Non-Pool
Topic: Help - Advice required.

Howdy all, I hope you are all well.

    Next year a friend and I are embarking upon a huge trip across the Americas, starting in, and spending a good amount of time within the US and Canada. I am looking at getting back into the pool side of things after too long, am missing the tournaments (not that I did anything in them, good to learn)

Basically I am looking at playing in some lower level tournaments, maybe getting some tuition and generally just get to meet people, its not a pool-centric trip.. just doing something I should have done a long time ago and seeing the world. I have registered on az and am getting some feedback from there, but I thought I would ask where you guys have had good experiences, or if you know anyone who would be happy to point me in the right direction or good locations, or good places to visit, basically anything anyone is happy to share.. basically going into this all from scratch (hehe I made a pool based funny)... :s

I will quit my rambling now.. thanks for reading and any help you might be able to give

Dudley Brook


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Due to economic constraints. The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off

I spent most of my time in 2 cities when I lived in the USA. I hope this may help. There should be plenty of tournaments around. Amsterdam Billiards (Manhattn, NY) - Chris Lynch & Tony Robles were house pros when I was there. People can get a bit uptight in there.
Eastside Billiards (Manhattan,NY) - my main pool hall in NYC. Relax atmosphere.
Wynkoop Brewery (Denver, CO) - micro brewery with pool tables upstairs.

Enjoy your trip.

It's always tough finding good clubs abroad.

Quite often they're not even in the phone book, let alone having a web presence.

What I generally do when I arrive in a foreign country is get the phone book from reception and rip out/photocopy the pool/billiard club page. Then phone them to make sure they are still open, and book a taxi and visit every club, asking at every club if there are any other clubs (that way you find out about any clubs that aren't listed).

This technique has enabled me to find some real beauties in Paris and Geneva, and some real dives in the Frankfurt red light district (but they did have a couple of 3 Cushion Billiard tables, so all was not wasted). It didn't help at all when I was working in Fort Lauderdale - I couldn't find a decent pool club or billiard shop anywhere (only duff ones!).

Make sure you play hard while you're out there - good luck and play well.

All the best,
Big Dave.

Thanks for the words to the wise guys, I will definitely be checking those out. I think I will be updating my trip as I go, and emailing ahead to various players, a couple have very kindly offered their hospitality, so should get the low-down on any gems, will of course send them your way, in fact it probably wouldn't be too much trouble to put together a list as I go, if thats something you think could be useful Dave?

Yeah, that sounds like a brilliant idea... Maybe even blog your travels if they are going to feature a fair amount of pool?

indeed, that is the plan, sort of a lonely planet for pool and all things random is going to be fun thats for sure

City Pool Hall and Chris's Billiards - where they shot Color of Money - in Chicago.

On 2011-06-03 19:15 , BigDave Wrote:

Hi Dave, where and what did you find in Geneva? I have been living here for 3 months and have found only one club, Elvis/Sphere Club. There are no comps, no tours or anything like that.

Cheers

Churchill

Hi Churchill,

Welcome to Pro9.

The club I found in Geneva was truly awesome... A really beautiful, upscale club with nothing but the best equipment, Brunswick Gold Crown tables, Simonis 860 Powder Blue cloth, Aramith Balls, and every table had two of those special pool player "high chairs" with the cup holder and notches in the arms for holding cues.

The bar was a central island, with the tables fanned around it on three sides in a horse-shoe arrangement.

Everything was so clean, the lighting was perfect, the music not too loud, and even better, it was early and no-one was around, so I had the place all to myself.

It really looked so professional, almost intimidating for an amateur - it really looked like the whole place had been designed by a pro player, for pro players - it really was outstanding. The layout was such that you would never get anyone distracting you by walking past because the tables were all around the walls - but perhaps the fact that it was empty when I arrived was an indicator that all was not well. I played as much as I could, to support the place and what they were doing, but no one else came.

Ironically, it was called "The Players Club" - the one thing it lacked. I found it in the phone book, but the next year I went, it was closed!

http://philbilliardclubgeneva.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Philippine-Billiard-Club-of-Geneva/172056694929

Looks like you want to chat these guys up!

On 2011-06-19 10:11 , BigDave Wrote:

You will find them at the "Club Carougeois de billard" (CLICK HERE). They are real nice person to be around and some can play too. You will find some action if you want. Jonni Fulcher also comes here to play sometimes.

La Sphere is a nice room but the price are overdone and Elvis is a p… in the a.. so none will play here

The players club is closed Dave… it was a really, I mean really, nice room.