TRUE Linkswear has a simple ask: Enjoy the walk. And they’ve made it extremely easy.
To say the 10 year-old company is making the best golf shoes money can buy may be bold enough, but I’ll take it one step further and say TRUE Links is also making the best lifestyle shoes money can buy.
I’m not lying, but first I’ll make our case for them on the course.
We were first introduced to the TRUE Originals ($149) and the TRUE Outsiders ($139) two years ago when they graciously sent a few pairs to the CGB headquarters. Both lines tout casual yet athletic designs — clean lines and simple, tasteful features, and just the right amount of edge — but the performance of the shoes is what’s most evident at first look.
Set atop the company’s signature cross life rubber tread is beautiful full grain waterproof leather, layered with a waterproofed Symptax bootie, and coated with a water repelling “system.” All this is to say that, according to the companies website, TRUEs are the highest performing waterproof shoes in the game. The company backs that claim up with a 2-year waterproof guarantee — depending on the model — but they may be selling themselves short.
(For those curious and or concerned about where TRUE’s waterproofing products are sourced, the company places a high priority on health and environmental safety. See this page for more details.)
TRUE Outsider
Colorado can’t compare to the sogginess of the Pacific Northwest, where TRUE Links was born, but we do have a fair share of elements to deal with on the course all year round. A little more than 2 years in, and after countless rounds in rain, sleet, snow, ice, mud and everything else, our TRUEs are still going strong. Aside from the nicks and creases that come with normal wear and tear my Outsiders perform like new, keeping my feet dry, and happy.
The comfort level is off the charts, mainly due to the wide base sole that lets your arches and toes spread out naturally as you step and swing — particularly important for those of us with wider feet — and the foot-conforming inserts have only gotten more comfortable over time. The sturdy tread proves reliable no matter how wet and slippery the conditions, and moves like tennis or hiking shoes. Strolls down the fairway aren’t interrupted by any rubbing, pinching or other discomforts either. You truly couldn’t ask for more from a golf shoe on the course.
To many, though, golf is more than a game; it’s a lifestyle. It only makes sense a golf shoe company would deliver a product built for the grind on and off the course.
TRUE Knits
We live an active lifestyle off the course — hiking, skiing, camping, sports, etc. — so the TRUE Outsiders and Originals remain a go-to for worry free footwear. My pair is a must for trips to the creek at the local dog park (where the 2-year waterproof test for this review occurred). No matter how much mud and gunk I traipse through, a simple rinse with a damp rag and these shoes and ready to go again.
Other times, though, something a little more relaxed is in order. That’s a perfect time to bring out the TRUE Knits. The Knits’ ($129) design is more in the casual sportswear realm, meaning high points in performance can still be expected on and off the course, and they’re a perfect tennis shoe substitute. Clearly, the Knits are not waterproof, but the polyester material does keep your feet dry in dew-like conditions — and talk about ventilation.
The Knits are effortlessly cool. The design is sleek and sublet at first glimpse, but a closer look reveals a classic wingtip pattern formed into the beautiful material. On more than one occasion I’ve taken my Knits from a business meeting straight to the tee box, and never fail to earn some compliments along the way.
TRUE OG Premium
The TRUE OG Premium ($179) is the company’s latest release. While we have yet to get our hands on them — or feet in them, if you will — the OGP may the best TRUE shoe yet. As noted in the product description, it’s basically the Original design wrapped in a ultra premium vintage brown leather. Given TRUE’s performance track record and the stunning design, the OGP went to the top of our 2019 wishlist immediately.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, know that we have nothing negative to say about TRUE Linkswear’s offerings (except wishing there were even more lines to shop from). With unmatched performance, unquestionable style, and the highest quality materials, TRUE Links is making the best golf and lifestyle shoes. And that’s no lie.
Enjoy the walk.
ColoradoGolfBlog, in some cases, receives a small commission when you purchase items from these links. CGB has endorsed all advertisers, products and services and advertising does not influence editorial decisions or content.
When CGB got an invite from The Country Club of Colorado to try GolfBoards, we could barely contain our excitement. We had all seen the promo videos, but we we also heard some horror stories, so we weren’t really sure what to expect. In the pro shop we learned there was a training video and liability waiver we’d have to sign prior to taking them out on the course, but that wasn’t about to stop us from the prospect of shredding down the manicured fairways of C.C.C. on these things. (We ended up skipping the video, by the way — safety first!)
The GolfBoard setup is brilliantly simple: a wide board platform — a little bigger than your average mountain board — mounted on two axels and four sturdy tires. A large handle bar is fixed to the front of the board with forward/reverse and speed controls (high or low), a very basic cupholder, and bag straps on the front for weight distribution, but the handlebar is not used for steering. The steering mechanism is controlled by moving the board platform itself, much like snowboarding’s toe and heel turns. The sturdy build gives you confidence in the machine’s durability, and the wheels and tires prove capable of handling most any course landscape like your standard golf cart.
When we first laid eyes on the GolfBoard in person, though, there was definite hesitation. I’m not sure why I thought differently, but the boards are a lot bigger than what I expected, and seeing the attendant trying to maneuver the thing out of the cart barn hinted that this wasn’t going to be a get-on-and-go kind of situation.
After some peer pressure and not wanting to disappoint our hosts, the first ride was a quick circle in front of the pro shop. But it wasn’t quick if you include all the stop and gos, awkward bailouts and near crashes.
These things are heavy. At 165 pounds, I’d venture to say I’m pretty close to the same weight of a GolfBoard itself, or less, and even as a veteran snowboarder I had a lot of trouble maneuvering it at low speeds, especially on pavement. Turning radius wasn’t on my mind at all until I was actually standing on the board, and it takes some getting used to the fact that they basically have none — seriously, You’ll make sharper turns in a club cart. I also struggled to keep myself from trying to rely on the handle to steer like a scooter.
Truth be told, the majority of our foursome grew skeptical of the boards after our short jaunt in front of the pro shop, so our videographer, Dave, was assigned to take the only one we had off the first tee. A couple holes in, though, it was clear our test rides were far from the actual GolfBoard experience. Watching Dave tear down the no.1 and 2 fairways quickly had us all itching for a turn.
These things haul down the fairways and rough on the high speed setting — and it’s incredible how much easier it is to maneuver them on turf. The smooth ride is ridiculously fun, and makes it hard to focus on your shot planning when all you can think about is getting back on the board and pulling the throttle back. The good times only slow down again moving between greens and tee boxes — basically anytime you’re on pavement or making turns of any kind.
It’s is easy to feel like you’re losing control of the board and not know how to react when things get dicey at-speed. From my personal experience I can tell you: Just bail off the board, safely, and let the automatic brake stop the it before something catastrophic happens to one or both of you.
By the time each of us had a turn on the board we were hooked. After a round of 18 C.C.C. was gracious enough to offer our group another 9, with 3 more GolfBoards, and we couldn’t say no.
With each of us equipped with a board one thing became abundantly clear: enjoying this kind of thrill while playing the game we love is one thing, but GolfBoards enable an incredible pace of play when playing ready golf. After our foursome’s first 18 with one board and two carts — coming in at just over 3.5ish hours — we made quick work of the pristine back 9 with the 4 boards, in just under an hour and a half (including plenty of time “testing” the product.)
GolfBoards are available in several makes and models for retail — with accessories available — but with a high price point you’re better off getting your kicks at a “showcase” course. GolfBoard makes it easy with a nationwide GolfBoard course finder.
In all, the GolfBoard delivers an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience to add to what we love about the sport of golf. It’s an icing on the cake product with the added benefit of faster pace of play and a roaring good time. It’s damn near impossible not to have fun when you’re cruising fairways on one of these, and fun is what this game is all about.
The new age of golf has become a melting pot of tradition, performance, and modern style. Clothing and shoe companies have always been front and center when it comes to new trends, but there are other trailblazers in the equipment game, too.
Jones Golf Bags is one of those trendsetters, staying on the cutting edge of performance and design with a nod to the game’s traditional style. The company began out of the trunk of a cab, from which founder George Jones sold is hand-sewn bags. More than 40 years later, the company produces some of the most durable and stylish bags we’ve ever carried.
When shopping Jones’ lines it’s apparent the company holds traditional designs close to heart. This means sleek, compact bags with fewer but larger storage compartments, and built to be carried. Jones’ carry bags (ranging from $139.95 to $169.95) top out at under 4lbs, and the sturdy, plush shoulder straps make for an easy trek no matter the model.
The Jones Original is the most traditional of the designs. It’s simply beautiful — literally and figuratively — with a classic unstructured body, 3-way top divider, and a single shoulder strap. This is the bag that started it all, as the web description notes.
Jones graciously sent CGB a pair of customized Utility Bags, among the company’s stand bag offerings (ranging from $174.95 to $229.95). After the gitty-ness of the unboxing wore off, the quality of the bags stood out. The water resistant nylon has proven to withstand an ample amount of fall and winter golf in Colorado without wear and tear, and the sturdy, smooth zippers make access to storage quick and easy. The Utility also sports the new “draw string” pouch for even quicker access to on-course essentials.
Jones calls its patented stand system the “gold standard,” and that sounds like a safe bet. Not matter the lie, the legs hold the bag steady and fold back into place smoothly when picked up, rivaling only one other bag I’ve ever played. During my high school career — when my love/hate relationship with walking the course began — our hand-me-down Ping Hoofer 2s were among the most coveted equipment. The reliability of the stand system and the simple design brought solace to our agonizing practice rounds, and no one wanted to return them at the end of season. I later switched to Ogio, and while durable and convenient I always struggled to find a design that wasn’t too modern for my taste, or didn’t have a bunch of features I didn’t need.
At capacity, the Utility is a cinch to carry (about 5lbs when empty) — I usually pack a couple sleeves of balls, range finder, water, snacks, tees and markers, and extra layers, along with the standard number of clubs. The standard single strap is more than enough to keep this bag comfortable on my shoulder, though it does come with an additional strap if you prefer the backpack-style carry. It feels strange to note how comfortable a golf bag is, but in this case it’s hard not to.
In all, we’re blown away with Jones’ offerings and believe we’ve found a new benchmark to which we’ll compare the rest. Golf has always been a game of style, class, and tradition, and it always will be. Companies like Jones Golf Bags exude that aesthetic, finding a perfect balance between the then and now, and setting the standard for the game’s next generation.
ColoradoGolfBlog, in some cases, receives a small commission when you purchase items from these links. CGB has endorsed all advertisers, products and services and advertising does not influence editorial decisions or content.
Creativity. It’s everything when starting a brand. That original idea that separates yours from the pack. You see an opportunity in the market. Something is missing and you know you can fill that gap. Instead of waiting for someone else to take the initiative, you start to create. All of a sudden, that idea is a reality. A rather innovative one at that.
This is the story of Daniel Erdman. A guy from the Great White North who is most certainly a creative. And with this mindset, he has taken the boring old golf towel and turned it into an art with his up-and-coming brand, Uther.
And the golf towels are just the start. Uther seems poised to follow the path set forth by renowned brands of our generation. Begin with one product, master it, and expand. Bonobos started with pants. Mizzen + Main was created around an innovative dress shirt. MVMT was founded on the basis of an affordable, stylish watch. Uther brought their unique towels into the marketplace and have some exciting products dropping in 2018.
With great ambitions for his brand, it was a pleasure speaking with Dan about his entrepreneurial journey so far. Here is what he had to say:
Photo courtesy G&E Magazine
G&E:Tell us a little about your background?
Dan: I live in Canada so golfing up here is, of course, a lot more limited than in the US. One of my first jobs was working as a back-shop attendant at a local golf course, Thornhill Club. I then later worked at a predominantly female club, Ladies Golf Club of Toronto and finally a public course called Richmond Hill Golf Club. My experience juggling around those clubs gave me a great insight into what’s working and what’s missing at clubs.
When did you first start playing golf, and why did you pick up the game?
The stereotype is true, a ton of people play hockey in Canada and if it weren’t for hockey, I probably wouldn’t haven’t started playing golf so early on. It was a natural transition for me and my hockey buddies to play golf in the summer ounce the hockey season was over.
What made you want to start Uther?
Working in the back-shop, especially private clubs, I saw rows of bags which all looked the same and knew there had to be something that can make them fun and unique. Golf towels are a necessity for golfers so thought why not make them fun and blend art and function.
So how did you come up with the name Uther?
We’ve gotten a ton of people asking how we pronounce it whether “Oother”, “U-ther” or “other”, the latter is correct but we don’t mind any other way of saying it. We set out to be the “other” brand in the marketplace and create products no other companies are creating. We’re purposeful with all the products we create and each product must have a special feature that really stands apart from other products on the market or we just won’t produce it.
Have you engaged in any other entrepreneurial ventures prior to Uther?
Late November 2015 to the start of Uther around April 2016, I worked on a training aid that didn’t make it to market. We worked on about 4 prototypes and the minimum order quantity was greater than like 10,000 pieces so I reached the point where it was best to pursue the golf towel idea.
What doors have opened as a result of Uther?
Creating relationships with people around the world. For example, it’s offered the chance to collaborate with people in Australia, Sweden and Hungry, there’s not a lot of occupations that allow that.
What is your vision for yourself and your company in the future?
It would be great to have Uther be a top golf brand in the next 5 – 10 years.
What have you learned most from starting Uther?
Probably organization. Especially as your growing, you need to have system puts in place to keep running efficiently.
How does Uther engage with the community?
We’re most active on Instagram but you can catch us on all social media channels. We also have a newsletter to stay in touch with our customers. You can sign up at the bottom of our webpage on our site.
Rapid Fire Q&A Round
Who is your greatest inspiration?
Ben Francis, owner of Gymshark. What they’ve done in such a short period of time is inspirational.
What’s your favorite time of year to play a round? Time of day?
I’m a sucker for vacation golf. In terms of time of day, nothing beats being the first on the course right when the sun is rising.
If you could play 18 with anyone, who would it be?
If anyone throughout history it has to be Arnie.
Will there be any new product releases in the near future at Uther?
We have some new hats releasing the next couple weeks. We also have a new product that we’ve been working on the last year releasing mid-January. Stay tuned!
G&E Magazine is a digital publication dedicated to the world of golf and entrepreneurship, bringing to life the journeys of people who are taking their enthusiasm for golf and are turning it into their career in remarkable fashion. Follow G&E on Instagram (@gandemagazine), Facebook (gandemagazine), and Twitter (@gandemagazine).
I have run the gamut of products trying to find the right one for my golf photography. I’ve gone from just holding the camera in my hand, propping it up on something like a rock or wedging it on the cart somewhere to standard and Joby tripods, GoPro Mounts, drones, and, of course, friends just to get a good image or video. It’s always a disappointment in one way or another: the equipment is either too bulky or cumbersome to lug around the course or range, too costly, or not reliable enough for constant use — you had one job!
Then I got the opportunity to try out the SelfieGOLF Set, the most simple and versatile course photography aid I’ve used by far. The company sent CGB The SelfieGOLF Set ($35.99) which includes a selfie clip, bag clip, dust bag, a pack of extra stick holders, two alignment sticks, and some fool-proof instructions.
It doesn’t get any easier than SelfieGOLF: plant a stick in the ground, attach your phone to the clip and the clip to the stick, then record. The single stick method — you can even use a driver shaft — means SelfieGOLF can be deployed faster that a standard tripod, too.
One of the best parts of SelfieGOLF is that I’m always the cameraman, able to capture the angle I want without keeping my hands full on the course. The added bonus is the unit fits in a small travel pouch and setup takes just a seconds. The straight forward design and simple instructions, coupled with a durable design features will earn SelfieGOLF a permanent spot in your bag for sure. You’ll only need a replacement when you lend it to a friend, who in all likelihood won’t give it back cause it’s awesome.
In all, SelfieGOLF is made for golfers looking to improve their swing with visual data and those shutterbugs on the course, and neither will be disappointed. For capturing your swing and dance moves on film out on the course, or making time-lapses and long exposure photography from tee to green, SelfieGOLF is the perfect tool.
ColoradoGolfBlog, in some cases, receives a small commission when you purchase items from these links. CGB has endorsed all advertisers, products and services and advertising does not influence editorial decisions or content.
I have run the gamut of products trying to find the right one for my golf photography. I’ve gone from just holding the camera in my hand, propping it up on something like a rock or wedging it on the cart somewhere to standard and Joby tripods, GoPro Mounts, drones, and, of course, friends just to get a good image or video. It’s always a disappointment in one way or another: the equipment is either too bulky or cumbersome to lug around the course or range, too costly, or not reliable enough for constant use — you had one job!