A sad observation...

Tramp Steamer

Tramp Steamer

One Pocket enthusiast.
Silver Member
I stopped by one of our local municipal golf courses this afternoon to take a look at a new Ping G25 driver, and while there noticed that a tournament was in progress. I saw a sign on the clubhouse wall informing me that the tourney (sponsored by the city park board) was for junior golfers, ages 12 through 16. I then looked at the leader board and saw that over 75 young golfers had signed up to play. The place was swarming with kids.
I then thought about our local pool hall (the only one left in a metro area of over 400 thousand) and remembered that yesterday the youngest player there was just over 40. :frown:
 
im 46 and still after all these years among the younger guys in the pool room no matter where I go(for the most part)

Like Bobby Cotton told me "in 20 years its just you and Hawaiian Jimmy" when i asked him whats pool gonna look like in the future.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I stopped by one of our local municipal golf courses this afternoon to take a look at a new Ping G25 driver, and while there noticed that a tournament was in progress. I saw a sign on the clubhouse wall informing me that the tourney (sponsored by the city park board) was for junior golfers, ages 12 through 16. I then looked at the leader board and saw that over 75 young golfers had signed up to play. The place was swarming with kids.
I then thought about our local pool hall (the only one left in a metro area of over 400 thousand) and remembered that yesterday the youngest player there was just over 40. :frown:
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The golf kids can look at a high paying "respectable" sport if they get really good. The pool kids can look at a not very respectful sport that enables them to live in their car if they can afford one.:frown: Guess which one the parents choose for their kids??
 
Neil said:
The golf kids can look at a high paying "respectable" sport if they get really good. The pool kids can look at a not very respectful sport that enables them to live in their car if they can afford one.:frown: Guess which one the parents choose for their kids??
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And lots of business deals are done over a round of golf -- a good thing for an ambitious young person to know.

Business deals over a game of pool? Maybe a few drug deals, or $2K bets that don't get paid off.
 
You want some cheese with that wine?

There are close to 10,000 league players in Vegas right now competing and partying.
Only a tiny fraction of them are interested in watching 128 top pro's from around the world compete. What does this tell you? They couldn't care less who was there and they wouldn't even watch it for FREE? So, don't expect things to get better for pool hustlers and pro's any time soon. If it weren't for the socialized leagues dictating what pool room owners can and can't do, a lot more pool rooms will be closing for good. If you really love the game, go get yourself a good job as soon as you can, save your money, and then buy a place where you can put your own pool table. You'll be a lot happier in the long run!
Personally, I woulda loved to see Bonus Ball become a big success but unfortunately, again, who is going to pay to support it?:eek:
 
Neil said:
The golf kids can look at a high paying "respectable" sport if they get really good. The pool kids can look at a not very respectful sport that enables them to live in their car if they can afford one.:frown: Guess which one the parents choose for their kids??
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Given a choice of the two, I'd rather my kid got interested in golf!!!

Maniac (he rarely plays either one)
 
I'm right outside of New Orleans & the Hall I frequent has a good representation of young people. Naturally they are 18 & older but I think the room is fairly balanced age wise.

Part of that golf / pool comparison is the television exposure of golf vs. pool & the lack of availability for young people to play. When my Dad introduced me to the game, at 13 yrs. old, it was at a bowling alley & we went to a Hall that had a couples only room & my Dad asked if the owner would allow him to take me in there & he did.

Now it is pretty much either play at home or wait til one is of age. We need more tables in bowling alleys & we need more bowling alleys.

Regards,
Rick
 
Fatboy said:
im 46 and still after all these years among the younger guys in the pool room no matter where I go(for the most part)

Like Bobby Cotton told me "in 20 years its just you and Hawaiian Jimmy" when i asked him whats pool gonna look like in the future.
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Yeah, but Hawaiian Jimmy will be banned, so it'll just be you.
 
sharkmate said:
There are close to 10,000 league players in Vegas right now competing and partying.
Only a tiny fraction of them are interested in watching 128 top pro's from around the world compete. What does this tell you? They couldn't care less who was there and they wouldn't even watch it for FREE? So, don't expect things to get better for pool hustlers and pro's any time soon. If it weren't for the socialized leagues dictating what pool room owners can and can't do, a lot more pool rooms will be closing for good. If you really love the game, go get yourself a good job as soon as you can, save your money, and then buy a place where you can put your own pool table. You'll be a lot happier in the long run!
Personally, I woulda loved to see Bonus Ball become a big success but unfortunately, again, who is going to pay to support it?:eek:
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How do you explain the poolrooms full of people during the 70's and 80's before league pool? I can remember when the small town I live in had 4 poolrooms that stayed full most of the time during those years mentioned. One room had 10 tables and there would be double check, 31, and 6 or 9 ball being played on every table and the one snooker table would have action from opening until closing. I do agree that places now seem to have to cater to league players to make it, and you are right, they don't give a shit about pro players. That's one of the biggest problems with pro-pool. As a matter of fact, there are many players who can't stand the thought of people being able to make a living playing pool.
 
PoolBum said:
Yeah, but Hawaiian Jimmy will be banned, so it'll just be you.
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thats possible, i have always got along good with him. but he might get banned, then again there might not be a pool room and we will be sitting in the park playing chess talking about the good old days when pool tables actually existed....
 
backplaying said:
How do you explain the poolrooms full of people during the 70's and 80's before league pool? I can remember when the small town I live in had 4 poolrooms that stayed full most of the time during those years mentioned. One room had 10 tables and there would be double check, 31, and 6 or 9 ball being played on every table and the one snooker table would have action from opening until closing. I do agree that places now seem to have to cater to league players to make it, and you are right, they don't give a shit about pro players. That's one of the biggest problems with pro-pool. As a matter of fact, there are many players who can't stand the thought of people being able to make a living playing pool.
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Hey Backplaying here is a short note that I made recently with some of my feelings about pool today compared to the 70's. I also believe if it were not for leagues most pool halls would be closed now, the future does not look very promising for pool halls in general, IMO..

Two words, DISPOSABLE INCOME... Years ago before the economic decline of America everyone could find work regardless of education or a lack of. There was always a way to make a buck and the entire society benefited as a result. For instance in 1968 as a teenager during the summer I could paint houses for $8.00 an hour. Now in 2013 we have folks here in America painting the same houses for $8.00 an hour. Guess how much disposable income todays house painter has compared to the guy in 1968.. In todays pool halls you see the effect of this economic decline, years ago most pool halls had a waiting list for a table, when was the last time you saw that? Pool is and has mostly been a blue collar pastime and the folks hurt the most in the decline have been middle and lower income workers thus you have way less money folks are willing to risk or gamble with. As a 16 year old back in 1968 there was always ring games being played in pool rooms, honestly I have not seen a ring game in so long I cannot remember the last one. It all comes down to money!
 
Quesports said:
Two words, DISPOSABLE INCOME... Years ago before the economic decline of America everyone could find work regardless of education or a lack of. There was always a way to make a buck and the entire society benefited as a result. For instance in 1968 as a teenager during the summer I could paint houses for $8.00 an hour. Now in 2013 we have folks here in America painting the same houses for $8.00 an hour. Guess how much disposable income todays house painter has compared to the guy in 1968.. In todays pool halls you see the effect of this economic decline, years ago most pool halls had a waiting list for a table, when was the last time you saw that? Pool is and has mostly been a blue collar pastime and the folks hurt the most in the decline have been middle and lower income workers thus you have way less money folks are willing to risk or gamble with. As a 16 year old back in 1968 there was always ring games being played in pool rooms, honestly I have not seen a ring game in so long I cannot remember the last one. It all comes down to money!
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thats right, pool was the cheapest form of entertainment back then, now its facebook and video games. the property boom has made pool time more expensive relitative to peoples income now than 30 years ago when it was $2/hr and minimum wage was $3.65. Now pool is more per hour than minimum wage in Ca. In Vegas its not its about the same. Still expensive compared to online games. the real estate boom didnt help pool at all in big cities.
 
sharkmate said:
There are close to 10,000 league players in Vegas right now competing and partying.
Only a tiny fraction of them are interested in watching 128 top pro's from around the world compete. What does this tell you? They couldn't care less who was there and they wouldn't even watch it for FREE? So, don't expect things to get better for pool hustlers and pro's any time soon. If it weren't for the socialized leagues dictating what pool room owners can and can't do, a lot more pool rooms will be closing for good. If you really love the game, go get yourself a good job as soon as you can, save your money, and then buy a place where you can put your own pool table. You'll be a lot happier in the long run!
Personally, I woulda loved to see Bonus Ball become a big success but unfortunately, again, who is going to pay to support it?:eek:
Click to expand...

You're right, thousands and thousands of league players there.. and just about every single "pro" that's there will do nothing with all of that marketing potential. FYI, businesses tend to stay open when they have paying customers. The more customers, the more they make. Not the leagues' fault that their members buy stuff.

backplaying said:
I do agree that places now seem to have to cater to league players to make it, and you are right, they don't give a shit about pro players. That's one of the biggest problems with pro-pool. As a matter of fact, there are many players who can't stand the thought of people being able to make a living playing pool.
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It says more about the pro players, imho, that all of the other players "don't give a shit about (pro players)". There are many people who can't stand the thought of people putting forth effort to get results. Being good at something is one thing, turning it into a profitable activity is another.

Maybe it's because of those crybaby kind of attitudes that a lot of newer players are turned off. Hell, next time your average APA comes on here, let me know how he's welcomed and how many bashes they receive from "players". Who wants to pay to be around people like that in a pool hall?

As for the rest of you old fogies.. bring your SS checks, Tums and some clean drawers. :thumbup:

Edit: If you don't think golf has the same drinkers and smokers.. well..
 
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Pool has Junior Programs. Both the BCA and VNEA run Junior leagues and junior tournaments. One thing is though that in many states kids are NOT allowed in places that serve alcohol for any reason. So that cuts down on the venues that can be used.

You know I see a lot of people on this pool forum who are down on pool and I wonder why you even play a game you loathe so much?

Sure pool has gambling and degenerates. So does golf, so does tennis. Pool also has plenty of family friendly competition, plenty of good people who play it, plenty of good people who are in this industry. We spend far too much time highlighting the negatives which aren't even really negatives.

I mean almost all the movies about sports and games feature gambling and hustling and overcoming the odds. Does art imitate life or not?

Now, all that said there COULD be a lot more promotion of pool to adults and juniors.
 
JB Cases said:
Pool has Junior Programs. Both the BCA and VNEA run Junior leagues and junior tournaments. One thing is though that in many states kids are NOT allowed in places that serve alcohol for any reason. So that cuts down on the venues that can be used.

You know I see a lot of people on this pool forum who are down on pool and I wonder why you even play a game you loathe so much?

Sure pool has gambling and degenerates. So does golf, so does tennis. Pool also has plenty of family friendly competition, plenty of good people who play it, plenty of good people who are in this industry. We spend far too much time highlighting the negatives which aren't even really negatives.

I mean almost all the movies about sports and games feature gambling and hustling and overcoming the odds. Does art imitate life or not?

Now, all that said there COULD be a lot more promotion of pool to adults and juniors.
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Samm Diep is doing that Billiard Education thing which is a good start(better late than never) to promote cue sports in schools. I hope that works out. it aint over but it will be in 20 years if something dont happen FAST!!!!
 
The guy carrying the bag for a top pro makes several times over what a top pool pro makes ,
There are clubs that won't even consider anything less than a Fortune 500 member
So why people keep comparing pool to golf is beyond me there is no comparison on any level


1
 
I have played both pool and golf for about 30 years.

to me, golf is just more fun to play. but i'm a die hard pool player because I can get my fix of pool quickly, whereas it takes 4-5 hours to play a round of golf.

but to me , golf is still more fun to play.
 
2andOUT said:
I have played both pool and golf for about 30 years.

to me, golf is just more fun to play. but i'm a die hard pool player because I can get my fix of pool quickly, whereas it takes 4-5 hours to play a round of golf.

but to me , golf is still more fun to play.
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Completely agree! However, if you have a pool table in the basement and money is an issue, pool is king:thumbup:
 
When I saw all the young folk at the golf course, and then remembered the absence of new players at our pool room, I was reminded of that song by the late George Jones. "Who's gonna fill their shoes?"
Who's going to take our place at the tables, the Saturday night bangers from the local college? :frown:
 
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