If you’ve ever driven by University Park in Eugene, you may have noticed a group throwing small balls around the softball diamond there.
The game is called pétanque. The current version of the sport originated in 1907 in Provence, France. It is similar to bocce and involves players or teams “shooting or pointing” boules (metal balls) toward a target ball.
“You have to be over 60 and have prostate problems to play,” joked Dan Claycomb, 68, after shooting a ball toward the target.
His opponent in the game this day, Ray Peterson, 71, quipped back, “Don’t use that quote,” he said, laughing. “We are trying to encourage women and young people to join us.”
More Beings of Oregon:
“Us” would be Eugene Pétanque International Club, or EPIC, a group that has existed in Eugene since 2009. The use of the word “international” is both an attempt at humor — “We…
