ECCO Leather-Soled Gripping Men’s Golf Shoes

By all means, coordinate your golf shirt with your hat. Buy a nice pair of pants that has deep pockets for all your tees. But before you do any of that, put a lot of thought into your golf shoes.

The reasons for that are obvious. Whether you use a golf cart or not, these are shoes that you’re going to be doing plenty of walking in. Even the most well-practiced swing can go awry if your shoddy footwear causes you to slip in the grass. And of course, you’ll want something that complements all that other golf gear that you picked out with such care.

Golf shoes have a few unique features, but as with any shoe, the fit is your foremost concern. This is important with athletic shoes of any kind, but a long day on the links requires your kicks to be both comfortable and flexible. If your size runs a little wide, make sure that you get a shoe that breaks in well. For golf shoes, this can take some time and vary widely depending on the material.

As with any shoe, leather is always a good bet when you can afford it. It might not be as flexible as more synthetic materials, but the right size will fit like a glove once broken in. Polyester blends and other synthetics will be easier on your wallet and will likely be more comfortable — at least in the short term. While they tend to be more lightweight, they may not be as able to stand up to sustained exposure to the elements.

Speaking of the elements, almost any material can be made waterproof to varying degrees of effectiveness. Even if you don’t plan on playing in the rain, it’s always a good idea to get some waterproofing on your shoes. After all, that time you spend driving balls in the morning dew adds up. Shoes with a Gore-tex lining will shed water especially well, though the brand and type of construction will go a long way in determining its durability.

Now, about those laces. Many golfers tend to favor more traditional shoelaces, and those can be fine as long you remember to keep them tight and/or tucked in. Consider fabric hook-and-loop fasteners like Velcro, though. They’re becoming more popular for a reason. You don’t want slippage at a crucial moment if those expensive shoes happen to come untied.

Finally, there’s that one feature that makes a golf shoe a golf shoe: Spikes. There are plenty of options for spikes on your shoes, including the option to have no spikes at all. Spiked shoes can take some getting used to, and well-designed spikeless shoes can provide plenty of the necessary traction if you’re golfing in dry summer weather.

On the other hand, those spikes can make a big difference if there’s moisture on the ground. The more traction you get on the grass, the more power you can put into that swing. Metal spikes are the best at giving you this traction, though they can be harder to walk on for long distances. You may also want to check with your golf course before buying them, too: Many courses prohibit metal spikes because of the potential damage they can cause to the greens.

Plastic spikes are also an option, of course. These softer spikes tend to splay out more and they will be much more comfortable to walk on between shots. You may need to clean them out a bit more, though, as they can get clogged with grass and mud.

Maintenance is key if you want your golf shoes to last. These are shoes that will be outdoors a lot, after all. Make sure you check your spikes for wear and tear, especially the plastic ones. If there are cracks or missing points, replace them immediately.

If you’ve been playing in any kind of moisture, make sure you resist the temptation to simply change out of your shoes and leave them in the trunk. That transition from wet weather to warm storage can significantly reduce their durability.