Before arriving at the Santa Lucia Preserve outside of Carmel, I’d heard nothing but wonderful things. Every person I’d talked to before the trip said things like: “You’re going to The Preserve? You’re going to love it.” “It’s such a special place…” “It’s unlike any club I’ve ever been to…” Naturally, when you hear these things over and over, your expectations begin to rise. After being intrigued by both the golf and the property in general for years, I recently had the chance to visit the Santa Lucia Preserve for the first time. I stayed at the Hacienda on the property…
Author: Sean Ogle
Sean Ogle
As the Founder of Breaking Eighty Sean has spent the last 10+ years reviewing the best golf products and golf courses in the world. He prides himself on only writing about products and courses he's experienced first hand, and helping others find exactly what they need to enhance their enjoyment of the game we all love so much.
Over the last few years I’ve seen a lot of golf products, seen a lot of golf brands, and met a lot of people in the golf industry. But there are only a couple that have truly impacted my life on an ongoing basis. One is Arccos Golf, which I use nearly every round I play. The other? Holderness and Bourne. Holderness and Bourne is a golf apparel and accessory company that takes modern tradition and style and updates it for the 21st century. I first met John Bourne and Alex Holderness at the PGA Show a few years back, and knew…
There’s a reason Footjoy golf shoes have such a good reputation. But what are the best? We like these 4.
Updated in January 2024 to add a Uneekor Eye Mini review video. 2023 was clearly the year of the golf launch monitor. There have been so many incredible new releases and updates to existing models, that it’s difficult to keep up. I’ve extensively reviewed and tested most launch monitors in the $2-10k price point, including the: FlightScope Mevo Plus SkyTrak+ Bushnell Launch Pro Foresight GC3 All of those are fantastic launch monitors that are worth investing in. So, does the world need another one to consider? Well, considering what the Uneekor Eye Mini brings to the table, the answer may very…
If you’re a golf hardcore, you’ve without question dreamed of a home golf simulator setup. I mean, is there anything cooler than the idea of being able to play golf without leaving your house? And even if you’re a golf newcomer, mainstream exposure to simulators through places like Topgolf may have piqued your interest. The thing is: There’s never been a better time to consider a golf simulator for your home. Why? Because golf simulators used to be totally cost-prohibitive. They were the stuff of dreams, not reality, for most of us. Not anymore. We’re going to show you that…
The Monterey Peninsula is among a very small handful of places that can make the case for being the best golf destination in the world. Long Island… St. Andrews… Melbourne Sandbelt… There may be a few others, but no one will argue that this area of California’s coastline is about as good as it gets when it comes to golf. Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula Country Club – all world-class golf courses. So it’s not necessarily a surprise that what is perhaps the most unique course of all of them has remained largely a secret: The Preserve…
I started this website over a decade ago. Before it began in 2012, I’d never taken a dedicated golf trip outside my home state. I’d never played a private golf course. I’d never broken 80. And then something happened. I started. I played my first really good golf course. I started bringing golf clubs on my trips. And since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of really good golf courses all over the world. I’ve taken thousands of photos, played thousands of holes, and started to have a much better understanding of what makes a good golf course. I’ve also…
Younger Sean would never believe what I’m about to write. Up until about a year ago, in my 38 years of life, I’d not spent a single second thinking about “skin care.” I mean, I’d wash my face in the shower using, well, soap… But I didn’t have a skin care routine, and I definitely wasn’t considering spending a bunch of money on dedicated skin care products. And then…I realized I was right on the cusp of middle age. I’ll be 39 in a few months, and as much as I hate to admit it, that feels solidly in the…
TRUE Linkswear is answering a question no other footwear company has been able to figure out: How do you make a shoe that performs on the golf course, but is also wearable off the course as well? There are plenty of apparel brands that have brought a more casual vibe to the course with “all-day” styles. But shoes? Until recently, you were basically a weirdo if you wore golf shoes off the course. Even Ecco shoes, for as wonderful as their spikeless models are, aren’t generally meant to be worn off the course. Enter TRUE. TRUE has slowly developed a killer lineup…
Simply put, California is one of the best states for golf in the country. Possibly even the best (although New York might have something to say about that.) Part of what makes it such a great state for golf is the fact it’s so diverse. You have some of the best private courses in the world. You have some of the best public courses in the world. You have phenomenal oceanside golf courses, desert courses, mountain courses, and parkland courses. California golf has it all. California is also a massive state, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. So where should you play when…