See Joy of Bocce Weekly Volume V - Issue 13 (link to Back Issues) for details on Dr. Joe DeFrank's (UH Manoa Campus) unique "Vegas Style" of play. Above = scoring tent for St. Patrick's Day bocce tournament. "This tent was the focal point for the tournament where participants checked on their chip counts and pairings for rounds."

"Link 1 with students preparing for the late night 'Money Round'." {Click this text to view Dr. DeFrank's pdf on Hawaiian Rules Bocce.}

"Students roll onto Link 2, a raised crown link composed of TifGreen Bermuda." {Click this text to view Dr. DeFrank's pdf for Tournament Rules (Hawaiian).}

"Link 4 with overhead lights and Leprechaun decorations. This long link has spongy grass bumpers and is composed of Emerald zoysia."

"Students ready to roll onto link 5 composed of TifWay 419 Bermuda grass."

"Balls in play on Link 5. This link is 'short and dangerous' and is the last link in the round."

Can You Help Dr. Joe Identify These Bocce?

"I wanted to solicit the collective knowledge of the Bocce Nation regarding some old bocce balls that I found in my grandfather's basement in 2005. My grandfather (Rosolino Finazzo) was born in the town of Carini, Sicily near Palermo. The balls are wooden and some have 1-2 nail heads with what looks to be remnants of leather beneath them."

"I'm not sure where these balls came from but my grandfather emigrated to America through Ellis Island and lived in South Jersey. I wanted to restore these balls to some sort or original condition but was warned not to alter them until I got more information on what 'Restored' really means."

"1) Can anybody describe the proper method to restore these balls to their original condition?
2) Should they be altered at all?
3) What is the purpose of the nail heads?
4) Should the nail heads be retained in any restoration effort?"

Contact the good doctor at defrenk@hawaii.edu
URL: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~defrenk/