Why is Pool no where close to what GOLF is????

[DaveK]

Keep the faith. My TIVO has been taping two pool matches a day for the last couple of months. They are all women, but this is what everyone wants to watch. Maybe it will catch on some day as, IMHO, time will eventually erase all the bad stigma presently attached to pool. And, the leagues will be the savior for pool.

Hey whitey, long time no read ! I tend to agree that a 300 yard sport outdoors on grass is more interesting at many levels than a 3 foot sport on a table in a basement, although I do enjoy both.

<gloat mode on>
Speaking of pool, just last night I watched the semi final from the world 9-ball (Peach over Foldes, both gassed 9 balls early on, made me feel good about my game, especially after I 'replayed' them from my new PVR a few times) on Sportsnet HD on my new 50" plasma ... and I can hardly wait for the Masters.
<gloat mode off>

I've also watched some world class squash, yet another sport that is underachieving in my estimation ... but there are many underachieving sports/games that could be used in these discussions ... curling being Judes favorite, eh Jude ?

We should start to compare pro pool incomes to F1 driver incomes, then we'd be really underachieving.

Dave

 

[randyg]

Where do these numbers come from?

And what levels of players are we talking about? Take my father, for example. Plays golf every single Saturday. I would consider him to be a "golfer". He played SOME pool back in college, and still comes along with me every once in a while. Definitely knows his way around a table, but for the once (maybe twice) a year he plays, I certainly wouldn't consider him to be a "pool player". So, I am confused as to the difference. I know much more people who play golf on a consistent basis that pool. Does playing pool when you are out at a bar once in a blue moon make you a "pool player"?

Lastest Trade Show Polls includes casual players....SPF=randyg

 

[lodini]

Lastest Trade Show Polls includes casual players....SPF=randyg

I personally think that makes it a misnomer. "Casual pool players" could consist of anyone who has ever picked up a cue. And those are not people who are interested in watching, supporting or being a real "fan" of pool on a professional level.

"Casual golfers" of that definition are not so common... as in, people don't generally pick up a golf club and just bang some golf balls around cause they happen to be near a golf course.

 

[Blackjack]

Mainstream means more $/hour charged for table time. It's already too high now at $3.75/hour.

$3.75 an hour?

Consider yourself lucky. Around here, in some places its $10 an hour after 8PM.

 

[av84fun]

Pool is a dirty little game full of con men , smoke, booze and overall dirtbags... played by poor / working class folks.... 0 (Typical preception)

Golf is massive game full of con men, smoke (but outside) ,beer and some dirtbags....pretty much the same as pool... BUT played by Rich/ Upper class folks...

No it's not. Golf is played by people of all walks of life and many of the greatest champions of all time came from VERY humble to middle class families...including Tiger Woods!

LMAO

 

[lodini]

that's just nuts ! It was $10 per day or $3.75 hour, but they just upped it to $10 anyday for noon-8pm and another $10 for 8pm - 4am.

Mondays is still $5/day

That's crazy cheap! Around these parts, you can barely get a drink for less than $10!

 

[Blackjack]

That's crazy cheap! Around these parts, you can barely get a drink for less than $10!

ROTFLMAO!!!

We should move to Iowa - oh wait... we live down here because we hate the cold... I forgot.

 

[av84fun]

To play golf, you swing a club at upwards of 100 mph (hopefully)...strick a ball that is 1.68 in. in diameter...sending it 200 feet in the air vertically and 300+ yards horizontally.

Then you get to the green and try to make a put that is often between 20-50 ft. rolling on an undulating surface were sometimes, 1 foot putts are VERY difficult.

And 25,000 people can watch portions of the tournaments while 1-2000 people can watch individual players.

Regards,
Jim

 

[lodini]

the average family income in Des moines is around $36,000. I'd bet quite a bit different than in miami

cheap is all relative, but yeah, we have it pretty good to some other parts of the country I've lived in.

No doubt that is true... but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow when you find out your 2 hours of playing has just run you a $50 tab (you, your friend and a few drinks). OUCH!

 

[DaveK]

No it's not. Golf is played by people of all walks of life and many of the greatest champions of all time came from VERY humble to middle class families...including Tiger Woods!

LMAO

I'm not sure why you are laughing. Golf was absolutely a game of the rich historically, and only became a game of the more common man AFTER the pro game got popular. This lead to the development of public courses in the 1960s, which in turn lead to the game becoming accessible to the masses. Previously it was a country-club game, and if you could not afford the country-club scene you did not golf. Arnold Palmer was lucky to have been raised on a golf course.

Pool has a slightly different history.

Dave

 

[lodini]

I'm not sure why you are laughing. Golf was absolutely a game of the rich historically, and only became a game of the more common man AFTER the pro game got popular. This lead to the development of public courses in the 1960s, which in turn lead to the game becoming accessible to the masses. Previously it was a country-club game, and if you could not afford the country-club scene you did not golf. Arnold Palmer was lucky to have been raised on a golf course.

Pool has a slightly different history.

Dave

When I was a teenager, I asked my Dad to take me golfing with him, and he always said it was too expensive.

 

[PROG8R]

I'm not sure why you are laughing. Golf was absolutely a game of the rich historically, and only became a game of the more common man AFTER the pro game got popular. This lead to the development of public courses in the 1960s, which in turn lead to the game becoming accessible to the masses. Previously it was a country-club game, and if you could not afford the country-club scene you did not golf. Arnold Palmer was lucky to have been raised on a golf course.

Pool has a slightly different history.

Dave

Didnt billiards get its start with the very rich?

 

[DaveK]

Didnt billiards get its start with the very rich?

Yes, several hundred years ago, although apparently it was also played in French and English prisons too.

Dave

 

[ragoo1]

I think the best chance that pool has of being accepted by mainstream America is to sell it for what it is. The different characters associated with pool make it interesting. They should have some type of reality show with some unique pool players gambling against each other.

We are trying to make pool something it is not and might not ever be. Straight laced, high character men that don't mean anyone harm is not what pool is about. I mean if the Sopranos characters can be accepted by mainstream america why not all of the different characters associated with pool.

I believe The Action Report is going in the right direction. They capture the different pool characters in their element including all of the rail birds. That is what pool is about and that is what makes it interesting. Watching pool tournaments on TV is absolutely boring and the commentators are even more boring. When I went to the derby city classic this year, I might have watched one tournament match the whole time I was there, but stayed up until the early morning hours to watch Tedder and Pickle in action and also Shane and Alex in action.

Just my two cents worth...

 

[Druid]

I have been a passionate believer in a Professional Pool revival since 1992, and have even given speeches and wrote articles on the topic to promote pool to the masses. However, I was wrong and pool didn't flourish but actually diminished. At this point, I've basically given up on a pool revival as a respected professional sport. Pool leagues seem to be the best thing going on. I expect things to get much worse and don?t expect them to get better. Sorry to be so pessimistic, I would love for pool to grow but I don?t see it happening, I hope I am wrong.

 

[BRKNRUN]

I have been a passionate believer in a Professional Pool revival since 1992, and have even given speeches and wrote articles on the topic to promote pool to the masses. However, I was wrong and pool didn't flourish but actually diminished. At this point, I've basically given up on a pool revival as a respected professional sport. Pool leagues seem to be the best thing going on. I expect things to get much worse and don?t expect them to get better. Sorry to be so pessimistic, I would love for pool to grow but I don?t see it happening, I hope I am wrong.

I still think the basic problem is that not many kids play competative pool unitil they are out of high school.

I think that putting a table in each high school and starting pool teams that compete via mosconi format would start a growth of competative pool players.

Had this been done back in 92 I think there would be more interest in "competitive" pool today.

I believe in Texas someone is now doing somthing like that...

If there were more/better junior programs and High School teams...there would be reason for kids to pick up a cue.

Without...They will play sports avialable Football, Baseball, Baketball, Golf, Tennis, Wrestling.

They just need a reason to play......Without wandering into a pool room to find out that there is competative pool being played...

Quite a few kids actually listen to thier parents and don't go to places that they are not allowed....

 

[av84fun]

I'm not sure why you are laughing. Golf was absolutely a game of the rich historically, and only became a game of the more common man AFTER the pro game got popular. This lead to the development of public courses in the 1960s, which in turn lead to the game becoming accessible to the masses. Previously it was a country-club game, and if you could not afford the country-club scene you did not golf. Arnold Palmer was lucky to have been raised on a golf course.

Pool has a slightly different history.

Dave

Dave, you need to read up on your golf history. Snead was a barefoot farm boy who caddied for pennies and nickels.

Travino was born into abject poverty...never knew his father and was raised by his grandmother and grandfather...who, by the way, was a grave digger.

As for golf courses, in the early days in the U.S. they were little more than mowed pasture land with sand packed "greens" on either end of an out and back track...like the one created by John Reid who is considered by some to be the father of American golf.

Those early tracks were ALL "public" for all intents and purposes and even the early "golf clubs" were open to anyone who wanted to join up and contribute to the mowing chores.

Golf was brought to America by Scottish and English immigrants and has NEVER been a sport dominated by the wealthy.

And today, the public access golf courses FAR exceed the number of private courses as has ALWAYS been the case.

Regards,
Jim

 

[fasteddienc]

Want to do something for pool????????????

Here's your chance guys. I see this is a returning and repeating thread. Everyone talks about why pool is at the bottom of the barrel in payouts. Well let's get the ball rolling. Go to this post and help support your sport and get the BCA to listen....http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=93715

This may be your one and only chance for who knows how many years. Mike Janis is trying to help but he needs your help as well. He can't do it alone!!! Strength is in numbers ya know!!

 

[mantis99]

I assume you are talking about pool in the United States. Right? Because pool in Philippines, as an example, is pretty big. In fact, Efren Reyes is the Tiger Woods of the Philippines for sure!

I am not so sure this is all that true. I do believe that pool is bigger in the phillipines than here, but I don't think it is that main stream, especially to say that Efren is as big as Tiger. I know quite a few phillipinos, and encounter a few at work as there is a phillipino based caregivers agency that bring some of the older patients into my clinic. Most them were born or grew up in the phillipines. I also know a few physical therapists and doctors that grew up in the phillipines and moved here. I usually ask them if they play pool or know of the phillipino great pool players. Some of them have heard of Efren, but most just look at me funny when I say "I thought pool was really popular in the phillipines". They tell me that it is popular in certain areas, but not mainstream.

 

[DaveK]

Those early tracks were ALL "public" for all intents and purposes and even the early "golf clubs" were open to anyone who wanted to join up and contribute to the mowing chores.

Golf was brought to America by Scottish and English immigrants and has NEVER been a sport dominated by the wealthy.

And today, the public access golf courses FAR exceed the number of private courses as has ALWAYS been the case.

Regards,
Jim

Some comments :

"When Van Cortlandt Golf Course opened in New York City in 1895, it became the first public golf course in America. There were other golf courses in the U.S. by that time - perhaps 100 or more - but Van Cortlandt was the first built for the masses."

from http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/a/hist_oldestuspu.htm

"The Shinnecock Hills club gets credit as the first to have a real course built on rural turf. The area chosen was along of the Great Peconic Bay on Eastern Long Island and shares were sold at $100 each. A clubhouse was erected and in 1891 play commenced."

from http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=30310&select=6936&select2=2

The Royal Montreal Course, the oldest in North America, remains quite exclusive I believe.

Golf hasn't always been an accessible game.

Dave