We should all know by now that golf can be split into two halves; one half is having the ability to drive, chip, or putt the golf ball into – or at least towards – the hole. And the other half is looking damn fine on the course.
But while in some instances you could potentially substitute your golf-specific clothing for something equally athletic in direction, one area you shouldn’t skip out on is footwear.
Golf shoes are one of the most important factors in determining how well a game is going to play out. How so? Traction. Your feet need to be firmly planted if you want any chance of sending your ball into orbit, as one little slip could cost you bragging rights with your mates.
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When it comes to traction, you’re given a couple of options with golf shoes: spiked or spikeless.
Spiked Golf Shoes
Spiked golf shoes are the more traditional of the two, rocking metal or plastic spikes on the sole of shoes that dig into golf course grass, giving you a solid footing. A vast majority of golf courses have now banned metal spikes in an attempt to protect the grass, but plastic “soft spikes” are still fair game.
Spiked golf shoes are particularly useful in wet conditions, being able to provide greater levels of grip compared to spikeless golf shoes.
Spikeless Golf Shoes
Spikeless golf shoes, on the other hand, do away with spikes completely, employing the use of small rubber nubs to help latch onto the green. Spikeless golf shoes can be worn off the course if you so wish, you could effectively wear them to the office and head straight to the course when you finish – you’ll still have to get changed of course, if you’re wearing a suit or some other inappropriate clothing.
While there used to be a world of difference between spikes and spikeless golf shoes, today, the difference is far more marginal. Ultimately, the best golf shoe for you will depend on the weather conditions you play in most. Wet weather? Go spiked. Dry most of the time? You’ll be fine with spikeless.
Most companies do, in fact, produce spiked and spikeless versions of the same shoe model, so if you wanted, you could have a pair of each to cover all bases.
Here at the best golf shoes for men to buy right now.
Cole Haan Golf
1/13
Price: From $150
Sizes: 7-13
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Cole Haan have just dropped their own line of golf shoes which are cool af. Made from waterproof, supportive leathers to keep you dry, these men’s golf shoes are comfortable and plush for long courses.
Cuater
2/13
Price: From $130
Sizes: 8-14
Origin: Huntington Beach, California
Cuater is a subsidiary of Callaway (below) and specialises in producing golf shoes. The brand signed a partnership agreement with American clothing company TravisMathew to release pairs of golf shoes that have a decidedly more casual flair.
The Ringer spiked golf shoe indeed looks like a casual sneaker but offers features that will certainly benefit golfers. SweetSpot Cushioning gives you plenty of all-day comfort, an air-mesh lining promotes airflow, yet they’re also entirely waterproof. The Softspikes Pivix cleats are removable too and will be with you every step through your swing thanks to Spring Flex legs.
Puma
3/13
Price: From $80
Sizes: 7-15
Origin: Herzogenaurach, Germany
Not wanting to be left out of the list of sportswear companies who have their own golf divisions, Puma too has an extensive range of golf shoes and apparel.
The Ignite Pwradapt Caged men’s golf shoes are available in spiked and spikeless variants, and both offer incredible support for your feet. The Pwrcage unit that can be seen on the outside is physically attached to the midsole, so when you tie the laces, the cage is pulled around your foot, which also results in the heel piece locking onto your foot, holding it firmly in place. The resulting sensation feels like you’re literally not going to go anywhere, but remain firmly planted on the course. Fully waterproof and with Ignite Foam for cushioning, these Puma shoes not only look great but perform just as well.
New Balance
4/13
Price: From $80
Sizes: 7-16
Origin: Boston, Massachusetts
New Balance is a company that knows all about feet and what it takes to give them the support to thrive. Considering you can be on your feet for hours at a time playing a round, it’s no wonder they made the leap into golf shoes.
These Fresh Foam LinksPro take a running shoe style silhouette and throw some spikes on the bottom. Ok, that’s not exactly what New Balance has done, but the idea behind them – and the use of Fresh Foam cushioning – is to provide a lightweight, running-shoe style feel and fit, with the added traction needed for golf. They’re waterproof too, and spikes can easily be removed thanks to the FastTwist 3.0 system.
FootJoy
5/13
Price: From $90
Sizes: 7-15
Origin: Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Golf specialist brand FootJoy has been around since the mid-1800s when it used to be known as Field and Flint Company (it adopted the FootJoy name in 1970). The company’s golf shoe range today comprises spiked and spikeless models, as well as casual pairs for wearing around the clubhouse and even customisable pairs to create something unique to you.
These Pro|SL Carbon spikeless men’s golf shoes feature Fine Tuned Foam for comfortable, cushioned strides, while a completely redesigned Infinity Outsole boasts 189 traction points, resulting in great traction, despite the fact, there are no spikes. Fully waterproof and with strategically placed areas of support for the foot, they could well be the best golf shoes currently available.
Nike
6/13
Price: From $70
Sizes: 3.5-16
Origin: Beaverton, Oregon
Sportswear giant Nike has a solid selection of golf shoes, with many models being based on already established models from their running and skateboarding collections. The Victory Tour NRG men’s golf shoes not only come in an eye-catching finish, but benefit from Nike’s own Reach and Zoom Air cushioning technologies to provide ample comfort when traversing the green.
They do come with spikes, but these can be removed and still provide enough grip when used in dry conditions, essentially making them a 2-in-1 shoe.
Under Armour
7/13
Price: From $80
Sizes: 7-15
Origin: Baltimore, Maryland
Under Armour only made its debut into the world of golf within the last decade but it has quickly become a force to be reckoned with, not least because it claims Jordan Spieth as one of its ambassadors. With an already well-established footwear range, UA has carried much of its technological knowhow to its golf shoe range.
These HOVR Drive Gore-Tex men’s golf shoes are a spiked model (a spikeless ‘Show’ model is also available) and crams them full with the company’s own HOVR cushioning. Not only does this provide ample support, it also provides energy return to give a little extra push into swings. The addition of Gore-Tex makes them completely waterproof, yet breathable, so you won’t feel like you need to rush back to the clubhouse when the heavens open.
ECCO
8/13
Price: From $160
Sizes: 5-13.5
Origin: Bredebro, Denmark
Danish footwear brand ECCO has a strong foothold in the golf shoe sector, and is the brand of choice for many big names including Henrik Stenson, Fred Couples and Erik Van Rooyen. Good looking and highly capable, ECCO golf shoes are worthy of your consideration.
The Golf S-Three men’s golf shoes are a standout model, serving up a hybrid design, employing the company’s own Dynamic Traction System (E-DTS) which offers up so much traction that you won’t ever feel the need to invest in a spiked pair of shoes. Zonal Fluidform technology provides comfort and support in three key areas and Gore-Tex is onboard to provide complete waterproof protection.
Callaway
9/13
Price: From $90
Sizes: 8-16
Origin: Carlsbad, California
Callaway is a name synonymous with golf thanks to an ever impressive range of golf clubs and balls. The company also has a considered range of clothing and shoes, however, encompassing spiked and spikeless models.
We’re particularly fond of this opair of Del Mar golf shoes due to their less-traditional look, instead adopting a silhouette better associated with casual sneakers. The leather upper benefits from Opti-Dri waterproofing prevents your feet from getting soaked while the dura-rubber sole rocks a number of multi-directional lugs to give you enough traction when swinging through for 200-yard drives or three-metre putts.
Johnston & Murphy
10/13
Price: From $149
Sizes: 8-15
Origin: Newark, New Jersey
Johnston & Murphy was founded in 1850 and has secured itself a spot on the feet of virtually every US President since with its dress shoes. While it’s not confirmed if those same Presidents wear their golf shoes, a brand of such heritage can be trusted for quality and performance.
The XC4 H1-Luxe Hybrid golf shoes feature a hybrid design, meaning you get spiked levels of grip from a spikeless design. They’re fully waterproof, temperature regulation control to keep your feet at optimum temperature, memory-foam cushioning with arch support (and removable insoles if you use your own) and to top it off, we think they look bloody fantastic.
Adidas
11/13
Price: From $65
Sizes: 7-15
Origin: Bavaria, Germany
Rounding out sports biggest names who also have their feet in golf shoe pies is Adidas. The German sportswear giant is always keen to provide suitable gear for all sports and golf receives particularly close attention.
While you could look like you’ve walked straight off the streets and onto the course in a pair of Superstar golf shoes, we’ve picked out the Tour360 XT-SL spikeless men’s golf shoes for their performance prowess. Designed for dry courses, these shoes rock a mesh upper (that is also waterproof) for enhanced breathability while Adidas’ proven Boost technology offers exceptional cushioning with the added benefit of significant energy return.
Skechers
12/13
Price: From $80
Sizes: 8-13
Origin: Manhattan Beach, California
For affordable footwear that promises to perform as well as their more expensive peers, Skechers is the brand to turn to. The third largest athletic footwear brand in the US, Skechers definitely shouldn’t be a brand to be sniffed at.
These Go Golf Elite V.4 golf shoes feature Skechers’ own Goga Mat cushioned insole for incredible day-long comfort alongside H20 Shield waterproof protection for dry feet in wet weather. They’re a spikeless design too, employing the use of a proprietary Grip Flex outsole, which uses a low-profile design so that more of the sole comes into contact with the green, resulting in greater stability. Excellent men’s golf shoes alert!
Jordan Brand Golf
13/13
Price: From $140
Sizes: 3.5-16
Origin: Beaverton, Oregon
Nike subsidiary Jordan is also into the game of golf, most likely because Michael himself was a keen golfer who could regularly be spotted playing a few rounds with friends.
These Jordan ADG 2 golf shoes blend the barriers between golf and basketball to serve up a shoe that look like nothing else on the course. You get plenty of foam cushioning to glide with each step while the quirky-looking traction on the sole ensures you don’t fall over in less-than-ideal weather conditions.
