DDBI

A Brief History of the DDBI

5000 B.C. – Birth of Bocce: The Egyptians figure out that throwing rocks at other rocks is amusing, make a sport out of it.

800 B.C. – Throwing-rocks-at-rocks is introduced to Greece and is soon thereafter “acquired” by the Romans, who give the game the origin of its modern name: bottia, meaning “boss.”

1576 – Bottia garners some degree of infamy when the Republic of Venice condemns the sport and imposes penalties on those caught playing with it. The Vatican actively discourages the laity, and prohibits clergy, from playing the game, claiming it is a means of gambling.

1700’s – The game makes its way to the New World in the English version called bowis, from the French boule, or “ball.” This is the first time the game is played on grass rather than sand or stone dust.

1780’s – Bowling Green on the southern tip of Manhattan is established as a bocce playing field; George Washington builds a bocce court at his Mount Vernon estate.

1947 – First Italian bocce league is formed; Bocce World Championships established.

1997 – Robert Irish hosts the first Victoria Bocce Open at his Schwartz Bay home on Vancouver Island, beginning a six-year summer solstice tradition.

2004 – Jo and Erik revive the summer tradition and sponsor the Day Drinkers’ Bocce Invitational on Lopez Island.

2005 – DDBI moves inland to the Methow Valley. Apparently the islanders couldn't handle the bocce, which is understandable. Even some of the DDBIers couldn't handle the bocce.

2006 – DDBI returns to Twisp where the revelry reaches new levels, setting the bar much higher for future tournaments.