Golf Shoes Blog
Enjoy the Variety of the Golf Shoe

When You Shoot 9 Under You Can Get Some New Golf Shoes

Golf Shoes Blog News:SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Martin Kaymer tied a course record with a 9-under 62 on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the French Open. Kaymer overcame a painful blister and a bogey on his first hole with eight birdies and an eagle on No. 3 to tie the record set by Eduardo Romero of Argentina in 2005 on the 7,300-yard Golf National course. 

On the day before in a pro-am, he’d had to get medics to operate – on his golf shoes and cut a hole in them to relieve the blister!

The report doesn’t say who’s golf shoes he was wearing but Golf Shoes Blog wants to know.  Why?  Because when ever a maker of a shoe’s sponsored palyer does well they shout from the roof tops.  They have their golf shoe leader boards (even the cleat makers do that*) And then when something goes wrong they don’t mention it!  Lee Westwood was in the news when he retired in the Ryder Cup with blisters from wearing new golf shoes and no one mentioned FootJoy!  So I see it as part of my job to find out.

PS If you look very carefully at the picture you can see the hole on his right shoe…

* See Golf Shoes Blog posts on this phenomena!

PS I’m 99% sure that Kaymer wears FootJoys - but no mention of this event in their blogsite!

Golf Shoes that Breathe: Hot Weather Cooling

When you’re choosing golf shoes for hot weather it may be that you consider mesh golf shoes because they breathe.  Not a bad idea but do remember that if the golf courses that you play are spraying or using chemicals, then those chemicals may get to your feet and may irritate your skin (or if you’re allergic to these this could be worse)*.

Otherwise good leather shoes will be more breathable and many offer wicking to help breathability.  There are a wide range of ways of keeping your feet dry.  There are 21 posts on Golf Shoes Blog that talk about or mention “breathability” so heck those out: Though I did notice that I ducked out of the subject once before (siting the need to get out to attend a quiz!). I’ve not a done a test of dryness so I’m dodging any specific recommendations again.  The Ecco Casual Cool Hydromax (as pictured) are supposedly good in that respect.

I’m checking out one golf shoe that claims air conditioning.  Watch this space. 

*The gist of this, I just picked up from the PGA Tour site: Thanks.

But How Much Can Golf Shoes Blog Do?

I wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago about golf shoe manufacturers and whether they could guarantee where the leather came from.  (They can’t which is why you’re supposed to ask them and put the pressure on.)

I had a comment from Scott who runs a site all about the environmental impact or otherwise in all areas and issues.  It’s called Go For The Green (pun intended) and covers just about anything you can think of.  If you care, please visit.  (Why do I think golfers would be split on this?)  The site says “Our mission is to promote Environmental Stewardship on Golf Courses by reporting, promoting and discussing management solutions and strategies that will lead our industry towards a sustainable future”.

Just because I’m in an odd mood, here’s a picture of a nude golfer. (Thanks to Photographer Jojo Moreschi – who photographed 100 people doing everyday things in the nude.) (I’m going to re-use this!)

Golf Shoes Blog Adds To The Golf Shoe Categories To Explore…

To be honest, I on’t feel like just adding another pair of golf shoes simply because it’s (slightly) new to me; or because I’ve seen it mentioned at a price.  No, I want to show  you something more special… less ordinary. That’s not to say that most of the golf shoes we see here are boring but sometimes there’s not quite enough to excite me.

SO I’ve decided to open a new category – the groups of posts which you can explore and see what’s been written to date in any given area.  So “Designer Golf Shoes” it is.  I did threaten this before when we looked at Cole Haas golf shoes.  In fact I’m going back to that piece and taking it out of “Amazing golf shoes” which they aren’t looking back.  But they will go into the new “designer golf shoes”.  OK.

And while I was there I put in Par West golf shoes – they are designer in the real sense of the word.  So a new pair for your enjoyment, too.   These babies are white calf with black sharkskin wingtip, saddle and trim. The price is $950 but that includes a fedexed self fitting (you push your feet into a mould/trace your foot and send these back).  So these are designer and custom golf shoes.  Enjoy them if you can afford them.  Every pair is guaranteed to fit perfectly.  Payne Stewart forgot he was wearing them.

Golf Shoes Blog Investigation Into The Practise Of Golf Shoes Cleaning

Now I don’t clean my car for about a year at a time (maybe two) so I’m not a good one to ask if you should clean your golf shoes!

I’d like to get a poll (add a little widget) so you all can vote on this.  But I don’t know how to get that!   VOTE “DO you clean your golf shoes [a] never [b] once a year [c] once a month or so or [d] afetr every game.  Then a little graph would appear with the results – if anyone voted.

Meanwhile, apart from blowing the mud out of your spikes with that amazing air jet golf clubs have, let’s be honest who does a proper golf shoe clean?

Meanwhile… ECCO Ladies Casual Pitch Ribbon Golf Shoes

Having been on a special top secret retail project (nothing to do with golf shoes) over the last few weeks, I’ve been in quite a few main shopping streets and precincts (malls) and the like.  And I’ve seen ECCO stores – into which I’ve ventured and asked about golf shoes.

No demand was the answer.  We used to sell them but no longer.  There are two (I think) flagship stores in London and ???, which do sell the golf shoes.  Otherwise ECCO stores don’t sell ECCO golf shoes.  This makes sense I guess… BUT if I were them I’d at least have some promotion for the golf shoes in the window or in the store to tell all those bored guys (let alone the ladies) who are being dragged around shopping centres that this is a maker of golf shoes and then next time he/she’s in the golf shoe store he/she’d give ECCO the time of day.  It can’t do any harm. 

I have to plead ignorance to the fact that I didn’trealise that ECCO had penetrated the High St. to such an extent!

The golf shoes here (available at Amazon’s golf shoes) are the Casual Pitch Ribbon in leather with Q lock soft spike by Stinger.  They have (as common to most ECCO golf shoes), a wider toe and a more narrow heel for accurate fit.  The direct inject sole is water tight and you get a one year waterproof gaurantee.  The sole is rubber.

ECCO sya “The two-tone ribbon details and matching rubber sole add a feminine touch to this sporty and stylish look”.

Golf Shoes Blog Hopes You Didn’t Miss Post on Exotic Chev Golf Shoes In UK…

… which ended up being published a few days later than the date (the system behing the blog broke temporarily) so you might have missed it.  (The poor post was never the latest one!)

Anyway, following this I’ve got two small updates:

[1] No these golf shoes are not available in the UK as far as we know or Callaway in the States for that matter – but an update will follow

[2] Why are these golf shoes calles “Tour Chev”: From our contact at Callawy – “The Chev refers to the Chevron.  The Chevron is the little “V” shaped alignment that you see on the top of every Callaway Golf driver. It was patented by Mr. Callaway back in the day and we have brought this shape to life just recently as an Icon to our brand. In fact…it now lives underneath our Callaway Logo as the word golf has since been removed”.

The above must be the old one.  I think the new one is in black & white.

More on the Australian Golf Shoes Brand Proline

Regular readers may remember that I’d stumbled across an Australian make of golf shoes (amongst other things) last month.  I only showed the ladies’s shoes and I promised to get back with some mens golf shoes.  OK here we are with two of the more interesting looking ones.  Most are the “athletic” style and nearly all are light as befit the tropics.  Most interesting about these shoes which get sold in Asia/Pacific is that they come in Aussie sizes 7-12 but other countries (i.e. with those with smaller more oriental feet) can get them in 6 too.

The tops of the Ethan golf shoes are synthetic and the soles are moulded lightweight.  The spikes are Tec-Lok.  The Ethan, as seen here above, is brown though the picture makes them look metallic – and I’m not sure if this is the case.

The Hampton Mens (seen right, below) are slightly higher spec golf shoes with leather uppers and Champ Stinger spikes.  Prices for both, I guess come from retailers.  My information is from the corporate site.

PS I had a comment on the last post  from Dave at golf balls net who said he’d had a pair and they did the job!  (That’s how I first came across the reconditioned golf ball thing!)

Trying To Uncover All makes Of Golf Shoes – Update

Because we’re Golf Shoes Blog, you’d think we knew all about all golf shoes – and that’s what I wanted.  In May this year there were a few lesser known makes of golf shoes that I hadn’t written about before and that included Lady Fairway.  Yes I’d heard of them and seen the name about but I’d never seen any – NOR could I find any for sale. 

But that’s all changed now and after concluding this brand of golf shoes was like the Monty Python parrot (i.e. dead, deceased, no more), they’re back.  Maybe they were spurred into action by my comment – but I doubt it!

They’re on Golf Shoes Plus at $39.99 against an RRP of $84.99 – which is a mighty golf shoe saving!

The Spec&Tech says:  Supple full grain leather upper/improved flexible all weather sole/DRI-LEX moisture wicking lining/anti-microbial finish on lining helps eliminate odors and bacteria and “Blucher”.  Now what does Blucher mean?

There’s also a lady Fairway saddle shoe and a lite trainer style golf shoe.  (I must find the definitive word which describes this type of golf shoe.  I was on the point of saying “athletic” but I don’t know if this is generic.)  No men’s golf shoes in the Lady fairway range as I’ve seen – or expect to see – but I might be wrong.  I have been before…

Golf Shoes Blog Gets Another Investigative Query

Rachel asks “Is there anywhere to buy kilties a la carte? I’m looking for velcro/lace in/snap on kilties for retailing”.  This comment came on the “golf shoes like yours” post.  Rachel retails various golf shoes, equipment and paraphenalia and presumably she has asked the major golf shoe manufacturers if they supplykiltie only orders?

Well yes there is Rachel: I’ve found you just such a place.  On Par Designs make kilties for golf shoes and makes them just for you – so you could brand them with the name of your retail store! 

The On Par web site says “We design and manufacture golf shoe kilties. We also have a selection of kilties for the Junior Golfer or the Youth Golfer. Fun or serious, we have a kiltie that will fit your style. Have your Ladies Team Logo or any Golf Team design or for any special event custom made. Great gifts for tournaments, for that golfer that has everything, and for the golfer with style. If you do not see what you are looking for, please contact us at vgilliam@onpardesigns.com

And to re-assure you of their source… “Kilties are Made in the U.S.A.”

I might be ordering some myself for Golf Shoes Blog prizes!

It’s Lightning Safety Awareness Week:  Golf Shoes Alert!

Just a quick word of warning as the lightning warnings get going in the US.  “If you are the golf course, find shelter. Golf shoes with metal spikes, metal golf carts and golf clubs make excellent conductors.  Also, do not take shelter under a tree”.  So now you know.  Are the marketing people from the cleats companies out this week (lightning awareness week) selling their cleats?!

Golf Shoes Blog Plays PI For Callaway Authentic Golf Shoes

I’ve had an email asking “Hi ,Can you purchase the Callaway Exotic Chev’s in the UK and if so where ?” from Mike, who obviously likes the look of them.  (Who added “Thank you, I enjoy the BLOG, Kind Regards, Mike“  Well thank you too, Mike)  Mike didn’t add whether he’s read a review of them to back up the obvious good looks of these golf shoes.  You can see another picture of these in the post on the Golf Shoes Blog Rank & Rate system, in black and white.

Maybe Mike knows or maybe he doesn’t but I have  pair of these beautiful golf shoes.  But (dare I say it), I haven’t yet worn them to play golf in!  However I have worn them on a business trip – without the cleats in.  they looked fantaastic and they are of the highest quality – better than any  of my business shoes!  but like most good welted shoes whic are made of good strong construction and leather to last, they did rub a bit on the heel.  I have a theory that any shoes (golf shoes or otherwise) that are really comfortable out of the box will not be as tough in the long run.  I hope that I’m wearing my Callaway Chev Authentics in twenty years!  They are very comfortable (until the blister but that’s a once off) and well made of good strong elements.  And in the meantime, when I play golf in them I’ll give them a proper Golf Shoes Blog Rank & Rate review.  (I’ve noticed that there are a pair of these called “teacher” which have no spikes.  Maybe that’s what i should have had for business!)

But Are These Golf Shoes Available In The UK?

Now back to business, and I’m sorry to say Mike, that it doesn’t look like they are available in the UK just yet.  They’re in the States, we know (at $279).  I will get in touch with my contact at Callaway and ask if he knows more.