Golf Shoe Etiquette – What To Do Regarding Your Shoes

Golf is a sport which requires a certain degree of elegance. But, as a beginner, it can be hard to understand or even have knowledge of the basic golf etiquette rules. When I started playing golf, it took me several months to understand these rules.

This article covers everything that you need to know about golf shoe etiquette, so that you can be confident that you are wearing the correct shoes on the golf course.

Why Do Professionals Use Golf Shoes?

If you watch a lot of golf, you will see that professional golf players always wear high quality shoes made for golf, and will never wear trainers. This is the case for several reasons:

• Trainers have no grip, which can make it difficult to swing effectively, especially when on the tee box. Golf shoes normally have spikes, which enables your feet to stay planted during your backswing and downswing, so that you can generate more force when swinging through the ball.
• Golf shoes are more rigid, which is also better for your golf swing. When you follow through the ball, this rigidness means that you can twist your back foot effectively, without losing control.
• Golf shoes are made for all types of weather, and can withstand rain, mud and sand, as well as hard surfaces.

So, we can conclude that having shoes dedicated to playing golf is an important step in getting better at the game; it is a worthwhile investment. But, what shoes are allowed on the golf course?

What Shoes are Allowed?

There can often be confusion around the type of shoes that are required on a golf course. It is common knowledge that you cannot wear standard trainers/sneakers on a golf course. 

The amount of choice when it comes to golf shoes can often be overwhelming for beginners. Generally, any shoe that you buy from a golf shop will be allowed on the golf course. As long as the shoe has either:

• Soft spikes on the bottom:

• Rubber/dimpled soles instead of spikes:

Having one of these type of shoes is important for playing golf for the reasons stated above. It is equally important for avoiding damage to the green.

I would personally recommend spiked shoes, as that extra grip on all surfaces can really help with your swing – especially as a beginner.

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Other Important Factors

Here are some other factors to consider when buying a golf shoe:

• Comfort: try the shoes on to ensure that they feel comfortable and effectively support your foot. If you plan to play 18 holes often, this is important to avoid long term feet injuries.
• Good Arch Support: this is the section in the middle of your foot. Your arch can vary, and therefore you should buy a pair of golf shoes that support your type

• Water Resistance: look for a pair of shoes that will not let water in. Even if you don’t plan to play while it is raining, golf courses can get waterlogged, and you want to prevent getting any mud or water in your shoes. I’ve had this problem before, and it wasn’t pleasant! 
• Style and Design: make sure to buy a pair of shoes that you like the look of, and will go well with your outfits. This is definitely an underrated point, you want to look good when playing on the course!

When Should You Put Golf Shoes On?

You will often hear that you shouldn’t put on your golf shoes in the car, or before arriving to the course. This can often worry beginners; it used to confuse me.

The truth is, it doesn’t really matter where you put your golf shoes on. No one cares if you choose to put your shoes on in the car, or rock up to the golf course with them on.

But, if there is a changing room in your golf club, I would advise that you take your shoes there and change into them. The changing rooms are a good place to make friends and meet people before playing, and I know people who have made friends in the changing rooms.

It is also the chance to go to the toilet and get a drink before going out and playing, which means you are better prepared for your round.

You can also leave your trainers in the locker rooms while you play your round. This means that when you come back from playing, you can change out of your muddy shoes. You, therefore, avoid treading all that mud around the car park, and more importantly, avoid getting mud in your car!

Frequently Asked Golf Shoe Etiquette Questions:

What Size Golf Shoes Should I Buy?

Often, beginner golf shoes stress over the size of golf shoe that they should buy. It is important to remember that you should aim to have adequate toe room in your golf shoes.

Avoid buying shoes which are too big, however, as you want to avoid slipping during your swing.

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How Much Should I Spend on Golf Shoes?

This is dependant on how often you plan to play. If you will only play a few time a year, then I would advise you spend around $60 on a pair of shoes – this will do the job for infrequent golf rounds.

But, if you will be playing weekly, then you should definitely consider increasing your budget, and buy a pair of shoes that are more comfortable and durable. This is one of the best investments that you can make (second to your clubs, of course!).

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How Should you Clean your Golf Shoes?

As I mentioned before, by leaving your walking shoes in the locker rooms, you can change out of your muddy shoes to avoid treading mud everywhere. But, how should you clean these shoes?

My golf club, as well as nearly every other club, will have a compressed air machine and/or a boot scrub. This will be on the way out of the course, near the car park. Ensure that you use the compressed air to get rid of the big chunks of dirt in your shoes if necessary.

Then, scrub your shoes if necessary.

Doing this after every muddy round will ensure that your shoes stay clean in the long run, and you won’t have to deep clean them often.

I would advise that you deep clean them in your sink every few months during the winter, so that they stay dirt-free for the summer.

You can also alternate between spikes, keeping a set of dirty spikes for the muddy winter, and a clean set for the summer.

A Summary

Overall, it is important to not stress too much regarding golf shoe etiquette. The important thing is that you buy a pair of shoes from a golf or sports shop, as these will be adequate for the requirements of your club.

Try on the shoe before you buy it to ensure that it is comfortable, and gives you the necessary grip to play a good round of golf.

Everything else is extra – when you change into them, the style of shoe, how you clean them. But, it is good to follow the tips in this article so that you can look after your shoes and respect the rules of your golf club.