Defending Champion Korey Mahoney Leads Michigan Tournament of Champions Again

Ricoh British Women’s Open Winners And History

The Women’s British Open was established in 1976 by the Ladies Golf Union, the governing body for women’s and girls’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland. The event was intended to be the equivalent of the Open Championship but it was initially difficult to gain acceptance. Of the courses considered most prestigious in the Open Championship rota, Royal Birkdale was the only one to step forward.

The tournament’s difficulties continued to the point where it was forced to skip 1983. When it returned, it was to relatively unknown courses such as the Woburn Golf and Country Club, where it resided for ten years.

During the period from 1976 to 1993, the tournament was sanctioned only by the Ladies European Tour, with the exception of the 1984 edition, which was cosanctioned by the LPGA.

The LPGA’s sanction of the tournament in 1994 served to increase both in terest in the tournament and the quality of the field. Four years later, the event was held at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. It has since been held at Carnoustie, Royal Liverpool and St. Andrews—all courses which have hosted the Open Championship. The organizers of the Women’s British Open, however, have opted not to follow the lead of the Open Championship and limit the tournament to just the classic links courses.

In 2001, the LPGA granted the British Women’s Open Major status, replacing the du Maurier Classic.

A list of past winners follows:

Year	Venue	Champion	Country	Score	To Par	Margin
2016	England Woburn Golf and Country Club	Arya Jutanugarn	Thailand	272	-16	3 strokes
2015	Scotland Trump Turnberry - Ailsa Course	Inbee Park	South Korea South Korea	276	-12	3 strokes
2014	England Royal Birkdale Golf Club	Mo Martin	United States United States	287	-1	1 stroke
2013	Scotland Old Course at St Andrews	Stacy Lewis	United States United States	280	-8	2 strokes
2012	England Royal Liverpool Golf Club	Jiyai Shin	South Korea South Korea	279	-9	9 strokes
2011	Scotland Carnoustie Golf Links	Yani Tseng	Taiwan	272	-16	4 strokes
2010	England Royal Birkdale Golf Club	Yani Tseng	Taiwan	277	-11	1 stroke
2009	England Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club	Catriona Matthew	Scotland	285	-3	3 strokes
2008	England Sunningdale Golf Club	Jiyai Shin	South Korea	270	-18	3 strokes
2007	Scotland Old Course at St Andrews	Lorena Ochoa	Mexico	287	-5	4 strokes
2006	England Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club	Sherri Steinhauer	United States	281	-7	3 strokes
2005	England Royal Birkdale Golf Club	Jeong Jang	South Korea	272	-16	4 strokes
2004	England Sunningdale Golf Club	Karen Stupples	England	269	-19	5 strokes
2003	England Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club	Annika Sörenstam	Sweden	278	-10	1 stroke
2002	Scotland Turnberry - Ailsa Course	Karrie Webb	Australia	273	-15	2 strokes
2001	England Sunningdale Golf Club	Se Ri Pak	South Korea	277	-11	2 strokes
2000	England Royal Birkdale Golf Club	Sophie Gustafson	Sweden	282	-6	2 strokes
1999	England Woburn Golf and Country Club	Sherri Steinhauer	United States	283	-5	1 stroke
1998	England Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club	Sherri Steinhauer	United States	292	4	1 stroke
1997	England Sunningdale Golf Club	Karrie Webb	Australia	269	-19	8 strokes
1996	England Woburn Golf and Country Club	Emilee Klein	United States	277	-11	7 strokes
1995	England Woburn Golf and Country Club	Karrie Webb	Australia	278	-10	6 strokes
1994	England Woburn Golf and Country Club	Liselotte Neumann	Sweden	280	-8	3 strokes
1993	Woburn Golf and Country Club	Karen Lunn	Australia	275
1992	Woburn Golf and Country Club	Patty Sheehan	United States	207*
1991	Woburn Golf and Country Club	Penny Grice-Whittaker	England	284
1990	Woburn Golf and Country Club	Helen Alfredsson	Sweden	288
1989	Ferndown Golf Club	Jane Geddes	United States	274
1988	Lindrick Golf Club	Corinne Dibnah	Australia	295
1987	St Mellion Golf and Country Club	Alison Nicholas	England	296
1986	Royal Birkdale Golf Club	Laura Davies	England	283
1985	Moor Park Golf Club	Betsy King	United States	300
1984	Woburn Golf and Country Club	Ayako Okamoto	Japan	289
1983	No tournament
1982	Royal Birkdale Golf Club	Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)	Spain	296
1981	Northumberland Golf Club	Debbie Massey	United States	295
1980	Wentworth Club	Debbie Massey	United States	294
1979	Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club	Alison Sheard	South Africa	301
1978	Foxhills Golf & Country Club	Janet Melville (a)	England	310
1977	Lindrick Golf Club	Vivien Saunders	England	306
1976	Fulford Golf Club	Jenny Lee Smith (a)	England	299

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This Just In: A Brief Leaf Of Abscess

Good afternoon!

While I generally endeavor to give at least some advanced notice in the event of my leave-taking form this blog, the high shit-to-fan ratio* with which I'm currently dealing requires said notice to be a bit more abrupt.

*[If the surface area of the fan is considerably larger than the volume of shit this results in a wider splatter area.  The exception is the Dyson, in which case the shit merely passes through the fan unless its volume exceeds the fan's diameter.]

The short version is that after today I won't be updating this blog until Monday, August 7th, at which point I will resume regular updates.

However, the above notwithstanding, assuming my next Outside column comes out before then I'll be sure to duck back in here and let you know.

Also, do keep in mind that during this week I will continue to update the Bike Forecast, so at the very least you'll have the company of my more smug alter-ego for the duration of the week.

Speaking of my Outside column, my most recent is about the virtues of flat pedals, which as a recovering Fred I've only relatively recently come to appreciate:

Anyway, it recently came to my attention that it's caused a little bit of a stir over at Reddit, and I've been finding the ensuing commentary to be a source of considerable amusement:

This author is such an asshole. Stop telling people what to do. If people want to use flat pedals good for them, they are great for commuting. If I want to use clipless pedals who cares? I can stop worrying about if my foot is in the right place.
Ugh, I hate people like this, they are no better than the people they decry in the article.

That was pretty much the entire point of the article.

And finally, speaking of smugness, my own credentials in that area aren't exactly unimpeachable.  This is because I do continue to register a motor vehicle in my name, which of course THE BANK OWNS UNTIL I FINISH PAYING THEM BACK.  I'll spare you my rationale for this, but suffice to say my relationship to my car is a lot like my relationship to clipless pedals: it comes in handy but it's also a pain in the ass, and I'm getting closer and closer to abandoning it completely.

In any case, it so happens that THE CAR THAT THE BANK OWNS UNTIL I FINISH PAYING THEM BACK is currently in the shop.  (It's getting a sweet Transportation Alternatives-themed full body wrap.)  Ordinarily I'd hardly miss the thing, since I live in New York City and have access to all manner of public transit, not to mention car services and Ubers and of course my hundreds of bikes.  However, yesterday we had to travel to Connecticut for a big family get-together, and getting there by train would have required several transfers and several hours each way versus a relatively painless one-hour drive.

"Fuck it," I decided on Saturday.  "I'm renting a Hyundai."

Alas, as it turned out I'd left it too late, because by the time I called the local car rental place they didn't have any Hyundais.  In fact they only had one vehicle left:

That's a Ford F-150 XLT.  (Without the Trump-sticker-and-truck-nuts trim package.)  Those of you in the heartland or who do actual work are probably just thinking "Nice truck," but to a city-dweller who taps on computer keys for a living and grew up among Jews it might as well have been a Greyhound bus.  I had my reservations.  On the other hand, my wife was like, "Okay," and my older son observed that it was the size of a subway station and decided it was pretty much the greatest thing he'd ever seen.  Most crucially, since it was all the rental place had left they gave us a rock-bottom rate, and they even waived the fueling fee.

And so it was that for 48 hours we were a pickup truck-driving family.

Here are some brief observations:

--It's fucking huge;
--Even old people hustle when you roll up to the crosswalk;
--While I could see all around me quite clearly, the blind spot around the front bumper was considerable, and it was horrifying to think about how easy it would be for an inattentive driver to run over a small child while turning.

That last one was positively chilling given how often I've seen people whipping around the city on their cellphones in these things.  While the world needs trucks and I have absolutely nothing against them when used appropriately, context is everything, and the fact that New York basically makes no distinction between the Ford F150 I was driving and a Smart Fortwo (which I'm pretty sure I could have thrown in the truck bed) is downright insane:

Not only are they dangerous in densely-populated areas, but people drive these fucking things into Manhattan and then complain that bikes cause traffic.

At the same time, even I, an increasingly smug bike blogger, could not deny the truck's appeal.  It handled quite well despite its size, it emitted a satisfyingly throaty purr on the highway when passing, and I probably could have carried every one of my bikes in it.

Certainly if I ever buy a ranch or a very large boat the F-150 will be near the top of my list.

Nevertheless, the fact that people buy trucks like this just to drive around the city while smoking blunts will continue to keep me awake at night.

And with that, I bid you adieu until Monday, August 7th.  Enjoy the rest of the week, ride safe, and keep on trucking.


--Wildcat Rock Machine

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WGC Bridgestone Winners and History

The WGC Bridgestone Invitational began life in 1962 as a four-man invitational tournament held at the Firestone Country Club. The field expanded, and by 1976, it was an official PGA Tour event known as the World Series of Golf. Thanks to the strength of field, it was considered just a step below the Majors, with a victory granting a 10-year exemption on Tour. The field at that time consisted of tournament winners from the various international tours.

NEC sponsored the event from 1984 to 2006, when it was taken over by Bridgestone.

Since it became known as the WGC Invitational (either as WGC-NEC or WGC Bridgestone) in 1999, Tiger Woods has owned the event, winning seven times.

The current field is composed of 75 players, who fit the following criteria:

Playing members of the last named United States and International Presidents Cup teams.
Playing members of the last named United States and European Ryder Cup teams.
Players ranked among the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings (one week and two weeks prior to event).
Tournament winners of worldwide events since the prior year’s tournament with an Official World Golf Ranking Strength of Field Rating of 115 points or more.
The winner of one selected tournament from each of the following tours: PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

As of 2013, Tiger Woods has won the WGC Bridgestone eight times in the fifteen times it has been staged.

A list of past WGC Bridgestone winners follows:

 

WGC Bridgestone Invitational Past Winners

Year	Player	Country	Score
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
2016	Dustin Johnson	United States	274 (-6)
2015	Shane Lowry	Northern Ireland	269 (-11)
2014	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	265 (-15)
2013	Tiger Woods	United States	265 (-15)
2012	Keegan Bradley	United States	267 (-13)
2011	Adam Scott	Australia	263 (-17)
2010	Hunter Mahan	United States	268 (-12)
2009	Tiger Woods (7)	United States	268 (-12)
2008	Vijay Singh	Fiji	270 (-10)
2007	Tiger Woods (6)	United States	272 (-8)
2006	Tiger Woods (5)	United States	270 (-10) PO
WGC-NEC Invitational
2005	Tiger Woods (4)	United States	274 (-6)
2004	Stewart Cink	United States	269 (-11)
2003	Darren Clarke	Northern Ireland	268 (-12)
2002*	Craig Parry	Australia	268 (-16)
2001	Tiger Woods (3)	United States	268 (-12) PO
2000	Tiger Woods (2)	United States	259 (-21)
1999	Tiger Woods	United States	270 (-10)

WGC Bridgestone Invitational Past Winners

Year	Player	Country
NEC World Series of Golf
1998	David Duval	United States
1997	Greg Norman (2)	Australia
1996	Phil Mickelson	United States
1995	Greg Norman	Australia
1994	José María Olazábal (2)	Spain
1993	Fulton Allem	South Africa
1992	Craig Stadler (2)	United States
1991	Tom Purtzer	United States
1990	José María Olazábal	Spain
1989	David Frost	South Africa
1988	Mike Reid	United States
1987	Curtis Strange	United States
1986	Dan Pohl	United States
1985	Roger Maltbie	United States
1984	Denis Watson	Zimbabwe
World Series of Golf
1983	Nick Price	Zimbabwe
1982	Craig Stadler	United States
1981	Bill Rogers	United States
1980	Tom Watson	United States
1979	Lon Hinkle	United States
1978	Gil Morgan	United States
1977	Lanny Wadkins	United States
1976	Jack Nicklaus	United States

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10 Powerful WordPress Plugins To Kick Your Website Into High Gear

When you're running a real estate business, one of the most valuable and functional assets you can employ is a well-designed, highly-functional website. For a lot of small businesses, WordPress is a natural place to start – because comparatively speaking, it's one of the easier platforms to figure out and there are a TON of […]

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Callaway Golf 2017 O-Works # 1 Blade Superstroke Pistol GT Tour

 

Callaway Golf 2017 O-Works # 1 Blade Superstroke Pistol GT Tour

Features:

• New 2017 micro hinge insert technology provides incredible gains in topspin and roll at impact regardless of your stroke
• The stainless steel micro hinge plate is co-molded into our thermoplastic elastomer feel layer
• The revolutionary high contrast versa alignment technology allows your eyes to key in on the Linear designs to highlight the proper face angle from address to impact
• As the #1 putter across the major tours, we’re constantly working with the best players in the world to develop and tweak shapes for ultimate performance
• Premium super stroke no-taper with counter core technology adjustable grip (weights sold separately from super stroke)

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Top Tips for those returning to piano playing!

Renowned music publishers Schott Music have, this week, presented three writers in an article containing their top tips for all those returning to the piano after a break.

Published in conjunction with Pianist Magazine, I am delighted to be featured alongside Christopher Norton (composer of the well-known and much-loved Microjazz series and Micro Musicals, amongst many other publications), and Tim Richards (jazz pianist, writer and composer, and author of Exploring Jazz Piano and Improvising Blues Piano, as well as a long list of other books and compositions).

Our favourite tips and recommendations appear alongside videos and other information all designed to help students get back into piano playing and hopefully reconnect with this satisfying pastime. You can read the article here.

And you can explore my new two-book piano course intended for those returning to playing after a break, Play it again: PIANO (Books 1 & 2 are now both available), here.

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My Books:

For much more information about practising repertoire, take a look at my two-book piano course, Play it again: PIANO (Schott). Covering a huge array of styles and genres, 49 progressive pieces from approximately Grade 1 – 8 are featured, with at least two pages of practice tips for every piece.

If you’re thinking about learning to play the piano, my guide-book, So You Want To Play The Piano? (Alfred) is full of useful help and support.

The Faber Music Piano Anthology (Faber) is also a valuable resource for those who desire a collection of standard repertoire from Grades 2 – 8, featuring 78 pieces in total.

My Compositions:

I have written a selection of educational piano music (both solo and duet) and you can hear it and find out much more here: EVC Music Publications.

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Eagle Eye Golf Club Hosting 39th Michigan Junior State Amateur

A Sizzling Summer Trip to the Florida Keys

I can’t believe it’s only July and I’ve driven the entire length of the Florida Keys three times this year.

Last year, the Florida Keys were one of my top most wanted destinations, mostly due to Bloodline. So in February  Cailin and I planned a girls’ road trip from Orlando to Key West and back again. And oh, was that FUN. Especially Key West.

In fact, I enjoyed it so much that when Florida Keys Tourism invited me to return in July, I said hell yes.

But why would you go back to the same place so soon, Kate?

Lots of reasons. I did genuinely fall in love with the Keys, especially Key West, and I felt like my last trip ended sooner than I wanted it to. And when the opportunity came up to work on a campaign with a brand I love, that’s an excellent opportunity. Also, I hate to say it, but the older I get, the more I crave trips to closer destinations with short, ideally direct flights.

Plus, it’s amazing how much can change in a destination in just a few months. Several new properties have opened, including the fabulous Perry Hotel on Stock Island near Key West. Key lime pie-making classes are now a thing at the Key West Key Lime Pie Company. Key’s Meads is now open in Key Largo. And most significantly, Key West now has Uber and Lyft, which is a complete game-changer. (Also, Maragaritaville has reopened, so there’s that.)

But the #1 reason why I came back to the Keys was this:

Hemingway Days!

As soon as I heard that my visit could potentially coincide with Hemingway Days in Key West, I knew it was a must for me! I’m not a die-hard Hemingway fan, but The Sun Also Rises is my favorite book of all time. And the idea of a Hemingway Lookalike Contest was just hilarious.

I was only here for the first night of the contest — and it was SO MUCH FUN that I came perilously close to changing my flight and staying another two nights! (Then I realized it would cost me upwards of $1000 and that was insane — so with a heavy heart, I flew back to New York.)

More on that beautiful contest later.

A Summer Road Trip From Key Largo to Key West

My trip this time began in Key Largo. Just a 75-minute drive from Miami Airport, starting in Key Largo is a relaxing way to start your trip. (Especially when you consider that last time I drove all the way from Orlando to Islamorada, which took seven hours with traffic and was not my smartest move of all time.)

I actually skipped over Islamorada this trip and made stops in Grassy Key, Marathon, and Big Pine before ending up in Key West. Visiting in July was different, too. It was extremely hot and humid everywhere, and it was hard to spend extended time in the sun, but it was incredibly beautiful and perfect weather for swimming in the Upper Keys.

Snorkeling with an All-Female Crew in Pennekamp State Park

I don’t dive, but I love to snorkel, and one of the best places to snorkel in the Keys is by Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, just off Key Largo.

I’m probably the most spoiled snorkeler of all time — my only two real snorkeling experiences have been the Belize Barrier Reef and Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, easily two of the world’s top sites — but I really enjoyed the wildlife at Pennekamp. Seeing my favorite fish, the queen angelfish, is always a highlight for me.

And the Keys are most famous for the underwater Jesus statue! You might remember it from season one of Bloodline when Danny takes the guests snorkeling. Jesus is actually covered with fire coral, so we were instructed not to touch him.

One nice surprise was that we had an all-female crew on our trip! I’m fairly certain that that was the first time I’ve had an all-female crew on a boat. Sometimes you don’t notice gender inequality in certain industries until it smacks you in the face.

Either way, I loved getting to know the women who took us on our trip, and as a shipwreck survivor who still gets nervous on boats, I felt very safe in their hands.

Later on, I visited the Coral Restoration Foundation and learned first-hand about the devastation to the reefs in the Florida Keys. It’s harrowing stuff, you guys.

But here they are doing such good work. The volunteers showed me how they were regrowing coral and planting it throughout the Keys. You can volunteer with them if you’d like, and if you’re a certified diver, you can even join them on trips replanting the coral!

Sampling the Meads of Key Largo

On my first trip, I visited the Florida Keys Brewing Company in Islamorada to sample the local beers. This time, it was about something more concentrated — mead! Keys Meads is a new business selling meads with flavors of the Florida Keys.

Mead is honey wine. It’s one of the spirits making a comeback today. Think of it like port — you sip on small glasses of it. And the Keys Meads are delicious. One of my favorites was Holiday Spice, which tastes a bit like a boozy applesauce and is a perfectly Christmassy beverage. There’s an orange cream flavor that rocked my socks. And because this is the Keys, there are not one but two different key lime-flavored meads!

Also, they ship — so if you’re carrying on your luggage, you can get bottles sent to you at home.

Trading Bloodline Stories with Locals

You might recall that the reason why I visited the Keys in the first place was because I was obsessed with the Netflix series Bloodline (which has since wrapped its third and sadly final season). It’s a drama about a prominent family in the Keys and their dark secrets. As amazing as the cast is, the Keys are the true star of the show and the cinematography is stunning.

Every local in the Keys has a story about the Bloodline cast. My favorite was from a local woman who ate a meal at a bar next to Kyle Chandler. “He got up to leave and my friend grabbed me and said, ‘That’s Kyle Chandler,’ and I said, ‘Oh! I just thought he was a handsome man!'”

Oh! I just thought he was a handsome man! is totally going to be my excuse for everything.

Chilling at the Kona Kai Resort

The Keys are a funny little place — there is so little land that you see all kinds of businesses pushed up against each other, from ramshackle seafood shacks to luxury resorts. You never know what you’ll find when you see a driveway leading off the highway.

In Key Largo I pulled off the road, walked down a path, and discovered a wonderful little place called the Kona Kai Resort and Gallery. It’s home to just a few apartment-style rentals with a gorgeous, landscaped pool area. You will definitely spot some iguanas!

What I loved most about this place was the friendly and helpful staff (especially when they helped with a car issue), the beautiful outdoor area, and just how intimate it felt. If you don’t want to be in a pool with dozens of other people, this is an excellent choice. And the art gallery on site is a nice touch.

I loved my suite. It was gorgeous, airy, and about double the size of my apartment. Not to mention beautifully chilly thanks to a great air conditioning system!

If you’re looking for a small, friendly, local property in Key Largo, I wholeheartedly recommend the Kona Kai.

Dollar Dollar Bills in a Big Pine Pub

I happened to be road-tripping from the Upper Keys to Key West while Kristin and Scott of Camels and Chocolate were doing the trip in reverse, so we decided to meet in the middle! Our spot? The No Name Pub on Big Pine Key.

Kristin and I have been online friends for years, but we hadn’t met in real life until this trip! And what a place to meet.

The No Name Pub is a dive bar located a few miles off the main road in Big Pine, which feels like forever in a place as small as the Keys. It’s absolutely plastered with dollar bills. The three of us estimated that there might be $20,000 covering the walls of that pub. Just insane.

You’ll probably be looking for an interlude en route from the mid-Keys to Key West. This is a good spot. And for what it’s worth, their pizza smelled sensational.

You can read Kristin and Scott’s post about their Keys trip here.

Kicking Back at the Perry Hotel

In Key West I stayed at a brand new boutique hotel on Stock Island, just east of Key West: the Perry Hotel. It was gorgeous and modern and I loved all the stylistic touches. Much of the design is an homage to Stock Island’s history as a shipyard (old propellers are repurposed as giant flowers!). And the pool area was incredibly inviting.

Now…is staying on Stock Island worth it? You might recall that after my first trip to Key West, I wrote about how much I appreciated staying in downtown Key West, walking distance from everything. If it were a few months ago, I would not have wanted to stay on Stock Island. But times have changed. Now that Uber and Lyft have been available in Key West for a few months, it makes living without a car so much easier. Plus, the hotel has a free hourly shuttle to and from Key West and it takes about 15 minutes, though it does end at the early time of 8:30 PM.

Plus, a property with these amenities would be far more expensive in Key West itself. Either way, I just loved spending time here. I loved my room, the pool area, the decor, the giant glass of champagne they poured me upon arrival, the nearby Cuban coffee truck, and the fish tacos were extraordinary.

So yes — I would absolutely stay on Stock Island for a property as good as the Perry!

Kayaking After Dark

One of the cooler activities I did in Key West was “nightboarding,” or kayaking after dark with lit glass-bottomed boats. Not only was the sunset incredible beforehand (that is an east-facing photo above! East-facing!!), but we got to enjoy being out on the water in peaceful darkness.

Paddling at night allows you to see a lot of creatures you wouldn’t see by day. We saw live sea cucumbers spurting out water (which….let me just say is a sight), and jellyfish floated through the water. I even saw a lobster shimmy underneath my boat!

I think what I enjoyed most was the quiet and the darkness. The polar opposite of Key West’s famous sunset celebration in Mallory Square.

Learning About Truman at the Little White House

After my hedonistic first trip to Key West in February, I was shocked that the highlight of my trip this time around was a visit to the Truman Little White House. Seven presidents from Taft to Clinton have used this residence as a retreat during and after their presidencies, but Harry Truman was the president who loved it the most. He spent a total of 175 days in Key West and loved the island fiercely.

I loved this tour — I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would! The house is styled as it was in 1949, down to the rare upholstery, and while it was cutting-edge at the time, it’s so simple that you shake your head at how different life is today for the president.

That above is actually the President’s bedroom. I think we can all agree that Trump wouldn’t be caught dead staying there.

I loved learning tidbits about Truman — he loved to play poker with his Cabinet and the Chief Justice, but gambling was still seen as a sin in America back then, so they had to keep it under wraps. Truman only had a high school education but chose to be an intellectual — he played Chopin on the piano by memory, he read every book in the library of Independence, Missouri, and he and his wife Bess would write each other love letters debating the merits of Shakespearean plays. And the reason why he had such low approval ratings at the end of his presidency was because he was pro-Civil Rights and most of America wasn’t at that time.

This visit really inspired me to learn more about Truman, and the staff suggested I pick up David McCullough’s Truman, as it’s regarded as the best Truman biography. (Fun fact: I did a project on Truman in the fifth grade. It’s nice to come full circle 22 years later!) If you’re in Key West, I urge you to stop by for a visit. I bet you’ll love it.

Also be sure to check out the Truman Annex, the neighborhood surrounding the Little White House. It’s neat and stately with some of the prettiest houses in Key West.

Even More Key Lime Pies — and Making My Own!

Back in February, Cailin and I basically lived for eating key lime pie across the Keys. This time I didn’t find any life-changing pies, but the one at Fish House in Key Largo was especially delicious, especially when it comes to crust.

But on this visit I got to make my own pie! The Key West Key Lime Pie Company has recently started offering classes. Their pie is a frozen variety, so you get to build your own personal pie, let it freeze overnight, then pick it up the next day. (They give you a slice to eat afterwards, too — they’re not torturers!) Do know that it’s more of an “assembly” class than a cooking-from-scratch class, but it’s fun and interesting and you get to do piping!

Also notable? This class is only $20, making it one of the best bargains in Key West.

I ate a ton of key lime pie on this trip to the Keys as well, but there was only one pie that I repeated from my first trip. I went to Mrs. Mac’s in Key Largo and took a slice to go to enjoy in my air-conditioned suite at the Kona Kai. Mrs. Mac’s is still my favorite.

Hemingway Lookalike Contest

THIS CONTEST. Did it ever live up to the hype! I’m a sucker for crazy festivals (dancing all night long with Vikings in Shetland, setting everything on fire in Valencia, joining a city-wide water fight in Bangkok) and it broke my heart that I could only be here for the first night of the contest.

They’re called the Hemingway Lookalike Society. They call their idol Papa. And every year they throw celebrations to celebrate their favorite author’s birthday, culminating in a lookalike contest.

Every Papa wannabe goes up on stage and has 15 seconds to make his case to the judges for why he should be the next Papa. The contest is judged by the previous winners of the contest, who are called the Papas, which makes things a bit more confusing.

So many of the guys gave long, rambling explanations, but my favorite was short and succinct from a Danish man: “Because I got off the plane and the immigration officer said, ‘Welcome to Florida, Mr. Hemingway.'”

It’s a strong community and lots of them look forward to reuniting every year. One sad thing is that three Papas passed away this year, and many tributes were given in their honor.

In between rounds, they auctioned off Hemingway merchandise, including old Life magazines with Hemingway on the cover. Proceeds go to the Hemingway Scholarship Fund, which supports students studying writing in the Florida Keys.

And my Danish favorite was actually chosen as a finalist! (He’s third from the right in the back row, the sliver of the face.) Here are all the finalists chosen from the first night, including a Young Hemingway on the right, which is fairly rare.

And, um, for those of you who were asking about Sexy Hemingway…he’s the guy in the black shirt. And I would.

This year’s winner was Richard Filip, who actually sailed a replica of Hemingway’s boat from Houston to Key West. That’s commitment! I asked him for this selfie because I had the feeling he was going to win. Richard has been a runner-up in the contest many times, as you can see by his medals, and he donates a lot to their scholarship fund. Between that, the boat, and his Hemingway looks, it’s not surprising to see why he was the Papa of 2017.

(Also, Paula Deen’s husband competed this year and apparently she was in the audience the same night as me!)

Finishing with SUP Yoga

If you’re flying out of Key West in the afternoon, I highly recommend booking a SUP (paddleboard) yoga course with Lazy Dog for the morning. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and be good to your body before your flight.

If you’ve never done yoga on a paddleboard before, don’t worry — it’s not as scary as it seems. All levels are welcome, from beginners to experts, and Kyla will take you to a smooth spot where you can balance easily.

I loved paddling out into the mangroves and enjoying the scenery before zoning out in yoga. I have to say that the Keys have now beaten the Croatian coast for the most scenic place I’ve done outdoor yoga!

Where to Eat in the Keys

There’s a wide variety of restaurants in the Keys, from low-end to high-end. My big recommendation is to enjoy the fresh seafood, especially hogfish, which is local to the area. Mahi is a good choice, too. But not all of the seafood is local year-round, so I recommend you ask your server what’s local and delicious.

Here are some of the standouts of my most recent trip, from east to west:

Fish House in Key Largo was a highlight — it’s a mid-range place, and everything I had was delicious. Guy Fieri filmed an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives here and I had two dishes he featured: the smoked fish dip and the hogfish Matecumbe-style, topped with fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, shallots, capers, olive oil, and lemon juice, then baked. That hogfish rocked my world and I loved finding a healthy dish that was still mind-blowingly good.

And their key lime pie is one of the best I’ve had in the Keys.

Sol by the Sea at the Playa Largo Resort in Key Largo was home to my favorite cocktail of the trip: the dragonfruit mojito! So pretty and so tasty! (And the worst cocktail of the trip was the margarita at Margaritaville. Once you’ve gotten yourself used to plain tequila-lime-and-salt margaritas, sour mix wreaks havoc on your body.)

The Playa Largo is a gorgeous resort and having dinner at Sol by the Sea allows you to enjoy the beautiful sunsets. I loved their gingery tuna poke appetizer; the fish curry, though, was not remotely spicy despite me asking for spice. I think they might be used to catering to weak palates. They also have a nice frozen key lime bar.

When locals heard I was going to Tarpon Creek in Marathon, every single person told me I had to try the watermelon and feta salad. They were right — it was fabulous, especially with added shrimp. They had a nice conch chowder that was actually spicy, too!

This is the take on smores at Matt’s Stock Island Bar and Kitchen at the Perry Hotel. As a lifelong camper who took her first steps in a tent, I think I have the authority to say that no, these are not remotely smore-like — they are chocolate chip cookies with torched fluff.

I actually missed taking a picture of my favorite dish: the snapper tacos. They were absolutely sensational. Delicious grilled snapper, orange jalapeño slaw, avocado polao crema, pickled onions, corn tortillas — and it’s enough for two people. Probably my favorite dish of the entire trip.

Hogfish Bar and Grill on Stock Island was my final meal in the Keys: fried hogfish tacos and a Hogfish beer by the Florida Keys Brewing Company. After that paddleboard yoga class, it hit the spot.

Bookmarked for the Next Trip

Even with two trips to the Keys this year, I still haven’t done everything that I want to do. At the top of my list? A boat trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, west of Key West; staying at The Moorings in Islamorada, which plays the family’s guesthouse on Bloodline; and a stop on Bahia Honda Key, which is home to a beautiful state park. And did you know that Judy Blume owns a bookstore in Key West? How have I not been there?!

But most of all, I want to come back for Fantasy Fest. It’s a multi-day Halloween celebration in Key West with different costume themes each night! Key West + my favorite holiday + rewarded creativity? HELL YES. I’ll make that my own personal Burning Man.

Contest: Win a #MeInTheKeys Trip to the Florida Keys!

Want to visit the Keys on your own? Florida Keys and Key West are giving away a trip to the Keys! The winning trip is very similar to mine — you’ll spend two nights in Key Largo and two in Key West, plus a $1,000 air travel card, rental car gift certificate, and passes to Key West and Marathon attractions.

How to enter: submit a video or photo of you enjoying the Keys here with the hashtag #MeInTheKeys. The video must not exceed one minute and you can create it from a still photo if you’d like. The video with the most votes will win the contest.

The submission deadline is August 4; the voting deadline is August 18. This contest is open to US and Canada (excluding Quebec) residents only, age 21+. See the full rules here.

More on the Keys

If you’re hooked on the Keys, be sure to check out my past two posts:

• Welcome to the Florida Keys, all about Islamorada and the mid-Keys.
• Key West, You Are My New Favorite, all about Key West.

Essential Info: On this trip, I flew into Miami and out of Key West. That’s definitely efficient, since it’s a 3.5-hour drive from Miami Airport to Key West, but keep in mind that a one-way car rental will be more expensive than a return trip — it may be cheaper for you to fly in and out of Miami or even Fort Lauderdale, which is still close.

In Key Largo I stayed at the Kona Kai Resort and Gallery, which I enjoyed very much and recommend. Rates from $219 per night. Find more Key Largo hotels here.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo offers two kinds of snorkeling trips: 2.5-hour trips for $29.95 and 4.5-hour extended trips for $38.95; rental equipment is available for both. I felt perfectly happy with the 2.5-hour trip, which is entirely by the reef with the Jesus statue. Entering the park costs $4. You can visit the Coral Restoration Foundation and learn about their efforts or volunteer yourself.

Keys Meads is open to visit — no appointment necessary during opening hours. It looks like it’s in an office park; don’t worry, you’re in the right place. Be very careful and limit your consumption to just a few small sips if you’re driving. They ship bottles, too.

In Key West I stayed at the Perry Hotel, which I enjoyed very much and recommend. Rates from $237 per night. Find more Key West hotels here.

Ibis Bay Paddle Sports offers 1.5-hour night boarding tours in Key West for $59.95. You can choose between paddleboarding and kayaking, but if it’s windy, they’ll recommend kayaks.

Visiting the Truman Little White House requires a guided tour; tours cost $15. No photography is allowed.

The Key West Key Lime Pie Company offers pie-making classes for $20.

Paddleboard yoga classes at the Lazy Dog cost $30; private lessons are $75 per person.

The sun is super strong in the Keys — be sure to wear sunscreen and reapply often, even on days when you’re just strolling around Key West. Sunburn can sneak up on you quickly here. Use coral-safe sunscreen when snorkeling. Also, be sure to hydrate. There was one point where I felt dizzy and nearly fainted out of the blue because I hadn’t hydrated enough that morning.

Watch Bloodline on Netflix before going to the Keys — you’ll appreciate your trip so much more! The show is a slow burn; give it a few episodes if you don’t click with it right away.

Be sure to buy travel insurance for your trip to the Keys. Whether you cut yourself and need to go to the hospital for stitches, or your phone gets stolen at a bar, or an injury means you need to cancel all or part of your trip, travel insurance will help you out in your time of need. I use and recommend World Nomads as travel insurance for trips to the Florida Keys.

This post is brought to you by Florida Keys and Key West, who hired me to work on this campaign. They also covered my travel expenses for this trip, excluding alcohol and incidentals. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Have you been to the Keys? Or are you dying to meet the Hemingways? Share away!

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