The History of Man

2007 - Good Times Johnny, Quarry #2, almost to a hernia

The Beginning

"You guys are nuts." the starter proclaimed. Visibility was no greater than a few hundred yards. The rain was steady and thick and the temperatures were low. While still barely visible, the drive off the first tee found the center of the fairway after a thunderous strike sent it on its way. The first tee was now in the past. With the forecast only deteriorating and the temperature in no mood to rise, thirty-five more holes that day remained.

The Weekend of Man began on a wet and rainy day more than a decade ago in Brainerd, Minnesota. A package deal with unbelievable lodging, combined with stories of amazing golf courses was enough to convince The Bobocracy and Mysterious Nick to drive North. 36 holes were played the first day in some of the most brutal conditions seen by Man. Struggling through to the next day, the skies gave way to an amazing Spring day in Northern Minnesota, ending this first Weekend of Man on the proper note. It was then declared that the search for spectacular golf and lodging on the last weekend of Spring rates started.

2008 - Nerd going beyond his ability

The next few years were much a repeat of the first, returning to the Brainerd area each year attempting to find a better deal and a better golf course. Each resort was tested. Grand View. Craguns. Maddens. Ruttgers. One even modified their lodging policies as a direct result of the abuse of massive accommodations just to hold The Bobocracy and Mysterious Nick. They still returned, enjoying it each time.

Then things changed.

Mysterious Nick ended up moving and the commitments of school and work kept him away from a still-unbranded Weekend of Man. The Bobocracy was left to his own devices, managing to keep tradition alive the next year by driving North for one round of golf and returning to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area on the same day. It wasn't the original. Four and one half hours of golf was bookended by five hours of driving.

2009 - Still Undrafted Jeff & Macho Rod at the Closing Ceremonies

A year after the solo trip to Brainerd, The Bobocracy received an invite from some friends to drive even further North and into the heart of Minnesota's Iron Range to play Giants Ridge, a course shrouded in secrecy by those in the know. Rumors however had circulated that would declare this the best Minnesota had to offer, and from the rumors The Bobocracy accepted and began the trek North in the early morning hours.

By the time the day ended, it was so decided that Brainerd was no longer suitable, as Giants Ridge was superior in almost every way. With the opening of two new and equally as good if not better courses in the next few years, the annual return continued, sometimes by The Bobocracy alone, sometimes with another. But tradition remained.

2008 - Scottish Rob focusing hard on hitting his next shot into the woods

The Official Formation

2007 brought about dramatic change and reorganization of this annual Northern pilgrimage. The Bobocracy's stories of amazing golf was enough to intrigue a mighty few, and the resources that accompanied them. A cabin and a sailboat broadened the recreational activities available and with it a broader search of the Iron Range. On June 7th, 2007 four Men set North for one of the greatest weekends ever.

At the Whistling Bird in Gilbert, MN, during one of the most amazing meals the World has seen, this small group of Men consisting of The Bobocracy, Bearded Jack, Good Times Johnny, and Scottish Rob drafted an unwritten declaration forming The Weekend of Man Alumni Association with the four of them christened as Founding Members, promising to return annually. And thus, The Weekend of Man was re-born.

2009 - Brother Gene with a familiar grip

2008

After returning, word spread quickly about the wonders of The Weekend of Man, and the list of eager Men grew substantially. 2008 would see the attendance of The Weekend of Man double and relocate to private villas at Giants Ridge. With so much change however, a disappointing reminder of the true origins of The Weekend of Man returned: Torrential rain.

After surviving two days and four inches of rain, this larger group of Men ventured out to Lake Vermilion and were successful at hunting the elusive Walleye as well as pleasurable sailing across the open waters of the lake. The final day of The Weekend of Man 2008 would be a picture-perfect day for golf on the original course at Giants Ridge, and prior to the return trip each Alumni vowed to return again in years future.

2009 - Master Baiter Jason, Brother Gene, The Bobocracy, and Good Times Johnny; Out of beer

2009

An exponential increase in The Weekend of Man followed and 2009 would see another doubling of Alumni, despite dramatic last-minute events that would keep multiple Men away. More villas were necessary to house these Men and to no disappointment the accommodations were luxury. Temperatures were well below normal that year, but that was the only damper on another exemplary Weekend of Man. Men went fishing. Men went sailing. Men played golf. Men sold beer to naked strangers at 3:00 in the morning.

2010 (MMX) - Mother Nature, readying her punchline

2010 (MMX)

2010, known to the Alumni as The Weekend of Man MMX tested the fortitude of the mightiest of Men. Attendance again increase substantially, and again more and larger accommodations were necessary to hold the finest of Men in the most equisite of comforts. The test of wills was waged against a handful of mighty foes: Mother Nature, The Wizard, and Booze.

While early on the first Day of Man, the sun, warm temps, and large walleye greeted the pioneering Alumni, it was shortlived. After consuming the most glorious food yet known to Man (The Bacon Explosion) shortly after dawn of the second day of Man, battle would begin.

The weather was dreadfully cold and Lake Vermilion became a place even the strongest of Men feared. On the far side of the lake from the home harbor, Good Times Johhny, Undrafted Jeff, and The Bobocracy took shelter from the wind and waves by anchoring next to a cliff while Master Baiter Jason, Bitchfield, Kahnke Kong and Kent 45 the Six Shitter retreated to dry land. Unable to escape the rain and cold, their emotional and spiritual stability was tested when it was discovered that during this anchorage of unkown time, they would only rely on three canned beers. After consuming the last of these beverages during a three hour battle against the elements, a small prayer was said, and the most brutal 30 minute boat ride one could conjure followed.  All parties survived.

Continuing the MMX saga, The Wizard, as OH Billy shall be forever known, cast spells on Men in a weakened state which led them to mass consumption of high-end tequila. Fishing at dawn the next morning was cancelled.

The last enemy to Men was the almighty beer. With a free shuttle to a nearby watering hole where many hours were spent, several Men returned with tales of a creature outside the bar, later identified as the Sasquatch Midget, so called because it was a Midget of lore to those who did not bear it witness. London Pride, one of The Weekend of Man's European imports attempted to use international flair on the most attractive woman to appear. Upon making a joke, he would discover she had no teeth.  A fitting metaphor to end MMX:  Still smiling even with our teeth kicked in.

2011 - Scottish Rob, raising the sails on Mostly Harmless, Signaling the Opening of Episode V

2011 (Episode V)

Preparations began early in the year of 2011 for The Weekend of Man that year.  Through one of the worst winters the Upper Midwest has seen, a plethora of forward thinking ideas and innovations would make The Weekend of Man Episode V (2011) superior to its predecessors in almost every way.  However in the weeks leading up to Episode V, the Minnesota State Legislature would take the Weekend of Man 2011 to the brink of cancellation.

After some dramatic last-minute lodging changes in 2010, The Weekend of Man Alumni Association came to a spectacular agreement with Giants Ridge that allowed Episode V to reschedule to later in the year to August.  This move away from June greeted Men with temperatures averaging 20 degrees warmer, and something that had been a rare site in year's past:  The sun.

In addition to scheduling for better weather, arrangements were made with Lake Superior Brewing, a Minnesota craft beer maker.  The Brewmaster and the Founder of the brewery greeted thirsty Men at Giants Ridge with their entire catalog of offerings.  They shared stories of beer making and information about their beers while we ate steaks masterfully prepared by Good Times Johnny and Alumni Rookie Sir-Mix-A-Lot (who mixes a lot.)  What was originally planned to be a brief encounter by Lake Superior Brewing finally ended at one in the morning.  They have already confirmed for next year.

Nine walleye were caught, however none were kept.  Undrafted Jeff was the trophy winner for fishing, boating both the most (four) and the largest (18 inches.)  Proving a comfortable Man, all his fish were caught on pink hooks.

The biggest addition to The Weekend of Man Episode V was undoubtedly the Arrowhead Cup, a Ryder Cup style match play golf tournament.  Good Times Johnny and Nerd captained their squads to a riveting match.  Good Times Johnny and the Vermilion Team came away with the Cup, winning 5 1/2 to 3 1/2.  The deciding match was between Scottish Rob and the Phony Peroni versus The Bobocracy and Undrafted Jeff on the last day.  After taking an early lead, The Bobocracy and Undrafted Jeff let the match slip away on the back nine.  Scottish Rob buried a 20+ foot putt for birdie on the 14th hole to take the match to dormie.  After two amazing back-to-back par fives, The Bobocracy clawed the Mesabi (Orange) team back but the Phony Peroni, who hit every fairway over the round, put the match away on the 17th with a par that halved the hole giving Vermilion (Blue) the victory.

Other notable Episode V events:

• It was decided that in order to smoke The Nordic, the most fanciful of the tobacco pipes, one must properly graduate.  Cinnamon faces disiplinary action during SIX (2012) for violation of this rule during Episode V.


• Good Times Johnny lost his keys the day after the visit by Lake Superior Brewing.  They would not be found until late the next afternoon in his shorts pocket.  Up to that point in time, he had yet to wear that pair of shorts.


• The Bobocracy and Scottish Rob arrived two days early, spending their time camping and sailing on Lake Vermilion.  A crystal clear night while anchored next to the BWCA provided amazing views of the night stars.


• Check The Cup.