The Weekend of Man was born on the search for the greatest golf courses one could play. A search that has taken years has settled upon the Iron Range of Minnesota as the primary Area of Man, and contained within are three of the best venues for golf this country (and quite possibly the world) have to offer. 

 

The Quarry at Giants Ridge

 

Voted favorite, The Weekend of Man 2007, 2011 

 

#1 Public Course in MN, #19 Public Course Nationwide - Golf Digest 

 

What Jeff has conceived amidst deep pits and squeezed among high piles is as fine a set of golf holes as has been produced thus far in the 21st Century. It offers many options, and fabulous photo ops, from every tee box, most of which are elevated. There are spots where you must get the ball airborne, but mostly it's a feed-the-ball-to-the-target layout that you could play with a hockey stick. It is already hands-down the finest course in Minnesota. Hazeltine National looks like a cornfield next to it, Interlachen like a quaint museum artifact. In the national arena, this Quarry will swallow up all Quarries before it, from Florida to California. It's a combination of Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, Merion and Tobacco Road, with a bit of architectural Tabasco sauce sprinkled in for the occasional jolt.

 

- Ron Whitten, Golf Digest

 

Full review:

http://www.jeffreydbrauer.com/sites/courses/layout.asp?id=859&page=48490&newsId=2376

 

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The Legend at Giants Ridge

 

Voted favorite, The Weekend of Man 2008

 

#5 Public Course in MN, #59 Public Course Nationwide - Golf Digest

 

Even if the roads were torn up all the way from the Twin cities to Biwabik, even if dodging earthmovers was a regular part of the trip, even if we had to stay in nationally franchised motels -we would still make our annual pilgrimage to Giants Ridge. There's just something about this course.

 

- Minnesotagolf.org

 

Full review:

http://www.minnesotagolf.org/golf/giants_ridge_golf_course.htm

 

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The Wilderness at Fortune Bay

 

Voted favorite, The Weekend of Man 2009, 2010

 

#1 Courses to Play in MN, #34 Courses to Play Nationwide - Golf Week

 

The Wilderness course is every bit as lovely as either of the courses located a half hour to the south. If you use the white tees it can be toned down to play at a relatively benign level to suit the needs of the higher-handicap golfer. But make no mistake about it, this youngest child can really be a beast. When set up to play at maximum difficulty it can be one of the most difficult courses in Minnesota. Its rating of 75.3 from the tips puts it right up there with Hazeltine. If Northern Minnesota were to ever land a U.S. Open it would have to be played here.