New Contest: Play Bocce, Win Jeep

Contestants are having a ball at Palazzo di Bocce for a chance to win a 2007 Jeep.

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. (PRWEB) October 13, 2006 -- Even for those who have never played bocce, Palazzo di Bocce has a fun contest for Michigan drivers age 18 and over, no purchase required.

Through October 25th, 2006, contestants roll four bocces toward two target areas. As long as at least two of their bocces land within either target area they are qualified. Eight names will be drawn on October 26th from the qualified entries and those finalists will return to Palazzo di Bocce on October 28th for a playoff beginning at 7:00pm. The winner of the playoff will win a two-year lease on a new, 2007 Jeep, in coordination with Palace Chrysler Jeep in Orion, MI.

Contestants can enter and qualify as often as once per day, giving them more chances to be a finalist. Even first time players are finding that they can qualify, creating excitement and return visits for a chance to be a finalist. Contest details are available at www.BoccePalace.com.

Bocce is one of the world’s most popular and enduring sports. Though it is often credited to the Italians who embraced it and brought it to America in the early 1900s, the game and its many variations is played worldwide in many nations and cultures.

Anthony Battaglia, developer and owner of Palazzo di Bocce, and many others think the sport of bocce is uniquely suited to the interests and needs of many Americans, particularly the large Baby Boomer population. Unlike golf, bocce can be played in an air conditioned environment and isn’t a physical strain. Its friendly camaraderie and strategic element make it a draw for casual and serious players alike.

Evidence of growing U.S. bocce interest includes a 20 percent increase in United States Bocce Federation memberships in 2005. New or expanding clubs are springing up on the trendy coasts and in the heartland, and Internet bocce sites are registering huge jumps in visits. Equipment e-sellers have appeared on the web, and bocce gear can now be found at major sporting goods retailers coast to coast.

Meanwhile, Mr. Battaglia offers a total package set of plans for both construction and operation of mini Palazzo di Bocces which can be built anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Battaglia says the plans are ideal for bocce club members looking to play in a dedicated venue more permanent and upscale than the local park or church basement.

Battaglia’s Palazzo di Bocce is the largest and most elaborate bocce facility in the U.S. Opened in 2004, it features 10 indoor artisan-crafted courts where both beginning and skilled play is common, and the Trattoria di Bocce courtside restaurant serving authentic Italian food. In addition, a separate Cortile de Bocce four-season courtyard area features four courts and bar and food service, accommodating up to 150 for banquets and special events. An on-site Pro Shop offers fine athletic wear and premium bocce equipment.

Palazzo di Bocce hosted the 2005 U.S. and World Bocce Championships, which drew players from all over the U.S. and 17 countries. The 32,000 square foot facility is located at 4291 S. Lapeer Road, Orion Township, about 1.5 miles north of the Palace of Auburn Hills.

For more information, or to make reservations or book a special event, call 248-371-9987, or visit www.BoccePalace.com.

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