One pocket ghost gave me Larry’s cell but he has not replied.
What’s a good pool hall around here?
John, I just left Clearwater, Florida today. Clearwater is nearly straight across the state from Melbourne County. Several of the finest beaches on the gulf side of Florida is a part of Clearwater.
I played for several days in a small pool room named
Family Billiards in Clearwater that has six 9 foot Brunswick Gold Crowns I's and II's, five 8 foot tables (unsure of manufacturer), and a small bar. I only played on the Gold Crowns. The balls rolled straight at a medium-slow speed on Simonis cloth with 4 and 1/2 inch pockets. I noticed that the counterman would always assign the novice players to the 8-foot tables and the accomplished players to the 9-foot tables. Nonsensical behavior was never allowed.
Now if Gold Crowns, balls rolling straight, and Simonis cloth don't get you in there, then the money you "won't spend" might. The pool rates are ridiculously low. For example,
7 days a week from 11 am to 9 pm the rate is $1.50 per hour per player. I had to underline the price. Then
Sunday to Thursday from 9 pm to 3 am, it jumps to $3.00 per hour per player. I had to underline the price again. That makes Friday and Saturday from 9 pm to 3 am the prime time with the rate skyrocketing to $4.00 per hour per player. However,
escorted ladies play free from 9 pm to 3 am. I know what your thinking, they make a killing on beer and wine sales. As I was at the counter, a guy with his lady friend played for a couple of hours, had 4 beers, and the bill was $14.00. The guy couldn't believe it was only $14.00. The counterman said, "No, I didn't make a mistake, it's only $14.00." A day earlier, I had played nearly 5 hours with another player and the tab was $14.00. That would have been a half a C-note at Chris's!
The proprietor, Eric, in his early 60's, has had the place for 40 years and is also an
exceptional one pocket player. He is usually there during the daytime. It's a pool room that has an old charm, and from the few days that I was there, a good blend of players and possibly a few old pool sharks. But if in your opinion it's not your type of pool room, you can always go to the famous Clearwater Beach where you might come across a real shark.