RACING CLUB PETANQUE 

There has been a petanque club in Basingstoke for over 30 years.  Racing Club Petanque is a small, friendly club based at the Rugby Club on Pack Lane where we have a floodlit playing area and coaching is available to new and experienced players.  We welcome players of all genders, ages and abilities and our members play at all levels for fun, fresh air and exercise.

Petanque is a sociable game which began in France hundreds of years ago and has spread all over the world. It is rumoured that the game Sir Francis Drake was playing on Plymouth Ho in Elizabethan times was not bowls, as recorded in the history books, but petanque.

The aim of the game is to roll your team's boule closer to the jack than the opposition but the other team have the opportunity to point or shoot your scoring boule away.  Games are played as singles, doubles or trebles and ends are played until the winning team scores 13 points.

You may have played a form of petanque on holiday, perhaps at the beach with a set of plastic boules bought in a supermarket, and in petanque newcomers can learn the basics and have an enjoyable game at a first session.  You don't have to have played before, there are no clothing rules and no need for special equipment as we have a selection of boules for new members to use - although if you decide to join the club you will probably want to get your own boules. We offer three free taster sessions and if you decide to join then membership is only £17 per year enabling full use of the club and its facilities.

We are affiliated to Petanque England and have teams which play in Southern Region leagues and events - if you would like to play competitively there is an additional cost involved but it is not compulsory and if you want to just play for fun, that is absolutely fine.  We also organise club events throughout the year such as quiz nights and skittles.

We welcome visitors at our regular club nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.30pm every week, weather permitting, no previous experience is required.  If you are interested in trying this fun, competitive and challenging game, then you can get in touch using the contact form, our Facebook page, @racingclubpetanque, or just turn up at a club night.