Originally published in September 2022, this has been updated in September 2023 to add a long-term update of my personal use with the El Camino bag. Even just three years ago, the idea of a Sunday golf bag was a pretty niche product. It was mostly reserved for urban locals of needed a way to get a handful of clubs to the range, or the minimalist golfer set who spent hundreds on boutique MacKenzie bags. And then came Sunday Golf. This startup out of San Diego saw a need that wasn’t being filled very well: Smaller bags that can carry…
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.
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we truly experience 4 distinct seasons. We get hot, we get cold, and we get everything in between. Because of this, it’s important to have a versatile golf wardrobe. And one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your arsenal? A golf vest. Whether you’re laying it with a jacket to stay extra warm, or just need something to take the bite off of those early morning shoulder season rounds – every golfer should have a high-quality golf vest in their locker. Full disclosure? Up until the last couple of years, I’ve never…
Over the years I’ve had a number of great golf vests. Pieces I’ve loved from Holderness and Bourne, Nike, and Patagonia. There was just one problem with all of them: they weren’t very packable. While all of my previous vests have been comfortable and stylish, every one of them has taken up quite a bit of space in my bag while traveling. Recently, I picked up a Colter Vest from Sun Mountain, and I’ve been very impressed by it. Not just for how well it packs down, but more so for how warm it is, despite being extremely portable. So as we…
What hasn’t been said about the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai over the past 3 decades? “Best resort in Hawaii” “Best Four Seasons Golf Resort in the World” “The Ultimate Luxury Family Getaway.” I’ve been hearing it for years, and have received dozens of people asking me about it since I began Breaking Eighty. Everything from: How is the golf at Hualalai? To how does Hualalai compare to Punta Mita? I visited the Four Seasons Punta Mita a little over a year ago and was blown away. From the hospitality to the resort amenities to the fantastic golf on the Pacifico…
When it comes to buying a new set of golf clubs or golf balls, there’s a good chance Wilson isn’t the first name on your list of brands to check out. They’ve been around forever, but generally, the latest Callaway, Taylormade or Titleist goods are the most top of mind when it comes to new golf gear. But should you be giving Wilson a second look? Based on my time playing with the D9 and CB irons, as well as their latest Staff golf balls – I think the answer may be yes. I’ve reviewed a handful of different Wilson…
These days there are no shortage of people sharing their opinions on golf courses. And personally, I love it. Golf is such a subjective thing, that it’s always interesting to me to see what types of course people like, don’t like – and why. I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of fantastic golf courses. And every once in awhile I come across a course that surprises the hell out of me. One of those courses that makes me say “how is this place not talked about more.” Or maybe it’s a course that is well known, but makes…
Obviously, we’re all acutely aware of the devastating wildfires that have hit Maui recently. While Hualalai is located on a different island, it’s impossible not to feel the impact of the fires wherever you are in Hawai’i right now. If you’re looking to help, you can donate to the Maui Strong Fund where 100% of the proceeds go directly towards addressing Maui community requirements. There’s a delicate balance right now of being respectful of the tragedy that’s happened, while also recognizing tourism dollars are one of the primary ways the region is going to recover. So when you visit any…
Each time Ecco Golf comes out with a new shoe, I get excited. In over 6 years of reviewing their shoes, there’s never been a bad one. And in the case of the Biom series from the Hybrid 2, to Hybrid 3 to Biom C4 – they’ve just continued to get better and better. In fact, despite reviewing some excellent shoes from the likes of Adidas, TRUE Linkswear, G/FORE, and more this year – the Ecco C4 continues to get my pick for best overall golf shoe on the market. But over the last couple years, there has been a…
There are all kinds of swing trainers out there. Some are great, some are worthless. But I’m not sure any of them are as unique as DeWiz golf. DeWiz works to not just help you fix your swing, but it uses tactile feedback to actually help you feel when you aren’t making a proper golf swing, based on preset parameters. It works extremely well, and if your goal is to fix deficiencies in your swing, I’m not sure there’s a better device on the market. And guess what? The team over at DeWiz has been kind enough to hook Breaking…
Golf launch monitor technology is developing at a head-spinning pace. Even as someone who’s made it my job for the past several years to review these devices, I’m as shocked as anyone else at how quickly new, very legitimate products are coming to market. And the most surprising part? The recent development of great launch monitors for less than $1,000. It wasn’t long ago at all — seriously, a couple of years — that for less than $1,000, you would be limited to something like an early-generation OptiShot. Fun and entertaining, sure. But nothing that was going to spit out…