The first time that I played in the Conch Scramble “On-The-Water” golf tournament, I thought my nose was going to blow right off. No seriously, I really did.
When event founder, the late “Mangrove Mike” Forster, invited me to participate in this popular Upper Keys Charity Golf Tournament, I was totally stoked.
What I didn’t know was that this unique “on-the-water” challenge involved more than just teeing your ball up on the beach and chipping onto a “floating” green.” Fast boats and strong margaritas, also played an integral role.
The day of the tournament, Mangrove Mike gathered the players together and assigned each team of four to a small “golf boat” which would ferry us to a designated “tee box.”
Clutching my seven iron and grasping the bill of my cap, I held on for dear life as we raced across the shallow waters of the Back Country, dodging clusters of mangroves and startled flocks of herons.
It was then that my lips started flapping like an angry duck and my nostrils began slowly inching their way up my forehead like droplets on a windshield. Luckily, our “caddy/captain” delivered us to shore before my nose flew off into the Abyss.
We stopped at nine Islamorada waterfront watering holes that day for a one-of-a-kind golf tournament that I won’t soon forget. And let me tell you, trying to hit biodegradable golf balls (they dissolve into fish food after 90 hours in the water) onto floating greens is no easy feat. Especially when you’re drinking frozen margaritas every step of the way.
This year’s tournament is coming up on Saturday, September 30 with a kick-off party on Friday, September 29 from 6 – 10pm at SD Marine Group, 85500 Overseas Highway. All teams must check in here. Non-golfers who want to attend are also welcome to join the party. The fun continues on Saturday at 8:30am when players hook back up at SD Marine Group for hole location assignments and a shotgun start at 9 am.
If you’re still standing by 3:30pm, you can head on over to a special location to be announced for a Keys-style Awards Ceremony that includes trophies for the best scores, best hole location,
best team spirit and best costumes.
Register online at conchscramble.com. Proceeds from the lighthearted golfing challenge help fund Florida Keys charities. Wanna know more? Call 305-509-0315; Email conchscramblecharitygolf@gmail.com or hit up conchscramble.com.
Now go get ‘em Tiger!
