Name: GOLD COAST 8 BALL ASSOCIATION INC
Website:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gold.coastassociation
Location: Gold Coast
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE G.C.8.B.A. (written 2006)
The Gold Coast 8 Ball Association was formed in 1983, and is the only organized 8 ball competition that covers the whole Gold Coast, from Coolangatta to Upper Coomera. It is a teams orientated competition, that has teams of all abilities vying for the prestige of becoming the champion team of the year.
We have four divisions so players and teams can compete within their ability, and the season usually runs from March right through to November, with matches played on a Thursday night. It is a wonderfully social sport, where teams travel to different venues to compete, thus meeting people, and visiting venues all over the coast. A team has a hosting venue and plays an average of every second match there, traveling to the opponent’s venues in between.
It is the association’s aim to preserve a social, yet competitive competition, and to promote and encourage 8 ball. We pride ourselves on an organized and well-respected competition, with strict rules laid out for both team and player behavior. We also have the opportunity for individual players to excel in prestigious titles such as the Gold Coast divisional Singles Champion, the Gold Coast Mixed Doubles pairs, the Gold Coast Open (ungraded) Doubles pairs, and the Gold Coast Representative Team, which represents our region against other Queensland regions in the 3 day “City Country Tournament”. Our association is affiliated with the Australian 8 Ball Federation through the Queensland 8 Ball federation, and all registered players have the opportunity to try and make it into the State representative teams, to play at the Australian National titles.
Our type of competition is also an excellent way for venues to be exposed to 8 ball players all over the coast. It is a chance to find out about a venue’s local pool competition or pool sessions and their facilities, often with members of the association offered great discounts at participating venues. Some venues have had their same teams playing for a number of years with a great rapport existing between staff, management, and players. It is a fantastic way of promoting both the competition and the venue.
We currently have between 30 to 40 teams involved and encourage new members, teams, and venues. We have the serious “pool sharks” right through to the novice player, and there is no age or sex barriers. For anyone under the age of 18, and unable to compete in licensed venues, we have the juniors division.
