Author: 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.

I’ll be the first to admit that before landing in Alberta for a week long golf trip, I wasn’t overly familiar with the golfing landscape in the region. In my mind there was Banff Springs, and well, everything else. What I wasn’t prepared for was just how spectacular, and unique, each of the courses near Banff, Canmore, and Jasper would be. Canmore Golf and Curling Club felt like an old school throw back that was similar to a course I might play back home in Portland – oh, except for the killer mountain views. At Jasper Park Lodge you feel…

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Update: Unfortunately Nirwana Golf Club is now permanently closed. It’s too bad, as the beautiful setting and fun routing made it the best course in Bali while it was open. This was original written in October 2011. Before I even set foot in Bali, I knew I wanted to play at least one round of golf. Bali isn’t necessarily known as a world class golfing destination, but after I first heard about Nirwana Golf Club, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would need to play it. You see normally I’m a bogey golfer who is perfectly…

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It’s fitting that my first post about golf in the Canadian Rockies is about Banff Springs Golf Club. Why? Because for most people that aren’t from Alberta, this is the course that’s going to most likely get them to come in the first place. Banff Springs is a 1928 Stanley Thompson design, and it’s one of the most famous courses in Canada. It’s home to one of the most famous holes in golf, the par 3, 4th hole – dubbed the Devil’s Cauldron. To put it simply, Banff Springs is the single most spectacular setting for golf I’ve ever played. More than…

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For my first visit to Shanghai, I knew I wanted to stay someplace special. We were going to be there for 4 nights, so figured we’d stay at 2 different places to have a couple unique experiences while in the City. For our first two nights we opted for the Banyan Tree Shanghai, or the “Banyan Tree on the Bund” as they call it. I’d never actually stayed at a Banyan Tree before, but after seeing photos of their “Bund Oasis” rooms with a pool in the room, I was immediately intrigued. When I booked they didn’t have any available during the…

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When you walk into the Scoring Room at Baltusrol Golf Club, you immediately understand the gravity of the history that has taken place on these grounds. 7 US Opens, 2 PGA Championships, 2 Women’s US Opens, 4 US Amateurs – the list goes on. Jack Nicklaus’ winning scorecard from the 1967 open – signed by Arnold Palmer. The US Open trophy perched right next to the PGA Championship trophy. There are very few golf clubs in the world that rival the tournament pedigree and history of Baltusrol Golf Club. I mean how many golf clubs are actually listed on the…

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Updated August 2022 to include the Five-O shorts, and notes about hoodie sizing. I hate to admit this, but in 2021 I didn’t play nearly as much golf as I normally do. For years I was at 100+ rounds a year. In 2021, I think I might have hit 35. Something about a pandemic, 3 businesses, and most significantly, a new baby will do that to you. Why tell you this now? Because where historically I’d be wearing 3-4 golf polos a week and constantly on the hunt for the best golf pants, this past year I’ve been needing a little more…

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There are hotel brands, and then there’s the Peninsula. I’ve been enamored with Peninsula hotels ever since 2010. I was living in Bangkok in a $200/month apartment. To celebrate my birthday I decided to go to the Mandarin Oriental on the Chao Praya river to visit Bamboo Bar – one of the best jazz bars in the city. I got an Aviation cocktail for $10 and couldn’t believe I was spending so much money on one drink. I nursed it for 2 hours. It was on that night I first learned about the Peninsula Hotel. It was across the river from the Mandarin…

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My first experience at a Shangri-La hotel was, well, a little over the top. We went to the Shangri-La Villingili for our honeymoon in the Maldives. It was hands down the bougiest (is that a word?) week of my life, and I felt much cooler than I really am while staying at the resort. I first heard about the Shard while doing yoga in the Maldives with a guest instructor who owned Yogasphere. She mentioned that she teaches “Yoga at the Shard” and said it as though I should know what that meant. Upon further inquiries, she explained she teaches yoga…

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At this point, I’ve reviewed and worn about half a dozen different pairs of shoes from True Linkswear. I continue to be surprised by just how many variations one brand can create of a spikeless golf shoe. I mean this as a compliment. While some True golf shoes are more stable than others, none would be considered a “Tour Shoe” with traditional spikes. And yet, with every new pair I check out – I’m finding distinct differences that set it apart from other shoes in their lineup. This is exactly what happened with the most recent shoes I tested out:…

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shI was sitting at the bar with my friend Dan at Aerie at Grand Traverse Resort the night before our round, and the guy next to me said, “so which course are you playing tomorrow?” I told him The Bear. “Good God, are you crazy? Bring an extra box of balls. They told me if I wanted to enjoy my round to play Wolverine…” And that’s what I had to prepare myself for when we descended upon Traverse City, Michigan to tackle the #16 most difficult course in the country and the #72 Top Public Course. First off, as I’ll…

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