Origins of the LBC

The Legation Boules Club was founded in July 2014. This is how it came to be.

A Beer and an Idea

The concept for the Legation Boules Club began over a beer at Angie's Mexican Restaurant in June 2014.

The conversation centered on a simple observation: Austin had pétanque players, it had venues, it had a growing community gathered around the game — but it didn't have a club built specifically around the social side of pétanque. A club focused on fun, fellowship, and bringing people together, rather than competition and formality.

The Legation Boules Club was incorporated the following month, in July 2014.

What the Club Was Built to Be

From the beginning, the LBC had a clear mission: to provide an independent forum for its members and the public to learn, practice, and play the game of pétanque. The club is not affiliated with any other pétanque association.

The LBC focuses on the fun and enjoyment of the game — a relaxed environment without pressure or expectations, while still allowing members to participate in competitive tournaments when they want to.

"If you enjoy pétanque, good fun and fellowship, you will fit right in."

How the Club Has Grown

Membership has grown to over forty members. The club plays several times a week at the French Legation, the Browning Hangar at Mueller, and Nelson Ranch Park in Cedar Park.

The LBC hosts two tournaments a year designed so that all players — not just the most experienced — have a genuine chance to win. The club also hosts an annual fundraising tournament benefiting the French Legation, giving back to the historic site that gave the club its name.

The Name

The club took its name from the French Legation — the historic 1841 diplomatic house on the east side of downtown Austin where pétanque has been played since 1999. The French connection felt right: a French game, a French building, an Austin community.

French Legation Pétanque History (how pétanque came to the Legation)→

History of the French Legation (the building's full history)