Anonymous
As a body of water, this is one of the best pools in the country.
Unlike many other pools, GAC makes no attempt to designate lanes by speed or ability so it is not uncommon to find yourself sharing a lane with rank beginner or water jogger, even on days when there are four empty lanes immediately adjacent to those offered for Public Swim. Go figure.
What is also frustrating is that many teams rents lanes for swim practice and because the GAC management does a terrible job of posting complete lane usage information, you may suddenly discover that what you thought was four lanes has now turned into two, without any warning.
I'm not sure why it is so difficult to post this sort of information both online and there at the pool each day, so you don't start swimming long course, then be told 15 minutes later that you have to move to a short course pool. There's this thing called the Internet, white boards, etc., but Public Swim takes a real backseat and, despite several administrators, no one seems capable or cares to address this situation.
They do print a monthly calendar, but it is more confusing than a train schedule in a language you don't understand. They also have a website, but some of that information is more than two years old and no one seems to update it regularly.
That said, the pools are magnificent-- if you can figure out when you can find a lane.
- There is a separate 25 yard pool used for instructional purposes, six lanes wide, with two of those lanes kept for lap swimming and the other four for instructional purposes, etc. With a ramp.
- There is a 25 yard diving well with a 10 meter tower, used for occasional water polo and sometimes for lap swim, instruction, etc. When used for lap swim they do put in lane ropes BUT there are no lines on the bottom and, given its depth, this can be deceiving.
- Then there is a 50 meter x 25 yard pool with two moveable bulkheads. This "competition pool" sees lots of meet action, especially on weekends.
Unlike many other pools, GAC makes no attempt to designate lanes by speed or ability so it is not uncommon to find yourself sharing a lane with rank beginner or water jogger, even on days when there are four empty lanes immediately adjacent to those offered for Public Swim. Go figure.
What is also frustrating is that many teams rents lanes for swim practice and because the GAC management does a terrible job of posting complete lane usage information, you may suddenly discover that what you thought was four lanes has now turned into two, without any warning.
I'm not sure why it is so difficult to post this sort of information both online and there at the pool each day, so you don't start swimming long course, then be told 15 minutes later that you have to move to a short course pool. There's this thing called the Internet, white boards, etc., but Public Swim takes a real backseat and, despite several administrators, no one seems capable or cares to address this situation.
They do print a monthly calendar, but it is more confusing than a train schedule in a language you don't understand. They also have a website, but some of that information is more than two years old and no one seems to update it regularly.
That said, the pools are magnificent-- if you can figure out when you can find a lane.