The Slammer & Squire Course: 1997, Bobby Weed (Glen Mills)

Scratch 6939, 73.8, 135, 72
Black 6660, 72.5, 124, 72
Blue 6129, 69.7, 123, 72
White 5711, 72.5, 124, 72
Fees: ~$165 plus cart

The King & Bear Course: 2000, Arnold Palmer & Jack Nicklaus

Stone 7279, 75.2, 141, 72
Black 6855, 73.7, 139, 72
Blue 6506, 71.6, 135, 72
White 5987, 68.8, 74.9, 128, 137, 72

Directions: From Jacksonville, take 95S, then take the International Golf Pkwy exit in St Augustine and follow signs to village entrance.

Fat Guy 2009 Review, World Golf Village:  This is a fun golf weekend, almost as much for the off-course surroundings in St. Augustine as for the golf.

Tip:  Partiers, sight-seers, foodies, parents, and history buffs (i.e. pretty much everybody who enjoys anything off the golf course) will want to stay at a B&B or a budget motel in Old Town St. Augustine (www.oldcity.com/hotel-motel-bed-and-breakfast-information.cfm) rather than at the resort.  You're better off being stumbling distance to great restaurants and nightlife with a 20-minute drive to the course in the morning, as opposed to the other way around.

Nearby Old Town St. Augustine (www.oldcity.com) is the oldest city in America, pre-dating the Pilgrim's landing in Plymouth Rock by 55 years. 

Founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, Old Town St. Augustine is walkable (bound by King Street and Cathedral Place), and has a vibe akin to Old San Juan meets Nassau meets New Orleans meets Key West, with much of the downtown architecture leftover from the 1700-1800's.  The architecture is an eclectic mix of Spanish, Colonial, Victorian, and Flagler-era houses, inns, and shops, with Big-Easy-style 2nd floor wraparound wrought iron balconies overlooking European-vibe cobblestone alleys full of hidden gem shops, bars, and restaurants with culinary influences as varied as the architecture. 

This is one of those increasingly rare U.S. cities with genuine character that hasn't been overrun by homogeonized sprawl.  It barely feels like you're still in America.  There's a coquina-walled haunted fort that's guarded the city for 330 years (Castillo de San Marcos, www.dowmuseum.com)...

...Ponce De Leon's Fountain Of Youth (www.fountainofyouthflorida.com), several "oldest" tours (Oldest House, Oldest Schoolhouse, Oldest Tree, Oldest Jail, etc.), popular ghost tours (nightly "Frightseeing" tour www.ghostandgravestones.com, Haunted Pub Tours www.ghostmatters.com, www.ghostaugustine.com), historical tours on Little Red Trains (www.redtrains.com), a Ripley's Believe It Or Not location housed in a small castle (www.ripleys.com), kitschy pirate cruises (www.blackravenadventures.com), and more great little boutiques than you could shake a stick at.  This would even be a great spot for a family getaway with some golf thrown in for Dad, some entertaining history for the kids, and boutique shopping for Mom.  It's still a great spot for a golf buddy getaway just for the atmosphere, restaurants, and bars, even if you skip all the historical stuff like we did.

Here's a good walking map of town: www.resortmaps.com/Florida/Map-of-St-Augustine.

The nearby World Golf Village has come a long way since it's inception over a decade ago, and their courses are a nice side dish to area Must Play TPC Sawgrass.  But it's obvious that the economic downturn has hurt WGV, and it hasn't quite yet lived up to its' original grand ambitions. 

While the real estate and golf condos appear to have filled out nicely, across the street from the WGV's grand entrance is an empty sand lot which was surely supposed to be a corporate center by now.  Even the retail section has mostly-vacant store fronts (the upscale Augustino's steakhouse recently bailed due to lack of revenue), with only a PGA Tour mega-store (worth a visit), an office of The First Tee, and Murray Bros. Caddyshack still in business.  Caddyshack is one of only two on-site bar/restaurants outside the two course's grill rooms, so there's little-to-no nightlife at or near the resort, necessitating the 20 minute drive to St. Augustine a couple exits down 95 South.

The World Golf Hall Of Fame is worth an hour or two, but it's definitely a single-visit, one-and-done attraction.  I liked putting with the old wooden putters and featherie balls on the museum's indoor putting green, seeing the replica trophies from major championships in the 190-foot observation tower, and hitting a few onto the full-sized replica of TPC Sawgrass' island 17th.  Despite exhibits that change periodically (like 2009's "Shanks For The Memories" on inductee Bob Hope), there's only so many antique clubs, Bobby Jones Grand Slam recaps, and Ryder Cup golf bags that can hold your attention for more than an hour or so.  Put it this way... it doesn't hold a candle to Cleveland's more interactive Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame (and I'm a golf junkie).

Golf Magazine says, "Though you might not be able to get Ben Crenshaw's nasally twang out of your head, you can't help but feel the same love Gentle Ben and other history buffs profess when you partake of the treasures here. Sampling ancient clubs and balls, stepping across a replica of Swilcan Burn Bridge and playing a virtual round at St. Andrews are among the interactive exhibits, though the true fan could spend all day simply perusing the records and legacies of the game's greats."

As for the golf...

Fat Guy Review, King & Bear Course:  The surrounding development, clubhouse, and course at King & Bear are a tick more upscale than the sister Slammer & Squire course.  There's even an Italian-villa-style day spa across the street for your golf widow (www.pgatourspa.com).

From the elevated first tee, it's obvious you're in for a tough, picturesque challenge, with water lining the right side of the fairway leading to one of Arnie's beloved water-edged beach bunkers.  There's plenty of water to worry about here, coming into play on about 14 holes.  Nicklaus appears to be the stronger hand in the design.  Jack asks you to make shots to make par, and I would definitely call this a shot maker's course, with some fun hero shots scattered around the lot.  If you're a Mickelson-esque swashbuckler, this thing will swallow a couple sleeves of balls, so bring extra ammo.  But there's also a few of Arnie's trademark wide fairways, along with more rolling elevation changes, more creative bunkering, more undulating greens, more visually appealling holes, and more Spanish-moss laden oaks lining the fairways than the sister course, giving King & Bear almost more of a South Carolina or Louisana feel.

Range balls are free with your greens fees, and the range has nice chipping and putting areas.  The barrels of chilled apples on the 1st & 10th tees are a nice touch.  The cart girl was a seriously cute blond airhead.  I took issue with the 500 yard gap between the White and Blue tees.  Basically for the high-handicapper, you're making a decision on whether to hit Driver-9 iron all day, or Driver-5 wood all day.  A set of tees in between would have been nice, with more variation in hole distances, or maybe a set of mixed White/Blue tees like they have on the card at TPC Sawgrass.  There is some housing lining the peripheral holes, but it's usually a fair distance away or across a water hazard, so overall it largely avoids the "housing development course" feel.  We played it after alot of rain so they were path-only, and this course was not designed for path-only.  Keeping the cart paths well off the fairways makes all the promo pix look great on the website, but it makes for a long, tiring day here (and costs you the inevitable 2-5 extra strokes from having the wrong stick in your hand but being too lazy/impatient/pressed-from-behind to trudge back for the right one).  The long cart bridge connecting #s 1 & 2 and #s 8 & 9 takes you through a ruggedly handsome canopy swamp of trees, ferns, and pines.  As my buddy Jeff and I compared it to Disney World's African Safari and the jungle from Predator, I had to chuckle, "It's kinda sad... drop us in real nature for 30 seconds and all we can compare it to is... fake nature."   We did see 3 or 4 semi-sizeable gators here, so keep your eyes open during ball searches near the water.

  Jeff's new buddy

You can see why Golf Digest rated King & Bear 4-1/2 stars, but in my opinion it's a half-or-full star better than the sister course, which also got a 4-1/2 star GD rating.  I wouldn't make another trip back to Florida just to play it all on it's own, but paired with TPC Sawgrass it makes for a fun, tough weekend of golf.  Fat Guy Rating:  8.5

Fat Guy Review, Slammer & Squire Course:  This course is named after Snead & Sarazen, who consulted briefly on the design with Bobby Weed, one of my favorite architects.  And the clubhouse is right next to the World Golf Hall Of Fame.  With that pedigree, you might get your hopes up for the course.  But I found it to be a fairly flat, semi-typical Florida layout (minus the surrounding houses) built on a black water pine swamp, which oozes ominously on the perimeter.  There's plenty of water to worry about here.  We played after a series of Florida T-bangers, and not all of the water on the course was in designed hazards.  Due to being built just a few feet above the swamp water table, the place doesn't drain very well, leaving lots of standing water and squishy, sopping-sponge fairways after a good rain.  There are some tight, tough driving holes (I sent 3 tee balls into water or woods on the double dog faux links #4, albeit after a cell phone call from the wife--why do I ever answer my phone on the golf course?).  I loved the par-3 15th, with a bulkhead green half-dangled out into water and tricky mowed-down swales long, reminiscient of a mirror image of TPC Sawgrass' nasty 13th.  I'll give them props for service (despite a lengthy, Disney-like scripted speech from the starter); they kept us well-informed of two lightning/rain stopages through the GPS system, with cart boys at the ready to direct us to the underground cart barn to keep ourselves and our clubs dry, then straight to an elevator that popped out right in the grill room.  Fat Guy Rating:  7.75

T&L Golf Review (2004), World Golf Village: The World Golf Village, outside St. Augustine, has two courses: The Slammer & Squire was designed by Bobby Weed in consultation (brief though it was) with Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen before they died. The King & Bear is a 2001 collaboration between Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. A look at the swampy pastureland that surrounds the site suggests the limitations of the land both courses are built on. The King & Bear is the better of the two, making good use of several lakes that were likely built for drainage. It's still a bit raw but should mature nicely.

Other Courses To Play on WGV Golf Packages: TPC Sawgrass is definitively the centerpiece of any golf weekend in the WGV/St. Augustine/Jacksonville area, and it's on everyone's bucket list.  Like all the golf mags say, don't treat the 16 opening holes as an appetizer for the island green 17th.  This is Pete Dye at his most diabloical, and it'll be one of the toughest courses you'll ever play right from the first tee.  Some of the bowling alley tee ball lanes aren't quite as tight from the more reasonable White tees (~6100 yards, but still sloping out at 134) as you're used to seeing from the tips at The Players on TV.  But even so, all the severe bunkering, overhanging tree limbs, and atypical greenside slopes will keep a tortured smile on your face all day long.  See Fat Guy's full TPC Sawgrass review HERE.

Tip:  Adding TPC Sawgrass to your World Golf Village itinerary seems like a no-brainer, but prepare for a lesson in the modern economics of supply and demand; high season greens fees are $375-plus.  To make Sawgrass fit into a lower budget, deal with the Florida summer heat for a day and book between June1 - Sept 1 when summer greens fees drop from $375 to $275 (plus the minimum $20 forecaddy tip).  They aerate in June, so expect some bumpy fairways and greens overdressed with sand through most of the month.  Also, adding Sawgrass into your WGV package comes with a premium. You'll end up paying about $425 in prime season with WGV's built-in advance booking fees. If you're going during a non-peak time of year or you're willing to roll the dice a little, try booking Sawgrass direct via the TPC's 14 day advance tee times on their website (www.tpc.com) to save yourself $50-$100 off the WGV package fees.  I went this route for an early June, mid-morning weekday tee time on 14 days notice and got the first time on the sheet.

Another upscale option in the area is Jack Nicklaus' oceanside holes at The Ocean Course at Ginn Hammock Beach Golf Club (formerly Ocean Hammock GL), although we didn't have the time or the cash to play there.  T&L Golf says, "The best set of oceanside holes in the region belongs to a new course south of St. Augustine called Ocean Hammock Golf Club. It's a Jack Nicklaus design, but in contrast to other seaside courses he's done, where he got just a few pinched acres of beachfront property to work with, at Ocean Hammock Nicklaus had space for two long par fours parallel to the beach and a couple of good par threes that play out to the water. The course's four closing holes, known as the Bear Claw, are as challenging as their views are beguiling. Tom Watson's adjoining new Conservatory course, which lies inland from the Atlantic, may be one of the toughest in the state."

Of the more budget-minded WGV package options, you might try Cimarrone, known as "The Wild One".  Not to be confused with the famed California resort course of the same name, this Cimarrone is 10 minutes from WGV and got 4 stars from Golf Digest.  It's pretty typical of Florida golf, surrounded by in-play McMansions (my buddy Jeff hit two houses with the same tee ball), with water or marsh on every hole.  Overall it was a somewhat fun challenge, but there were a few too too many bugs and mosquitoes, too much water, and it was a bit too tight for my Grip-It-And-Rip-It mood.  Maybe next time I'll play it sober.

Play your first or last round at St. Johns (near JAX airport, FL-style, long, water, home of Q-School), or near WGV play South Hampton (risk-reward, 16 lakes, 60 bunkers). 20 minutes from WGV, Golf Magazine's Travelin' Joe says Windsor Parke is the best value in the Jacksonville area. This 1991 Arthur Hills design boasts an array of strategically placed trees, lakes, and bunkers. While there may be one too many houses to please purists, the price is right, but it's closer to Jacksonville that it is to WGV. Or another solid choice, especially if you crave a stern challenge, is The Golf Club at North Hampton (www.hamptongolfclubs.com), a 7,171-yard, par-72 Arnold Palmer design situated in Fernandina Beach. It's also near JAX airport, but it's a half-hour north of Jacksonville, which probably makes it about an hour from WGV.

Best Bar Nearby: The Champions Grille (also designed by Jack & Arnie) at the King & Bear clubhouse begs for the New South version of a John Daly, which is a takeoff on an Arnold Palmer:  a double shot of Firefly sweet-tea vodka, mixed with lemonade.  Too bad Jack never was the kind of guy to have a drink named after him.  And could you imagine a cocktail named after Tiger?  It'd have to have Gatorade in it.  I just thought of one:  Tiger's Sunday Red Gatorade, peach schnapps & Bacardi White, and call it a Fuzzy Tiger (if you need me to explain that joke, you're not a real golfer).  According to the website, the menu at the Champions Grille dining room is upscale, though we didn't eat there.

The Legends Clubhouse Grille at Slammer & Squire has plenty of natural light and my local Yuengling Lager on tap.  Order the French Dip sandwich.

The on-site Murray Bros. Caddyshack (www.murraybroscaddyshack.com) has multiple big screens, a fun merchandise shop, personable bartenders, and decent bar food (I'd rate the wings a 6.5).  And you gotta ask the barkeep if he can make a Bull Shark when you belly up to the bar.  But the place was half-dead on our Saturday night there (although there always seemed to be a couple friendly MILFs at the bar with their hubbies in tow on our two visits).  The bartender said the crowd is highly dependent on whatever convention or event is (or isn't) going on at the WGV Renaissance hotel next door, but most nights they don't even get busy enough to stay open past 11 or midnight, even on weekends.

Best Bar Nearby, St. Augustine:  Plan your golf weekend with a Monday departure, and hit nearby Anastasia Island's Must Party, the Sunday afternoon live reggae dock party (3PM-7PM) at The Conch House Marina Resort (www.conch-house.com). 

This dockside bar has a beachy/nautical aura, and sees a few hundred partiers who drive/boat here from as far away as Daytona every Sunday.  You may end up in line to do body shots off a hottie.  Get there early to grab a parking spot or dock slip, or stay right there at the on-site motel.  Afterwards, snag one of the crow's nest tables on the water for dinner, check out the gator pen, and order the conch fritters and grilled scallops.

In Old Town St. Augustine, we found two divier bars we liked: Scarlett O'Hara's (www.scarlettoharas.net) is a quaint-but-divey joint with an fun open-air cubbyhole outdoor bar, a nice front porch for dining alfresco, and an appropriately dark-&-dingy dining room/bar inside. 

Scarlett's female bartenders were all cute and friendly, and generous in their tolerance of our banter as well as with restaurant recommendations.  We liked the raw oyster and shrimp apps, and their buffalo wings smelled surprisingly legit as we left (yes, I'm enough of a wing aficianado that I can tell a good wing by smell). But we did hear some mixed feedback on their food from others.

I didn't sample either of them, but other wings spots advertised in town included Dick's Wings (www.dickswingsandgrill.com) and Hurricane Wings (www.hurricanewings.com).  Hurricane is a Florida chain that won the Chairman's Award at the 2009 Buffalo NY Wing Festival.

We also caught a good acoustic act with a great chick singer in the open-air fish shack vibe of the upstairs bar at Milltop Tavern (www.milltop.com). 

  Milltop Tavern

A1A Ale Works (www.a1aaleworks.com) came oft-recommended by locals.  Grab a table on their riverside second floor wrought iron balcony, and order one of their tasty microbrews.  If you're more in the mood for a cocktail, they make their own rootbeer, so get off your normal track and order a rootbeer vodka martini.

 A1A Aleworks

O.C White's (www.ocwhites.com), the Tini Martini Bar (www.casablancainn.com/martini.html), and the outdoor courtyard at Harry's (www.hookedonharrys.com) also looked worthwhile on a walk-by. 

From Fat Guy's research, there aren't any Gentlemen's clubs any closer than 45 minutes north in Jacksonville or an hour south in Daytona Beach, slightly downgrading WGV as a buddy trip destination, but St. Augustine should be plenty to entertain you for a long weekend.

Note: Our Sunday night in Old Town was near-dead compared to the weekend, so it's likely that translates into pretty dead Mon-Thurs too, save for a few cheap happy hours here and there. Partiers should keep that in mind if considering an early-week stay to save on room rates and greens fees.

Where To Grub On-Site (from the WGV website): "Specializing in New American Regional Cuisine, 500 South: An American Grill (located at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort, www.worldgolfrenaissance.com/Dining/500South) offers a fine dining experience using the freshest ingredients in the region in a chic and comfortable atmosphere. The adjacent 500 South Lounge boasts an impressive 50-inch television as the centerpiece, additional flat-screen televisions, and a billiard room."  Fat Guy Note:  Both the restaurant and lounge were closed when we stopped by at 11:30 on a Saturday night, so no nightlife to speak of here.

Where To Grub, St. Augustine: This is probably more of a commentary on our collective palates than anything, but the best meal we had in St. Augustine were the battered fish & homemade cole slaw tacos at a little alleyway surfer joint called Madre's (8 Aviles Ave, 904-823-1371).  It also probably didn't hurt that it was pushing late night and we'd been boozing for about 3 hours.  The friendly proprietor/ hostess/ waitress/ chef made us feel like we were eating at her home, and explained all the dishes and ingredients to us.  Great salsa too.

For waterside dining in St. Augustine, my Dad recommended a place called Santa Maria Restaurant (135 Avenida Menendez, 904-829-6578, www.staugustine.com/directory/visit/1387091.shtml).  So we checked it out for lunch.

It's just down the beach from the Castillo de San Marcos fort and sits on planks out over the water. A salty dog (if borderline dank) atmosphere among plenty of exposed wood, with a restaurant-first for me... flaps built into the window ledges overhanging the water for feeding the fish and birds. They serve good seafood; try the gator app, the blackened grouper sandwich, or the specials. 

For upscale, T&L Golf says make time for dinner at the Cuban-Spanish Columbia Restaurant (www.columbiarestaurant.com, 904-824-3341), which makes wonderful paella and sangria.  We heard mixed reviews on the Columbia from locals; the retired couple from Daytona we got paired with at Slammer & Squire often drive 60 miles up from Daytona just for lunch here, but the bartender at Scarlet O'Hara's said they serve overpriced tourist food.  The courtyard atmosphere on a walk-by looked like it would probably be worth judging for yourself, but personally I'm just not into that salty-sweet Cuban thing.  We also wished we'd had the time to try the sidewalk tables at tiny back alley Mayan bistro Casa Maya (17 Hypolita, 904-217-3039). Their chalkboard specials sounded delicious, especially the grilled lamb chop.

Just across a short bridge from Old Town St. Augustine is Anastasia Island, an oceanside barrier island seperating St. Augustine from the Atlantic.  Anastasia was something of a mystery to us.  Here you have what would appear to the untrained eye to be miles of prime Florida beachfront property, but the overall vibe of the community is fairly dated and blue collar.  Much of the housing is post-WWII vintage, on the smaller side, and a little threadbare around the edges.  Even most of the motels are in the Mom & Pop to Best Western range.  Not that I'm judging or complaining; Fat Guy actually prefers these types of environs over hoighty-toighty.  It was just puzzling given the location, location, location.  The only thing we could figure was that it's too prone to hurricanes to start building million dollar beach houses on a glorified sandbar.

If you're looking for good waterside grub with character, Anastasia Island is a pretty good place to start. Golf Magazine says if you have a hankering for old-Florida atmosphere, Saltwater Cowboys (904-471-2332, www.saltwatercowboys.com) is drenched in it. Housed in an old fish camp, this local legend is Big Easy meets the Everglades, ladling out portions of alligator tail, frog legs and jambalaya in a wooden-floor, rusted- tinroof setting along the Intercoastal Waterway. So we stopped by there for a drink (unfortunately, there's no bar). The place is quaint as hell from the outside, and the inside decor straddles the line between been-there-forever and manufactured kitsch. They have gumbo on the menu which is good per our inexperienced waiter, and judging by the packed parking lot necessitating valet parking on an earlier weekend evening drive-by (ever handed a valet your keys while standing on a sand parking lot before?), the place is almost definitely worth a meal. Fat Guy also tried the Sunset Grille (421 A1A Blvd, www.sunsetgrillea1a.com) on the recommendation of the bartender at Scarlet O'Hara's. It didn't quite have the advertised Key West, open-air vibe we were expecting (possibly due to most of the windows being closed after a rainstorm), but our slight disappointment was somewhat offset by discovering the Belmont Stakes on TV over the bar.  The lava flow blender drinks were tasty but too filling (and my order drew some well-deserved sniggers from the bartender), and the blackened grouper in a creamy shrimp sauce was pretty good.

In Vilano Beach just north of Anastasia Island, T&L Golf says: "To eat where the locals go in St. Augustine, try Cap's on the Water (904-824-8794, $$), on the beach side of the Intracoastal Waterway. You can get there by car or boat. Order fried shrimp and vanilla grouper. Sit on the deck under a tree dripping Spanish moss. Sip a margarita. Watch the fishing boats head home as the sun sets over the water. This is living."

In St. Augustine, the WGV staff recommends:
Café Cortesse, 904-825-6775
La Pavillion, 904-824-6202
Outback Crabshack, 904-522-0500

Where To Stay: Again, you're better off staying at a B&B or a budget motel in Old Town St. Augustine (www.oldcity.com/hotel-motel-bed-and-breakfast-information.cfm) rather than at the resort.

If you do decide to stay at WGV, for good value digs stay at the on-site WGV Comfort Suites, which includes their free breakfast buffet.  For upscale, T&L Golf recommends World Golf Village Renaissance Resort. Appointed with European accents and overlooking the Village lake, the hotel is a leisurely stroll from everything there is to see and do. They also dig the Sheraton Vistana at World Golf Village (800-477-3340, St. Augustine).

Budget: Depending on your course and lodging selections, this can be a pretty good value trip, or it also scales up very nicely. You could get away with spending as little as $750 for a 3-night, 3-round weekend including flight, rental car, double-occupancy room at the on-site Comfort Suites, and greens fees at 3 quality courses including the 2 on-site tracks. Or if you want to stay at the resort's luxury Residences @ WGV and add TPC Sawgrass to your itinerary, you'll double that at around $1,500-$1,700. There are 6 properties and and 13 course options available in their packages, so you can easily tailor any golf weekend to your budget.

When To Go: Temps average in the 60s Dec-Feb, 70s Mar-Apr & Oct-Nov, and 80s in May-Sept. April, May and October produce the best weather, with average highs right around the 80 degree mark, but I'd skip any trips from mid-April to early May, since TPC Sawgrass is closed for The Players. High season is anytime it's too cold to play golf up North, and high season pricing starts to drop off towards the end of May. The first two weeks of June are a consideration to beat some of the high summer heat, plus you'll catch the lower summer rates at TPC Sawgrass, but the caveats are that Sawgrass aerates the course in June (greens and fairways, plus overdressing both with sand), so you'll be putting over slightly bumpy sandy bermuda, plus there are the near-daily summer Florida afternoon thunderstorms that accompany the official start of hurricane season on June 1.

Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy Guide To St. Augustine, 2011

Arrrggghhhhh!!!! For the next exciting adventure of Drinking Made Easy, Captain Lamprey and his first mate, Dumbbeard, be heading off to the treasure filled ports of St. Augustine, Florida. Beware! there be PIRATES in these waters! Our boozing buccaneers will be hearing tales of the sea with local sailors and sea dogs and their favorite watering holes. We also be learnin’ on this here adventure, as Captain Lamprey explores the rich history of US’s oldest city. So gather ya crew, prepare the grog, ready the sails and pull anchor as we voyage in search of treasure and booze!

WHERE WE MADE PORT

A1A Ale Works: Located on the A1A Florida State road, A1A over looks Mantanza Bay and offers handcrafted beers, brewed to excellence, A1A Ale Works goes to great lengths to serve each guest the freshest beer possible. This commitment to serving nothing but the finest and freshest beer has led to numerous awards. 1 King Street St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904)-829-2977

The Conch House: The world famous Conch House Lounge is Northeast Florida’s premier cocktail lounge. They feature live entertainment each weekend with the finest local artists. Don’t miss their famous “Reggae Sundays” during the summer season.Whether you’re looking for an outstanding waterfront dining experience second to none, fabulous tropical cocktails, or a relaxing getaway destination, the Conch House Marina Resort is the place to find it all. 57 Comares Ave. St. Augustine, FL 32080 (800) 940-6256

Saltwater Cowboys: Perched above wildlife laden salt marshes flanking the Intercoastal Waterway, Saltwater Cowboys offers an interesting Florida marsh theme. Cowboy’s interior is reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century fish camp with handmade willow twig furniture, old wooden floors, rusted tin ceilings with gator and snake skins hanging on the walls. Customers can sip a relaxing drink on the outdoor deck or enjoy the delicious Florida style cooking in one of the four rustic dining rooms. Dondanville Rd, St. Augustine, FL (904) 471-2332

Black Raven Pirate Ship: The Pirate Ship Black Raven is a one-of-a-kind live pirate show full of music, thrills and pure entertainment! Participate in our adventure, sing along with our crew, and find your inner pirate while you see the beautiful sights of the Matanzas River. 111 Avenida Menedez St. Augustine, FL 32084. (904) 826-0000

Fountain of Youth: The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a 15 acre waterfront, Historical Site where St. Augustine, Florida began in 1565. This is the location where Spanish Explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles, in 1565, established the first and oldest continuous Europeon Settlement in the United States of America. 11 Magnolia Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 829-3168

Castillo de San Marcos: Though its construction started in 1672 the Castillo de San Marcos’ history embodies the struggle and contest of the entire colonial era as well as the foundations of American identity.The Monument site consists of 20.5 acres and includes a reconstructed section of the walled defense line surrounding the city of St. Augustine incorporating the original city gate. 1 South Castillo Drive St. Augustine, Florida 32084 (904) 829-6506

Pirate and Treasure Museum: Home to pirate artifacts, the only authentic pirate treasure chest in the world, and an original Jolly Roger flag. The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is a unique collection of authentic pirate artifacts coupled with elements of interactive technology that reveal a scintillating historic adventure through the Golden Age of Piracy and the lives of the era’s most infamous pirates. 12 S Castillo Drive St. Augustine, FL 32084 (877) 467-5863

Taberna Del Gallo: Sans electricity, only flickering candles light this 1736 tavern, which serves beer and wine to guests in the stone-walled interior and outdoor courtyard. On weekend nights the Bilge Rats sing sea shanties that get progressively bawdier. 35 St George St, St. Augustine, Florida (904) 825-6830

Casa Monica Hotel: In the heart of St. Augustine, Florida—the nation’s oldest city—the Casa Monica Hotel is a majestic 1888 landmark. Restored in 1999, the Casa Monica Hotel blends a legendary past with contemporary pleasures. 95 Cordova St. St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 827-1888

YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE Of…

Goombay Smash
Swamp Thing
Saltwater Cowboy
The Mermaid
Grog
Colbalt Martin
Ruby Ruby

TREASURES TO BE FOUND

San Sebastian Winery- Vintners Red: This wine is balanced to express intense fruit flavor derived from the Noble variety of the Native Muscadine grape. Vintners Red is sure to raise an eyebrow and a second glass. Served slightly chilled this wine is a great complement to any pasta dish as well as for just sitting and relaxing.

The Spanish Quarter- Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo: This full, silky red marries the noble and native Spanish red grape varietal Tempranillo with internationally-recognized, yet relative newcomer to Spain. Cabernet Sauvignon.

QUOTES FROM DUMBBEARD (Steve)
“I think I got Goombayed Smashed”
“You can’t fish on a horse!”
“Did pirates use to come here?” (Referring to the Casa Monica Hotel built in 1888)

ST. AUGUSTINE AND PIRATE LORE

A1A is a Florida State Road that runs from Key West to Callahan.
A1A is mentioned in the Vanilla Ice Song, “Ice Ice Baby”.
“Touron”- A moron tourist
The Conch House is owned by the Ponce family, who have been in St. Augustine for over 400 years.
The word “Goombay” relates the beating of drums and the Caribbean dance that goes along with it.
St. Augustine is the oldest city in the country.
The 1982 movie “Swamp Thing” was written and directed by Wes Craven.
Mason Jars are popular because they were traditionally used to preserve peaches.
A “saltwater cowboy is a slang term for an ocean fisherman.
On long journeys at sea, water was kept pure in barrels with alcohol turning it into Grog.
Grog was introduced by the Royal Navy in 1740, it was made with both rum and beer.
The Casa Monica Hotel Opened on January 1, 1888 with just three registered guest.
History of Cheers: The royal navy would trick bar patrons into service by dropping coins into their drinks. By unknowing accepting payment the bar patrons were tricked into contracts and forced into service. Clear bottoms were added to glasses so that drinkers could raises their glasses and check for coins. Saying Cheers as they did, and celebrating that they could remain free men.
The Pirate and Treasure Museum contains the only authentic pirate treasure chest in the world. It’s 400 years old, 150 pounds and is insured for $1 million.
The museum also has one of the oldest wanted posters, dating back to 1696.
The mineral cobalt has been used for centuries for the rich blue color it gives to ceramics and glass.

AYE, AYE MATEY! ANOTHER ROUND! See Also:  Jacksonville FL Golf Weekend