Why aren't trainers allowed on golf courses?

[Dasit]

A big part of every club pro shop is the shoe display.

Assume this is part of the reason.


Seeing the state of what people wear on American courses, I quite like the dress code on UKs courses. Hoodies, tracksuits, vests and slippers would cheapen my golf experience.

 

[GreggerKBR]

It's the same with the list of "dress" and "etiquette"
no tee shirts
shirts must have a collar
long socks
dress shorts
no denim
etc.

If you've worked at a club and found yourself faced with unsavoury guests attempting to play golf and giving you a hard time, whilst your members are screaming at you then you might appreciate having some prohibitive rules to help you out.

It's a bit like speed bumps or sleeping policeman... they are not there to slow down the careful and considerate driver.

Otherwise, no excuse for a ban on trainers anymore.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think it's very easy to be confused and taken in by the looks of trainers and associating them as being the same as spikeless golf shoes as most, if not everyone, is just looking at the top of the shoes, however, I think trainers have very little grip or design to their grip whereas as spikeless golf shoes which can look aesthetically the same, do, so, the slipping/health & safety issue should always be the main criteria, in that, if the trainer or shoe is not designed for golf and all it's facets, then it's not allowed!

Agree with that - it's health and safety. Golf courses are slippery places and people - especially parents - are very litigious these days. It's not about what looks or feels cool or what the individual wants to wear or feels entitled to wear. Golfing footwear is surely a quite different argument from that around clothing.

 

[GreggerKBR]

Agree with that - it's health and safety. Golf courses are slippery places and people - especially parents - are very litigious these days. It's not about what looks or feels cool or what the individual wants to wear or feels entitled to wear. Golfing footwear is surely a quite different argument from that around clothing.

Our H&S policy did talk about PPE for staff, greenkeepers, chefs etc. for Employees.
Nothing about a strict policy on golf shoes for public...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

With the difference between spike less golf shoes and trainers becoming increasingly blurred I think it's a matter of time before trainers are accepted on the course, if not the clubhouse. Who actually does a check on the first tee anyway and providing players have good etiquette and treat the course with respect and play quickly does it really matter

 

[pokerjoke]

Golf shoes are trainers but with ripples or spikes on and an extortionate price tag attached.

I mean how can a spikeless shoe be £150 when its a £50 trainer really.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Golf shoes are trainers but with ripples or spikes on and an extortionate price tag attached.

I mean how can a spikeless shoe be £150 when its a £50 trainer really.

They have to be pretty darned resilient and well constructed to put up with 5 hrs of hill-walking and keeping your feet dry.

Also we golfers (well some of us) are mugs to equipment; then there are market forces and a TINY customer base compared with that for trainers.

 

[pokerjoke]

They have to be pretty darned resilient and well constructed to put up with 5 hrs of hill-walking and keeping your feet dry.

Also we golfers (well some of us) are mugs to equipment; then there are market forces and a TINY customer base compared with that for trainers.

5hr of hill walking maybe twice a week I wear my trainers 8 hours every day and they will last longer.

Golf shoes start to look bad and cracked very quickly in comparison.

 

[Parsaregood]

You can wear trainers, just go to your local 'muni' and turn up in tracksuit bottoms too? Why can't people just respect the traditions of the game and Wear proper attire, i'm sure you can buy your kid new shoes once a year a size or 2 on the big side, problem solved. eBay is also very good for used gear.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I have always considered it to be daft.

I have golf shoes that look like trainers, and vice versa. I have goretex trail shoes that are more water proof than my golf shoes, and have more aggressive grips than my spikeless golf shoes too. But are still running shoes, and would do less damage than adizero's.

It's all cobblers. If you are happy swinging in them, there shouldn't be an issue.

Oh, and my Ecco spikeless are fine all year round. Unless I swing like an idiot. At which point I deserve to fall over.

Fall over a lot then do you? :ears:

 

[TheJezster]

As others have said, some wear spikeless all year round without any issues. I'd just wear what you want and see what happens. There is still too much nonsense with dress codes.

 

[lukeysafc100]

to be honest - I'd just take the kid in trainers anyway - what will people really notice! The style of golf shoes nowadays they all look like trainers! and the only reason for spikes is for stability in the swing and grip - nothing at all to do with the greens!
End of day there's golf shoes without spikes/cleats on them now! so whats the difference!

 

[SAPCOR1]

The word "traditional" popping up again 😬 Golf shoes from the past were the street shoes of the day with spikes in them.

"Traditional" golf shoes/wear that people spout on about seems to me to be based on late 50's & early 60's styles. If you want really traditional gear then go back to the 16th century

 

[IanM]

As many have said...some modern spikeless shoes look so like trainers, they are blooming trainers.

So what if folk play golf in them? If they are the sort designed for indoor gyms, you will end up on you bum on a wet day, so avoid for your own good. Otherwise, calm down about it.

Dress codes are funny things.... I always conform, but I'm 53, not 23. Maybe we should teach why, but not get consumed by it. Most items that cause offence, like jeans, aren't great for golf anyway...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm OK with trainer-looking golf shoes - but ordinary trainers just don't have enough grip for sloping and damp or wet surfaces - and even steps can become slippery.

Just feels to me that if you wear trainers you;ll wear them wet weather or dry - you won't have proper golf shoes with spikes/cleats for the wet - and that is dangerous - and opens the club up to litigation when someone is injured slipping. If the person is wearing golf shoes the club can't really be deemed to be at fault. If the player is wearing trainers I can see a lawyer putting the case that the club should ensure appropriate footwear is worn in wet weather. But how does the club practically do that?

 

[shewy]

Prefer spikes myself but can't see the problem with trainers, the whole dress code thing is massively outdated anyway, you can wear smart collerless tops, the only long socks i own are footy socks! And you can get smart jeans, not they would be comfy.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Prefer spikes myself but can't see the problem with trainers, the whole dress code thing is massively outdated anyway, you can wear smart collerless tops, the only long socks i own are footy socks! And you can get smart jeans, not they would be comfy.

What about lack of grip for sloping wet surfaces.

 

[shewy]

Thing is if you walk on concreted areas with spikes you have more chance of slipping than in trainers, our place has a few areas like that, most trainers are not waterproof anyway so playing in the wet would be horrible, in the summer can't see the problem, got a spikeless pair for the range and they look no different to my trainers.