Registration for the 2023-24 season started on Sept. 1 and will continue until Oct. 22 at our club’s website, www.sunlakesbocceclub.com. Those interested can complete a registration form and pay the $25 registration fee online, which covers the cost for a two-person team for both the first and second sessions. Any individual who needs assistance in registering can contact the club’s membership director at 630-309-3832.

You will be able to learn more about the Bocce Club at the annual Cottonwood Palo Verde Community Day Open House on Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. until noon, where we will be present to answer any questions. Also, be aware that the final day of registration this year is Oct. 22, one week prior to our Wine and Cheese Event.

The first session begins with our annual Wine and Cheese Kick-Off Event on Oct. 29. Competitive play will begin the following day, Oct. 30, and will run through Jan. 7, 2024, followed by our Potluck Awards Banquet on Jan. 14. The second session kicks off on Jan. 15, 2024, and concludes on March 17, 2024, followed by our second session Potluck Awards Banquet to be held on March 24, 2024.

Teams this year will be happy to hear that they will be playing on the newly renovated bocce courts, which are moving along nicely and will be ready for opening day on Oct. 30!

As always, all new players to the game, or those who require it, can request instruction by our Training Committee by forwarding an email to the attention of the membership director at [email protected].

The board of directors for the 2023-24 season is as follows: Colleen Linko, membership director; Ray Ficek, vice president; Ron Seifert, treasurer; Judy Gentry, secretary; David Sinkbeil, equipment manager; Kathy Mlynarczyk, publicity director; Karen and Neil Donohoe, social director; Jeff Blankenship, webmaster; Sue Donovan, tournament director, and John Terranova, president.