Golf footwear has quietly transformed over the last decade. Here's what changed — and what to look for if your feet are suffering by the back nine.
Ask most golfers about their gear and they'll happily talk drivers, balls and putters for an hour. Shoes barely get a mention. Which is odd, because there's a strong case that footwear affects your day on the course more directly than almost anything else in the bag. Get it wrong and you'll know about it by the 14th; get it right and you'll forget you're wearing them at all.
The good news is that golf shoes have changed almost beyond recognition, and overwhelmingly for the better.
The end of the stiff, spiked slog
Not so long ago, golf shoes were a compromise you simply put up with. They were stiff, heavily spiked, awkward to walk any distance in off the grass, and they announced themselves the moment you clacked across a clubhouse floor. You wore them because you had to, changed out of them the second you finished, and rarely gave comfort a second thought.
The spikeless revolution changed the maths entirely. Modern spikeless shoes use moulded outsoles that grip the turf perfectly well for the vast majority of club golfers, while being comfortable enough to wear from the car park to the course to the pub afterwards without a change of footwear. Combined with the cushioning and lightweight materials borrowed from running and lifestyle trainers, the result is a shoe you can happily walk all day in.
Why comfort is not a luxury
Consider the numbers. Walking a full round is somewhere between 10,000 and 12,000 steps, often across uneven, sloping and sometimes wet ground, carrying or pushing your clubs the whole way. That's a serious amount of time on your feet, and there's no faster way to sour an otherwise good round than aching feet and hot spots by the closing holes. Comfortable, well-cushioned shoes aren't an indulgence — for anyone who plays on foot rather than riding, they're the difference between finishing strong and limping in.
What to look for
A few things genuinely matter when you're choosing:
● Cushioning and all-day comfort. If you walk, this is the headline feature. Look for a shoe designed around walking, not just standing over a shot.
● Grip. Spikeless outsoles are fine for most conditions; if you play a lot of winter golf on steep, wet courses, weigh up whether you want more aggressive traction.
● Waterproofing. In a British climate this is close to non-negotiable. Check whether the waterproofing is guaranteed and for how long.
● Fit and width. Feet swell over 18 holes, so a shoe with a roomy, accommodating fit pays off late in the round.
This is exactly the space that comfort-led brands have moved into. A pair of True Linkswear golf shoes, for example, is built around walking comfort and a relaxed, roomy fit, which makes them an easy recommendation for anyone who spends their round on foot — or simply wants a shoe that doesn't need taking off the moment they leave the 18th green.
The bottom line
Footwear is the least glamorous purchase in golf and one of the most consequential. Spend a little time choosing shoes that actually suit how and where you play, prioritise comfort if you walk, and you'll notice the benefit every single round — quietly, in the best possible way, by never having to think about your feet again.
