The Gear Patrol crew has been burning the candle at both ends lately (read: always) and, suffice it to say, a little R&R was desperately warranted. So, the Editors packed up Eric’s Rover and headed to New Paltz, NY for a weekend of golf, grilling, and general male bonding.

If you’re like me, you may find that opportunities to spend time with your buddies are harder and harder to come by as we get older. So when one emerges, we make sure to make the most of it - all under the guise of a working retreat. Though only a short drive from NYC, New Paltz might as well be in Timbuktu. Nestled in the Shawangunk Mountains (or the Gunks as they are generally referred to), New Paltz has a great sleepy college town feel with small bistros, coffee shops, and tons of lodging options. Hit the jump to see what we got up to.

Friday PM:

Friday night saw the GP Brain Trust in high gear. It was at that very table we came up with the idea for the Be a Better Man in 30 Days series. The productivity was short-lived due to the combination of microbrewed beer, a plethora of MacBooks, and a pair of wireless speakers that held Ben and Eric’s attention for hours.

Saturday AM: Mohonk Mountain House Golf Course

We started our Saturday activities on the links of the Mohonk Mountain House Golf Course. At just over 2,700 yards from the tips this 9 hole course plays to a par 35. Don’t be fooled by the lack of yardage though. A demanding combination of elevation changes, small greens, and occasional tight landing areas makes this a nice challenge for golfers of all abilities.

We played a full 18 holes and used both the blue and white tees to add some variety to our round. Many of the holes played substantially different depending on the tees and helped to provide different looks for the same holes. It was a great day overall. Ben’s attempt to send our golf cart into a ravine, notwithstanding. I’ll stop there to avoid possible incrimination.

Daily 18 Holes Greens Fees: $24 Weekdays | $29 Weekends

Saturday PM: A Good Meal Shared with Great Friends

After our hacks on the course, it was time to head back to the house and enjoy a cold brew and a spirited game of horseshoes. Though someone probably should have predicted that throwing heavy metal objects at each other as twilight descended may not have been the best of idea.

Once we were sufficiently relaxed, it was time to fire up the broiler and tackle a few ribeye steaks. I’ll spare you the recap, but we do have a video that captured the mayhem. And yes, Ben really enjoys his adult beverages.

Saturday Late Night: Bourbon, Cigars, and Creative Product Testing

It shouldn’t really be surprising that after polishing off a nice Malbec, we had an inkling for a fine cigar paired with a glass of Knob Creek. What wasn’t expected was Stephen pulling a canoe into the front yard to test out his Helly/Hanson Salt Jacket in a torrential downpour. There are few things that bring friends together than dousing each other for our readers.

Sunday AM: Mohonk Mountain House

Sitting high above New Paltz, the Mohonk Mountain House is the crown jewel of the area. While we didn’t get an opportunity to stay on the premises, we did go up and check out the facilities Sunday morning, albeit a little hungover and sill reeking of steak. What we found was a structure befitting a Beowulf-esk epic. The 265-room Victorian castle with its sprawling architectural wonder never fails to thrill its visitors. Some of the amenities include:

• A variety of guestroom options
• 110-year-old Scottish golf course
• 85 miles of hiking trails
• Award-winning Gardens and Victorian Maze
• 18,000-square-foot Skating Pavilion
• Mountain Lake Conference House
• Unique theme programs
• The Spa at Mohonk Mountain House
• New! Rock Climbing

We opted to tackled the rock scramble as we trudged up to the Sky Top Tower. Well, not all of us. Eric and Ben were too afraid to get their loafers dirty so they opted for the family hiking trail. The “Labyrinth”, as it’s named, was as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. Stephen, Brian, and I were like little kids having our own Goonies-style adventure. After reuniting at the top, we scaled the Sky Top Tower and took in an incredible view as well as a few pics.

Accommodations: Call for rates and availability