When the Vi at Bentley Village bocce team qualified for the Southwest Florida Bocce League's Championship tournament, they weren't expecting to make a deep run.
As the team with the oldest average age in the tournament, they were looking forward to some fun and friendly competition. In years past, the team often finished near the bottom of the league’s standings. This season, they set a new goal: Finish in the top 16 and earn a spot in the playoffs.
They did just that, securing a 15 seed before advancing to the postseason against three other clubs.
"Much to our amazement, and definitely to the amazement of the other teams, we beat everyone," said Vi at Bentley Village resident and bocce team member Frank Kowalski.
The team advanced all the way to the Final Four, finishing fourth in the league.
"That was quite a success for us," said Frank. "We were really happy and had a lot of fun with it."
No experience necessary
Bocce has quickly grown in popularity at Vi at Bentley Village.
Frank credits the sport's simplicity: With straightforward rules and minimal equipment, it's easy to learn and welcoming to players of all experience levels.
In this video, teammates Frank and Brenda break down the basics of the game.
Resident Brenda Schlegel discovered the sport for the first time after moving to the community. Frank, who was chairman of the bocce club at the time, taught Brenda how to play. She's been hooked ever since, and not just for her love of the game.
“I didn't know anybody here at all,” said Brenda. “Bocce was how I made friendships.”
No matter where residents start, everyone is encouraged to give it a try.
"As long as you can get in and out of the court, you can play," said Frank.
The sport is especially well suited for older adults because success depends more on strategy and finesse than strength.
And while the rules are simple enough to pick up in an afternoon, the game rewards experience in ways that keep even longtime players engaged.
"It's a game that involves some randomness and luck, but it really relies on skill and strategy and experience," said Frank. "After 25 years, I still have a lot to learn."
Watch as Frank and Brenda share their top 5 tips for improving your bocce game.
Even when matches become competitive, the atmosphere remains collaborative.
"Sometimes we'll turn to the people we're playing with—and even the people we're playing against—and we'll say, 'I'm thinking about this. What do you think? What would you do?'" said Frank.
"That's how you learn," added Brenda.
Rolling into something big
The team's memorable tournament run didn't just end with a Final Four finish—it sparked even more excitement for bocce throughout the community.
"It was a tremendous boost to bocce here at Vi at Bentley Village," said Brenda.
Today, bocce is one of the community's most popular activities, second only to golf. Residents can join the mixed gender team, the women's traveling team—which competes against clubs across the region—or stop by the courts for casual open play throughout the week.
Behind the scenes, the community goes above and beyond to support the bocce players. Recently, the courts went through a professional renovation—including resurfacing, drainage work, leveling and repainting—that put them on par with some of the region’s most competitive facilities.
"We have outstanding courts—they're not comparable to anything else in Naples," said Brenda. "It's really superior."
Home court advantage
The bocce courts are just one corner of Vi at Bentley Village’s 156 acres, but they say a lot about life at the community: it’s active, social and ripe with opportunities to live to the fullest.
While making the Final Four was an exciting milestone, Frank and Brenda say their favorite part of bocce at Bentley Village has nothing to do with competitive standings.
"The point of being out here is the fun of it," said Frank.
"Bocce is a social sport,” added Brenda. “It's a good way to make new friends that last.”
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