While soccer and lacrosse may rule the turf, Hovley Soccer Park continues to inspire those playing to a different beat. Home to the La Boule du Desert (LBDD) Pétanque Club, the 21-acre park inspires on an international level with the popular French sport played on a gravel field. With weekly play each Sunday, LBDD also hosts Select Triplette Tournaments in the spring and fall.

“We can host up to 15 teams at this venue, with play that’s geared to all ages,” says Paul Bouvion, president of LBDD. “What’s great about Hovley is that there is plenty of parking, shaded picnic areas and even jogging paths around the perimeter of the playing fields.”

No doubt pétanque draws smaller participation than field sports that cover much more ground. Hovley thrives as a soccer and lacrosse venue with five lighted full-size fields sporting natural grass and a disc golf course.

This versatile Palm Desert sports facility is also home to the Desert United Soccer Club.

From humble beginnings in 1998, DUSC has expanded to as many as 17 teams and currently has 10 teams – including four Gold Level squads. Participating in the Coast Soccer League gaming circuit, all make Hovley Soccer Park their home field.

Also utilizing the park on a consistent basis is EMW Foundation’s annual Palm Desert Lacrosse Classic that spotlights two days of nonstop action during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. High school lacrosse diehards compete against teams from across the Western U.S. in divisions that include Boys 6th, 7th, 8th, high school, junior varsity, high school open, high school elite, plus a new Girls 7/8th Division debuting at the 2016 tournament.

Other high profile soccer and lacrosse events that have made Hovley their home turf include:

  • 2016 CalSouth District 5 Tournament of Champions Soccer
  • 2014 NCAA Men’s Soccer Games featuring the University of Oregon, Boston College, University of Colorado and Brigham Young University
  • Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Competitions
  • International Invitational Senior Soccer Tournament
  • Senior Games Soccer Tournament

“Hovley has hosted everything from soccer games for NCAA Division I teams to the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association competitions that showcase more than 200 non-NCAA teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada,” says Kimberly Warpinski, management analyst with the City of Palm Desert.

“We can also accommodate disc golf tournaments and pétanque tournaments. Any field sports event organizer should definitely consider this Palm Desert venue for its prime location, pristine fields and flexibility for tournament configurations.

Venue Specs

  • 5 full-size soccer fields
  • Disc golf course
  • Pétanque area
  • Basketball courts
  • Concession stand
  • Picnic pavilions & BBQ stations
  • Walking paths
  • 3 horseshoe pits
  • 3 playgrounds