An oyster shell bocce ball court is one of the most traditional surface materials, and is what I use on the court at my house. It’s not too difficult, but it does take a bit of regular maintenance to keep it playing at its best.
If you’ve ever played on a bocce court that is not well maintained, you probably know how frustrating it can be if the court gets lumpy and uneven, potentially messing up your perfect shot. That is, unless you need this to use as an excuse when you didn’t win the point!
Regular upkeep is essential to achieve optimal play conditions. Below, I will teach you how to perform proper oyster shell bocce ball court maintenance.
You should maintain an oyster shell bocce ball court by raking and rolling or tamping the surface regularly. This helps remove dead materials and debris, and level the court for better gameplay.
Continuous rolling is important because oyster shell courts tend to hollow out in low spots over time. To execute these methods, the right tools will help make the task easier. This article will teach you how to maintain an oyster shell bocce court. But first, we will briefly talk about the benefits oyster shell as a bocce surface material.
What Is An Oyster Shell Bocce Court?
Crushed oyster shells make an excellent surface material for bocce ball courts. They offer better drainage and faster ball movement compared to sand. They are also relatively easier to build and maintain than clay bocce ball courts.
Oyster shells have a high calcium carbonate content, which helps fuse the pieces together in a combined layer. The result is a firm compacted surface that lasts for longer periods.
However, depending on where you live it may be more or less hard to track down a supplier of crushed oyster shells. This type of surface also requires regular maintenance to keep the court surface firm and level.
That said, this court surfacing material might be worth the cost because it looks great, it’s functional, and most of the maintenance can be done yourself if you’re willing to put in a little work.
Basics of Oyster Shell Bocce Court Maintenance
In my experience, an oyster shell bocce court actually requires less maintenance compared to natural clay or turf surfaces. In general, this material only needs light raking, periodic rolling, and the occasional watering.
The oyster shell court also drains well and dries quickly after rain. As such, it eliminates the need for a solid drainage base, unlike some other court surfaces.
However, oyster shell is a naturally soft and light material. It is susceptible to grooves or indentations, leaving an uneven surface. It may also scatter in really strong winds, or if animals (or kids) play around on it. So regular upkeep is still necessary to keep the shells in place.
How to Maintain an Oyster Shell Bocce Ball Court?
An oyster shell bocce ball court is relatively easy to maintain. But if you haven’t done it before, let’s work through some handy tips for maintaining your oyster shell bocce court.
Materials and Tools Needed
Before anything else, prepare the materials and tools you need. The following items will help you easily maintain the oyster shell bocce court.
- A rake
- A drag broom
- Leaf blower
- Shovels or any small excavator
- A level
- A garden hose or watering can
- A bocce ball set (for testing the court)
Daily or Ongoing Maintenance
If you play bocce ball daily, you must also regularly take care of the court. You can do this by ongoing brushing and watering the surface. These care methods help prolong the life of the oyster shell bocce court.
Brush the Bocce Ball Court Regularly
After each bocce game, sweep the oyster shell court using a drag broom or rake. Regardless of the tool you use, pull it across the court in each direction to cover all areas. Continue brushing the oyster shells until the surface is level.
Regular sweeping is necessary to remove any debris that may get stuck on the oyster shell court. It can also keep the surface even to ensure the bocce balls roll smoothly. Finally, brushing with a broom or rake redistributes oyster shells. It can help extend the court’s lifespan.
Wet the Surface
Watering is an essential part of daily bocce court maintenance. It can help prevent dust from settling on the oyster shells. At the same time, the water can make the shells more compact for a smoother playing experience.
Use a regular garden hose to wet the court surface evenly. Slowly pour the water over areas that may be dry or hollow.
You can also fill a can with water and spill the contents onto the court. Then, grab a broom to move the water around the court.
Remember to wet the court surface in the morning to allow the shells to dry.
Occasional Maintenance
Avoid leaving the court alone for too long, even if you only play bocce occasionally. The oyster shell surface requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimal playing conditions. This upkeep involves occasional cleaning, leveling, and topdressing.
Check the Surface for Any Damage or Issues
Bocce courts can develop indents or depressions, especially if used heavily or exposed to harsh weather. These issues lead to an uneven court area, ultimately affecting your ball toss and gameplay.
It is essential to check the bocce ball court before starting a match. Look for any low sections in the playing area. You can easily do this by placing a string line or level on the surface.
After identifying these problems, fix them promptly through proper patching. This involves brushing the oyster shells to redistribute them on the court.
Remove Dead Material From the Bocce Ball Court
Granules and other dead materials can eventually get stuck on the oyster shell surface. These change how the ball bounces, which can negatively impact play.
Fortunately, they are easy to remove. Simply grab a shovel or any small excavator to scrape them into a pile and dispose of them. Be careful when digging to prevent damaging the regular court sections.
Level the Oyster Shell Material
As previously mentioned, an oyster shell bocce court indents easily, resulting in an uneven surface. Most of the time, you can achieve a flat surface with regular brushing or sweeping. But sometimes, you will need to level the material with straight-edge instruments.
The first thing to do is inspect the bocce ball court. Next, remove debris and other dead material on the court with a broom or leaf blower to achieve a smooth surface.
Then, use a rake to level the oyster shell bocce court.
Finally, pour water onto the area to help compact the oyster shell flour. Repeat the process as needed until the court has a uniform depth.
Note that you may need to level your court more frequently if you live in a rainy or windy location.
Replace Top Dressing
Sometimes, court leveling is not enough. The wind or rain can wash away the oyster shells that make up your bocce ball court. It can leave deep grooves around the area.
You need to apply top dressing to maintain the oyster shell bocce court. Use a shovel to pour additional oyster shell flour onto the low areas in your court. Then, use a rake to spread the material evenly.
You can replace the top dressing every month using a single bag of oyster shells. Or you can do minimal maintenance annually with up to 12 bags.
Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance
Don’t have enough time to level and replace top dressing or perform future court maintenance? You can also contact a local bocce ball court specialist to do the work for you. Expect these professionals to provide exceptional service.
The only downside is the cost. You will save more if you do the court installation and maintenance yourself. But if your budget includes more money compared to time, go ahead and schedule annual professional court maintenance.
Conclusion
Oyster shells are among the best materials for bocce ball courts due to their hard and compact surface. However, oyster shell bocce courts require constant maintenance to ensure optimal playing conditions.
You can maintain the court through regular brushing and watering. Refer to our other tips above for taking care of your bocce ball court.
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