TROON PETANQUE CLUB

Friendship and competition on the piste

Chris Palmer

Every year, whatever the weather, in early January, at Rye Golf Club on the south coast of England, The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society holds ‘The President’s Putter’. It’s a golf tournament like no other. In 1960 it was played on a snow-covered course with red balls, and forecaddies stationed along the fairways, to spot any ball plugged in snow.

It was in a similar spirit to the above event – maybe with a streak of masochism and a touch of madness – that a game of boules was played in Troon on 2nd January 1989. Encouraged by, and in recognition of, Troon’s town-twinning with Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the competition was set up on a chilly winter’s day. Sixty-six players entered, but it was estimated that over two hundred folk turned up either to play or spectate. The competition was played over six rounds throughout the day, with traditional barbecue fayre, plus, of course, mincemeat pies and mulled wine. A film of the event can be seen on the club’s website. It proved to be a great success.

The concept of a boules club in Troon was born, and it has never looked back. Soon after, the club’s mascot, Chuck McCosh, was created by club member, Bill Taylor, a gifted artist. To commemorate that first game, every 2nd of January members of the club gather for ‘Frost Follies’. Punch is served, along with hot food. There is, of course, a competition, but primarily it is a social occasion with thoughts turning to a new season starting in April.

It was on a cool, showery Sunday morning in early July that I had the great pleasure of meeting Donnie and Marion MacIntyre, club stalwarts who have been with the club since its inception. Marion is in fact the club president – for the second time. It was with evident pride and enthusiasm that they both talked about the club and answered my questions, even the slightly daft ones.

The club is one of the largest and most successful in Scotland. The average membership is around sixty. Its current home is in the grounds of Marr Rugby Club at Isle of Pin Road. Like so many clubs in towns like Troon, its survival is down to the commitment of its membership and the tireless enthusiasm of successive committee members. Hillhouse Quarry have been generous sponsors.

Donnie and Marion embody that club’s spirit but are also very fine players. They both represented Scotland in the Petanque World Championships in 2023, Marion competing in Kuala Lumpur and Donnie in Benin in West Africa. When I asked Donnie how Scotland had fared, he made a reference to the performance of the football team in the summer. Following that analogy, I asked if it was true that he might be considered the Cristiano Ronaldo of the Scottish team. After a pause, with a chuckle, he said, “No, but maybe the Lionel Messi.”

I asked them which club in Scotland gave them the hardest game. Without hesitation they both mentioned Fochabers, in Moray. Donnie and Marion took great pleasure in describing their success one year when “We beat them on their own patch and won their trophy.” When I asked what the secret of a successful player is, they suggested that like most sports it is down to hard work and practice.

For any reader unfamiliar with petanque, the Troon club website includes a thorough and informative explanation about how the game originated and spread from France, across the channel to England, and eventually to Scotland in the seventies. The essence of the game is explained as well. It is remarkably simple to play and suits all ages. As with many sports it has singular terms. The French origin of the game is reflected in many of them. The piste is the strip of ground on which each game is played. The full area is the terrain. The club’s site at Marr Rugby club can take up to eight ‘pistes’ at any one time. Finally, when a team or a single player loses a game without scoring any points i.e. the score is 13-0, the player is said to have made fanny. The derivation of this term is obscure!

I returned to the club on a Friday morning in the middle of the heatwave in mid-July. Save for the absence of some shading plane trees, we could have been in the South of France. I was keen to observe the club members in action. My presence with a camera was soon forgotten, as several games took place with a keen but friendly intensity.

Whilst the basic rules might be straightforward, don’t let anyone suggest it is not skilful. It is a perfect opportunity to enjoy friendship and a healthy, competitive environment. The club provide boules for visitors to ‘give it a try’. Why don’t you?
Please send all enquiries to
troonpetanque@gmail.com