OLDS — If you’re looking for a way to have a little fun on a weeknight, Olds residents Chuck Guagliano and Bob Kilpatrick have a suggestion for you: pool (the game played with a cue, not the tank to swim in).
The two of them have been playing pool for 28 to 32 years. They love it, but they’d like to see more people join their league.
The league currently has 16 teams, up from eight a few years ago, but they’d like to see it expand further.
Guagliano and Kilpatrick stress the league is open to both men and women. They estimate that currently, about 15 per cent of the league’s players are women.
League members play Tuesday nights, starting at 7 p.m., in five venues: Olds College, Bulldogs, The Bowl 5 Pin 10 Pin House in Olds, Tracks Pub and Innisfail Bowling Lanes, from the third week in September through the end of April.
Currently, players range in age from their 20s to 79.
There’s also a league in Drumheller. Sometimes they’ll play tournaments in each other’s communities.
“It’s something interesting to do,” Guagliano said during an interview with the Alberta. “I’ve always played, even when I was young. When I was in my teens I would play pool.
“It’s something anybody can play, it’s not gender-related, so you can get out at least once a week and do something different.
“Good friendships are built here. It’s more of I would say a social thing most nights, rather than a competitive thing.”
Kilpatrick said existing league members are always ready to explain the game and help out new players.
“You get out and meet with people and you have a good time. You have a couple of drinks and have some fun. If you win, you win. And if you don’t, you don’t. So what? You had a good night out,” Guagliano said.
Kilpatrick agreed.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Some of the venues, they put out a little spread for you. You have snacks or whatever.”
There’s an opportunity to take the game further too.
League members have not only participated in playoffs, but also provincials in Edmonton and the westerners in Calgary. Some play in Las Vegas as well.
The Westerners are “huge,” attracting about 400 players, Guagliano said.
“They even broadcast it,” he said.
“Yeah, we were on TV last year,” Kilpatrick added.
Guagliano said he began playing pool when he was about 17 years old (against his dad’s wishes).
“I rebelled,” he said, “but I was really good at it back then, really good; better than I am now. I made a fair bit of money when I was young, challenging guys.”
Kilpatrick said he first began playing the game when he was about 12 years old, although initially, he wasn’t very good and just dabbled in it.
“My mom and dad bought us (one) because there was eight of us and to keep us at home, we had a pool table,” he said.
“What do they say? It’s angles, geometry,” Guagliano said. “If you know geometry, you can play pool, right?”
