Lawn Games

Croquet is always a favorite (figure A), and although it is best played on short grass, James and his family have learned to play on a three-inch stand of Bermuda without any problem. There are several variations of croquet, but the layout of the course is essentially the same. Begin and end the game at either end of the lawn--place bent wire wickets every few feet between the starting and ending points. The object of the game is simple; each player has her own ball and the players take turns hitting their balls through each wicket with a wooden mallet--the winner is the first person to get her ball through all the wickets.

Bocce, sometimes called lawn bowling, is an ancient game that remains extremely popular in Italy. Played on a court of exact dimensions, the surface is traditionally covered with crushed oyster shells. James has adapted the game so that he and his family can play on his lawn. Bocce can be played by individuals or as a team sport.

The game is played with a small ball called a jack (the target); each player is given two larger balls to throw at the jack. To begin, the first player tosses the jack onto the lawn at a distance of 35 to 50 feet. He then tries to land one of his larger balls as close as possible to the jack, and the other players follow suit, tossing one ball at a time. When all the players have thrown their first balls, the player farthest from the jack tosses a second ball. This round continues until all the balls are used. The player who has thrown his ball closest to the jack gets one point--if the same player lands both balls closest to the jack he gets two points. The other players don't get any points for the round and the winner tosses the jack again to resume the game. The first player to garner 13 points wins.

The rules of the game are simple, but mastering the throwing technique is not nearly as easy. Players try to get their horseshoes as close to the stake as possible, or encircle the stake with a horseshoe, thus scoring what is known as a ringer. It's possible to employ strategy--players can knock each other's shoes out of scoring position to give themselves the advantage.

Lawn games bring the family together, which makes them worth it regardless of any minimal damage caused to the landscape. James says that any activity on the lawn will lead to compaction, so he aerates his lawn at least once a year. He also offers this advice: "If you spend a lot of time playing lawn games, you may want to avoid using too many hazardous chemicals. After all, would you rather your lawn be a chemical dumping ground or a playground?"