View Full Version : This is where my club play in Hong Kong.
Hi everyone,
After a talk with Pecheur and other badminton fans in my last post, now I'm going to upload some pic which is where my club play in Hong Kong, I hope the pics can give some ideas of you guys why playing badminton in HK are that expensive.
4) 2nd floor of reception
AT this floor, you can find Gym room, Active room, Squash court and main court guess viewing flatform (but too bad the viewing platform was closed, and I can't be bother to take other pic for the facilities)
5) This is the left hand side of the main court, have 4 badminton court setup already.
Each side can transform into 1 basketball court, 1 volleyball court or 4 badminton court.
6) Different angle view of the left main court
7) This is the right half of the main court, Basketball court was setup
8) I took a side view for the main court.
9) This is the 2nd view of the side main court
The main court can setup 8 badminton in total.
So, I hope most of you guys use boardband internet, otherwise, sorry! Too much photos.
Anyway, that's it.I also want to take some pic of the changing room, but there was people in there, so I can't take any pic.
But the changing room has the following facilities
1) Locker (tall enough for you to put racket in- free of charge)
2) Shower (have hot & cold water, some center even have Power shower head)
3) Hair dryer.
We can book court 1 month in advance via the internet or by phone. Of course you can also book court at any of the sports center in Hong Kong.
Some other center even have rock climbing facility outside the building, have golf practice room, Childrens play room and canteen. Cool huh?
Now Pecheur, understand why it cost so much for us to book badminton court yet? hehe
badrad
10-19-2002, 03:24 PM
heheheh - have you considered not playing badminton in a shopping mall? heheheh. That center really looks too nice to be playing sports, more for shopping for your sports equipment.
Winex West Can
10-19-2002, 04:33 PM
Very nice. Like the fact that the badminton courts separation are quite wide. Looks like there is around 6 feet between two courts side by side and more than that with the end to end courts.
How is the lightning? From the pictures, it looks like it might be too bright. Any problems with losing the shuttle in the lights?
Here in Luxembourg the state provides equally nice sport centres free of charge to clubs. Every village has its own hall, and since your average Luxembourgish village will have 500 residents or so, filling the halls is actually a problem. The only expenditure is shuttles, really. We're a spoilt lot :D
JChen99
10-19-2002, 08:30 PM
Originally posted by badrad
heheheh - have you considered not playing badminton in a shopping mall? heheheh. That center really looks too nice to be playing sports, more for shopping for your sports equipment.
Well, quite honestly speaking... there's more than just sports in a shopping mall in many of the asian countries... ever tried swimming in a shopping mall?? :D :D
Yes it's true! some malls have swimming pools at the very top floor:eek: :eek: :D
Cheung
10-19-2002, 08:36 PM
Winex West Can,
Very observant about the lights. It's a bit difficult for the first timer. I still think the draught is a worse factor.
I once played a league match there. Told my teammates to choose the end so that they would have to play into the draught during the last stages and play tight net shots.
The result, the opponents had real difficulty controlling high lifts to the back of the court (kept going out). When they kept the shuttle low and played drives, the shuttle would still fly out the back.
Some halls are like that...need some tactical planning.
hehe, yeah, the court is just too nice. Like a shopping mall.
About the lightning, I wonder did the gov hire some PRO designer to build that or not.
Most of the halls have the lightning problem, either too bright or too dark. Some court lightning even set right in the middle of the court, so when ever you head up and try to see the shuttle on the top of your head, you only see the light.
But I know that's a new one at KLN side, the place called "Lam Tin" , Cheung might know. People said the lightning are good and the wall color is black. I still haven't got a chance to play over there yet, cause the booking is not easy.
Originally posted by Winex West Can
How is the lightning? From the pictures, it looks like it might be too bright. Any
problems with losing the shuttle in the lights? [/B]
Jazz:
The lightning looks too bright is just because I use slow shutter for my DC and use +0.7ev exposure.
^_^
Originally posted by badrad
heheheh - have you considered not playing badminton in a shopping mall? heheheh. That center really looks too nice to be playing sports, more for shopping for your sports equipment.
Jazz:
haha, I forgot to tell you guys, there's a sports center at KLN side called "Shek Kip Mei" That sports center are HUGE!!!!!! Apartfrom the standard facility I said before, they aslo have a little shop for people to shops their equipment there!
Next time when I go there, I will definitly take some pics!
Cheung
10-20-2002, 04:12 AM
If you post up pictures of SKM, all the guys are going to be really jealous.
Lam Tin?? Are you referring to the one near the top of the hill that overlooks the sea?? The floor in that one is really good. But does it have black walls?? Can't remember!
Cheung, my friend told me about that Lam Tin sports center, have you been there recently?
Shek Kip Mei court, I only hate the lightning, it's a bit dark.
Hey, where you use to play in Hong Kong? When you have time on SAT afternoon, you can come and play with us.
ksooi
10-21-2002, 05:06 AM
Hey Cheung,
Wanna go one Sat? ;)
I played in Lam Tin twice....dunno if its the same one but the lighting was very poor but the floor was quite nice.:)
Wow. Real nice accomodation. Looks like an expensive hotel ;)
Butttt... the wooden floor. Apart from my personal disliking wooden floors (when doing excercises with the focus on speed, it feels like skating around), i don't recall seeing international matches on such a surface. Is this a common underground in Asia ?
Playing league matches in Holland, a lot of players around talk about "have you already played against team X ? the wooden floor ... ouch"
yup, if I'm not mistake, all the gov sports hall are wooden floor, cause it's not only design for badminton. But the floor are not slippery at all.
^_^
Cheung
10-21-2002, 08:34 PM
Thanks for the invitation Jazz.
Saturdays are difficult for me, though.
Wooden floors...hmm sounds like another topic for discussion....
benfok
10-21-2002, 11:09 PM
All right! I am drooling in front of the monitor it is embarassing. :D :D
But I still would prefer green floor with white lines like the professionals use. :D :D
I wish I am back in HK.
Ben
Thanks Jazz for the nice pics. Our Club has more or less the same type of flooring and colour but it is of the 'sprung' or suspended type which is kinder on the knee joints. Unlike yours, which is multipurpose in nature, our Hall is strictly for badminton with only three courts. The advantage of this is that there are no interfering lines which can confuse the player. As you also have basketball in the same hall, probably the flooring is of the solid type. I find the row of florescent lights rather distracting and we have succeeded in solving this problem by installing spot lights that are tilted to shine at the ceiling instead of into the eyes so that we have indirect or deflected lighting. Even then, many players complain that the lights are too bright. We may need to change to a lower voltage the next time. I am also doubtful whether your ceiling is high enough for a good singles game. For doubles, the hall looks okay.
Yes the colour of the walls is an important consideration. Despite the fact that we
painted a darker green-beige colour, our walls still looks too bright and interfere with the flight of the shuttle. One side of our hall, which is made up of dark green sliding aluminium, louvered doors, is of the right colour because it is dark and provides a good contrast to the white feathered shuttle. Next time, we will try to change the other brighter coloured walls to a darker tone without creating too gloomy an effect in the hall.
Size, including height and space between courts and the walls, flooring, colour and lighting are definitely important considerations, but this is not the end. Ventilation and wind are also important. Our ventilation is satisfactory as we have a high ceiling to trap the hot air which rises and there are extractor fans placed strategically in the celing to suck out the hot air. But we have a problem with the wind as we have huge louvered windows built high all round the hall and this cannot keep out the occasional strong winds that blow from outside. We are thinking of putting up curtains but have not decided on what type. We need to make sure that the hall is still properly ventilated and yet prevent the draughts from invading.
So despite that fact that we have taken advanced steps to create an ideal badminton environment, there are still quite a lot of work to be done to achieve our goal. One difference we have is ours is a members' club and not a proprietary one. Therefore we own the club and have a hand in the decision-making process. Over the years, we can make improvement to our badminton hall when conditions are ideal. I wish I can reciprocate with pics, but I am just a beginner as far as IT and the internet are concerned.
Chu Pa
11-04-2002, 01:35 AM
I'm not too familiar with that area where Wai Tsuen Indoor Recreation Centre is located. How long would it take to walk from Tai Wo Hau MTR station to Wai Tsuen? Is there a bus I can take from the station to the recreation centre? Thanks in advance. :)
Cheung
11-05-2002, 05:36 AM
Takes about 5-10 minutes walk from Tai Wo Hau station.
From Tai Po, a couple of ways:
1) Take 73x bus from Tai Po Market town (main street). Goes past Tai Wo Hau station
2) take train to Sha Tin station.
Go underneath to the bus terminus and catch 49x. Can't remember exactly the destination on the bus. Please check because you don't want to go the opposite direction!
49x stops right outside the sports centre itself.
Chu Pa
11-06-2002, 03:56 AM
Originally posted by Cheung
Takes about 5-10 minutes walk from Tai Wo Hau station.
From Tai Po, a couple of ways:
1) Take 73x bus from Tai Po Market town (main street). Goes past Tai Wo Hau station
2) take train to Sha Tin station.
Go underneath to the bus terminus and catch 49x. Can't remember exactly the destination on the bus. Please check because you don't want to go the opposite direction!
49x stops right outside the sports centre itself.
Cheung, thanks for the directions. :) I'll see when I have time to go to Wai Tsuen Indoor Recreation Centre for baddy.
49X bus stop are just located at a little park next to the center,it is the second bus stop right after the tunnel.
Chu Pa, come and play with us or come and chat about badminton are always welcome. As my club are still fresh, I think I'll need advise from you guys
The center are also very close to the MTR station, just get out via the "Lok Yeung Sun Tsuen" exit, go to the 2nd floor of shopping mall, you will see 7-eleven. There you are, go outside turn right and walk straight. (you will pass through a car park first )
Look forward to see you man
This SAT we'll play 2-5pm
Chu Pa
11-06-2002, 11:50 PM
Originally posted by Jazz
49X bus stop are just located at a little park next to the center,it is the second bus stop right after the tunnel.
Chu Pa, come and play with us or come and chat about badminton are always welcome. As my club are still fresh, I think I'll need advise from you guys
The center are also very close to the MTR station, just get out via the "Lok Yeung Sun Tsuen" exit, go to the 2nd floor of shopping mall, you will see 7-eleven. There you are, go outside turn right and walk straight. (you will pass through a car park first )
Look forward to see you man
This SAT we'll play 2-5pm
Jazz, thanks for the final instructions to the recreation centre. I'll see if I have any other plans. Have to get by the girlfirend in order to play baddy. :) Can I pay a visitor fee to you the first time or do I have to pay the recreation centre? Thanks again. :)
Huh? haha, you don't have to pay anything at all. The center are open for public. You just come in and look for our club will do. This week we'll play at court 8 for the first hr. But anyway, if you are not sure which court is my team, you can identify us by looking for a plastic container whcih I spray a "JAM" word on it
Chu Pa
11-07-2002, 01:28 AM
Originally posted by Jazz
Huh? haha, you don't have to pay anything at all. The center are open for public. You just come in and look for our club will do. This week we'll play at court 8 for the first hr. But anyway, if you are not sure which court is my team, you can identify us by looking for a plastic container whcih I spray a "JAM" word on it
Jazz, thanks for clearing things up. Some places you have to pay before entering the gymnasium. Good, that Wai Tsuen does not. I'll look for the plastic container with JAM on it. I do have to pay for a visitor fee to you/JAM?
if you play with us, you only pay for what the club had spend on that day. if you don't wanna play and prefer to have a chat with us, hey hey, it free of charge
Chu Pa
11-07-2002, 02:01 AM
Jazz, how much would I need to pay for three hours of play?
it depends on how many poeple turn up on that day and how many birds has been used. Normally we'll have at least 10 to 12 people turn up every week.
on average, about $40+ each time
Chu Pa
11-07-2002, 03:00 AM
Jazz, sounds pretty reasonable considering that is for three hours of play. The fee should not be over $60 max per three hours?
$60?!?! No way, except the club use a really expensive shuttlecock or 3hrs but only a few people play.
For us,
1st hr= 1 court
2nd hr=2courts
3rd hr= 2courts
HK$7.5 for each shuttlecock (we use the top shuttlecock in the market)
And every time I will allow 10-12 members to come. If you think, yeah, so two courts, is that mean you have to wait for long after every single game? Well, i don't think so, on average, you only have to wait for 10min for next turn.
For other clubs charge very expensive, well, they are doing business, and I'm not. I just want to arrange a time and place, gather some good players to play. That's it. Not getting any profit
Chu Pa
11-07-2002, 04:28 AM
Originally posted by Jazz
$60?!?! No way, except the club use a really expensive shuttlecock or 3hrs but only a few people play.
For us,
1st hr= 1 court
2nd hr=2courts
3rd hr= 2courts
HK$7.5 for each shuttlecock (we use the top shuttlecock in the market)
And every time I will allow 10-12 members to come. If you think, yeah, so two courts, is that mean you have to wait for long after every single game? Well, i don't think so, on average, you only have to wait for 10min for next turn.
For other clubs charge very expensive, well, they are doing business, and I'm not. I just want to arrange a time and place, gather some good players to play. That's it. Not getting any profit
Jazz, I think you misunderstood me. I'm only asking if the fees would range from $40 as you stated to a possible $60. I'm not in anyway saying that you are out to make big profits from JAM. I'm not too familiar with HK's pricing for recreational badminton so I posed the question. I'm not insulting you in anyway. You don't have to be defensive. I know how long it takes to rotate twelve people for two courts. Thanks again. :)
OH, hehe, I think we both mis-understood each other, I thought you were saying some club charge $60 for 3hrs game ar. haha
Well, as a club chairperson, I really should make the club account clear and open to the poeple who play with me, that's why I knid of get use to explain how we charge.
Chu Pa
12-13-2002, 02:55 AM
Originally posted by Jazz
49X bus stop are just located at a little park next to the center,it is the second bus stop right after the tunnel.
Chu Pa, come and play with us or come and chat about badminton are always welcome. As my club are still fresh, I think I'll need advise from you guys
The center are also very close to the MTR station, just get out via the "Lok Yeung Sun Tsuen" exit, go to the 2nd floor of shopping mall, you will see 7-eleven. There you are, go outside turn right and walk straight. (you will pass through a car park first )
Look forward to see you man
This SAT we'll play 2-5pm
Anybody know if there is a bus stop right across from the little park next to the center if I want to head back to Sha Tin B/T? If there is what bus do I take back to Sha Tin B/T? 49X? Or my only option is to walk back to Tai Wo Hau MTR station and take a bus back to Sha Tin if there is a bus that goes to Sha Tin.
Thanks. :)
Chu Pa.
49X is fine. btw, are you coming tomorrow?
Chu Pa
12-13-2002, 03:12 AM
Jazz, I'm going tomorrow to Tsuen Wan Rec. centre. So 49X is on both sides of the street? Starts at 2:00pm tomorrow?
Yes, for going to, just get off at the little park after a big round-about.
To go back, there's a bus stop opposite the center, I will show you the direction when we leave ok. Btw, where you live?
Yeah, we starts at 2 with 1 court tomorrow, then 2 courts for the next two hrs.
Chu Pa
12-13-2002, 03:36 AM
I PMed you. Check your PM messages.
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