Hello from California

[Rethunk]

update

Here's one that MAY have had it at one point, but not sure if it still does, in San Jose:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/romleys/3264680291/

I just confirmed that Westside Billiards does NOT have a snooker table. Thanks for the link, though.

I've completed my initial search and I found over 50 listings for pool halls, clubs, inns, and other sites in California with snooker tables. The final tally will probably be about 30 for California since some sites have closed, sold their snooker tables, or were misreported as having a snooker table.

When I called Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, CA I was told they have twelve (!) 6 x 12 snooker tables. According to my current records that's the highest snooker table count for one location anywhere in the U.S.

In a few weeks I'll post the full list online on a new website, so stay tuned.

[Rethunk]

I'm nearly finished with the list of snooker tables in the U.S. Here's a partial update of the list for California; there are actually more sites in CA with snooker tables, but for the moment it was easiest to just update the list I posted previously:

Green Room [one 5 x 10]
4006 San Fernando Rd
Glendale CA 91204 (818) 548-0739 http://www.you-are-here.com/building/green_room.html

Shooters [one 5 x 10]
24450 Lyons Ave
Santa Clarita CA 91321 (661) 287-5888

California Billiard Club [three 6 x 12; league w/ Shoreline Billiards]
881 E El Camino Real
Mountain View CA 94040 (650) 965-3100 http://www.californiabilliardclub.com/

Shoreline Billiards [two 6 x 12; league with California Billiard Club]
1400 N. Shoreline Blvd. Suite C-1
Mountain View CA 94043 650-964-0780 http://www.shorelinebilliards.com/index.html

----

Embassy Billiards Club [twelve 6 x 12 tables]
220 S San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel CA 91776 (626) 286-8100 http://embassybilliardsclub.snookerusa.com/

Could someone confirm this? It almost seems too good to be true.

-----

Shooters Sports & Grill (one 5 x 10, one 6 x 12)
10226 Indiana Ave
Riverside CA 92503 (951) 785-9588

Hard Times Billiards [one 6 x 12]
17450 Bellflower Blvd.
Bellflower CA 90706 (562) 867-7733 http://www.hardtimesbellflower.com/

The Broken Rack [one 6 x 12 with cloth for golf]
6005 Shellmound St
Emeryville CA 94608 510.652.9808 1 http://www.thebrokenrack.com/index.html

Burbanks Elks Lodge #1497 [one 5 x 10]
2232 N. Hollywood Way
Burbank CA 91505 818 848-5508

Edgie's Billiards [one 6 x 12]
235 S Milpitas Blvd
Milpitas CA 95035 (408) 942-9500

Elks Lodge #652 [one 5 x 10]
445 Herrick Ave
Eureka CA 95503 (707) 442-6652 http://www.elks.org/Lodges/LodgeFaci...odgeNumber=652

---

Here's a quick list of sites that appeared in my original list but that no longer have snooker tables:

Eight Ball Pool Hall, Bakersfield
Buffalo Billiards, Cotati
Gil's Service, Franklin
Gaslamp Billiard Palace , San Diego
Elks Lodge #906, Santa Monica

The 5 x 10 table at Gil's Service is in storage, but they may have it back up and in playable condition at the end of 2009.

The complete list will be online within a few weeks.

Check out the posts in the Snooker forum at AZBilliards.com, including this post from someone living in Anaheim:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=143581

[neptar]

Reading through this thread has made me appreciate how lucky I am. I have access to pretty much every kind of cue sport in my area. I can't imagine living somewhere without a snooker table now . One day I hope to have my own table.

But I also enjoyed reading the enthusiasm from members from across the pond. Hows snooker going for you stranger? Improved on your break building? Still using the same cue?

[DKhan]

Hello Rethunk,

Mind you, some of the places you've listed above that carry snooker tables are 'useless' for playging snooker but rather for golf gamblers. Long time ago I played golf once at Hardtimes; I was totally frustrated, lost $20 and left the place miserably to never play golf again, much less snooker itself.

Check out the posts in the Snooker forum at AZBilliards.com, including this post from someone living in Anaheim:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=143581

Yep, that's me and thanks for inviting me here.

[felipecocco]

Rethunk, where can I access the rest of the listings for the entire US?

[Rethunk]

Hello Rethunk,

Mind you, some of the places you've listed above that carry snooker tables are 'useless' for playging snooker but rather for golf gamblers. Long time ago I played golf once at Hardtimes; I was totally frustrated, lost $20 and left the place miserably to never play golf again, much less snooker itself.

A very good point. Sometimes I've gotten information about the cloth on the snooker table, and I'll be making a note of that in the listings. Otherwise I'll probably have to wait for info to trickle in about whether the snooker tables have napped cloth or fast pool table cloth.

For about 1/3 to 1/2 the sites I've called the people who answer the phone don't even know that there's a difference between the American 5 x 10 and the standard 6 x 12 table.

Yep, that's me and thanks for inviting me here.

Glad you're here.

Rethunk, where can I access the rest of the listings for the entire US?

I'll be putting the information online at a new website within the next few weeks. I have a few more phone calls to make, and then I need to do some programming and formatting. I'll be posting the link to the site here when it's ready.

As of this afternoon there are 165 pool halls, rec centers, Elks Lodges, and other sites that I've confirmed have at least one snooker table.

[Rethunk]

Currently I count 23 rooms in California with snooker tables. That includes three Elks lodges, a bed & breakfast, and an RV resort.

See this post for info about the room & table count for the entire U.S.:

http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...ad.php?t=18239

[DKhan]

Hello folks,

Last Saturday I took the time to visit Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, CA. The hall is huge, well maintained, decorated with pictures, posters and trophies, and with lots of tables. There are a total of twelve 6x12 snooker tables out of which nine are for regular use, three for tournament and one kept in an exlusive room for private use. There are several 5x10 snooker tables as well besides other standard pool tables. It is essentially an Asian oriented place (Chinese/Vietnamese). Other than regular cuisine, alcohol and smoking is forbidden. Very impressive, I've yet to witness anything similar.

I happen to chit-chat with the owner named Paul, a decent gentleman as he seemed in his 70's yet healthier younger looking. Since this was my first visit and having to play snooker after several years, he not only offered me to practice but also had a couple of friendly games with him in its entirety on one of the tournament tables (for free). Obviously I was out-of-touch but nevertheless very excited and enjoyed playing/practising on great looking well maintained tables. Paul did seem to like my game but oh boy, I do need a lota brushing up. Forgot to take some pictures but will remember next time.

My only concern at this point is that its kinda far for me to visit regularly but will surely pay a visit again soon. Please note that the Cue T's in Monterey Park, CA, which was located on the opposite side of Hwy 10 and close to Embassy Billiards has closed down. Also, I noticed that the roads and the area in general were not pleasing. I plan to visit a couple of the billard/snooker halls in the Riverside area coming weekend. Anyone from around my area (Anaheim/Orange County area) wanting to join me or meeting me at one of snooker halls for friendly games, please PM/email me. Thanks.

[Rethunk]

Last Saturday I took the time to visit Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, CA. The hall is huge, well maintained, decorated with pictures, posters and trophies, and with lots of tables. There are a total of twelve 6x12 snooker tables out of which nine are for regular use, three for tournament and one kept in an exlusive room for private use. There are several 5x10 snooker tables as well besides other standard pool tables.

Wow. It's great to have confirmation of the dozen 6 x 12's. When I called the guy who answered didn't mention the 5 x 10 tables. How many would you say there are: perhaps three?

Forgot to take some pictures but will remember next time.

I'd be very interested to see pics.

My only concern at this point is that its kinda far for me to visit regularly but will surely pay a visit again soon. Please note that the Cue T's in Monterey Park, CA, which was located on the opposite side of Hwy 10 and close to Embassy Billiards has closed down.

Yeah, I heard about that. Too bad.

Anyone from around my area (Anaheim/Orange County area) wanting to join me or meeting me at one of snooker halls for friendly games, please PM/email me. Thanks.

Great report, DKhan. I look forward to reading more about your trips.

I'm hoping to have the website with the complete list of U.S. rooms with snooker tables online the weekend after next.

[DKhan]

Wow. It's great to have confirmation of the dozen 6 x 12's. When I called the guy who answered didn't mention the 5 x 10 tables. How many would you say there are: perhaps three?

Not sure, though did notice at least two, Rethunk. I didn't pay attention to the number of other tables but shall update the next time I visit there.

Great report, DKhan. I look forward to reading more about your trips.

Thanks. I just wish there were others in/around my area who could join me to play either snooker or 9 ball. I am planning to join the APA League here in the Orange County, CA, just to get back into the game, meet other players and have some fun. The only thing I dislike is the bar-size tables. I wonder if there are other leagues that play on larger standard pool tables.

[Rethunk]

Not sure, though did notice at least two, Rethunk. I didn't pay attention to the number of other tables but shall update the next time I visit there.

I included those two in the Google Maps list:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showth...78#post1866378

It was a reasonably quick exercise to enter the listings for California manually. For the nationwide Google Maps list I'll do it programatically.

Cross-posted to AzBilliards forum:
http://www.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&...mid=1244605260

[Rethunk]

You can find the current listings for California here:

http://www.findsnooker.com/California.html

I'll update that page as I confirm more listings.