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…
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.
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:…
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…
I’ve been to Coeur d’Alene, a handful of times and every time I’d leave with one big regret: I never played Circling Raven Golf Club. I’ve known about the course for years, and have heard nothing but good things – but I was never able to work it into the schedule. Well, now I know how much of a mistake that was. This past weekend my buddy Jeff and I drove over to Idaho for a handful of rounds including 2 at Circling Raven, and 3 nights at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort – and it was the perfect getaway…
When it comes to golf in the Northeast, Massachusetts certainly holds it own when compared to power house states like New York and New Jersey. You could easily walk into any clubhouse in the country and argue that it has the best courses compared to the other 5 New England states and get little disagreement. It also has a vast amount of variety, from sea-side courses to mountain courses and everything in between. Regardless of where you find yourself in the state, there is great golf to be had. From Cape Cod to to the South and North Shore of…
When it comes to luxury golf resorts, there aren’t many as well regarded as the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. You’ve got incredible views, two fantastic golf courses, and relatively easy access to the Bay Area airports. But what’s the experience actually like when you arrive at the Half Moon Bay Resort? Is it a proper five-star, Ritz Carlton experience? Or does it get watered down to cater to a broader golf or convention market, rather than the luxury traveler? I’ve got good news: it’s phenomenal. Why? Read on to find out. First Impressions of Half Moon Bay Golf Links…
Our recent trip to Singapore, basically sums up this entire blog in a nutshell. This is kind of how it went… “So 8 of the top 100 bars in the world are in Singapore….” “We should go!” “Agreed, we can get some pretty cheap flights in 3 weeks, that will help me retain my Delta status.” “Oh wait, there’s a top 100 golf course there too? Yes, let’s definitely go.” “Let’s do it! I should be able to get work off.” “We can use some miles to stay at some nice hotels, and it’s only an extra hundred bucks to…
If you’ve never been to Oregon before, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of McMenamin’s. Nearly 30 years ago the McMenamin brothers started a Northwest restaurant empire – that has now evolved into just about every kind of entertainment venue imaginable. In particular they are known for rescuing historic properties from being demolished and then turning them into something way cooler than they were to begin with. How about an elementary school turned entertainment complex? Or the backstage of an old theater, into a pool hall complete with 70 foot ceilings and catwalks? Or the subject of this post:…
So I just returned from my second trip to California where I spent a long weekend staying at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and playing the two golf courses there. If you’ve ever been to the California coast, then you know, it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Every time I’m there, I’m in awe of the scenery and the setting for golf. At least a few times a month on the site I get questions from readers asking about golf in the Bay Area and where I recommend. I also get questions asking if the…
Taking a major golf trip isn’t all that different from bringing your entire family on vacation to Disneyland: the success of your trip will come down to how well it’s planned. After taking dozens of golf trips over the years, I’ve had many that have gone off without a hitch. I’ve had others, that have been, well, less successful. Looking back, the most successful trips were almost always due to the fact that extra time and care was spent planning the trip. But not all golf trips are created equal. Sometimes you’re driving an hour, staying at a resort, and everything…