THERE'S a saying in petanque: it takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.
But before you take it too seriously, a new petanque club is looking for people to come along to its Sandy Bay headquarters and enjoy its social side.
That means a quiet brew or a cheeky sauvignon blanc while a barbecue sizzles on the sidelines.
State coach Terry Dando wants to get as many people as he can out on the piste -- the gravel surface for the game that started in a French village in 1907.
A glass of wine in hand and a ball in the other is how they do it in thousands of villages around France.
And Dando and his clubmates at the Bayside Boules Petanque Club want Hobartians to taste this catchy sport.
"It's a lot of fun because it's easy to learn and anyone can play," Dando said.
"Strength is not a factor in petanque, so a large cross-section of people play it in 85 countries around the world."
Petanque is huge in France and Spain, while it has also taken hold in England, the USA and Canada.
The Bayside club will hold its grand opening at 1.30pm today at Long Point Rd, Sandy Bay -- right behind Prossers Restaurant. Among the guests will be Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor and proud Frenchman Bertrand Cadart.
Dando, a 66-year-old retired teacher, has been playing for 10 years. As well as being state coach, he has represented Australia on the international stage.
"You can learn to play it in three or four minutes," he said. "In France they start playing it at the age of five or six."
To play petanque, each player starts with three metal balls.
Player one throws out the kitty and then puts his first ball as close to it as possible. Player two has three attempts to put one of his balls closer to the kitty.
If he fails, player one wins. If he succeeds, his opponent must use his remaining balls to do better. And so on.
At Sandy Bay, they hold social games from 4pm on Friday and Saturday. "We have a barbecue and a quiet tipple and play until dark," Dando said.
"If you just want to play socially, that's great, and if you want to become good at it you can play for the state and for Australia as well."
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