My number was above the average. From the greenside bunker I launched my ball across the lake and into the yellow flowers that spell out "Doral." Iooss topped his approach but managed to get up and down for a 4.
Though he didn't break 80 (neither of us did), Iooss was exultant. "I made a par on two of the three hardest holes on the PGA Tour," he said. "Just don't put in the story that we played from the white tees."
Crandon Golf is flat, but it's fun and offers a view of downtown Miami (Read more about Crandon Golf)
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
IOOSS' KEYS TO THE KEY
1. Get the blackened mahi-mahi sandwich at The Links Grill.
2. Take more than enough club to clear the water on Crandon's par-3 12th hole.
3. Get a drink at the Rusty Pelican and enjoy the view at sunset, but eat at the River Oyster Bar (therivermiami.com) across the causeway.
CHILD-FRIENDLY
The Ritz Kids program has arts, crafts, board games, tennis, basketball and karaoke for kids 5 to 12. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., it costs $90 per child. Half a day is $50 a child in the morning or in the afternoon. Saturday evening is kids' night: dinner and a movie from
6-9 p.m. for $60 per child.
HEMINGWAY-ESQUE
Off the lobby of the Ritz is the RumBar, a dark room with leather furniture, vaulted-ceiling fans and black-and-white photos of old Havana. Sample one of 52 rums, cachacas and piscos from 18 countries. A four-piece Latin band plays Thursday through Saturday night.
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