Amsterdam Blues

[kaznj]

sjm has a good point. Join the league to play. As long as any business is being used to max capacity, why would the owners change anything. Owners are in business to make money.
The Sandcastle is a great place to practice. Lots of room to play. The owner Ed is a nice guy. Go there on a Saturday or Sunday and practice all day.

 

[Bustah360]

You probably would have not written this if they would have said.
Sir as you can see it is a league night and very busy. The best I can do to accomadate you is as soon as a table opens up it is yours. We will need the table back in an hour or so. For any inconvenience I won't charge you the table time and "PLEASE" have a soda or a beer on us.
It might cost them 30 cents for the lights and 30 cents for a soda to keep a customer happy,coming back and spending money in their establishment. Instead here you are telling the world how bad a taste it left in your mouth and you are willing to travel and spend your money. Poor Business

My last experience in Amsterdam was this. Two years ago myself and three friends get there a little late on a league night. I went there to meet with someone about a possible business venture.( A well respected regular )
After all is done we are sitting near the dart board, they are drinking alcohol, I am having water. After two or three rounds and generous tips for the waitress two of my friends want to play. Both of these guys are gentlemen and very strong players, money burns a hole in their pocket faster than a fire.

They end up playing on one of the front tables that are roped off, there are 3 tables and the other two are not in use.The game was a race to 10, loser pays for a late night dinner for all of us. A few locals were on the stools watching and others were standing around watching. Both guys were playing very well. This is where it gets good.
After about 30 ? 40 minutes some guy walks over to them and says ( I have to ask you to get off the table, these tables are for players only ) I heard word for word I was sitting right there. I thought I was hearing things. My friend says I hope you are kidding me.
With that my friend who is now totally insulted pulls out a nice knot ,throws it on the table and says ( loudly and pissed ) I will play any #$%^&*( in here right now. Yes he lost control and I think most would have reacted in some unfavorable fashion.
The kicker is they charged them table time.
This was the same night they asked this kid Jason who was drunk to leave and another gentlemen had some type of a seizure,passed out,hit his head on the desk as you walk in.

One of my students (15 yrs old ) won the straight pool league. He refuses to play there again. Nothing to do with the league ( He likes Danny very much ) but he was also disrespected by the establishment. He is a very good player, a top junior, straight A student , money is not a problem with his family. They now lost potential income and possible future representation. He is also sponsored by a well known cue maker.

Diplomacy goes a long way in this world, especially in business.
It's possible that all parties involved on these occasions just had a bad night and could have handled things differently. It doesn't hurt to give the benefit of the doubt. It's not always best to hold a grudge.
Otherwise when in Rome do what the Romans do, Spend your money elsewhere, preferably where a "Real Houseman" is present.

I absolutely agree with you, you're right. If I'd have gotten that treatment, I wouldn't be so upset about my time there. Lets face it though, free table time even for 30min is like asking someone to fork over their right arm. A free beer? They'd rather suffer the loss of someone's business forever first. I know the guys are pretty good at what they do. Andy and Ben have always been great. The problem was never the counter employees. The problem is the Ringling Bros scenario there every night.

 

[Bustah360]

sjm has a good point. Join the league to play. As long as any business is being used to max capacity, why would the owners change anything. Owners are in business to make money.
The Sandcastle is a great place to practice. Lots of room to play. The owner Ed is a nice guy. Go there on a Saturday or Sunday and practice all day.

Normally I'd love to join a league with as much comp as theirs, but as I've stated in my original post, I work. My hours pretty much use up the best part of any day. I typically work 3-12am including weekends. I received one of Amsterdam's ad emails asking for me to hurry and sign up for their league play. I replied and asked when could I, only to be told that it was filled up already, but try emailing so and so and see if he would form a team with you and some other players looking to play also. I received no reply after trying back 2 or 3 times. I gave up. That was one of the great things about choosing from up to 3 different rooms. I could choose the room that would accommodate my work schedule.

 

[Bustah360]

Good one!

It's kind of difficult to conceive why they would make more money with leagues given the fact that the average match is 1 and a half hours long and they pay $16 green fee?

Has anyone done the math? If you pay $9 and change an hour per player...

Well, I guess I'm wrong. Also, leauges guarantee that EVERY table is taken.

With a huge league every night, they pretty much guarantee the bills and rent paid out every month. Their league season lasts forever too. Without a league you take the risk of business being dead at any time.

I still say they need to get on the ball and get another room to divide them though. That way non-league shooters can get some trigger time in.

 

[Bustah360]

It so happens that I am in the straight pool league at Amsterdam Billiards. I play there both on my league day and non-league days. For the most part, the staff does an excellent job organizing table availiabilty for both league players and 'walk ins'. On league nights, Jude Rudenstock refers to Amsterdam as being like: 'Grand Central Station'. He is amusingly correct! It is not an easy task making sure all league matches are table ready for play as well as accomadating the non-league players who walk in.

In regards to tables being abruptly taken away to fullfill a league match, I haven't experienced that at all. I played on the friday following Thanksgiving and the 9 ball teams were slated to play that day in lieu of the thursday holiday. Daniel, the front manager, had informed us an hour in advance that our table will be needed for the match. He was even nice enough to make certain that another table was available for us before the leagues had started. Ben and Steve, the other front managers, would have done the same.

I just think the unpleasant experiences posted here are not common place at Amsterdam. It is, in my 2 cents worth of an opinion, the best venue for pool in New York City. I am just sorry to hear about the unfortunate experiences at Amsterdam by some of the AZers.

I must be the exception because I've gotten kicked off a table for league play when they had the upper west side location all the time. It just wasn't as severe at that time. I would at least get a couple of hours before leaving the table and they'd tell me no if they needed it in less time than that.

 

[Bustah360]

If I was looking for a place to drink a cup of coffee and practice by myself on a Friday night, Amsterdam Billiards is the last place I would go.

BTW, why wait two hours to play alone? Did you try calling around first?

I went there on a whim. I just had the last minute urge to shoot some. I originally planned on a sparring partner but being an army sergeant stationed in jersey, he was only allowed holiday time off and couldn't show. Most people I used to shoot with won't go there for mine and other reasons.

 

[Bustah360]

This sounds like an opportunity to get together with the others that feel as you do and find a place to put 6 or 8 tables. Have some inexpensive coffee and food and limited league play. Now you have a shooters room.

Just sayin'

Dwight

I used to go to Skyline Billiards in Brooklyn. That was great because I always felt it was a player's room. I enjoyed hours of practice there. Although I lived in Brooklyn at the time I wasn't close to this place at all. It was a 30min train ride and 15min walk afterward getting off. But I enjoyed playing there. I now live in the upper west side of Manhattan and definitely not taking that ride. Coincidentally, I ran into one of the owners of Skyline that night playing on a team.

 

[poolmonkey]

I must be the exception because I've gotten kicked off a table for league play when they had the upper west side location all the time. It just wasn't as severe at that time. I would at least get a couple of hours before leaving the table and they'd tell me no if they needed it in less time than that.

Bustah, if it makes you feel better I've seen them kick pros off the tables to give to customers.. Pros including Mika.. so dont feel so bad..

Also, the thursday night leagues have almost 250 players in it now with about 70% of them being C & D players. There are quality players in it just not as many as other people may say..

 

[Justlovecues]

Bustah, have you ever tried Soho billiards downtown? That might be just for you. Its a distance from uptown but no where near as far as Brooklyn's Skyline. The pool hall is more than half empty during the week but full on the weekends. I practice there at least twice a week. I personally know the owners Al and Tom. Oh! Tom and Al have the prices fixed for $6 an hour from Monday-Thursday. Hard to beat that! Anyway, I wish you the best. I really hope you could find a pool hall that will fullfill your playing and practice needs. Good Luck!!

 

[ctyhntr]

If your experience with table comps is like asking someone to fork over their right arm, then last Sunday I must've witness ABC giving up an arm and a leg. League practice was extended twice, giving 4 hours of FREE pool in Manhattan. This isn't the first time.

I agree the place can be busy on weeknights. If you weren't happy give them a chance to make things right. The staff there are very good, but they're not mind readers.

As for the e-mails about signing up for league play, popular nights and prime time slots do fill up fast.

I absolutely agree with you, you're right. If I'd have gotten that treatment, I wouldn't be so upset about my time there. Lets face it though, free table time even for 30min is like asking someone to fork over their right arm. A free beer? They'd rather suffer the loss of someone's business forever first. I know the guys are pretty good at what they do. Andy and Ben have always been great. The problem was never the counter employees. The problem is the Ringling Bros scenario there every night.

 

[Bustah360]

Bustah, if it makes you feel better I've seen them kick pros off the tables to give to customers.. Pros including Mika.. so dont feel so bad..

Also, the thursday night leagues have almost 250 players in it now with about 70% of them being C & D players. There are quality players in it just not as many as other people may say..

You're right about that, I've seen them kick Ginky off a table and he was in the middle of a $250 race to 5. Now that's hard to stop when you're up 3-0. I was amazed they didn't let him finish.

 

[Bustah360]

If your experience with table comps is like asking someone to fork over their right arm, then last Sunday I must've witness ABC giving up an arm and a leg. League practice was extended twice, giving 4 hours of FREE pool in Manhattan. This isn't the first time.

I agree the place can be busy on weeknights. If you weren't happy give them a chance to make things right. The staff there are very good, but they're not mind readers.

As for the e-mails about signing up for league play, popular nights and prime time slots do fill up fast.

Yea well that goes in saying they treat their "league" players good. But think about the non-league players trying to get a decent table to put in some drill time in. How do you think they'd feel with everything good being uncharacteristically used up for 4 hours?

Again, I understand its a business and I've already stated that these tremendous leagues pay the bills. You can't speak for everyone's satisfaction though. I'm speaking up for the underdogs here.

Does anyone know of other pool halls quick to get to outside the city? PJ's was a great spot right outside the verrazano but I don't have access to a car anymore. I need something where I can take the Jersey Transit, or Path trains to. I just want to build up some options for future reference. I know Soho Billiards is a pretty decent spot, although I have noticed that they're not maintaining the equipment like they should. Too many cloth tears and loose pockets (the type to bump the ball back out) on many tables. I remember years ago, the tables were almost flawless. Overall a nice place to practice I agree.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Hey Bustah,

I see you've already had quite a few valuable responses but I'll try to give a little more information for you that may help.

For starters, the times you would expect tables to be available is practically opposite at Amsterdam than it is for any other room. That is to say, weekends are typically your best bet, NOT weekdays. The leagues are HUGE. There are nearly 90 teams spread out over five nights combined with two individual leagues (that's not even including the APA teams). These nights are always Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. About five times a year, leagues are moved to Friday night.

Amsterdam Billiards wants to accommodate the walk-in crowd but on league nights, it simply can't. I understand it's frustrating when you travel there and you're all amped to play only to find yourself throwing darts until your name is called but it's even more frustrating when you have a league match and you're also on the wait list.

The plus side of this is Amsterdam offers some of the most exciting leagues around. The calibre of play is unprecedented in a New York City league. Players travel in from the other boroughs, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. If you were an active member in the leagues, you would see precisely what I mean.

 

[Bustah360]

Hey Bustah,

I see you've already had quite a few valuable responses but I'll try to give a little more information for you that may help.

For starters, the times you would expect tables to be available is practically opposite at Amsterdam than it is for any other room. That is to say, weekends are typically your best bet, NOT weekdays. The leagues are HUGE. There are nearly 90 teams spread out over five nights combined with two individual leagues (that's not even including the APA teams). These nights are always Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. About five times a year, leagues are moved to Friday night.

Amsterdam Billiards wants to accommodate the walk-in crowd but on league nights, it simply can't. I understand it's frustrating when you travel there and you're all amped to play only to find yourself throwing darts until your name is called but it's even more frustrating when you have a league match and you're also on the wait list.

The plus side of this is Amsterdam offers some of the most exciting leagues around. The calibre of play is unprecedented in a New York City league. Players travel in from the other boroughs, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. If you were an active member in the leagues, you would see precisely what I mean.

SchoolBoy! Listen, I know the calibre of play is impressive. There's everything from intermediate to pro level players participating. I can't imagine any serious player or enthusiast not watering at the mouth to be all in there. But I've already stated that I'm one of the few players that can't partake on most of the league time slots due to my job. I just wanted to go there and practice man, that's all. Apparently I was there on one of those 5 days per year. I just think they need to get on the ball and expand. Set up a lower level or something. At those rates, they can afford it. Eventually this kind of thing will bite 'em in @ss one day. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[JoeyA]

Opportunity is Knocking.

I just wanna gripe about the new Amsterdam Billiards here in nyc. Unfortunately they lost out on the upper west side location and bought out the "corner billiards" location. Problem with this is that they have league night on just about every night of the week which sucks for us non-league players. I just want to practice man, but tonight was ridiculous. For obvious reasons they moved the thursday team 9 ball matches to tonight and that's understandable.

What did bother me was there were so many people that the place was muggy throughout. They didn't try to accommadate the air. I had to throw on some cue silk on my shaft as a result. After 2hrs of waiting for a table, they give me one only to state that they'll need it back in less than an hour for more league matches. I've never been given a table and asked for it back in no less than 2 or more hours or they just wouldn't give it to me. I bring it back in less than 1hr with nothing accomplished but a few practice racks after drills. I go back on the list for another table and have absolutely no fun at all with the 100 people around me. I've seen full 128 player bracket tounaments with more breathing room, it was horrible. With 2 sessions back to back it was amazing I finished a rack of 9 ball without stopping 3 or 4 times for others shooting on the tables around me.

Unless you're at this pool hall during the day (where most of us working people can't be there), this place is a circus. Then to give ya another kick in @ss they charge $9.75 p/hr for one person, and $2 p/coffee that any deli could offer double the amount for a buck. Sigh...I apologize to all the shooters that love this place but it just ain't the same anymore. One of the managers even stated he had no idea when the owners were planning on opening another location. He stated that Brooklyn might be an option. I know that the local pool rooms would kill'em though. Originally there were 2 locations, "east side" and "west side". Now both are gone and the local competition was bought out. That leaves 3 pool halls worth of leagues in one spot which leaves nothing for anyone else.

Do I really have to resort to taking a path train to jersey for practice time?! All the other rooms suck. HELP!

Sounds like you need to find some kindred spirits who can locate a friend who has a nice size room in their business's building which could house a nice 4 1/2 x 9 and make a Private Pool Room.
JoeyA

 

[poolmouse]

I can't imagine any serious player or enthusiast not watering at the mouth to be all in there.

I'm not thrilled at waiting a long time for a match. I want to walk in, shoot pool and then go home. Pool isn't that important to me that I would spend all my time in poolrooms. That said, going to Amsterdam is a huge waste of time for me. Not knocking the place. I've known the owners personally since they opened ABC West many years ago, and I admire what they've done - make money the right way, by offering players a top tier room. I do agree it's cramped though.

Master is not nearly as nice as ABC but it's rare to have to wait for a table, and there is plenty of action (for money or for fun).

Poolmouse

 

[Bustah360]

Sounds like you need to find some kindred spirits who can locate a friend who has a nice size room in their business's building which could house a nice 4 1/2 x 9 and make a Private Pool Room.
JoeyA

I think that would be the perfect getaway without leaving the city. Remember the days when people had their own social clubs? Bar, big screen tv, jukebox, poker tables, everyone knew each other followed by the best part....a couple of 9 footers in the back. sigh....

 

[Bustah360]

I'm not thrilled at waiting a long time for a match. I want to walk in, shoot pool and then go home. Pool isn't that important to me that I would spend all my time in poolrooms. That said, going to Amsterdam is a huge waste of time for me. Not knocking the place. I've known the owners personally since they opened ABC West many years ago, and I admire what they've done - make money the right way, by offering players a top tier room. I do agree it's cramped though.

Master is not nearly as nice as ABC but it's rare to have to wait for a table, and there is plenty of action (for money or for fun).

Poolmouse

You're right about Master's though. Ya never really wait at all. Grimey @ss tables but you there's nothing like good old fashioned artery clogging american grease burgers and the fries they whip up while you play a quick set for a few bucks.

 

[Sandman]

I have heard your room is real nice and I am sure it is.
Your mention of Metuchen Station brought back memories of Miseraks room. I think it was called Four Seasons. You didn't need the cab ride. You could just walk over from the station.:wink:

Yes, I actually have Steve Mizera k's old "chalk box" with his initials carved into it. It was passed down to me from the days of Four Seasons. It went from Four Seasons to B&L to Sharky B's to Sandcastle. My houseman is from The Four Seasons and played along side of Allen Hopkins, The Miz, and all the champions that played in that room. It's still the same crew sticking together playing mostly one pocket and card games just like good old times. Someone (Bustah, I believe) asked what ever happened to the good ol' times where there were poker tables and pool tables where everyone knew each other - Sandcastle IS that place in this day and age (minus a bar and with better food) and I am committed to bringing back those glory days to pool once again!
-Sandman

 

[Sandman]

I forgot to mention...Sandcastle is within walking distance from Metuchen station - just over a mile away OR you can cab it right from the station parking lot.