[Big_Bad_Bern]

I believe that pool is facing an extremely difficult challenge currently, rising cost of business combined with stagnent wage rates is making running a successful pool room very difficult and especially some place large enough to hold proper proffessional tournaments. This has neccesitated the use of casino's and hotels for tournament venues and driven up the cost of events, making it much harder for promoters to turn a profit (Glass City open) or at least not loose money.

I think that an alternate location idea is neccessary and I propose Golf courses, their are thousands of them all over the country and most have to contend with 4-6 month off seasons due to inclement wheather. I am sure if they were approached with the idea as a secondary source of revenue and a way to keep their patrons and members comming there through the winter, as well as bringing in new faces and members who might never set foot on a golf course otherwise, and it would expose pool to new people and lend legitimacy to our game and make possible a viable Pro Tour and Qualifying Tours from which to graduate to the Pro Tour. Also weekly league play from various agencies (APA, BCA, VNEA, TAP etc. or one run by tour organinzers) would be a way for golf course profits to be increased as well as subsidizing the various tours.

Think about it most golf courses are already equiped to provided food and beverages, and have plenty of parking and the list could go on.

Just my opinion, I am interested to hear others.

Bern

[Demondrew]

Great idea, but:
There is only so much space in most clubhouses, where are you going to keep the tables during the golfing season.
Most zoning laws have golf courses and pool rooms in different classifications and a Zoning Board of Appeals waiver would be needed.
There is a snobbery factor that needs to be overcome (sorry golfers).
Pool players are looked on as hustlers, most courses are working hard to keep the golf hustlers out let alone bring in new hustlers.
The initial investment in enough tables to run a successful league means a three to four years at only break even (at best).

But then:
The liquor license that goes unused for four to five months is given new life.
Club membership goes up, maybe picking up a few new golfers.
With the spacing of golf courses traveling leagues don't need to be crammed into too small bars.
Courses may pick up some banquet business during their normally closed season.

With all that being said the big problem as I see it is the pool players themselves. They want the best equipment but the cheapest table time, they want good food but wont spend a dime for it in a pool room but will spend the same amount for MacDonald’s and want to bring it in with them. They want to be the main attraction but will forget that it's a golf course first and foremost. They will figure some way to screw it up.

I have seen some great rooms go under because the players wont support them.

I have seen the enemy, and he is us.
Demo

[Pelican]

Demondrew, on Feb 5 2008, 10:06 PM, said:

Great idea, but:
There is only so much space in most clubhouses

OK. use all weather table and put one on each green and hold a combination golf/pool tournament!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pel