In 1969 Bob Hargrove bought his first billiard room in Saint John New Brunswick beginning his lifelong affiliation with Canadian snooker. He owned Ideal Billiard Parlour until 1985 and he still owns and operates Ideal Amusements the retail supplier he founded in 1974. Throughout his long and distinguished career Bob Hargrove has served this game in many capacities: foremost as an official, and also as a tournament organizer, association executive and promotor, a supplier of fine billiard equipment and
He became a snooker referee in 1972 just in time to witness the game coming alive in Canada. His first experience referring international matches came at The Canadian Open at the Canadian National Exhibition, 1976 – 1980, the first time the world’s best snooker players from Great Britain came to compete in Canada. Shortly thereafter he was invited to join the Professional Referees Association in England in 1981.
He served as head referee for C.B.S.A for 15 years as well as Head Referee at numerous prestigious tournaments including: the 1982 World Amateur in Calgary, the Canadian Professional Tournaments throughout the 1980s, the 1996 inaugural Snooker World Cup in Bangkok, as well as the Canadian Masters Invitational from 1985 – 1988. In 1989 Head referee Bob Hargrove had the honour of officiating the final of the Canadian Masters won 9-5 by Jimmy White over Steve Davis; the first time ever a WPBSA ranking tou