CC&FC

Age: 15 years.

Length: 23 metres.

Timings: 6am to 9pm. March to October.

Importance: One of the most important activities in the club. Children between five and 15 and members above 45 years use the pool the most. The club is a regular at inter-club competitions.

USP: Continuous side drainage helps in circulating the water, thus minimising the use of chlorine in the pool.

Trivia: Members think it was probably the first pool in the city to have a jacuzzi, which was built along with the pool.

 

DI

Age: 52 years.

Length: 22 metres.

Timings: 6am to 10am and 12.30pm to 10pm. 6am to 10.30pm on weekends and holidays. Closed between November and February.

Importance: About 30-35 people use it in the morning and 80 to 100 in the evening. The Dalhousie Institute team participates in inter-club events. A swimming meet and other pool events like Pagalpani are held for members.

USP: Relaxed rules. Members can lounge around the pool, have a drink or grab a bite.

Trivia: Nafisa Ali used to be a regular at the DI pool.

 

RCGC

Age: 29 years.

Length: 25 metres.

Timings: 6.30am to 10am,4pm to 9.30pm. April to October-end.

Importance: Many children and families use the pool. The club team participates in inter-club contests.

USP: 24-hour filtration system.

Trivia: It was a vacant lot before being turned into the pool and is now a popular spot at the club.

 

The Tollygunge Club

Age: The indoor pool dates back to the British era. The outdoor pool is 20-odd years old.

Length: Outdoor 25 metres, indoor 23 metres.

Timings: 6am to 8pm. The indoor pool is heated and used in the evenings in winter.

USP: High on maintenance, a bacteria test is carried out every month. The water is checked every day for temperature and other details to fix the necessary chlorine content.

Importance: The club organises and participates in many intra — and inter-club swimming competitions, like the Tolly Spring Swimming Gala. Youngsters are encouraged to get a feel of both the competitive and fun side of swimming.

Trivia: The indoor pool was changed into a heated pool last year to enable swimmers to use it even in winter. The outdoor pool was extended in 1994.

 

The Saturday Club

Age: Thought to be between 75 and 110 years old!

Length: 23 metres.

Timings: 6am to 9.30pm. March to November.

USP: Part of a heritage structure and constructed from Italian marble.

Importance: Emphasis is on coaching and tournaments.

Trivia: Ace swimmer Bula Choudhury used the pool. The entrance is now from the parking lot. Earlier it used to be through the driveway, but was changed because of security reasons. Where the salon stands today — adjacent to the pool — there used to be a pool bar.

 

The Calcutta Swimming Club

Age: Started with just a bath in 1887, which later evolved into the indoor pool. The outdoor pool was built in the 1930s.

Length: Outside pool is 57 metres, indoor is 30 metres.

Timings: 6.30am to 8.30pm indoor; 6.30am to 9pm outdoor.

USP: At 57 metres, the outdoor pool, is seven metres longer than the Olympic standard of 50 metres.

Importance: As the name suggests, this is the epicentre of the club.

Trivia: The Maharaja of Cooch Behar was the first Indian to become a member in 1964. The first Asian Under-21 snooker championship was held here. Nafisa Ali was a member and champion swimmer Mihir Sen practised here.