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

[sidepocket]

The King

If I may offer my opinion, as a player of both sports, some random thoughts about the games:

Arnold Palmer. The game was not popular among the middle class until he made it fun, energizing, and we all recognize him no matter what sport you play. In no way diminishing the talents or character of professional pool players... I doubt there are too many outside the sport that would recognize a player. (Though, I will say that other than the glue that is Tiger of the game, there no longer exists the personalities and showman ship that once existed in the game. I think the $$ has gone beyond what is resonalble, imo).

Golf is game that most know. A group of players playing stroke play, some are cut, some make it to Sunday, and you have drama at the end. By contrast, I do not think people know which game we are playing...9-Ball, Straight, 8-Ball, etc. Personally, I think straight pool could be televised with great drama if filmed and announced well. By the way, lets get the men on ESPN....why is it just the women. The only pool I see is trick shots on ESPN.

Golf courses are not hard to find, they are everywhere. Not so with pool halls. Most, to attract clientele, seem to be a combination of pool hall and sports bar. Therefore, it is difficult to lose the stigma of being a bar. Of course most courses have a 19th hole, but they just do not seem to be bars. In my perfect world, my golf club would have two 9-foot tables in the 19th hole.

Gambling. I do not think this is a good argument to keep pool down. Both sports have significant amounts of gambling (otherwise, why keep a handicap, when I could measure myself against other players by height). Both games have games within the game that are specifically evolved from the necessity to gamble. Lastly, I believe that in either location you will find heavy betting in cards after the last ball is potted, holed out, or the match concluded.

Maybe a paradoy of Caddy Shack should be done for pool...excuse me, Mrs. Havacamp could you turn the cue around.

Bottom line, IMO, Arnold Palmer, timing, availablility to children (didnt address this one), and exposure. Lets get these games on ESPN in some HD!

 

[sde]

Golf carts

Can someone please tell me why pool isn't bigger and better, or atleast close to that of golf?
Pool can be played anywhere at anytime inside, no weather delays, more people play pool than golf(I believe), its cheaper to learn how to play and to play.

I JUST DON"T GET IT??????????

If pool had carts maybe that would help.


Steve

 

[BPG24]

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...

Nice post!!!

 

[enzo]

bc when somebody plays good all the other players do is whine and complain and have absolutely no class, we reap what we sew.

 

[randyg]

52 Million Pool Players.
26 Million Golfers.

 

[PROG8R]

Its very simple. In golf, you call penalties on yourself. In pool, you kevetch your opponent into accepting your penalties. In golf, you try to lower your handicap. In pool, you sandbag to make it higher (actually lower). Those who play golf, "respect the game". Those in pool couldn't give too craps about it as long as it makes them a dollar and are long gone after than dollar is gone. Real simple.

tim

I got to tell you that I hope you were kidding about the no sandbagging in Golf. If you didnt sandbag, I can tell you that there are few things you can win $$$$ being one of them. You want an example. Go to thegolfchannel website and look up their amateur tour. Then go to events and click on the results of any given event. The championship flight is 0-5 handicaps, but the 3,4, and 5th flights are scoring better than the single digits and the 4th and 5th flight are supposed to be for 15-20+ handicaps. How am I supposed to beat someone that I have to give 12-15 strokes to and they are actually a 6-10? There is no more worse feeling then playing your ass off, shooting a gross 73- or 76 and getting beat by a NET 62!!

 

[Craig Fales]

If it was only about money there would be NO pro pool.

You could make that statement about any sport.

 

[stikapos]

I got to tell you that I hope you were kidding about the no sandbagging in Golf. If you didnt sandbag, I can tell you that there are few things you can win $$$$ being one of them. You want an example. Go to thegolfchannel website and look up their amateur tour. Then go to events and click on the results of any given event. The championship flight is 0-5 handicaps, but the 3,4, and 5th flights are scoring better than the single digits and the 4th and 5th flight are supposed to be for 15-20+ handicaps. How am I supposed to beat someone that I have to give 12-15 strokes to and they are actually a 6-10? There is no more worse feeling then playing your ass off, shooting a gross 73- or 76 and getting beat by a NET 62!!

I understand the concept of hustling, but how exactly does one "sandbag" in golf? Ooops, I three putted on that green ? I can boom them 300 yards, but today I'm only hitting them 200 ? There's cheating everywhere, but leagues in golf are typically about fun more than prize money, which is where I was coming from. And btw, why isn't there a limit on the net score shot in such tournaments ???

tim

 

[stikapos]

Yeah. There is never any hustling or stalling in golf.

As far as your statements about everyone only being in the game for money, that is quite possibly the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. 90% of the pool world could make more working at Wal Mart than they net from pool. If it was only about money there would be NO pro pool.

The term "money", includes money outside of tournaments. There is no true pro pool. At least on the men's side. Additionally, Ex golfers are typically college grads, especially due to the strong amatuer programs at that level. That makes them more successful outside of pool, as well as being a more trusted asset by the advertising community. The truth is that number 60 on the pro tour makes a good living.

tim

 

[PinoyAko]

I have a question?
if gambling and hustling is what u say is the problem then why is pool in the philippines thriving.Pinoys r said to hone their skills through money games and any player in the philippines no matter what speed will get a crowd. and there is a table around every corner and there is always a crowd

 

[stikapos]

Great point. I would hope that someday, pool would become a sport where individuals pair up for cash, similar to the old Firestone golf programs, which were on Sunday mornings. I've always loved watching the "skins" format or a good ring game.

tim

 

[PROG8R]

I understand the concept of hustling, but how exactly does one "sandbag" in golf? Ooops, I three putted on that green ? I can boom them 300 yards, but today I'm only hitting them 200 ? There's cheating everywhere, but leagues in golf are typically about fun more than prize money, which is where I was coming from. And btw, why isn't there a limit on the net score shot in such tournaments ???

tim

Yeah, that is pretty much it right there, most sandbag shots are around the green. Or they will play the hole WAY OUT OF CHARACTER (very risk reward holes, they can hit 2 easy 160 yd shots and be putting for birdie, but they blow it up and take a 8!!) Most places use an adjusted hdcp, where the max I can take on a certain whole is +2, but if they are 12+ hdcp then they can take a +4 or more and they get to stay up there. It seems to be a way to take the one or two freaky holes that most of us get that can bust a score all to pieces out of play. ( I bet Duval and Daly wish they had the same). When I played in league play up north, I was moved back and forth from a 0-2 hdcp every year, and every year I got a trophy for being the worst putter (most 3 and 4 putts).

 

[curlyscues]

i want carts too

If pool had carts maybe that would help.


Steve





View attachment 62867

So how much did you tip your caddie??
M.C.

 

[PROG8R]

So how much did you tip your caddie??
M.C.

Just the TIPPA I am sure.

 

[Bluesteel]

Amen

This post should be made a sticky so that every 2 weeks when this question comes up everyone can point to it.

View attachment 62864

AMEN, this horse has been beaten, kicked, and molested

 

[lodini]

52 Million Pool Players.
26 Million Golfers.

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"?

 

[3andstop]

Could it be because of that loud obnoxious noise in all poolrooms these days that some call music, that causes many otherwise paying customers to stay away from playing the game, and cause others to run out of the poolrooms and go home and eat their young? Maybe?

 

[Da Poet]

Personally, I think the typical pool tournament format is a dead end for encouraging spectators. The matches rarely follow a schedule, if you happen to be a fan of a particular player, you have to get there early, and who is going to stay and watch 12 hours of pool at a time cooped up in one spot?

I think TAR is going in the right direction but pool shouldn't be compared to golf anyways. Two completely different games.

 

[9 on the snap]

Can someone please tell me why pool isn't bigger and better, or atleast close to that of golf?
Pool can be played anywhere at anytime inside, no weather delays, more people play pool than golf(I believe), its cheaper to learn how to play and to play.

I JUST DON"T GET IT??????????

It's the same reason people don't spend a million dollars to live next to the pool hall.

 

[whitewolf]

Can someone please tell me why pool isn't bigger and better, or atleast close to that of golf?
Pool can be played anywhere at anytime inside, no weather delays, more people play pool than golf(I believe), its cheaper to learn how to play and to play.

I JUST DON"T GET IT??????????

When I was a kid (let's say 15 years old), my next door neighbor got a pool table. We loved the game, but when it came time to get out on the golf course we both said YIPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Pool was something you did in the rain. It was BORING when compared to playing golf.

Pool, to a kid, and also to adults I think, after a while has the same old patterns, the same old game of 8 ball, the same old same old, the same bar, the same smoke, the same drunks, etc.

In golf, you are out with nature! And the holes NEVER play the same. In pool, the pockets are in the same old place 100% of the time. In golf, they move the holes on the greens, you play from sand sometimes, you play under the trees sometimes, you shoot over water, you shoot from the rough................I could go on and on and on, but for those of you who have never played golf, you are really missing something.

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.