Golf on a 6x12= worst game in history

[macguy]

I should have mentioned they were playing teams, with four men. I don't know much about the rules and I thought that's how it's played normally, but apparently it can also be every man for himself. Maybe that's why they were playing so carefully?

Anyways, to John Henderson, etc. There are a couple of golf players down there that just play incredibly good. What I mean by that is their speed control on that table is just unbelievable. One of the players who probably plays the best golf in the poolhall is a no-name from Mexico. I don't care how good Parica or anyone else supposedly plays the game, I think this guy could hang with them. I'm not gonna say his name or what place because I don't want to kill anyone's action, supposedly alot of them play the game for a living.

Rex Williams came in the pool room when he was in town playing a series of exhibitions with Mosconi. (I think he was world snooker champion at the time) He got into a two handed golf game with one of the better local players and lost quite a bit. Here is the funny part, Mr. Williams was playing in a very nice suit minus the jacket that he had hung up but looked very elegant never the less. The guy who was barbecuing him was in his work clothes and covered with plaster, he had just come from doing a job. That's how important the table is, if you don't know the table it almost doesn't matter how good you play you won't beat another good player on his home table. The guy you are talking about, might beat Parica on his home table, for a little while anyway. You could never go on the road playing golf, you would always lose.

 

[Josh Palmer]

Did you go watch the game at HT Last Two? I took Rafael down there, and he got in the game with the locals. He didn't remember the exact roll of the table(which all the locals do), but he won with amazing drag-draw on every shot, ensuring that the CB was headed straight. Some of the old timers there can really play, and Morro makes more money there than on a pool table.

 

[Tommy-D]

> I really like the game myself,just so rarely play it. There used to be 2 5 x 10's in Kennett,Mo,and after a tournament relatively cheap action could be found most of the time. These tables were pretty loose by snooker table standards,unlike the table at Southaven Rec Center just outside Memphis,I was told there was a standing bet of 100 bucks if you could shoot the cue ball straight into all 6 pockets off the 5 ball spot. The owner Rosey was said to have beaten Parica playing 6-ball on this table the first time Jose played on it,and wasn't the only time. I've heard similar horror stories about Big Bertha. I think more than any other game except maybe 1-hole,the older,patient guy that moves well has the nuts over someone who is likely to shoot at and make anything. I'll give you the best example of this. About 12 years ago,a young,fairly gifted player in Memphis was playing the best local golf player,an older guy with a lot of knowledge and gambling savvy. This table was not quite as tight as the one at The Rec,but not loose either. I'm not sure what they were betting before I got there,but starting with the first game I watched,they were playing 800/80. The old guy got the jump on the kid,and before long racked up 24 hickeys,playing some of the most astute safeties I've ever seen in this game. There were several times he shot basically the same shot,and got away with it a lot. He eventually won that game,leaving the kid a little more than enough to play one more rack. They were playing the variation where the first hole was the bottom right corner,counter clockwise where the 6 hole was the bottom left corner,as opposed to clockwise where the side pocket was the out hole. They were playing with the agreement that the winning player was to lag first next game,it seems like everywhere I've ever played it was different. The older guy lagged first,and left his ball in a bad spot. The kid shoots his lag ball like a hanger,makes it off the old guy's ball,his cue ball lands in a perfect spot to lag his ball to the 2 hole,which he does but makes it,and proceeds to run out,not taking in any additional bonus from the hickies,but the bet was made before I got there a 6 hole run paid double. The old guy quits 3 games stuck on the per-game bet,but almost 2k ahead on the hickeys. In my personal experience with the game,it is infinitely more enjoyable to play as a ring game with 3 or more players as opposed to heads up. Tommy D.

 

[DaveK]

No offense, but the Canadian tables I have seen (Riley/Dufferin) have pockets that are like buckets compared to the tables I have played on here. Plus, a lot of places here play with pool balls to make it a little tougher, and the Canadian game I saw had some obstacles on the table. Seems like it was a very different game. John Henderson

Some play with pins, some do not, but always with snooker balls around here. As far as "Canadian tables", please be careful of generalities. There are 4 snooker tables in my favorite pool hall, one is so damned tight that most avoid it, one has pretty large pockets (buckets to some I'm sure), and the two busiest and best playing tables are tight but not stupid like the other table. I have no idea what kind of tables they are, I rarely go back there (at 5'5" I've needed the rest for a straight in side pocket shot, so I now play on tables more my size).

I can understand how watching a golf game would be a bit boring. Of course many games are created without any thought of how entertaining the game is to spectators, mostly they are created with the players in mind.

Dave

 

[Snapshot9]

Golf is fun..

At Club Billiards here in town, Golf is the main game on a 5 x 10.
I think the place first opened in the late 20's or early 30's, and
still has that look about it. Dominoes and card tables are plentiful,
and there are only 2 or 3 Pool tables in there gathering dust.
I played Golf as a kid quite a bit, even made up harder versions
of it like floating Golf (red ball stays where it rolls after first getting
knocked off of chalk), Tennis (3 red balls on chalk on 7, 5, & 4 spot),
and Floating Tennis (3 red balls only stay where they roll after knocked
off of chalk). They all presented unique challenges. Any fairly good
Pool player looking for a break or different flavor of Pool can enjoy
themselves in playing a game of Golf, similiar, but different challenges,
and have fun doing it. It is not unusual to pull in $200-500 from winning
a Golf game with 5-7 guys in it, which is why some Pool players will
stroll in now and then. Oh, and they make a real good Cheeseburger,
has that good ole time flavor to it.

 

[Boro Nut]

Rex Williams came in the pool room when he was in town playing a series of exhibitions with Mosconi. (I think he was world snooker champion at the time).

Only in the same sense that Loree Jon Jones is the current World 8 Ball Champion. He was a World Champion at English Billiards. Completely different animal, though I'll grant he was no mug at snooker.

Boro Nut

 

[macguy]

Only in the same sense that Loree Jon Jones is the current World 8 Ball Champion. He was a World Champion at English Billiards. Completely different animal, though I'll grant he was no mug at snooker.

Boro Nut

This was around 1973 that was how they billed him when he was playing Mosconi.

 

[sodapopd]

golf on a 6 x 12...gotta love it!

This is my favorite game of all to play and watch. Of course I would rather play than watch. Heads up is great for getting to play a lot, but I really enjoy ring games w/several players. There are all kinds of people that make the game interesting in one way or another...
you got the old guy that claims he can't see a lick and cuts balls in from everywhere.
there's the guy(which is everyone ) that trys to talk everyone into doing what will help him out(i.e. the wrong shot), some are just a little more crafty in their approach.
there is the guy that has certain lucky shots that are named afer him.
there are guys that have certain shots that are named after 'em, good and bad.
there are a few in the game where everyone is out to get him and everyone else is getting walked aroung the table.
there is that guy you and everyone else(when shaking the peas) says "I want to follow _____"
You got the guy in the game that plays very strong and talks the weaker players(fish/newbies) into believing that he is just lucky and should watch out for so and so. (see blind old man)
You always have someone in the game where you just want to say "get off my leg"!
there are the guys that seem to only play to hook whoever they are holding and not even try to win.
You almost alway have some one in the game that is doing something goofy without them realizing it.
Entertainment galore as long as you don't have thin skin. there is always smack talk going on, and if you want to hang with 'em, you gotta give as good as you get.

 

[jrhendy]

Golf On The Road

Rex Williams came in the pool room when he was in town playing a series of exhibitions with Mosconi. (I think he was world snooker champion at the time) He got into a two handed golf game with one of the better local players and lost quite a bit. Here is the funny part, Mr. Williams was playing in a very nice suit minus the jacket that he had hung up but looked very elegant never the less. The guy who was barbecuing him was in his work clothes and covered with plaster, he had just come from doing a job. That's how important the table is, if you don't know the table it almost doesn't matter how good you play you won't beat another good player on his home table. The guy you are talking about, might beat Parica on his home table, for a little while anyway. You could never go on the road playing golf, you would always lose.

I actually made some pretty good scores on the road playing golf. Poker Paul from San Jose & I took a trip many years ago, in August /Sept. and while there isn't as much pool action that time of year, we traveled through the Western states and got plenty of golf action. You are right about getting beat by the local guys on their home court and sometimes I had to hang around a week or so to get my money back, but turned it into a positive most of the time because by the time I got the table and rules down, the bet was up. I got beat in Albuquerque for $700 by a guy named Al who was the local dogcatcher. When we got to the room Paul looked at me and said "Got me a hell of a road man, got beat by the dogcatcher". Took me almost a week to get my money back. Al could play some and it turned out he used to own the poolroom. The only guy that beat me that I didn't hang around to try some more was a guy named Cigar Sam at the Family Fun Center in Denver. We put up a thousand and played $100 and $10 a hickey, and I felt like I got lucky to only lose $400. Home court is a terrific advantage, but the best player will eventually win. John Henderson

 

[AuntyDan]

The guy who was barbecuing him was in his work clothes and covered with plaster, he had just come from doing a job.

The only thing you know for sure is he LOOKED like he had just come in from doing a job. The dirty overalls and paint is (one of the) olderst hustles in the book.

Still I agree that games like Golf, One Pocket and 15-1 "Alabama" 8 Ball are games where tactics and knowledge outweight ball pocketing abilities, and any time the table is a long way from being "normal" (EG Super tight pockets, inconsistent pocket sizes, odd drifts and rolls etc.) the local with good table knowledge will be able to exploit these to their advantage.

 

[macguy]

The only thing you know for sure is he LOOKED like he had just come in from doing a job. The dirty overalls and paint is (one of the) olderst hustles in the book.

Still I agree that games like Golf, One Pocket and 15-1 "Alabama" 8 Ball are games where tactics and knowledge outweight ball pocketing abilities, and any time the table is a long way from being "normal" (EG Super tight pockets, inconsistent pocket sizes, odd drifts and rolls etc.) the local with good table knowledge will be able to exploit these to their advantage.

This guy was a regular in the room he owned a plastering company and he wasn't the best golf player in the place. This place had 6 x 12's that had rolls like a putting green. I know what you mean though.

 

[hemicudas]

Southern Billiards Oct.28-30

As an old time golf player and someone who used to ROB pool champuions on the 6 x 12 in Bellflower for years, I think I you are dumb enough to get in a game you don't know, you deserve to go off. Next to one pocket, golf is the hardest game to learn (no offense to you straight pool players). Now take into consideration the home court advantage, and a stranger has almost no chance playing a local good player. Grady beat me playing heads up on Bertha many years ago, but he can play a little golf. He was hanging around the Billiard Palace in Bellflower when Verne Peterson re-built Bertha. If your talking about a ring game, if all of the players have played together for some time and the rules are decent, the good players protect the weaker players, and gang up to keep a front runner from winning the game. The "DENVER" rule (you pay double if you sell out) will make the reckless players learn how to play safe. We used to play 30/3 or 50/5 five handed ring games in Bellflower, and sure, some of the games took hours, but it was a sweet payday when you won one. The payoffs were a little too good, because a little team play & business pretty much ruined those games. Then we started playing liabiity snooker, but that is another story. OHB is right, it is the best house game there is. If there was a decent golf game in the Sacramento area I'd be there every day. They play some at Kim Davenport's place in Modesto, but that is on a 5 x 10 and a couple of hours away for me, but now I'm getting fired up about playing some golf & may go down there. John Henderson

Couldn't agree more, John. As you have probably read we already have a golf game lined up for the tournament at Southern Billiards in Starkville, Miss. the weekend of Oct. 28th. It is on the Professor's 5X10 rather than a 6X12 and much cheaper but you are more than welcome to come play.

The only problem I have run into with the "Denver" rule, as you guys call it, is that it does not have to be the fault of the person who's man wins. It often is the person that shoots ahead of him that keeps him hooked or in such a tough spot that he has no option other than letting his man out. I agree that help should be given to the lesser player, if no other reason than self defense. Yes, it is a tremendous house game. Any room owner that doesn't push Golf games is missing a tremendous opportunity. I am like you, John, I love the game and always have. If played right no game will take 9 hours on any table. Come play some golf with us.

 

[Rod]

The only problem I have run into with the "Denver" rule, as you guys call it, is that it does not have to be the fault of the person who's man wins. It often is the person that shoots ahead of him that keeps him hooked or in such a tough spot that he has no option other than letting his man out.

Playing in Colorado years ago I didn't know it was a "Denver" rule but sell out always payed double. I agree with you Bill, sometimes the guy in front is so afraid to take a shot they just play leave. I've been burned on this myself. Anyone who's played the game has seen it countless times. Never heard of Golf games taking hours betwen two players. Once you have the speed down someone is comming with a big shot especially two handed.

Someone mentioned knowing the table, definetaly true, many champions have been beat by much lesser players. Shooting those long sliders to keep the c/b rolling strait is a standard stroke for a good golf player. Not much golf action around here these days or i'm not aware. Even so if I did play again it's just a question of how much is it gonna cost till I learn the table.

Rod

 

[ironman]

The Denver Rule

The old Family Fun Center at 38th & Sheridan, in Denver had, for years, one of the toughest folf games in the country. The game was almost always full and stayed that way from 11AM until 6 or 7pm, mon-Sat. Russ Trotter, Sam Jones, Dennis NIchols, Jerry Larson, Tim Cole, and Al Hogue played the game, (on that table) as well as anyone in the country. Al ran out so much that he fot barred from the game and started making the 3hole twice. When that didn't hold him, he played jacked-up.
The Denver rule, the one who sold out paid double was a good rule and kept the game,(fairly) honest.

 

[Rod]

The old Family Fun Center at 38th & Sheridan, in Denver had, for years, one of the toughest folf games in the country. The game was almost always full and stayed that way from 11AM until 6 or 7pm, mon-Sat. Russ Trotter, Sam Jones, Dennis NIchols, Jerry Larson, Tim Cole, and Al Hogue played the game, (on that table) as well as anyone in the country. Al ran out so much that he fot barred from the game and started making the 3hole twice. When that didn't hold him, he played jacked-up.
The Denver rule, the one who sold out paid double was a good rule and kept the game,(fairly) honest.

I remember that place the names are vague. My buddy use to tell me about Russ Trotter, I think he played Billiards well if I remember right. He had passed on before I went there. I played there a couple of times, some golf and nine ball but hell I don't remember much it was to long ago.

Rod

 

[unknownpro]

The old Family Fun Center at 38th & Sheridan, in Denver had, for years, one of the toughest folf games in the country. The game was almost always full and stayed that way from 11AM until 6 or 7pm, mon-Sat. Russ Trotter, Sam Jones, Dennis NIchols, Jerry Larson, Tim Cole, and Al Hogue played the game, (on that table) as well as anyone in the country. Al ran out so much that he fot barred from the game and started making the 3hole twice. When that didn't hold him, he played jacked-up.
The Denver rule, the one who sold out paid double was a good rule and kept the game,(fairly) honest.

That's a cool place. Nice people. Only room in the country that helped me out on the Camel tour. Thanks to everybody there for everything... it's nice when people treat you well when you are so many miles from home.

unknownpro