By TIM GUERCIO

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

NATCHEZ — Bocce, the Italian outdoor game generally played on crushed stone or natural soil, has a new surface to play on in Natchez.

Pat and Lisa Miller of Natchez Brewing Co. have kicked the game up a notch.

They built a bocce court outside at Natchez Brewing and now have to mow it every five days.

“Tommy Smith built the court and suggested grass because it wouldn’t damage the bocce balls like crushed stone would, as you roll them down the court,” Pat Miller said. “It also allowed us to retain some green space, plus the grass feels so good if you walk on it barefooted.”

Pat Miller said that he and his wife, always want to bring something different to Natchez.

“We want to bring fresh ideas and fun things to do here,” Lisa Miller said. “Parents bring their children and their pets here. We are family friendly.”

Bocce is a fun game and is easy to play. A small ball is thrown to the opposite end of a 90-foot court and becomes the target and whichever two-man team lands their bocce balls the closest to it, wins the point. You turn around and play to the other end of the court and so on until one team typically reaches 7 or 13 points and is the winner of that game.

A game should last 15 to 20 minutes.

“The hot weather has kept some of our players away,” Lisa Miller said. “We really didn’t have a spring this year.”

Natchez Brewing Company just received a permit this week for a brick oven pizza, Pat Miller said.

“We are probably going to have a bocce and pizza party one night soon,” Miller said. “Bocce is a great game, and you can play it with a beer in your hand.”

Natchez Brewing Company is located at 207, High St. in Natchez. For more information call 828-713-5311.