Hi everyone. This is my first time posting on the forum. I've been an avid reader of the forum for quite some time. Before I get to my post I guess I should share some background info with everyone. I'm a relative newbie to pool. I've been playing seriously since march, and playing everyday for at least 6 hours for a few months. <caught the bug and now i'm doomed for eternity> I play at a B+/A- level, and getting better by the day. Thats all the info i can think of, just figured being new thats the best way to introduce myself to the forum. Anyway, now to my post....
There are very very few local tournaments for me to play in around the area of va i am from, so i'm always traveling on the weekends to play. so i was looking for a tournament that was played on a regular basis, and i found one at a prominent hall in va beach. their website gave the schedule and advised to call early and register, which i did. from where i live is about an hour and a half, depending on traffic to the beach. when i arrived there i was directed back to the tournament room and when i got back there to pay my entry fee i was quickly told that i could not play in the tournament because it was a "local" tournament. of course this was not advertised on their website, nor was i asked where i was coming from when i registered over the phone. it was an open tournament (i.e. no handicaps), it is advertised as open to 64 players. i happened to glance at the roster, and to my surprise it only had about 20 people signed up!! with that few of people i would think my entry should be welcomed as to be added to the field and purse. to add insult to injury the person directing the tournament said that they let people from as far as richmond play, and some places in carolina. i tried to explain to him that i lived closer to the beach than richmond. i'm 83 miles from there as where richmond is 97 miles. i work in richmond and play primarily in richmond. after trying to explain he still told me no and that he was "sorry". i didn't get loud or anything, but i was a bit irratated and just left. i should have probably talked the manager, but at that point i was not in the right mind set to play, so i left. i have since emailed the contact info listed on their website, and i am still awaiting a reply. i'm not posting this to trash the establishment, but just to make a point. that point being, that its the small things out there that are hurting the pool playing world. for such a small weekly tournament they should be welcoming everyone willing to play. i more than likely would not have won the tournament, but i am trying to become a better player, so i am playing in as many competitions as humanly possible. so many places i have been, people seem to be so protective over their "territory". maybe its just me, but little things like this seem to be hurting pool, and not helping it. we all love to play, and should welcome anyone and everyone that wants to play pool. if its something high stakes, thats different, but something as small as a 25.00 entry to a one day tournament is nothing to turn people away over.
sorry that my first post is somewhat negative, and i did go off on a little rant. i love to play, and it irratates me sometimes that people make such a big deal over little things in this game.
thanks for reading and its a pleasure to be part of the furum.
There are very very few local tournaments for me to play in around the area of va i am from, so i'm always traveling on the weekends to play. so i was looking for a tournament that was played on a regular basis, and i found one at a prominent hall in va beach. their website gave the schedule and advised to call early and register, which i did. from where i live is about an hour and a half, depending on traffic to the beach. when i arrived there i was directed back to the tournament room and when i got back there to pay my entry fee i was quickly told that i could not play in the tournament because it was a "local" tournament. of course this was not advertised on their website, nor was i asked where i was coming from when i registered over the phone. it was an open tournament (i.e. no handicaps), it is advertised as open to 64 players. i happened to glance at the roster, and to my surprise it only had about 20 people signed up!! with that few of people i would think my entry should be welcomed as to be added to the field and purse. to add insult to injury the person directing the tournament said that they let people from as far as richmond play, and some places in carolina. i tried to explain to him that i lived closer to the beach than richmond. i'm 83 miles from there as where richmond is 97 miles. i work in richmond and play primarily in richmond. after trying to explain he still told me no and that he was "sorry". i didn't get loud or anything, but i was a bit irratated and just left. i should have probably talked the manager, but at that point i was not in the right mind set to play, so i left. i have since emailed the contact info listed on their website, and i am still awaiting a reply. i'm not posting this to trash the establishment, but just to make a point. that point being, that its the small things out there that are hurting the pool playing world. for such a small weekly tournament they should be welcoming everyone willing to play. i more than likely would not have won the tournament, but i am trying to become a better player, so i am playing in as many competitions as humanly possible. so many places i have been, people seem to be so protective over their "territory". maybe its just me, but little things like this seem to be hurting pool, and not helping it. we all love to play, and should welcome anyone and everyone that wants to play pool. if its something high stakes, thats different, but something as small as a 25.00 entry to a one day tournament is nothing to turn people away over.
sorry that my first post is somewhat negative, and i did go off on a little rant. i love to play, and it irratates me sometimes that people make such a big deal over little things in this game.
thanks for reading and its a pleasure to be part of the furum.
