When to invest in golf shoes & what to look for
Just starting out?
When you are just starting out learning to play, the truth is that you do not need golf shoes. Golf is an expensive sport. Of all the things to invest in early on, you can choose to wait on golf shoes.
When you are most frequently going to golf lessons, clinics and the driving range, wearing athletic sneakers works perfectly well. Maybe you are planning to go to a par 3 or an executive golf course - sneakers will be totally fine especially if it’s a warm sunny day and the grass is dry.
So when is it time to invest in golf shoes?
It’s time to buy golf shoes if you are looking for more traction and stability on the golf course and/or if you are playing golf in anything but perfectly dry conditions.
When you play early mornings, there is dew on the grass and even if it’s sunny and getting warm out, your feet get wet stepping through that dew grass. Inevitably you will play golf when the forecast is gorgeous and suddenly a shower pops up or maybe certain parts of the golf course are not as dry as the rest of it and - bam - you have wet feet. Wet shoes are so uncomfortable just thinking about it makes me ICK.
What to consider when shopping for golf shoes?
Here are some elements to consider before purchasing golf shoes:
Style - more traditional, sneaker-style, or sandals (yes!)
Color - to match outfits, occasions or something that won’t show grass and mud stains as much as you wear them. If you are someone who always likes their shoes to look like new, you should consider avoiding white.
Spikes or not - you likely won’t need spikes so don’t bother with shoes that come with spikes as a main feature.
Stability, cushioning and comfort - you are walking a lot in these shoes and using your feet to push against the ground in your swing, so you need to feel stable.
Finally & most importantly: water proof or not
Don’t make the investment of buying golf shoes without making sure that the shoe is 100% waterproof.
In my opinion, buying non-waterproof golf shoes is no different than buying trainers or fancy tennis shoes - why do it? The value in golf shoes really comes from the water proofing & the traction you get to “grip” the ground.
What I’m wearing & what women are saying great things about…
The below linked products go to Amazon’s website where I may make a small commission if you purchase through these links.
What I’m wearing & loving right now:
A traditional style golf shoe:
Golf sandals - something different to consider:
Many women say that their feet get really hot when they are playing golf and they are more comfortable playing in golf sandals.
What golf shoes do you love? Tell me!
I’d love to hear what you think. Was this article helpful for you? Did you agree or maybe disagree with some elements? Feel free to comment below or email me.