Short Answer: There is no official ruling that you must wear golf shoes to play golf. However, local club rules are different, and some courses may require you to wear them.
So if golf shoes aren’t required, why does everyone on the course seemingly have them?
Well, because they aren’t bought to look good. They’re bought for performance.
Golf shoes are different from other sports foot apparel in that they are not designed to help you run faster or jump higher.
They’re supposed to help you grip the ground as you swing, which is something your everyday sneakers won’t help you with.
Especially when the ground is wet… trying to hit a drive in a standard pair of Jordans will make you resemble a clumsy figure skater.
Like an out-of-season Chaz Michael Michaels… look him up!
So do you have to wear golf shoes? Not necessarily, but should you wear them? Absolutely.
Below, you will find out when you must wear them and why you should.
The golf shoe industry had a market share of $8.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $13.3 billion by 2032. Golfers wouldn’t continue to buy them if they didn’t help their game.
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Does The Golf Course Require Golfers To Wear Them?
Although most golf clubs don’t care if you wear golf shoes or not, you should always check before you arrive.
The last thing you want is for you to be turned away or have to buy a pricey pair of shoes in the pro shop before you play.
Plenty of golf courses still require all golfers to wear them.
Another thing to remember is that not all golf shoes are equal in the eyes of some clubs.
Steel-spiked golf shoes are often forbidden; other clubs may only allow certain soft plastic spikes or spikeless shoes.
How Big Of A Difference Do Golf Shoes Make?
The majority of golfers will tell you that they make a huge difference.
Especially if you have a fast swing speed, you will need all the grip you can take.
The only scenario where they won’t make much difference is if you’re playing in perfect conditions and have an extremely slow swing speed.
But this scenario doesn’t apply to most golfers because perfect playing conditions are not guaranteed, and you probably swing fast enough to need them.
Below, you will find out how golf shoes can help you play better.
Golf Shoes Have Better Grip
You need a grip as you’re swinging at full speed while you play.
Lack of grip is potentially dangerous; it can also result in you hitting some awful shots, like slices or hooks.
When you’re on the tee box trying to put one in the fairway or going for the green, a slip or even knowing a slip is possible can affect the end result.
Golf is all about the mental, and if you know the chance of slipping is possible, your body will intuitively swing differently to try to prevent injuries.
The level of grip varies depending on whether you choose spiked or spikeless golf shoes.
How can you decide which shoe is perfect for you?
Well, it comes down to a few factors, but the main ones are how fast you swing and how dry the course is.
If you swing fast and the course is wet more often than not, then spiked is the way to go.
Golf Shoes Are Made To Last
Golf shoes are unlike regular sneakers in that you buy multiple pairs yearly.
Usually, a good pair of golf shoes can last years, with some of the biggest manufacturers offering 2-year waterproof guarantees.
This means that unless you want to buy a new pair for the sake of it, you can wear the same shoe round after round.
Regular shoes used as golf shoes will break down, the sole will lose grip, materials will stretch or tear, and water will most definitely get in.
Because of their thick soles and durable materials, this won’t happen with a high-quality pair of golf shoes.
Golf Shoes Are Waterproof
Most golf shoes are waterproof, which may or may not be necessary depending on your course and weather conditions.
But if it does get wet at times where you play, then knowing your feet will stay dry all around is a must.
Listen, golf is hard enough without playing in wet socks the entire round.
Think about it this way: it’s one less thing you must worry about on the course.
Normal sneakers are not designed to keep the elements at bay.
They’re designed to help you… slay…
(As the owner of Bogey Breaking Golf, I would like to inform you that the writer who wrote the above sentence has been terminated. Enjoy the rest of your “slay” free reading.)
Golf Shoes Can Prevent Injury
Another reason to wear golf shoes is they prevent injuries.
These shoes provide you with excellent grip and traction, reducing the likelihood of slipping/sliding throughout your swing.
Less slipping/sliding around the golf course will significantly reduce the chances of you picking up an injury like a twisted knee or ankle injury.
There are some no golf-specific shoes, like the Hoka Evo XC, which provide traction almost as good as spikeless shoes.
But they are still not designed for the specific movements of the golf swing, which can lead to injury.
In addition to slipping, having a pair of shoes that do not give you the stability you need can cause overuse injuries from compensations.
If you suffer from flat feet, then getting the right golf shoe is essential. Regular sneakers under these conditions will only aggravate the feet.
Golf Shoe Performance Depends On The Weather
One huge contributing factor to whether golf shoes make a big difference is whether the course is wet or dry.
Wet conditions make it extremely difficult to keep your footing without proper spikes.
In some of our other articles, we have highlighted the importance of wearing spiked golf shoes when wet outside, as they are vital to shooting a low score.
However, when conditions are dry, you can get away with spikeless or regular sneakers easier.
Unless you swing faster than most golfers, you should be okay, but sneakers can cause you to slip even in dry conditions.
Golf Shoes Give You Confidence And Improved Focus
As you can see from everything we went through above, your golf shoes impact your game in more ways than one.
And wearing the right pair of golf shoes can improve your confidence and make you feel better. Everybody and their grandma will tell you that golf is as much a mental game as it is physical.
Anything can throw you off your game, even the clothes you’re wearing.
If you step onto the first tee in a fresh pair of golf shoes, black Nike slacks, and a red Nike polo like prime Tiger Woods, in your head, you’re on the way to shooting the course record.
Don’t believe me?
Think about it, how many times in your life have you had a really nice suit on and felt like James Bond, or when you were a kid and got new sneakers that immediately made you run faster?
What you wear affects how you feel, so matter how subtle it is.
Lastly, golf shoes enhance your focus on the course. Since you don’t need to worry about slipping, your feet getting wet or your feet getting sore, you can focus solely on the round.
The less you have to think about in golf, the better you’ll perform.
Should Beginners Wear Golf Shoes?
Beginners who are serious about playing golf for the long haul should invest in a pair of golf shoes.
Now, if you’re going to have fun with your buddies with no intention of playing regularly, then you could go without them.
As a beginner, you want to own, at the very least, a good pair of golf shoes.
They will be one of your golf career’s cheaper purchases and guarantee you the most benefits.
New clubs will not always make you hit the ball better; a new electric trolly won’t make the ball go further, but a pair of golf shoes will provide all the above benefits, no matter the skill level.
But only get a pair if you’re going to try to get your money’s worth.
What Can You Wear If You Don’t Own Golf Shoes?
If you want to try out golf or you’ve forgotten or damaged your current pair, there are alternatives you can wear.
A good pair of track, trail, or tennis shoes can help you in the right conditions.
As mentioned above, if the weather is dry, you can get away with wearing any of these.
They all have good grip needed for their respective sports, and although they don’t have as much grip as traditional golf shoes, they can work.
Their performance in wet conditions will be terrible, and your feet will become soaking wet, but they will do if there are no other options.
Be sure to check that out and look for more posts like these.