Pool Players Dream Vacation...

ratnip

ratnip

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello all,

I work full-time and am a single dad. My daughter (cross my fingers) will be going to college in 3 years. This got me thinking about taking two different week long pool related vacations each year.

The only experience I have with a pro tourney was The Reno Open years ago. I spent a week and had a blast. Got to play 'up front' next to Strickland. See Corey Duel when he was ranked #1, Alex clowning around, and etc.

Originally I was thinking of D.C.C. and the U.S. Open. I think D.C.C. would be a blast, but U.S. Open more as a spectator. However, am curious to see if maybe a U.S. Bar Table Championship or B.C.A. Nationals would be more accommodating and fun for a recreational player. Also thought about attending a TAR event someday.

If you had two vacation trips, each lasting one week, where would you go and why?


Thanks,

Jay P.
 
pool players Dream

ratnip said:
Hello all,

I work full-time and am a single dad. My daughter (cross my fingers) will be going to college in 3 years. This got me thinking about taking two different week long pool related vacations each year.

The only experience I have with a pro tourney was The Reno Open years ago. I spent a week and had a blast. Got to play 'up front' next to Strickland. See Corey Duel when he was ranked #1, Alex clowning around, and etc.

Originally I was thinking of D.C.C. and the U.S. Open. I think D.C.C. would be a blast, but U.S. Open more as a spectator. However, am curious to see if maybe a U.S. Bar Table Championship or B.C.A. Nationals would be more accommodating and fun for a recreational player. Also thought about attending a TAR event someday.

If you had two vacation trips, each lasting one week, where would you go and why?


Thanks,

Jay P.
Click to expand...
No matter what your second choice is #1 should be the DCC it has so many venues so it never gets boring. All the greats are there and there are plenty of great places to watch from. If you have never been to a US Open I would go there at least once, it has been one of my fondest memories in pool. Wherever you choose to go I hope you have as much fun as I always do or more.
 
ratnip said:
Hello all,

I work full-time and am a single dad. My daughter (cross my fingers) will be going to college in 3 years. This got me thinking about taking two different week long pool related vacations each year.

The only experience I have with a pro tourney was The Reno Open years ago. I spent a week and had a blast. Got to play 'up front' next to Strickland. See Corey Duel when he was ranked #1, Alex clowning around, and etc.

Originally I was thinking of D.C.C. and the U.S. Open. I think D.C.C. would be a blast, but U.S. Open more as a spectator. However, am curious to see if maybe a U.S. Bar Table Championship or B.C.A. Nationals would be more accommodating and fun for a recreational player. Also thought about attending a TAR event someday.

If you had two vacation trips, each lasting one week, where would you go and why?


Thanks,

Jay P.
Click to expand...

I think it really depends on what you would like to get out of the trip. Do you want to play in the tournament? If so, then the DCC and BCA Nationals might be up your alley. If you want to go as a spectator, DCC and the Open...or USBTC.

From talking with Shannon Daulton and a couple of others, the DCC is the most fun you can have at a pool tournament legally...(sometimes that's stretching it there...lol).

He also said that while the Open is an absolutely amazing event, it does not have the "flavor", excitement, and non-stop action of the Derby. What it does have is the prestige of being one of the longest running events in the pocket billiard world.

As far as the BCA Nationals go...just looks like it would be an absolute blast to attend, same as the USBTC. And heck...you're in Vegas!

Best advice would be this. Decide why you want to go, what you want to get out of the trip. If you want an experience playing, then DCC and BCA Nat's might be right up your alley. If you want to play a little and do more spectating, then DCC and the Open or USBTC might be the way to go. Just my $.02.
 
Ratnip's Pool Vacation

Ratnip -

I think you would really like the BCAPL National 8- Ball Championship.

Not only have MANY great amateur matches to watch, but we have soem of the greatest pro events around. Last year the World Pool Masters and the US Open 10-Ball Championship. They had 64 and 128 players respectfully and close to $200,000 toal in payout.

Keep in mind, you can PLAY at the BCAPL event. If not playing in the league, you can become a player member and play in the singles.

Another suggestion: The USBTC (US Bar Table Championship) held in Reno toward end of Feb. is a fun event. You can also play in it and it is close to Seattle.

But possibly the best is a 2.5 day trip to LA. Feb 12-13, 2011. At Hardtimes in Bellflower is the 15th Annual Jay Swanson 9-Ball Tournament. This is an inexpensive ($80) event that last only 2 days. Played on 9' tables and usually fills up with 192 players.

It is a great event and a way to rub shoulders with a lot of West Coast talent. It also is not a week long and is on a wekend -so it will almost be like an additonal event to your 'wish list'.

Hope yo jump in - but sign up early so you don't get shut out!!

Mark Griffin, CEO
markg@playcsipool.com
CSI - BCAPL - USAPL
Jay Swanson - USBTC
 
Start at the top of your list, cross off the US Open and The DCC, then make your decision after attending those two.
 
Thanks for the responses thus far.

From what I'm reading D.C.C. is for sure on my list now. However, not sure on the U.S. Open, as I'd rather play than watch all week. D.C.C. is reasonable in regards to entry fees, that I'd be willing to partake.

Anyone attend international events, that may be a "dream" vacation for a pool player?

Jay P.
 
The BCAPL event in Vegas is the best ever event on the pool calendar, and remarkably enough, Mark Griffin now sees to it that each one of them is better than the last. Finally, there is no greater pleasure than spending time in the midst of over ten thousand other pool enthusiasts, and, to my knowledge this is the only chance you ever get to do that.

The DCC, though superb, is a distant second, unless competing in multiple pro level events is your focus.
 
You can't go wrong with the BCAPL in Vegas. You can play in the amateur events and watch the pro's. Also, the best amateurs in the world are playing. Another event that is fun to attend and lasts 3 or 4 days is Allen Hopkins Super Billiard Expo.
 
sjm said:
The BCAPL event in Vegas is the best ever event on the pool calendar, and remarkably enough, Mark Griffin now sees to it that each one of them is better than the last. Finally, there is no greater pleasure than spending time in the midst of over ten thousand other pool enthusiasts, and, to my knowledge this is the only chance you ever get to do that.

The DCC, though superb, is a distant second, unless competing in multiple pro level events is your focus.
Click to expand...

Stu,
That's a great commendation and I agree with what you said. Mark Griffin and his whole operation does a lot for pool. I hope the BCA Pool League continues its current path of growth and success.

I hope to make the BCAPL tournament next year. It can't get too large for me.
 
DCC should be first on that list. Then its a toss up for me. either the open or bcapl. But nothing beats 10,000 pool players in one city at one time. So bcapl it might have to be.
 
BCAPL in Vegas, if you tire of pool, you have all of those cheap rooms, casinos, restaurants and shows. You can catch action at the Pool Sharks, Cue Club or Mickey's.
 
I went on a vacation just as a spectator to 2008 D.C.C. with a good friend of mine. We watched a ton of pool and also shot a lot as well whenever we weren't interested in a match or just had the urge. I think we stayed there 3 or 4 nights and slept a good 5 hours a night (morning) and we didn't even sleep the final night because we had some crazy matches to watch until the wee hours in the morning and just went straight from there to our morning flight. It was nuts. Very exciting.
 
ratnip said:
Hello all,

I work full-time and am a single dad. My daughter (cross my fingers) will be going to college in 3 years. This got me thinking about taking two different week long pool related vacations each year.

The only experience I have with a pro tourney was The Reno Open years ago. I spent a week and had a blast. Got to play 'up front' next to Strickland. See Corey Duel when he was ranked #1, Alex clowning around, and etc.

Originally I was thinking of D.C.C. and the U.S. Open. I think D.C.C. would be a blast, but U.S. Open more as a spectator. However, am curious to see if maybe a U.S. Bar Table Championship or B.C.A. Nationals would be more accommodating and fun for a recreational player. Also thought about attending a TAR event someday.

If you had two vacation trips, each lasting one week, where would you go and why?


Thanks,

Jay P.
Click to expand...

Personally, I like playing more than I like watching, although watching can be fun. Therefore, I would probably go to Valley Forge and BCA nationals each year.

However, Valley Forge is usually only 4 days (Thursday - Sunday). Therefore, you could steal a couple of days from there and attend the DCC or US Open for a couple of days, as well.
 
ratnip said:
Hello all,

I work full-time and am a single dad. My daughter (cross my fingers) will be going to college in 3 years. This got me thinking about taking two different week long pool related vacations each year.

The only experience I have with a pro tourney was The Reno Open years ago. I spent a week and had a blast. Got to play 'up front' next to Strickland. See Corey Duel when he was ranked #1, Alex clowning around, and etc.

Originally I was thinking of D.C.C. and the U.S. Open. I think D.C.C. would be a blast, but U.S. Open more as a spectator. However, am curious to see if maybe a U.S. Bar Table Championship or B.C.A. Nationals would be more accommodating and fun for a recreational player. Also thought about attending a TAR event someday.

If you had two vacation trips, each lasting one week, where would you go and why?


Thanks,

Jay P.
Click to expand...
Well Ratnip, I think this event will be very inexpensive based on the other events and also you will not only be playing next to Strickland but oplaying along with him also there will be a few other bangers in the room you will play with too. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=201670
 
Heres one you havent mentioned yet:

Take two weeks and go to the Phillipines during the WPA event or any other big tournament there where all the players are there.
 
ratnip said:
Hello all,

I work full-time and am a single dad. My daughter (cross my fingers) will be going to college in 3 years. This got me thinking about taking two different week long pool related vacations each year.

The only experience I have with a pro tourney was The Reno Open years ago. I spent a week and had a blast. Got to play 'up front' next to Strickland. See Corey Duel when he was ranked #1, Alex clowning around, and etc.

Originally I was thinking of D.C.C. and the U.S. Open. I think D.C.C. would be a blast, but U.S. Open more as a spectator. However, am curious to see if maybe a U.S. Bar Table Championship or B.C.A. Nationals would be more accommodating and fun for a recreational player. Also thought about attending a TAR event someday.

If you had two vacation trips, each lasting one week, where would you go and why?


Thanks,

Jay P.
Click to expand...

i say the dcc.
 
I would suggest the Super Billiards Expo, in March ( superbilliardsexpo.com )

There is so much going on. You can be involved, or just watch. There are vendors who have cues, cases, all sorts of cue sports-related items. So many thousands of people are there having a grand time. And, there is national history very nearby. It IS right there at Valley Forge, you know! :thumbup:
 
Thanks for responses...

And the first trip I will attend is D.C.C., and have two of my friends wanting to go. :D That should make it more memorable.

Thanks for the responses and keep 'em coming. AZ'r support is awesome.

Jay P.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top