The post Spring Is Just 21 Days Away appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.
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Tuesday, February 28, 2017
More is better.
Why does everybody love this Peter Sagan interview so much?
Apparently I'm the only bike dork in the world who watched it and then spent the rest of the day sick in bed with the douche-chills.
Phil Gaimon even called it "refreshing:"
I'm sure I talked to my parents and teachers like that when I was a teenager, and if I could travel back in time and punch myself in the face for cultivating an infuriating air of "couldn't-be-bothered"-ness I certainly would:
Indeed, I'm reminded of my own painfully laconic post-jet ski interview back in 1986:
I used to do my best to keep my hair limp and greasy-looking but I was powerless against the potent combination of wind and salt water which caused the whole mess to go POOF! in an instant. This is why I generally used to avoid the beach at all costs. (Now it's a non-issue as I'm rapidly running out of hair, so instead I avoid the beach because my many moles threaten to boil over into melanoma.)
Alas, even the surliest teen cannot resist the siren song of a whiny personal watercraft, and so I briefly sacrificed my carefully-curated image during that fateful family trip to Florida--but you can be sure I tamed the mane and resumed my desultory skateboarding in the shopping center parking lot that very afternoon.
You now know every single thing about me.
Thank the Benevolent Lobster on High I finally grew into a dignified adult:
If I went back in time to punch my teenage self I'd also stop to knee this guy in the "pants yabbies" on the return trip to 2017.
Speaking of youth, do you remember learning how to ride a bicycle? Maybe not if you're Dutch or something, in which case you emerged from the womb astride a bike. (Ouch.)
However, if you're an American born in the last century you no doubt learned how to ride using training wheels--or "stabilisers" as the British call them because: 1) they need to have a different word for everything; and B) they're deathly afraid of using the letter "z" (so they call it "zed" to rob it of its power). Anyway, I mean these things:
Of course, training wheels are now hopelessly out of style, and the sort of progressive parents who ride cargo bikes to food co-ops would sooner smoke cigarettes around their children then place them on such a contraption. Instead, now the politically correct learning apparatus is the balance bike, because it has a minimalist design and the idea comes from Europe--plus, now Yuba will sell you a cargo balance bike:
One can only imagine cities full of smug little imps in wool caps pushing themselves along on these things while shod in baby Birkenstocks and sucking on organic food packets.
All it needs is a "One Less Big Wheel" sticker.
Anyway, as the parent of human children I've employed both the balance bike and the training wheels as learning tools. (Basically I order them to ride the balance bike, and if they refuse or do it poorly I beat them with the training wheels.) Both have their uses, since the balance bike teaches, well, balance, while the training wheels allow them to focus on the mechanics of pedaling. And in the end it really doesn't matter which you choose, because just like reading or using the toilet eventually they figure out how to do it no matter what method you use. (Current POTUS excluded, I don't think he can do either.)
Nevertheless, would-be entrepreneurs persist in their efforts to refine the learning-to-ride experience, and the latest attempt is the Dually Bike:
The incredible Dually Bikes dual wheel design was created by a retired tinkerer with the goal of teaching his grandson how to ride a bike without the aid of training wheels. "Training wheels are useless," he said, "they don't teach a kid how to balance."
Okay, fine, but what's disturbing about this is that apparently these kids will continue riding Dually bikes into adulthood:
Even more disturbing is that the bicycle industry is going to love this idea. Thanks to the popularity of fat bikes they can now charge you $130 for a single knobby tire that weighs as much as a Volkswagen. Traction sells! Now with the Dually they can sell you even more traction, and best of all you'll have to buy two rear tires for every one you used to have to buy for your now hopelessly outmoded fat bike!
Then once you're locked into the Dually system obviously they'll double the front wheel two for even more stability.
Pure genius.
from Bike Snob NYC http://ift.tt/2mANsQh
Apparently I'm the only bike dork in the world who watched it and then spent the rest of the day sick in bed with the douche-chills.
Phil Gaimon even called it "refreshing:"
Yeah, that was about as refreshing as a glass of warm milk.@velonews the thing where every time an athlete doesn't win the media asks for an excuse is totally bizarre. Refreshing to see it rejected.— Phil Gaimon (@philgaimon) February 26, 2017
I'm sure I talked to my parents and teachers like that when I was a teenager, and if I could travel back in time and punch myself in the face for cultivating an infuriating air of "couldn't-be-bothered"-ness I certainly would:
Indeed, I'm reminded of my own painfully laconic post-jet ski interview back in 1986:
I used to do my best to keep my hair limp and greasy-looking but I was powerless against the potent combination of wind and salt water which caused the whole mess to go POOF! in an instant. This is why I generally used to avoid the beach at all costs. (Now it's a non-issue as I'm rapidly running out of hair, so instead I avoid the beach because my many moles threaten to boil over into melanoma.)
Alas, even the surliest teen cannot resist the siren song of a whiny personal watercraft, and so I briefly sacrificed my carefully-curated image during that fateful family trip to Florida--but you can be sure I tamed the mane and resumed my desultory skateboarding in the shopping center parking lot that very afternoon.
You now know every single thing about me.
Thank the Benevolent Lobster on High I finally grew into a dignified adult:
(Blogger publishes book, thinks he accomplished something.)
If I went back in time to punch my teenage self I'd also stop to knee this guy in the "pants yabbies" on the return trip to 2017.
Speaking of youth, do you remember learning how to ride a bicycle? Maybe not if you're Dutch or something, in which case you emerged from the womb astride a bike. (Ouch.)
However, if you're an American born in the last century you no doubt learned how to ride using training wheels--or "stabilisers" as the British call them because: 1) they need to have a different word for everything; and B) they're deathly afraid of using the letter "z" (so they call it "zed" to rob it of its power). Anyway, I mean these things:
Of course, training wheels are now hopelessly out of style, and the sort of progressive parents who ride cargo bikes to food co-ops would sooner smoke cigarettes around their children then place them on such a contraption. Instead, now the politically correct learning apparatus is the balance bike, because it has a minimalist design and the idea comes from Europe--plus, now Yuba will sell you a cargo balance bike:
One can only imagine cities full of smug little imps in wool caps pushing themselves along on these things while shod in baby Birkenstocks and sucking on organic food packets.
All it needs is a "One Less Big Wheel" sticker.
Anyway, as the parent of human children I've employed both the balance bike and the training wheels as learning tools. (Basically I order them to ride the balance bike, and if they refuse or do it poorly I beat them with the training wheels.) Both have their uses, since the balance bike teaches, well, balance, while the training wheels allow them to focus on the mechanics of pedaling. And in the end it really doesn't matter which you choose, because just like reading or using the toilet eventually they figure out how to do it no matter what method you use. (Current POTUS excluded, I don't think he can do either.)
Nevertheless, would-be entrepreneurs persist in their efforts to refine the learning-to-ride experience, and the latest attempt is the Dually Bike:
The incredible Dually Bikes dual wheel design was created by a retired tinkerer with the goal of teaching his grandson how to ride a bike without the aid of training wheels. "Training wheels are useless," he said, "they don't teach a kid how to balance."
Okay, fine, but what's disturbing about this is that apparently these kids will continue riding Dually bikes into adulthood:
Even more disturbing is that the bicycle industry is going to love this idea. Thanks to the popularity of fat bikes they can now charge you $130 for a single knobby tire that weighs as much as a Volkswagen. Traction sells! Now with the Dually they can sell you even more traction, and best of all you'll have to buy two rear tires for every one you used to have to buy for your now hopelessly outmoded fat bike!
Then once you're locked into the Dually system obviously they'll double the front wheel two for even more stability.
Pure genius.
from Bike Snob NYC http://ift.tt/2mANsQh
HSBC Women’s Champions Winners and History
Inaugurated in 2008, the HSBC Women’s Champions is a limited field event held in Singapore and sanctioned by the LPGA. It replaced the HSBC Women’s Match Play Championship, which ran from 2005 – 2007.
The current field consists of 63 players. To ensure an invitation, a player must have won an LPGA tournament in 2013 or have finished the year in the Top 20 of the Rolex Rankings. Others are invited based on rankings. Because it is a limited field event, there is no cut. All competitors will play four rounds.
In 2008 and 2008, the field was 78 players, with a $2 million purse. The current purse is $1.4 million, with the winner taking $210,000.
The HSBC Women’s Champions tournament was played on the Garden Course of the Tanah Merah Country Club in eastern Singapore, adjacent to Singapore Changi Airport from 2008 to 2012. It is now played at the Serapong Course at the Sentosa Golf Club in Sentosa.
HSBC, a financial corporation, is the title sponsor of the tournament as well as several events on the PGA TOUR.
A complete list of HSBC Womens Champions winners follows:
HSBC Women’s Champions Winners |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Winner | Country | Score |
| 2016 | Jang Ha-Na | South Korea | 269 (-19) |
| 2015 | Inbee Park | South Korea | 273 (-15) |
| 2014 | Paula Creamer | US | 278 (-10) |
| 2013 | Stacey Lewis | US | 273(-15) |
| 2012 | Angela Stanford | US | 278 (-10) |
| 2011 | Karrie Webb | Australia | 275 (-13) |
| 2010 | Ai Miyazato | Japan | 278 (-10) |
| 2009 | Jiyai Shin | South Korea | 277 (-11) |
| 2008 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico | 268 (-20) |
The post HSBC Women’s Champions Winners and History appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.
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Tshwane Open Winners and Tournament History
Tshwane Open Winners and History
The inaugural of the Tshwane Open, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine and European Tours, was held in 2013. It is the sixth, and last Sunshine-European co-sanctioned tournament of the year.
The Tshwane Open offers a total prize purse of 1.5 million Euros.
In 2015, the Tshwane Open was held at the Pretoria Country Club. This will be the first major European Tour event held on the grounds of the 105-year-old club. The course was redesigned in 2004 by the Gary Player Group. It is considered one of the top courses in South Africa.
The first two years were held at the The Els Club at Copperleaf outside Pretoria. The Els Club is built on land once lived on by Ernie Els’ grandfather, Ernie Vermaak. The course is designed by Ernie Els.
As I’ve mentioned before, I love watching the tournaments in South Africa. The landscape there is fascinating. One day I hope to visit.
A list of Tshwane Open Winners follows:
| Year | Winner | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Charl Schwartzel | South Africa | 264 (−16) |
| 2015 | George Coetzee | South Africa | 266 (−14) |
| 2014 | Ross Fisher | England | 268 (−20) |
| 2013 | Dawie van der Walt | South Africa | 267 (−21) |
The post Tshwane Open Winners and Tournament History appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.
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An Honest Conversation About Dating – The Chasing Joy Podcast – Episode 4
Tune into episode 4 of the Chasing Joy Podcast to listen to an honest, open conversation about dating in 2017 with Jenn Orcutt.
Almost a year ago, I listened to a piece of advice that changed my life. On her podcast, Jenn shared how important it was to be honest about what you wanted from a dating experience. It really resonated with me because, up until that point, I had been “playing it cool” for years. I was afraid of coming on too strong to the point that I didn’t show up at all. I let myself get pulled into BS wishy washy un-relationships that were way more work than they were worth.
Fast forward a couple months and I started dating my boyfriend who’s one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met.
I wanted to have Jenn on the podcast because she’s intelligent, insightful, fun and knows how to have a great conversation. We talk about dating in 2017. Why it’s important to show up as yourself from the beginning, embrace where you’re at and communicate honestly with your partner (or future partner). We talk about the challenges that mental illness can bring to a relationship and how to overcome those challenges.
We talk about
- What it’s like to date as an introvert
- How to make the most of dating apps
- Being patient and finding joy during the process of dating
- The importance of being honest with yourself about what you want out of a date
- Being open with your partner about your mental health
- Asking, and receiving help and support when you need it
- How to help a partner (or friend) struggling with mental illness
- Our worst first dates
This Episode is Perfect for Anyone
- Looking for peace, love and acceptance while on their dating journey
- Loves honest and open conversations about dating and relationships
- Who struggles or has a partner who struggles with mental illness
- Wants a good laugh as we both share some pretty ridiculous first date stories
Loving this real and honest dating advice from @_passiondesign #chasingjoypodcast
Click To Tweet
Side note
In addition to being a wealth of dating knowledge and insight, Jenn is an amazing designer. She redesigned my website last summer/fall. She specializes in working with passionate female entrepreneurs.
Listen to the Episode on itunes
Jenn’s Links
website: Isn’t She Lovely Designs
instagram: @isntshelovelydesigns
Want to get involved?
Hang out with the Joy Squad on Facebook for your daily dose of health, wellness and joy filled conversation. (and you’ll get sneak peeks on new things coming to the blog and podcast first)
Want to be a Hero?
If you love the show and want to support it in some way, leave a review on iTunes. It helps get the show in front of new people.
The post An Honest Conversation About Dating – The Chasing Joy Podcast – Episode 4 appeared first on In it for the Long Run.
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Monday, February 27, 2017
How To Ruin A Friendship: Golf Edition
This video offers a sure-fire method for ruining a friendship.
I would never speak to the guy again.
The post How To Ruin A Friendship: Golf Edition appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.
from GolfBlogger Golf Blog http://ift.tt/2lNCJ6B
The end of road racing.
Thank you for indulging my absence during the Winter Reese's:
As you may know we're experiencing an unseasonably warm February this year, so over the past week I was able to indulge in some family-style cycling:
Some solo mixed-terrain #whatpressuryourunning cycling:
And even some Category 6 Citi-Biking:
That's the new sumptuous two-way bicycle lane on Chrystie Street, and the green thing being projected onto it is the new Blaze light with which the oncoming Citi Bike is equipped:
Citi Bike + Blaze from Citi Bike on Vimeo.
If I'd fallen asleep back in the year 2000 and woken up today like some kind of Fred Van Winkle...
...the sight of a public bank-branded laser-firing futuristic space bike traveling along a two-way bike lane would completely blow my mind. Then when I learned who the president was I'd probably beat myself back into a state of long-term unconsciousness, waking up 20 years hence only to discover that the planets in the Trappist-1 system are not only inhabited by humans but linked by bridges and ruined by Teslas:
Speaking of the future, the future is now, which is why some of the pro roadies are using disc brakes. However, they're still not without controversy, and one rider complains a disc rotor almost severed his foot recently during an interview he conducted while wearing nothing but a towel:
In fact, he was so frightened he apparently wet himself while discussing it:
Subsequent to this, the cycling media and Fred-dom at large seem to taken umbrage at this claim, and have gone to great lengths to discredit it. There's been Zapruder film-like analysis:
Based on this video, it appears that Doull caused the crash, pinched against the left-side barriers. Kittel is on the Brit’s right shoulder, and is taken out shortly thereafter. You can see the German’s disc brake-equipped Specialized S-Works Venge Vias flying through the air while he slides face-first on his stomach. The disc bike lands some distance ahead of both Kittel and Doull.
There is a brief moment in which foot-on-rotor contact would have been possible. As Doull falls left, the inside of his left foot, which is where he was cut, would have needed to go under his own bike and hit the left side of Kittel’s bike, where the disc rotors are located. That doesn’t look likely based on the footage (Kittel appears to be launched forward when Doull’s own bike slides under Kittel’s bike), but stranger things have happened in high-speed crashes.
As well as half-assed testing:
The reason for this skepticism is obvious: the entire Fred economy depends on a wholesale shift to road bikes with disc brakes. If, however, the professional Freds refuse to accept this shift, then the whole crabon gravy train grinds to a halt like a low spoke-count wheelset with a broken spoke in a rim brake frame. Why? Because amateur Freds are completely unable to think for themselves and must ride whatever the pros do period full stop the end etc. Even if Freds objectively like disc brakes better, they won't use them if the pros don't, because someone might see them and figure out that they're not pros too. (Though the fact that they completely suck is usually enough of a giveaway.)
Therefore, the Fred Media must dismiss any criticism of discs on the part of the pro peloton as the Fredly equivalent of "fake news," or else the amateur Freds won't buy new disc brake bikes.
This is too bad.
Indeed, while I'm perfectly content with my primitive rim brake bikes, I've begun to realize that, with the advent of discs, American Fred-dom is now on the cusp of a great opportunity:
To finally divorce itself from the influence of stupid Euro UCI road racing once and for all.
Really, it's enough already. Why in 2017 after innumerable scandals is any amateur cyclist still taking cues from this idiotic sport in any way? It's time to say adieu! After all, even Freds are able to get rid of their stupid hang-ups eventually. Remember criteriums?
A cliterium (or "clit" for short) was a particularly boring form of bike racing in which a bunch of Freds rode up and down the main street of some hick town, and the last person without a broken collarbone was eventually declared the winner and given a free inner tube and a $10 gift certificate to the local hardware store. Crazy as it may seem, this was once a popular form of Fred-dom. But eventually people wised up, and realized that when it comes to racing around in circles, cyclocross (Americanized cyclocross, you know, with irony and stuff) is not only safer but a lot more fun:
And criteriums are way more entertaining when you hold them in cool cities and force people to ride fixies:
Now I think we're finally at the same point of realization with Euro-style road racing, since we've got a replacement all ready to go in the form of this whole "gravel" thing:
Oh, sure, the gravel thing is certainly silly. Basically the bike industry sat around and said: "Let's take a Rivendell or a Surly Cross Check, swap the serviceable components for proprietary ones, make it out of plastic, and market it to Freds." Even so, at least it's based on riding bikes in a fun way, whereas the best anybody could do with the whole traditional Euro-style road thing was Rapha's whole "exquisite suffering" take, which is already dated and over:
In case you're just joining bikes, this was actually cool for a few years. I know it's hard to believe now that Rapha has become the default attire for people on brand new Treks with the pie plate still on, but I can assure you it was the case.
Anyway, all of this is to say that we've finally built ourselves a sound foundation, and have a whole range of weenie-ism to indulge in: cyclocross, fixed-gear criteriums, plus-sized mountain biking, bikepacking, gravel grinding... It's time for the media and the consumers to say goodbye to UCI road racing once and for all and let it ride off into obscurity into the middle east, where a bunch of depilated Euros riding around in circles make perfect playthings for oil-rich royal families but generate nothing but boredom interspersed with periods of scandal for everyone else.
Because come on: if you still need to be that big a weenie in 2017, there's always triathlon.
from Bike Snob NYC http://ift.tt/2lh7ixQ
(Explanation: focus groups did not like "Chrismas Turd" so packaging was changed.)
As you may know we're experiencing an unseasonably warm February this year, so over the past week I was able to indulge in some family-style cycling:
Some solo mixed-terrain #whatpressuryourunning cycling:
And even some Category 6 Citi-Biking:
That's the new sumptuous two-way bicycle lane on Chrystie Street, and the green thing being projected onto it is the new Blaze light with which the oncoming Citi Bike is equipped:
Citi Bike + Blaze from Citi Bike on Vimeo.
If I'd fallen asleep back in the year 2000 and woken up today like some kind of Fred Van Winkle...
...the sight of a public bank-branded laser-firing futuristic space bike traveling along a two-way bike lane would completely blow my mind. Then when I learned who the president was I'd probably beat myself back into a state of long-term unconsciousness, waking up 20 years hence only to discover that the planets in the Trappist-1 system are not only inhabited by humans but linked by bridges and ruined by Teslas:
Speaking of the future, the future is now, which is why some of the pro roadies are using disc brakes. However, they're still not without controversy, and one rider complains a disc rotor almost severed his foot recently during an interview he conducted while wearing nothing but a towel:
In fact, he was so frightened he apparently wet himself while discussing it:
Subsequent to this, the cycling media and Fred-dom at large seem to taken umbrage at this claim, and have gone to great lengths to discredit it. There's been Zapruder film-like analysis:
Based on this video, it appears that Doull caused the crash, pinched against the left-side barriers. Kittel is on the Brit’s right shoulder, and is taken out shortly thereafter. You can see the German’s disc brake-equipped Specialized S-Works Venge Vias flying through the air while he slides face-first on his stomach. The disc bike lands some distance ahead of both Kittel and Doull.
There is a brief moment in which foot-on-rotor contact would have been possible. As Doull falls left, the inside of his left foot, which is where he was cut, would have needed to go under his own bike and hit the left side of Kittel’s bike, where the disc rotors are located. That doesn’t look likely based on the footage (Kittel appears to be launched forward when Doull’s own bike slides under Kittel’s bike), but stranger things have happened in high-speed crashes.
As well as half-assed testing:
The reason for this skepticism is obvious: the entire Fred economy depends on a wholesale shift to road bikes with disc brakes. If, however, the professional Freds refuse to accept this shift, then the whole crabon gravy train grinds to a halt like a low spoke-count wheelset with a broken spoke in a rim brake frame. Why? Because amateur Freds are completely unable to think for themselves and must ride whatever the pros do period full stop the end etc. Even if Freds objectively like disc brakes better, they won't use them if the pros don't, because someone might see them and figure out that they're not pros too. (Though the fact that they completely suck is usually enough of a giveaway.)
Therefore, the Fred Media must dismiss any criticism of discs on the part of the pro peloton as the Fredly equivalent of "fake news," or else the amateur Freds won't buy new disc brake bikes.
This is too bad.
Indeed, while I'm perfectly content with my primitive rim brake bikes, I've begun to realize that, with the advent of discs, American Fred-dom is now on the cusp of a great opportunity:
To finally divorce itself from the influence of stupid Euro UCI road racing once and for all.
Really, it's enough already. Why in 2017 after innumerable scandals is any amateur cyclist still taking cues from this idiotic sport in any way? It's time to say adieu! After all, even Freds are able to get rid of their stupid hang-ups eventually. Remember criteriums?
A cliterium (or "clit" for short) was a particularly boring form of bike racing in which a bunch of Freds rode up and down the main street of some hick town, and the last person without a broken collarbone was eventually declared the winner and given a free inner tube and a $10 gift certificate to the local hardware store. Crazy as it may seem, this was once a popular form of Fred-dom. But eventually people wised up, and realized that when it comes to racing around in circles, cyclocross (Americanized cyclocross, you know, with irony and stuff) is not only safer but a lot more fun:
(Incredibly, despite my poor remounting technique, I still managed to reproduce.)
And criteriums are way more entertaining when you hold them in cool cities and force people to ride fixies:
Now I think we're finally at the same point of realization with Euro-style road racing, since we've got a replacement all ready to go in the form of this whole "gravel" thing:
(It's "Handjob," but the "b" is silent.)
Oh, sure, the gravel thing is certainly silly. Basically the bike industry sat around and said: "Let's take a Rivendell or a Surly Cross Check, swap the serviceable components for proprietary ones, make it out of plastic, and market it to Freds." Even so, at least it's based on riding bikes in a fun way, whereas the best anybody could do with the whole traditional Euro-style road thing was Rapha's whole "exquisite suffering" take, which is already dated and over:
In case you're just joining bikes, this was actually cool for a few years. I know it's hard to believe now that Rapha has become the default attire for people on brand new Treks with the pie plate still on, but I can assure you it was the case.
Anyway, all of this is to say that we've finally built ourselves a sound foundation, and have a whole range of weenie-ism to indulge in: cyclocross, fixed-gear criteriums, plus-sized mountain biking, bikepacking, gravel grinding... It's time for the media and the consumers to say goodbye to UCI road racing once and for all and let it ride off into obscurity into the middle east, where a bunch of depilated Euros riding around in circles make perfect playthings for oil-rich royal families but generate nothing but boredom interspersed with periods of scandal for everyone else.
Because come on: if you still need to be that big a weenie in 2017, there's always triathlon.
from Bike Snob NYC http://ift.tt/2lh7ixQ
A Closer Look at My Blind Offer Template
When I first started using direct mail in my real estate investing business, I was blown away by the results. Never before had I been inundated with more deals than I could handle… and after struggling for years to find worthwhile opportunities on the MLS, the discovery of this marketing medium was a MAJOR new revelation for me. From the […]
The post A Closer Look at My Blind Offer Template appeared first on REtipster.com.
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WGC-Mexico Championship Winners and History
WGC-Mexico Championship Winners and History
The WGC-Mexico Championship at Doral is one of four World Golf Championship events for the mens’ professional golf tours. Prize money from the event is official on both the PGA Tour and the European PGA Tour.
Beginning in 2017, the event moves to Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City. It had previously been at Doral.
The event has been played at eight different venues in its short history:
- 1999 – 2000 at the Valderrama Golf Club in San Roque, Spain
- 2001 (scheduled for, but not played due to the Sept. 11 attacks) at the Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri
- 2002 at the Mount Juliet Golf Club in Thomastown, Ireland
- 2003 at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Georgia
- 2004 at the Mount Juliet Golf Club in Thomastown, Ireland
- 2005 at Harding Park in San Francisco
- 2006 at the Grove in Hertfordshire, England
- 2007 – 2016 at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in FloridaThe event also has had three different sponsors. The initial sponsor was American Expresss (1999 – 2006), followed by CA (2007 – 2010) and Cadillac.
- Beginning in 2017 at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
The Cadillac Championship is played over 72 holes in the stroke play format.
The starting field consists of:
- Top 50 players from the Official World Golf Rankings (one week and two weeks prior to event)
- Top players from member tours’ money lists or orders of merit (from last complete season)
- Top 30 PGA Tour FedEx Cup list (also top 10 from one week prior to event)
- Top 20 European Tour (also top 10 from two weeks prior to event)
- Top 2 each from Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and Sunshine TourDue to overlaps on the above qualifications, the field consisst of approximately 70 eligible players, half that (144 to 156 players) for most regular PGA Tour events.
Because of the limited field, there is no 36-hole cut.Tiger Woods (who else?) holds the record for most wins at 6. He also had the lowest aggregate score at 261 (2006) and the lowest to par at -25 (2002).
For a list of WGC-Mexico Championship winners, see below:
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | 1st prize ($) | Purse ($) |
| 2016 | Adam Scott | Australia | 276 | -12 | 1,620,000 | 9,500,000 |
| 2015 | Dustin Johnson | United States | 279 | -9 | 1,572,500 | 9,250,000 |
| 2014 | Patrick Reed | United States | 284 | -4 | 1,530,000 | 900,000 |
| 2013 | Tiger Woods | United States | 269 | -19 | 1,500,000 | 8,750,000 |
| 2012 | Justin Rose | England | 272 | -16 | 1,400,000 | 8,500,000 |
| 2011 | Nick Watney | United States | 272 | -16 | 1,400,000 | 8,500,000 |
| 2010 | Ernie Els | South Africa | 270 | -18 | 1,400,000 | 8,500,000 |
| 2009 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 269 | -19 | 1,400,000 | 8,500,000 |
| 2008 | Geoff Ogilvy | Australia | 271 | -17 | 1,350,000 | 8,000,000 |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods | United States | 278 | -10 | 1,350,000 | 8,000,000 |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods | United States | 261 | -23 | 1,300,000 | 7,500,000 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods | United States | 270 | -10 | 1,300,000 | 7,500,000 |
| 2004 | Ernie Els | South Africa | 270 | -18 | 1,200,000 | 7,000,000 |
| 2003 | Tiger Woods | United States | 274 | -6 | 1,050,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | United States | 263 | -25 | 1,000,000 | 5,500,000 |
| 2001 | Cancelled due to September 11 attacks | |||||
| 2000 | Mike Weir | Canada | 277 | -7 | 1,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | United States | 278 | -6 | 1,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
Prior to the WGC Championship, a long-running PGA Tour event was held at Doral. The past winners for that tournament are listed below:
| Year | Winner | Country | Winning Score | 1st Prize ($) |
| Ford Championship at Doral | ||||
| 2006 | Tiger Woods (2) | United States | 268 (-20) | 990,000 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods (1) | United States | 264 (-24) | 990,000 |
| 2004 | Craig Parry | Australia | 271 (-17)PO | 900,000 |
| 2003 | Scott Hoch | United States | 271 (-17)PO | 900,000 |
| Genuity Championship | ||||
| 2002 | Ernie Els | South Africa | 271 (-17) | 846,000 |
| 2001 | Joe Durant | United States | 270 (-18) | 810,000 |
| Doral – Ryder Open | ||||
| 2000 | Jim Furyk | United States | 265 (-23) | 540,000 |
| 1999 | Steve Elkington (2) | Australia | 275 (-13) | 540,000 |
| 1998 | Michael Bradley | United States | 278 (-10) | 360,000 |
| 1997 | Steve Elkington (1) | Australia | 275 (-13) | 324,000 |
| 1996 | Greg Norman (3) | Australia | 269 (-19) | 324,000 |
| 1995 | Nick Faldo | England | 273 (-15) | 270,000 |
| 1994 | John Huston | United States | 274 (-14) | 252,000 |
| 1993 | Greg Norman (2) | Australia | 265 (-23) | 252,000 |
| 1992 | Raymond Floyd (3) | United States | 271 (-17) | 252,000 |
| 1991 | Rocco Mediate | United States | 276 (-12)PO | 252,000 |
| 1990 | Greg Norman (1) | Australia | 273 (-15)PO | 252,000 |
| 1989 | Bill Glasson | United States | 275 (-13) | 234,000 |
| 1988 | Ben Crenshaw | United States | 274 (-14) | 180,000 |
| 1987 | Lanny Wadkins | United States | 277 (-11) | 180,000 |
| Doral-Eastern Open | ||||
| 1986 | Andy Bean (3) | United States | 276 (-12)PO | 90,000 |
| 1985 | Mark McCumber (2) | United States | 284 (-4) | 72,000 |
| 1984 | Tom Kite | United States | 272 (-16) | 72,000 |
| 1983 | Gary Koch | United States | 271 (-17) | 54,000 |
| 1982 | Andy Bean (2) | United States | 278 (-10) | 54,000 |
| 1981 | Raymond Floyd (2) | United States | 273 (-15) | 45,000 |
| 1980 | Raymond Floyd (1) | United States | 279 (-9)PO | 45,000 |
| 1979 | Mark McCumber (1) | United States | 279 (-9) | 45,000 |
| 1978 | Tom Weiskopf | United States | 272 (-16) | 40,000 |
| 1977 | Andy Bean (1) | United States | 277 (-11) | 40,000 |
| 1976 | Hubert Green | United States | 270 (-18) | 40,000 |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus (2) | United States | 276 (-12) | 30,000 |
| 1974 | Buddy Allin | United States | 272 (-16) | 30,000 |
| 1973 | Lee Trevino | United States | 276 (-12) | 30,000 |
| 1972 | Jack Nicklaus (1) | United States | 276 (-12) | 30,000 |
| Doral-Eastern Open Invitational | ||||
| 1971 | J. C. Snead | United States | 275 (-13) | 30,000 |
| 1970 | Mike Hill | United States | 279 (-9) | 30,000 |
| Doral Open Invitational | ||||
| 1969 | Tom Shaw | United States | 276 (-12) | 30,000 |
| 1968 | Gardner Dickinson | United States | 275 (-13) | 20,000 |
| 1967 | Doug Sanders (2) | United States | 275 (-9) | 20,000 |
| 1966 | Phil Rodgers | United States | 278 (-10) | 20,000 |
| 1965 | Doug Sanders (1) | United States | 274 (-14) | 11,000 |
| 1964 | Billy Casper (2) | United States | 277 (-11) | 7,500 |
| Doral C.C. Open Invitational | ||||
| 1963 | Dan Sikes | United States | 283 (-5) | 9,000 |
| 1962 | Billy Casper (1) | United States | 283 (-5) | 9,000 |
Michigan’s own Mike Hill was the winner in 1970!
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Musical Odyssey
I enjoy highlighting various piano courses, whether they be in the UK, or abroad. Today’s featured Summer course is held in Nafplio in Greece, and is intended for singers and pianists. Musical Odyssey runs from the 19th to the 26th July 2017, and is organised by artistic director and Russian pianist Yekaterina Lebedeva.
The faculty includes Yekaterina and Artur Pizarro (piano), and Nuccia Focile (soprano), and Manolis Papasifakis (accompanist and accompaniment teacher). These are Summer masterclasses with a difference, offering intensive tuition from expert pianists and pedagogues, sponsored concert engagements and various prizes. The course offers three unique programmes for different age groups, as well as future concert engagements and continuing support for successful participants.
Younger pianists (those under 16 years of age) are supervised by more experienced conservatoire students who work with them, visiting lessons as well as helping practice sessions. The older students also receive help and guidance with teaching practices from the expert pedagogues too. Previous pianists and pedagogues who have given classes at this course include Cristina Ortiz, Janina Fialkowska, Vanessa Latarche, Laurens Patzlaff, Susan Bullock, Judith Howarth and Sumi Jo.
Set in beautiful stunning Greek scenery, Musical Odyssey is sure to be a great way to spend your Summer holiday.
For more information, click on the link below:
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Sunday, February 26, 2017
Weekend Competition winners…
Many thanks to all who took part in my weekend competition. The prizes consist of one copy of My First Chopin and one of The Piano Playlist, both published by German music publisher, Schott Music.
Without further ado, the winners are…
David Barton wins My First Chopin
and Helen Miller wins The Piano Playlist
CONGRATULATIONS!
Please send your address via the contact page on this blog, and your book will be on its way.
You can find out more about these publications on Schott’s website here.
There will be more competitions coming soon!
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Honda LPGA Thailand Winners and History
Played since 2006, the Honda LPGA Thailand is part of the LPGA’s global outreach program. The current format is 72 hole, no cut, limited field event. Seventy players are invited, including the 60 top available LPGA players and 10 sponsors invitees.
The tournament’s first edition was held at Thailand’s Amata Spring County Club in 2006. It was the first LPGA event held in Thailand, and increased to eight the number of different countries on the LPGA schedule.
The following year, the LPGA Thailand moved to the Siam Country Club. There was no tournament in 2008.
Siam Country Club
A full list of Honda LPGA Thailand winners follows:
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Margin | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Amy Yang | South Korea | 266 (-22) | 5 strokes | Siam Country Club -Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2016 | Lexi Thompson | United States | 268 (-20) | 5 strokes | Siam Country Club -Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2015 | Amy Yang | South Korea | 273 (-15) | 2 strokes | Siam Country Club -Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2014 | Anna Nordqvist | Sweden | 273 (-15) | 2 strokes | Siam Country Club -Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2013 | Inbee Park | South Korea | 276 (-12) | 2 strokes | Siam Country Club -Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2012 | Yani Tseng | Taiwan | 269 (-19) | 1 stroke | Siam Country Club -Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2011 | Yani Tseng | Taiwan | 273 (-15) | 5 strokes | Siam Country Club – Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2010 | Ai Miyazato | Japan | 267 (-21) | 1 stroke | Siam Country Club – Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2009 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico | 274 (-14) | 3 strokes | Siam Country Club – Pattaya Plantation Course | ||
| 2008 | No Tournament | ||||||
| 2007 | Suzann Pettersen | Norway | 267 (-21) | 1 stroke | Siam Country Club – Pattaya Old Course | ||
| 2006 | Hee-Won Han | South Korea | 202 (-14) | 5 strokes | Amata Spring Country Club |
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Saturday, February 25, 2017
For The Weekend: Tuaca Liqueur Review
Tuaca Liqueur Review
Grade: A
Teacher’s Comments: A nice vanilla flavor.
Recently, I went to the best stocked wine and liqueur store in the area in search of Nassau Royale, a vanilla rum that I learned to like on a trip to the Bahamas. It’s absolutely fabulous in a rum and coke. Unfortunately, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission no longer has Nassau Royale on its “approved list.”
My friendly local shopkeep suggested that I try Tuaca instead. I’m glad I did.
Tuaca is a brandy-based liqueur with “essence of orange and vanilla.” Legend has it that the beverage dates back to the Renaissance where it was created for none other than Lorenzo Medici. The original recipe apparently was made with milk. Now, Tuaca is no longer manufactured in Italy, but in Lexington, Kentucky. Lots of good drinks coming out of Kentucky.
The Tuaca liqueur has a bright, fun flavor. There’s a strong vanilla taste, with a bit of fruitiness. You can drink it straight, but as the shopkeep promised, it goes really well with a coke.
I haven’t tried it yet, but the Tuaca website has an intriguing recipe for a Tuaca Root Beer Float:
TUACA & Root Beer
1 1/2 oz TUACA
4 oz root beer
1-2 scoops ice cream (optional)
Pour TUACA into a tall glass over ice. Fill with root beer and mix. Add 1-2 scoops of ice cream to create a TUACA root beer float.
Sounds like a perfect summer drink to me.
Tuaca Liqueur is one that I’ll keep on hand.
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Friday, February 24, 2017
Golf Hole Notepad
Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week
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Weekend Competition: The Piano Playlist & My First Chopin
Today’s weekend competition features two volumes, both new publications from Schott Music.
The Piano Playlist is a collection of 50 arrangements by Barrie Carson Turner, featuring many popular favourites from opera arias (Habanera from Carmen by Bizet, Nessun Dorma from Turandot, and O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi both by Puccini), to ballet numbers, famous gems from orchestral works (Ode to Joy (Beethoven), The Swan (Saint-Saëns), Adagietto (Mahler’s 4th Symphony)), to piano concertos, instrumental music and arrangements of piano pieces. Great for intermediate to advanced players.
My First Chopin has been compiled by German pianist and pedagogue, Wilhelm Ohman. This collection of 20 pieces lies well within the capabilities of the advanced player, and contains some of Chopin’s best-loved works including a group of Preludes, Waltzes, Mazurkas and Nocturnes. These works are particularly popular amongst students, and this book features Raindrop Prelude Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in B minor Op. 28 No. 6, Waltz in B minor Op. posth. 69 No. 2, Mazurka in B flat major Op. 7 No. 1, Nocturne in C sharp minor No. 20 Op. posth., Funeral March (from Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor Op. 35), to name a few favourites. An excellent addition to any library.
I have one copy of each to give away for two lucky winners, Please leave your comment in the comment box at the end of this blog post to be in with a chance of winning. I will announce the winners on Sunday evening (British time).
To find out more or purchase these books click here and here.
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Thursday, February 23, 2017
Just 26 Days Until Spring
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Golf Is Everywhere: Austin, Texas Edition
Texas National Outfitters, on South Congress in Austin, Texas, had this golf ball on their shelves. It’s a great store, with a very friendly proprietor. The shop focuses on their own hand-made boots, and products by local artisans.
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Six Elite Players Named to Michigan Golf Hall of Fame
Six Elite Players Named to Michigan Golf Hall of Fame
BIG RAPIDS – Six golfers with championship credentials – PGA Master Professional Bob Ackerman of West Bloomfield, PGA Professional Brian Cairns of Walled Lake, PGA Tour veteran Tom Gillis of Lake Orion, former LPGA Tour player Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor, the late Alex Ross of Detroit who was a U.S. Open winner 110 years ago, and Michigan State University women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll of Haslett – have been elected to the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame (MGHOF).
They will be inducted Saturday, June 3, in ceremonies at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Club, and bring the number of inductees to 119, the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame announced today. The six-member 2017 class ties for the largest class in history with the induction group of 1990.
Ackerman, 63, owner of Bob Ackerman Golf in West Bloomfield, won his first Michigan Open title in 1975 as an amateur and added a second in 2003 while also winning the Michigan Senior Open that year and being named Michigan PGA Player of the Year. He is a former Big Ten Conference individual champion from 1975 while playing for Indiana University, a former Illinois Open winner and four-time Illinois PGA Section Player of the Year.
Cairns, 52 and a teaching professional at Fox Hills Learning Center in Plymouth, was named to the Michigan PGA Section’s Hall of Fame last year. His credentials include being a three-time Michigan PGA Professional Champion, playing in the 2016 U.S. Senior Open and playing in the PGA Championship three times. He was named Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year in 2015, the first Michigan PGA Section member to be named a national player of the year in any division. Cairns has been the Michigan PGA Section Player of the Year five times and he also had Champions Tour status in 2014.
Gillis, 48, has played nine seasons on the PGA Tour including 2016, and recently took a high school boys golf coaching job at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. He has been a touring professional since 1993, including stints on the European Tour, the Web.com Tour and has played competitive golf in 26 countries. He plans to play the Champions Tour when he turns 50. He has been a runner-up twice on the PGA Tour with over $6 million in earnings, won on the Web.com Tour and won two Michigan Open titles.
Green-Roebuck, who will be 50 in April, won her third Michigan Women’s Open title last summer at age 49. She played for seven years on the LPGA Tour in the 1990s, and was a four-time winner on what is now the LPGA’s Symetra Tour. As an amateur she won the Michigan Women’s Amateur, the Golf Association of Michigan Junior Amateur twice and was a two-time individual high school state champion. She is the daughter of Pete Green, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.
Ross, who died in 1952 at age 72 is the brother of famed golf course architect Donald Ross, and is credited with having won seven of golf’s major championships because of his 1907 U.S. Open win at the Philadelphia Cricket Club and six North and South Opens at Pinehurst Resort (considered a major in the early 1900s). The native of Dornoch, Scotland, was the head professional for 31 years at Detroit Golf Club starting in 1914 and was the first president of the Michigan PGA Section in 1922.
Slobodnik-Stoll, 45 and a Grand Rapids native is the successful head women’s golf coach at Michigan State University with five Big Ten titles and 10 trips to the NCAA Championships, and as a player is the winningest golfer in Golf Association of Michigan history with 15 titles, including two Michigan Women’s Amateur Championships and an unprecedented eight GAM Mid-Amateur wins. She was named the GAM Women’s Player of the Decade in 2010 and is a four-time GAM Player of the Year.
The Michigan Golf Hall of Fame is a heralded collection of portraits, plaques and memorabilia that currently commemorates 113 members, including Walter Hagen, Chuck Kocsis, Horton Smith and more current notables Dave and Mike Hill, Dan Pohl, Meg Mallon and Kelly Robbins. The collection will soon be housed and displayed in the new Professional Golf Management Learning Center planned by Ferris State University at its Katke facility. A $4 million fundraising effort is nearing completion.
The MGHOF is administered by the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Committee, which is funded through the non-profit Michigan Golf Foundation (501(c) (3) since 1996) and includes 18 members representing a cross-section of the state’s golf associations as well as the golf media. The MGHOF committee conducts an annual election to recognize the achievements of competitive Michigan golfers, but also those of individuals who have contributed to the growth of the game.
via Greg Johnson
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Where to Stay in Barcelona — Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation
Where’s the best place to stay in Barcelona? I called in the experts! After writing my Where to Stay in Paris post, I was inundated with requests to do one for Barcelona, too. At the time, I grumbled, “I’m only one woman — I’m not an expert on every city in the world!”
But you know what? You really want to know. And while I’ve been to Barcelona several times, I don’t know it like I know Paris (and I can’t stand when travel bloggers write ultimate guides to places they barely know). So I hired two Barcelona experts to write the best, most detailed Barcelona accommodation guide possible: Ashley and Alex from the blog In Pursuit of Adventure.
And for the record — my personal favorite Barcelona neighborhood to stay in is Gràcia!
Take it away, guys!
Kate
The enchanting city of Barcelona is our favorite city in Europe to explore, and we love indulging in its unique culture. We’re not alone — tourists around the globe flock to this coastal Mediterranean city year-round, seeking out beautiful beaches, a vibrant culinary scene, and lively nightlife.
Barcelona is part of the region of Catalonia in northeast Spain, and the independence flag hanging off balconies reminds us that they are Catalan, not Spanish. The Catalan residents are proud of their city, their culture, their heritage, and of course their fútbol team, FC Barcelona! Their spirit of independence is contagious and gives the city so much character.
But choosing where to stay in Barcelona can be overwhelming, as it’s a large city broken into many different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own distinct feel, charm, and loyal locals. So what do you do? That’s where we come in!
We know each of these Barcelona neighborhoods like we know the stamps in our passports. So here are our favorite neighborhoods to make your trip memorable. Just remember, no matter where you end up staying in Barcelona, be sure to venture out and sample the charms of each neighborhood from the touristy yet hipster neighborhood of El Born to the gritty and diverse El Raval.
Best Neighborhood Overall: El Born
El Born is the neighborhood to stay in if you are looking to be in the heart of the old city with fantastic artisan shops and hip restaurants. While it can be touristy, El Born is one of our favorite neighborhoods.
El Born is also perfect for anyone looking to be in the heart of Barcelona, as it’s walking distance to Barceloneta, the beach, the Gothic Quarter, and several metro stops that can connect you to all the different major sites in the city.
This neighborhood is perfect for exploring little local shops full of amazing products from handmade ceramics to custom leather aprons (which every trendy restaurant seems to have their waiters wear!) to art galleries. The alleyways are filled with street art, especially la bomba (the bomb), which represents Barcelona’s anarchist spirit, and flags and buntings for the perfect photo opportunities.
Be sure to pop into the Picasso Museum, which showcases the artist’s work from an early age to some of his most famous paintings. Try to visit on the first Sunday of the month when it’s free! Then grab a coffee or a vermouth at one of the many outdoor patios and soak in the relaxed lifestyle here.
Lower El Born is the more touristy side of the neighborhood with the church of Santa Maria Del Mar dominating the area and a large pedestrian area lined with hip restaurants, cocktails bars that go all night and boutique shops.
Upper El Born is quieter, filled with more residential apartments, local bar, and the famous Mercat Santa Caterina where you can go for the best local menú del día, or lunch special, at Bar Joan, which we think is the best lunch deal in town.
Check out hotels in El Born here.
Best Neighborhood for Beach Lovers: Barceloneta
Barceloneta is probably the proudest Catalan neighborhood in Barcelona and you’re never further than five minutes from the beach. The independence flag of Catalonia flies proudly from almost every balcony here.
Barceloneta is also the neighborhood where you will see the most backlash on tourism. Residents want to keep the neighborhood local and have fought ardently to keep it that way.
That doesn’t mean you should stay away, though. Thoughtful tourists who respect the locals are welcome. That means that when you leave the beach, put on some clothes before you pop into a shop or grab a bite to eat. If you are out until the early hours of the morning (which happens easily here), keep your voices down to avoid disturbing people who are asleep.
Also, make an effort to support local businesses here. Head to small, family-run restaurants like La Cova Fumada, where la bomba (not the street art — in this case, a glorious ball of fried mashed potatoes stuffed with minced meat and topped with aioli and bravas sauce) was first invented back during the Civil War. Or head to Vaso del Oro, where they have been brewing their own beer and serving it up in flautas, or beer flutes, for over fifty years.
Take a stroll along the sand and notice all the locals out walking, rollerblading, biking, and soaking up the Mediterranean sun. Barceloneta will treat you well if you treat it well.
Check out hotels in Barceloneta here.
Best Neighborhood for a Cultural Mix: El Raval
El Raval is the infamous neighborhood once known for drinking establishments, cabaret shows, prostitution, crime and Hemingway — and that’s exactly why you should stay there. This neighborhood embraces its gritty past while looking to a modern future. Centrally located near the main port in the historical district of Barcelona commonly known as Ciutat Vella, today El Raval is far more charming than seedy.
The neighborhood is known for its diversity and often referred to as Barri Xinès, or Chinatown, by the locals. Today Chinese, Pakistanis, Filipinos, South Americans, Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners inhabit the neighborhood, creating a unique melting pot of cultures.
Here you will also find one of Gaudi’s earlier works, the Palau Güell, and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, more affectionately called MACBA. Here you will find locals of El Raval on the steps drinking wine and watching the skateboarders do tricks in the streets.
Today El Raval has become a treat for young foodies and boozehounds. The neighborhood is filled with restaurants and bars like Bar Marsella (pictured above), an old absinthe bar stuck in the time of Hemingway (the writer himself used to drink here quite often), or Bar Cañete, a modern player in the Barcelona culinary scene using classic Catalan ingredients to make innovative, modern dishes.
Check out hotels in El Raval here.
Best Neighborhood for Foodies: Poble Sec
Poble Sec is the perfect neighborhood to stay in if you are looking for a some peace and quiet but also want to eat like a local. The neighborhood is quiet during the day but really comes to life at night when all the tiny tapas bars along the pedestrian-only Carrer de Blai open up shop and fill with hungry locals. This is the neighborhood to drink vermouth, grab some cheap eats, and revel in being Catalan if only for the duration of your stay.
While there are no major tourist sites in Poble Sec, this neighborhood is well connected by metro and it’s just a hike up the hill to see the castle of Montjuic, the gardens, and to take the funicular down to the beach.
This is also the neighborhood to visit Quimet & Quimet, one of the most famous tapas bars in the city. Here they focus on high quality conservas, or canned food, and montaditos, small open-faced sandwiches.
Squeeze in here, order some cava, a couple montaditos and throw your napkins on the floor like a local — that’s what you do in Poble Sec!
Check out hotels in Poble Sec here.
Best Neighborhood for a Small Town Feel: Gràcia
Gràcia is the neighborhood to stay in if you are looking for that small town charm while still in the big city. One of the more unique neighborhoods, Gràcia was its own village until Barcelona’s expansion absorbed it into the city itself. The locals, however, still very much consider themselves separate to Barcelona and it’s noticeable as soon as you exit the metro. It feels like you’ve stepped into another world here in Gràcia.
We personally love Gràcia as it is lesser-known to tourists but has a wonderful bar and restaurant scene, especially for classic Catalan dishes. Cal Boter is one of those restaurants that features traditional dishes like snails and pig trotter. If that’s a little too old-fashioned for your taste, head over to Bar Bodega Quimet for tapas in their small, bustling, and decidedly local bodega. Don’t forget to grab a drink at La Festival, a modern wine shop focusing exclusively on organic and biodynamic wines.
During the late afternoon, head to Plaça del Sol, the main square, where everyone in Gràcia congregates to gossip, people-watch, and just enjoy their daily life. Grab a beer and join in!
Gràcia exemplifies what Barcelona is all about: individuality and independence against larger outside forces. It’s quiet and quaint with traditional shops but leaves room for modern roots to be established. Gràcia comes as a highly recommended neighborhood to stay in especially if you enjoy that local vibe and you are visiting Barcelona for the second or third time, as it is not located in the old city.
That said, Gràcia is located just beneath Gaudi’s famous park, Parc Güell, and is close to lesser-known Gaudi architecture and Tibidabo, an amusement park from the early 1900s that is still operational.
Check out hotels in Gràcia here.
Best Neighborhood for Hipsters: Sant Antoni
Sant Antoni is the hipster neighborhood and is the perfect place to stay for those looking for a modern vibe in the old city. While still very residential, it is quickly becoming host to a number of hip establishments like Cafe Cometa and La Donutería (yes, you can even find fancy donuts in Barcelona!). You will also find locals of Sant Antoni congregating around the Carrer del Parlament which is host to several very chic restaurants, bodegas and bars.
Sant Antoni hasn’t totally abandoned its roots, however, and here you will also find the much loved old school La Bodega d’en Rafel. They’re also renovating the heart of the neighborhood, Mercat Sant Antoni, which has been around since 1882.
Sant Antoni is a neighborhood that is focused on residential life, making it a great neighborhood to live like a local. However, it is not as well-connected to the city for first time visitors and does not have any tourist attractions. It also doesn’t have any major hotels, so apartment rentals may be the way to go here.
However, with the expansion of restaurants and nightlife, this may change in the future; Sant Antoni is, after all, the chic neighborhood.
Check out hotels in Sant Antoni here.
Best Barcelona Hotels
You can compare rates on hotels throughout Barcelona here. Here are some of our top recommendations:
Best Luxury Hotel: W Barcelona
The W is an icon and the place to stay for luxury in Barcelona. Located on the beach in Barceloneta, across the street from the Desigual headquarters, the W Hotel invites sunbathers with its glass sail-like facade, reflecting the city and the beach below.
There is a pool with a bar located on the 26th floor, so you can soak in views of both the city and the Mediterranean. Plus, during the summer they host a series of parties with local and international DJs on their pool deck. The W is the epitome of Barcelona cool.
Rates from 230 EUR ($242) per night.
Best Mid-Range Hotel: Barceló Raval
Dominating the skyline at Rambla del Raval is the Barceló Raval. This imposing circular hotel offers the perfect place to stay in the heart of the city with 180-degree views. Prices are very reasonable for the quality you receive. Plus, there is a swimming pool and a 360-degree rooftop bar that is the perfect place to catch every gorgeous Barcelona sunset. (That photo above is from the roof!)
Rates from 90 EUR ($95) per night.
Best Hostel: Generator Barcelona
Located in Gràcia, Generator Barcelona is a fantastic hostel to stay in while visiting the city, especially if you’re not a hostel person. The design of this hostel alone makes it less like a hostel and more like a boutique hotel. They also have a range of rooms starting from dorm shares to privates with twin beds to even a penthouse with a terrace!
This hostel has it all — free wifi, a lounge, even a bar, and is the perfect place to decompress after a day of sightseeing or a wild night out. You can meet lots of fellow travelers if you wish or just relax and enjoy your solitude.
Dorm beds from 11 EUR ($12) per night, private rooms from 45 EUR ($47) per night.
Barcelona Travel Tips
Barcelona can be overwhelming at times, so here are some travel tips to ensure you have the best trip possible:
Don’t stay too far outside the city. Barcelona has a very large metropolitan area, which is more than just the downtown and tourist sites, and the easiest way to ruin your trip is to stay too far outside.
Instead, stay within the old city limits of Barcelona, or right outside like in Gràcia, because when you are out in the boonies it can be difficult to find transportation back and forth to downtown. Keep in mind that the metro closes around midnight — you don’t want to take expensive taxis or tear yourself away like Cinderella!
Avoid La Rambla. La Rambla, or Las Ramblas as it is more often called, is the most famous street in Barcelona and at one time would have been a wonderful place to stay. Over the years, however, its popularity has become its downfall with overpriced souvenir shops and tourist traps.
We suggest taking a walk down to see La Rambla for yourself, but avoid spending too much of your precious time there. Barcelona has a lot of amazing things to offer you, but La Rambla is not one of them. Go see it and then hightail it to El Raval or El Born.
Learn a little Catalan. Barcelona’s official language is Catalan, not Spanish. Locals will not expect you to know Catalan, but they will appreciate it. Say bon dia for hello, adéu for goodbye, and mercès for thank you. Learn these three simple phrases and the Catalans will be so appreciative of your respect of their language!
Barcelona is best seen on foot. Despite its large size, Barcelona is a walking city at heart. Most of Barcelona’s tourist sites are clustered around Ciutat Vella, the old city. The little windy streets are like treasures — and you’ll miss them when underground on the metro!
Soak up all the wonderful vibrant energy this city has by taking daily strolls in different neighborhoods. You never know what you may encounter. As a bonus, you will work off all that wonderful food you’ve been eating. Speaking of which…
Eat when the locals eat (yes, they eat late). To truly understand the Barcelona lifestyle, you have to eat when the locals eat, otherwise you’ll be sitting in empty restaurants that are only for tourists. Get up in the morning but not too early, as the Catalans are not early risers, and have a cafe con leche (coffee with milk) with some pan con tomate (bread rubbed with tomato and garlic).
And then between 12:30 and 3:00 PM, enjoy the menú del dia, daily cheap lunch specials that often get you three courses with wine for around 10-15 EUR ($11-16). Locals love the menú del dia!
Drinking and eating is crucial to Catalan life, so grab drinks and tapas between 6:00 and 9:00 PM. Hop from one tapas bar to the next while enjoy a drink and just grab a few tapas at each place. Stand up at the bar or outside as you enjoy the bustling atmosphere.
Next, head to dinner around 10:00 PM and take your time eating. There is no rush in Catalonia, especially when you stay centrally and don’t have to worry about the metro closing! This is what the locals do, so you might as well enjoy it while you’re there.
Don’t Visit Barcelona Without Travel Insurance
A lot of people think travel insurance is an unnecessary expense — that’s far from the truth. Travel insurance is vital. It’s saved Kate hundreds of dollars and for one of her friends, who slipped and broke his back while traveling, his travel insurance saved him literally hundreds of thousands of dollars.
If you get pickpocketed on Barcelona’s metro, travel insurance will refund you what you lost.
If you slip on the stairs at the Parc Güell and break your ankle, travel insurance will refund your medical costs and get you home for free.
If you get appendicitis while in Barcelona, travel insurance will cover your medical costs.
If an immediate family member dies while you’re in Spain, travel insurance will help you get home immediately.
These are unpleasant things to think about, but it’s so important to be prepared for the worst.
AdventurousKate.com uses and recommends World Nomads Travel Insurance. They’re a great fit for almost every traveler. Take a look at their policies before you buy to make sure they’re right for you.
Barcelona is waiting for you!
So there you have it — everything you need to know in order to set yourself up for the best trip to Barcelona. Once you are settled in a neighborhood, just let the infectious energy of the city carry you away and we promise you will love Barcelona as much as we do!
Meet the Barcelona Experts
Ashley and Alex are two travelers from California who are addicted to living local. They run the travel blog In Pursuit of Adventure and focus on eating, drinking, and living locally across the globe. They are currently exploring the cuisine and drinks of Cuba before turning their sights to Peru. They also are the authors of Eat Local in Barcelona: A Guide to Catalan Cuisine, which will be published in March.
Have you been to Barcelona? Where’s you favorite place to stay? Share away!
from Adventurous Kate http://ift.tt/2mfqnm1
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