Pondicherry, India is a popular Petanque Spot

Pondicherry (or “Puduchery”) is located in Southern India. Back in 1673, the French East India Company set up shop and the region became quite a popular trading center. For this reason, the British and the French have fought over Pondicherry for many years, finally reverting back to the French in 1814 (and remaining a French territory despite British rule of India in the 1850’s). With India’s independence (1947) eventually, Pondicherry was brought back under the control of India (1962).
But regardless of who is overall in control of the area, even today there is a great deal of French influence in Pondicherry. The city’s layout is based on the French grid pattern divided into the French quarter and the Indian quarter. Many streets still have French names and French style villas and architecture is a common sight.

You can still see the French flag fluttering in Pondicherry. There are many residents with French passports, whose ancestors were in French Governmental service and who chose to remain French at the time of Independence. This gives them some privileges with France that are not available to other Indians. Apart from the monuments pertaining to the French Period, there is the French Consulate in Pondicherry and several cultural organisations, Alliance Francaise, and even the Foyer du Soldat for war veterans of the French Army.
[many thanks to Wikipedia for information about Pondicherry]

Michigan is Amazing - says Blue Cross Blue Shield

The friendly folks at Blue Cross Blue Shield interviewed me about petanque. They just posted the article on their website check it out!

Midwest Fall Tournament Sept 23rd

The excitement is building and the training is getting intense. Everyone is welcome to the First Midwest Petanque Alliance Fall Doublette Tournament in Chicago. Saturday, Setember 23rd will be the big day. Visit http://www.chicagopetanque.com for more information and reserve an entry for your doublette team today.

New Format - 1st Half Matches 2nd Half Tournament

Join Us During Your Lunch Hour - along the Detroit river

New Friends Meet at Alliance Francaise's Picnique et Petanque in Michigan

The Michigan and Detroit Petanque Clubs are always happy to accomodate any group of people who wish to learn petanque.

One of the best aspects of the sport is that anyone can and does play. We have 10 year olds playing on the same team as their mother and their grandfather. In what other sport can such an age range play together?

Please stop by our courts (Saturdays in Detroit and Sundays in Royal Oak) and see what you can enjoy each and every weekend for the rest of your life.

Alliance Francaise's Picnique et Petanque a Success

The Michigan and Detroit Petanque Clubs were delighted to help Hal with the Alliance Francaise's annual picnic.

It was an especially nice day at Royal Oak (75 degrees) and the thoughtful participants brought delicious quiche, cakes, cookies, pate and cheese.

Nobody left hungry I assure you.

There was plenty of boule play as well - with teams constantly mixing and playing - new people to the sport learning the rules from experienced petanquers, and everyone having a blast.

Hal Organized a Grand Day for the Alliance Francaise Picnique et Petanque

Thanks Hal for having your well mannered and skilled group of petanquers out for some boule at Royal Oak. We welcome each and everyone of them back to our clubs whenever they like.

Dan Astounds the Players Once Again

Always the polite one, Dan C. played a marvelous set of games at Royal Oak on Saturday for the Alliance Francaise Picnic & Petanque

New Format for Detroit Petanque Club Saturdays

Some people have voiced an interest for more tournaments. I'm introducing this new format (starting Aug. 19) where we'll have our usual games in the morning, and then assemble for a tournament in the afternoon.

The tournament composition will, of course, depend upon the number of people at the pistes (singles, doubles, triples) with the tournament winner(s) name(s) put on the Cochon d'or trophy.

[Reminder: we will not have a meeting THIS Saturday at Campus Martius Park because we'll be helping out at the Alliance Francaise event in Royal Oak]

French Petanque Lessons/Competition at the GM Promenade in Detroit

No Petanque This Saturday (Aug. 12)

What a great way to spend a Saturday

Good friends, good competition, and great weather. We sat beneath the shade of the market umbrellas and sipped juices and sparkling water then played some more boule.

Lower Temperatures Brought Out Lots of Members and New Guests

With the Detroit temperature finally getting below 90 degrees, there was plenty of activity at Campus Martius Park. Besides the petanque games, there was a band setting up for the evening, and a Comcast outdoor film: Grease.

Come down on Saturdays and experience a healthy, thriving city.

Lindsey's Cell Phone Receives a Record # of Calls

Rond De Petanque (50cm)

For those of us who hate drawing circles in the dirt there is a clean and snappy solution: the "Rond de Petanque 50"

Simply pull out your RDP from your pocket, and snap open each of the segments to form a perfect and legal 50 cm circle. Place on the terrain - and play!

No, I don't sell the thing, I saw it on EBAY (france) - just look under the search term: PETANQUE

I can't wait until someone invents a 4m x 14m terrain which unfolds from a briefcase!

Petanque is Quite Popular in St. Petersbourg

Hello from St. Petersbourg! Petanque is popular all over the world - so if you travel, please send us photos of your petanque game, and where it is that you played.