL was officially founded by Peter Gibson and three original board members Tricia Domingo, Nathalie Helin, and Catherine Thille. Just a handful of members playing on the sandy bocce ball courts at Roswell Senior Center. Five years later, we are nearly 100 members of all skill types, backgrounds, playing styles, crêpe filling preferences, fashion sense, measuring tools, and favorite cochonnets.

Toutes nos félicitations, APL! 

The inaugural meeting between the Atlanta Pétanque League and Asheville Pétanque Club took place in April at the back of the restaurant Rendezvous in Asheville. Eight 3-person teams from each club battled over two days and 8 games to determine who would claim the first trophy in the annual competition.

The setting and weather were ideal for fantastic play, competition, sportsmanship, great food, and new friendships. APL claimed the first win of the series with a slim 66-62 point victory. The event even attracted local TV; affirming the growing interest in the game.  

In addition to courts in Marietta, Atlanta, and Lawrenceville, APL reached an agreement with the City of Milton for use of a designated area in Bell Memorial Park for practice and league-sponsored events. As part of the agreement, APL will provide pétanque instructional clinics to Milton residents in the Spring and Fall to help grow the game. The clinics will be led by APL’s own Michel Gwinner and Claude Drevet The city and APL split the cost of nearly 40 tons of gravel to spread across the playing area which can accommodate 26 courts for tournament play, which will be plenty of room when APL hosts its 2023 Spring Boules Open, on May 6&7.

APL members Tina Lamas and Gary Montgomery received the silver medal in the Concours of the FPUSA SE Regional Mixed Doubles in Amelia Island, falling to the father/daughter team of Raymond and Erica Nielsen. “We both played above our pay grade”, noted Gary, “and had them down 10-3 and then lost 10-13.” A battle to be proud of. Congratulations!

Amelia Island seems to bring out some of the best in APL members. Last November, at the Amelia Island Open, our not-quite-5-year-old club sent 15 teams to the event plus a gaggle of spectators.

“Just how many of you are there?” was a frequent question asked of those wearing the blue polos.

Our numbers aren’t the only thing we brought either. Of our 15 teams, 6 finished in the money and two of those won their brackets. So, we bring game, too!

Pétanque America, the pioneering online retailer of pétanque boules, has moved back to North Carolina under new ownership after its founder, Philippe Boets, decided to retire. The business has now been taken over by Michel Baudouin and Marc & Kathy Quilici, who have moved its inventory to Hickory, NC, and can be reached at:

Address: PO Box 9459, Hickory, NC, 28603 Phone: 828-855-7156 

Email: Petanque.in.America@gmail.com

Orders: PetanqueAmericaOrders@gmail.com

First thank you to all the members and volunteers.
Thank you to our APL Board Members:

• Tricia Domingo
• Claude Drevet
• Babeth Marchal
• Nadine Teillard
• Tim Britt

A big thank you to Danielle and Luc Beaudet, who let us play for the past 4 years at the back of their bakery,  Douceur de France (Marietta).

Thank you to our Club Leaders:

• Claude Drevet (Milton Club)
• Jim Askren (Hanover Club)
• Katell & Phil Desormeaux (Marietta Club)
• Myriam & Fabrice Chedouteau (Laurenceville Club)

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the League:

• Brass Tap-Craft Beer Bar
• Harry Norman Realtors - Team Isabelle Gibson
• C'est la Vie-French restaurant