Are Bocce Courts Worth the Investment for Vacation Rentals?

By: Menandro Bacalangco Jr. | June 20, 2026

A bocce court is an investment in making your guests happy. Happy guests leave good reviews, tell their friends, and may want to come back. This is great for your business and can make your property more valuable. For year-round use, you might consider Special turf for the bocce court.

Is a Bocce Court a Good Investment?

Are you thinking about adding a bocce court to your property? It’s worth looking at the cost versus how much it can help your business. It’s not just about looks—it’s about helping you make more money and making your property stand out. The bocce courts are located at Carmichael Park, offering a great place to play.

Can You Charge More?

Unique features like a bocce court can help you raise your prices. Guests are often willing to pay more if they get something special. If your place has a bocce court but your competition doesn’t, you can set a higher nightly rate. In some areas, like Healdsburg, rentals with bocce courts get better occupancy and prices.

Standing Out in Fancy Markets

In high-end vacation rental markets, every little thing matters. A bocce court can attract guests looking for fun activities and a bit of exclusiveness. It shows your property is about relaxation and enjoyment. This may help you get more bookings from guests willing to pay more. Property managers often use special features like this in their advertising. The Portland Bocce League is a great example of community engagement.

Long-Term Value

Amenity like a bocce court can increase your property’s value over time. If you ever sell, having good amenities can help you get a better price. This is most important in tourist areas where people are looking for fun and unique features. If you’re not sure, get a local expert to help check your property’s market potential.

Things to consider:

• Guest Appeal: Bocce courts are popular with families and groups.
• Marketing Advantage: It gives you something to highlight in your listings.
• More Time on the Property: Guests enjoy the property more and might book again.

Adding a bocce court is more than just putting in a game. It’s about giving guests a good experience so you can get better reviews and more bookings.

Things to Remember When Adding a Bocce Court

Want to add a bocce court to your vacation rental? That’s great! But it’s not just about having fun. You need to know what it takes to build one and keep it in good shape.

How Much It Costs and Where to Put It

Bocce courts aren’t cheap, and their location matters a lot. You’ll need to decide what surface to use, like crushed stone or artificial turf, since they have different prices and needs. You need a flat place about 13 feet by 91 feet (though it can be smaller if needed). Picking the right spot is important—it affects how much you spend and how easy it is for guests to use.

Here’s what makes up the cost:

• Site Prep: Removing anything in the way, leveling the land, and adding drainage.
• Materials: Things like gravel, stone, clay, turf, wood, or stone borders.
• Labor: The cost to hire people to build it for you.
• Extras: Lights, seats, or fences.

Ask local landscapers for quotes based on your ideas and budget. The spot you choose can even help your property value.

How to Care for the Court

Once it’s built, you have to keep it looking nice. Bocce courts need regular care to stay safe and fun.

• Surface Care: Sweep or rake the court and keep the surface even. Some courts need to be watered or packed down sometimes.
• Weed Control: Get rid of weeds on and around the court.
• Border Checks: Fix any damage to the edges right away.
• Equipment Storage: Give guests a safe place for the balls and scoreboard.

It’s smart to set aside a little money from your rental income for court upkeep. This stops small problems from growing into big ones. Think of it as part of your general property care.

Keeping Guests Safe

Safety is important, even for a simple game like bocce. Here’s what to do:

• Simple Rules: Post clear, easy rules for playing and court use, and remind guests to wear proper shoes.
• Check for Hazards: Look for cracks, holes, or things on the court that could trip people.
• Good Equipment: Make sure bocce balls are not broken and that there’s enough light for night games.
• Reminders: Mention safe play and supervising kids in your welcome packet.

Keeping rules simple and checking the court helps give guests a safe and fun time, and protects you from problems. It shows you care about them.

If you take care of these things, your bocce court will be something guests love, not something that causes problems.

Bocce Courts and Vacation Trends

Why Today's Travelers Like Experiences

More travelers want experiences, not just a place to sleep. They want to have fun and do new things. A bocce court is perfect because it’s a simple outdoor game anyone can play, and it brings people together. This helps your rental stand out among others that only have a backyard or pool. Families, groups of friends, and couples can all enjoy it.

Helping Bookings in Slower Seasons

Getting bookings all year can be tough, especially in the off-season. Bocce is good outdoors in warm weather, but you can still use the court in cool weather or at night with lights. This means you might get more off-season bookings since you’re offering year-round fun. That helps keep your calendar full.

Outdoor Fun for Active Guests

Many vacation towns are places people go to enjoy the outdoors. If your guests like walking, biking, or just being outside, a bocce court fits right in. It gives them something fun to do after a day of hiking or exploring. That way, your rental is more attractive to people who want an active vacation, and it matches what people are looking for in your area. Some towns, like Holmes Beach, FL, look for ways to attract guests while keeping locals happy, and fun activities like bocce help do that.

How to Tell if Your Bocce Court Investment is Working

So you built a bocce court. How do you know if it’s helping? You want to see real results like more bookings or higher prices.

Occupancy Rates

Look at your booking calendar. Are you booked more often now that you have a bocce court? Check if guests mention the court in their messages or reviews, and compare your occupancy rates before and after adding the court. Sometimes guests may even book longer stays to enjoy the new feature.

• More Booking Requests: Do guests mention the court when asking to book?
• Fewer Empty Nights: Is your property booked more days than before?
• Longer Stays: Are guests booking for more days?

A property with more than just a bed becomes a place people remember. That can mean more bookings and fewer empty days.

You can also use an ROI calculator to help you track your results.

Can You Raise Your Prices?

Do guests pay more to stay at your place now? If your rental has something others don’t, like a bocce court, you might be able to raise your nightly price. This is even more likely if you attract guests who value fun activities while on vacation.

Here’s what to think about:

• Higher Price: Does the bocce court let you ask for more money per night?
• Special Deals: Can you offer extra services, like including court access with other experiences?
• Change Prices by Season: Can you charge more during busy seasons because of the court?

If people pay more for your rental, it’s a good sign the bocce court is adding value.

Combining Results (RevPAR)

RevPAR means Revenue Per Available Room, and it combines how full your place is with how much you charge each night. If both go up, you’re doing well. A bocce court can help with both—more bookings and higher prices. This is part of making your outdoor area better and can help you earn more.

Here’s a simple example:

Even a smaller change than this means you are getting more value from your property thanks to the bocce court.

Where Should the Bocce Court Go?

When you add a bocce court, its location matters. You want it to work well with your property and be easy for guests to use. Good placement can make this feature even more popular with guests.

Fitting the Court into the Property

Try to make the court look like it belongs in your yard, not like something added at the last minute. Using plants can make it look nicer, and placing the court in the right spot can help with privacy.

• What can guests see? Think about if the court is visible from places where guests spend time.
• Easy to reach? Make sure it’s simple for guests to walk to the court from the house.
• Noise: Don’t put it too close to bedrooms in case games get loud.

When the bocce court fits well, guests will enjoy it more, which helps your property get better reviews and more bookings.

Get the Most from Your Space

If your yard isn’t big, you’ll have to plan where to fit the bocce court without losing space for other things, like eating outside or play areas for kids. Sometimes a smaller court is fine, or you can use walls to build on a slope and make it look interesting.

Here are some typical court sizes:

Choose court size that fits your space but still lets guests play comfortably.

Accessible for Everyone

Think of all your guests. Make sure everyone can get to and use the court easily, including those with wheelchairs or walkers.

• Pathways: Keep paths smooth and wide for wheelchairs.
• Surface: If possible, pick a court surface that is safe and easy to walk on.
• Seating: Provide benches for players and anyone watching.

Making the bocce court easy to reach and play on is good for everyone—guests will appreciate it and be more likely to come back.

With a little planning, your bocce court will be a favorite feature guests talk about. Use plants and landscaping to help the court fit nicely into your yard.

Conclusion

Adding a bocce court can help your vacation rental stand out and bring in more money. Even though it costs money at first and takes some care, you can attract more guests, charge higher prices, and maybe even sell your property for more in the future. If you plan carefully and take care of the court, it can be a fun feature that guests love and that helps your business. 

For property owners looking to maximize their rental income and guest satisfaction, integrating services like Luxury Airbnb management services can be a strategic move. These services can handle the day-to-day operations, marketing, and guest communication, allowing owners to focus on enhancing property amenities like a bocce court. This is a great community event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are bocce courts worth the investment for vacation rentals?

Bocce courts can be a worthwhile investment for vacation rentals by providing outdoor entertainment that appeals to families, couples and groups. Several potential benefits contribute to their value:

• Increased guest appeal: Offers a fun, accessible activity for travelers of different ages and skill levels.
• Higher booking potential: Helps properties stand out from competing vacation rentals with standard amenities.
• Premium nightly rates: Unique outdoor recreational features may support higher pricing.
• Better guest experiences: Encourages social interaction, outdoor relaxation and memorable group activities.

While bocce courts do not guarantee increased rental revenue, they can strengthen a property's competitive appeal. Their value depends on installation costs, guest demand, maintenance requirements and overall rental performance.

How much space and maintenance does a vacation rental bocce court require?

A vacation rental bocce court requires adequate outdoor space, a suitable playing surface and routine maintenance. Property owners should consider several important requirements:

• Court dimensions: A regulation-sized court is approximately 90 feet long and 13 feet wide, although smaller recreational courts can fit limited spaces.
• Playing surface: Crushed stone, gravel or artificial turf can provide suitable surfaces depending on the design.
• Site preparation: Proper grading, drainage and stable borders help maintain playing conditions.
• Routine maintenance: Regular surface leveling, weed removal and equipment inspections keep the court functional.
• Guest accessibility: Smooth pathways, comfortable seating and appropriate lighting improve usability.

Careful planning helps owners create an attractive outdoor amenity without compromising other recreational spaces. A properly maintained bocce court can provide long-term entertainment value while supporting guest satisfaction.

How can vacation rental owners measure the ROI of adding a bocce court?

Vacation rental owners can measure the return on investment of a bocce court by comparing installation and maintenance expenses with changes in rental performance. Important metrics include:

• Occupancy rates: Track whether the property receives more bookings after installing the court.
• Average daily rate: Monitor whether the amenity supports higher nightly pricing.
• Revenue per available night: Evaluate how occupancy and nightly rates affect overall revenue.
• Guest feedback: Review comments mentioning the bocce court and outdoor entertainment experience.
• Maintenance expenses: Account for cleaning, repairs, landscaping and equipment replacement.



Comparing these measurements before and after installation helps determine whether the bocce court contributes meaningful financial value. Owners should also consider seasonal demand and other property improvements when evaluating long-term profitability.