Hello!

[rodmac]

Rodmac here in sunny Clearwater, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. Originally from Canada, playing snooker since a youngster. Have found one very old very beat up 10-ft Brunswick table in a local pool hall, used by locals for "golf" -- no one plays snooker. No snooker tables in any of the other half dozen local emporiums (emporia?). Oh well. Look forward to meeting you all!

[Maija]

Hello and welcome rodmac!

For 'golf'?! I am imagining all sorts of strange things now, but this in reverse, perhaps?

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...nookergolf.jpg

[rodmac]

Popular game here in USA - we also used to play it in Canada in the 40s and 50s. Each player -- usually 3 or 4 -- has his own cue ball and object ball, and play in rotation breaking off the the black spot from the D when played on a snooker table, following the pockets in rotation one after the other. Usually scored per "stroke" but sometimes scored per "hole", a gambling game, deadly cutthroat: unlike real golf where you cannot interfere with another players shot or ball, in this game you knock the others' balls away from their intended pocket while setting up for or making your own. Actually rather fun game sometimes.

[snookerdad]

Hi Rodmac

Do you read any of the American pool / billiard magazines?

Which one, if any, covers the most snooker?

Tim

[Maija]

@rodmac: Oh, that does sound like fun! I'm going to test it out with the kids this summer.

[rodmac]

Hi Rodmac

Do you read any of the American pool / billiard magazines?

Which one, if any, covers the most snooker?

Tim

No I don't read any mags -- been thinking of it, but the internet and on-line mags are so handy I just go on-line to get info. There's snooker being played in the country, but not around here, and I've seen coverage of it on the internet. I have watched hundreds of matches on YouTube, for example Robert602 has posted dozens for which I should write and thank him one of these days!!!

Rod

[rodmac]

@rodmac: Oh, that does sound like fun! I'm going to test it out with the kids this summer.

Well let me tell you there are as many variations and sets of rules as there are cities, or even pool halls within them. It's only played for money as far as I have ever seen in 50 or more years.

You can get one set of rules here:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/eric.perreault/golf.html

which is said to be Billiard Congress of America rules. But I've never seen this version of play anywhere.

Or there's this on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_(pool) which is a little different.

Or there's this from Encyclopedia Britannica, which is a little closer to what the guys play at my local club, but not really:

"Each player tries to play an assigned object ball into the six holes, or pockets, of the table, beginning with the left side pocket and moving in clockwise rotation around the table. The object balls are respotted after each hole is completed, and the player who completes the “course” in the lowest number of strokes is the winner. Each player begins with the cue ball on the centre spot and the object ball on the foot spot. The player's first shot of the game must rebound off the foot cushion before contacting the object ball. If the shot is missed, the player continues from wherever the cue ball comes to rest. On subsequent holes the object ball is replaced on the foot spot, but the cue ball is played from where the previous player left it. These shots need not be banked. Other rules are similar to those of pocket billiards."

See, all these rules have everyone using the same cue ball. But in my experience, each guy has his own. For example, one will use white and a red, the next the yellow and blue, the third another set, each with one of them designated as cue ball and object ball. This puts a lot more traffic on the table for playing knockouts, safeties, and so on -- more complex, more fun. Any other rules can be made up and agreed on, especially about fouls and so on.

Finally, let me add that I don't play this game here locally, I did back in Canada years ago. I've watched the locals playing here and they have an incredibly complex and arcane set of local rules often leading to heated arguments about this or that fine point. Great to watch, can go slow or fast.

[RaNeN]

Hi Rodmax, Welcome to TSF!!

[Muley]

Just looking back through some of the old posts on this forum and came across this one and thought I would like to add to it. When I was a younger, Golf was very popular amongst the older gambling type gents around the area. Some of us younger fellows would try our luck time to time but more often than not we would get a sound thrashing. Since I bought my own snooker table about a year ago I have played the game a lot and had lots of fun.
It takes a lot of skill to play the game well and I would think that snooker players would have an advantage when playing this game as they are used to playing on a 6x12 table and are used to snookering their opponents and making delicate shots. The game can get very serious and heated as its usaually played with at least 4 players but 5 or 6 is common. Its a great game when you have a few friends over and nobody wants to sit out.
The game we play goes like this. Each player is assigned a cue ball and object ball. White on red, yellow on green, brown on blue and pink on black.
If there are more than 4 players we improvise and use the numbered pool balls like the 7 on the 15 etc. For the first hole you have to determine who goes first etc. This can be done by any methond you like. Cut cards, toss a coin etc. At the start of the game all balls are kept in hand. The first player spots the object ball on the black spot and shots from behind the scratch line. The next player does the same and so and so on. There are variations but we begin with the corner pocket nearest the yellow spot and then work our way around the table counter clockwise ending up in the corner pocket nearest the green spot. Once a player has pocketed hi ball in the apropriate hole he counts the strokes of the other players until they pocket their balls. It is easier to keep track of the count on a chalk board. After the last ball is pocketed the players move on to the next hole with the highest score going first. Play continues like this until all six holes are complete. If a player scratches or pockets an apponents ball he is awarded a 3 stroke penalty and must respot on his next turn. A players ball is deemed "in" when it is pocketed in the object hole even if its pocketed by someone else. If a player pockets an apponents ball only the pocketed ball is respotted at that players turn. Object ball is spotted on the black spot and the cue ball is played from behind the scratch line and play is continued. If the black spot is covered then balls are spotted on the cusion directly behind the black spot. If that spot is covered then the ball is spotted just ahead of that spot directly behind the black spot and so on. I think that about covers the rules. Try it and have some fun.
Best of luck,
Muley

[RaNeN]

Hi, Welcome to TSF.