Golf Shoes and Their History

Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have one thing in common. Yes they are golfers, but that is not what they have in common. They rely on their shoes to keep them in the game. These are not regular shoes, they are golf shoes.

Golf shoes have come a long way since they were first used by the Duke of Windsor in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was he who had discovered that a shoe could be made that would be worn at sporting events and be comfortable for players. His design eventually found its way into the hands of golfers, which is why it is called a golf shoe. These shoes have also been through many controversies and changes, but the basic principle remains the same of keeping a golfer from losing his or her balance during games. The earliest form of them in the U.S. was in the early 1900s, and were merely a more sturdy pair of boots. Later they were fitted with spikes. These brought about controversy, from players having spikes in their feet, to tearing up the greens. In 1990 the spikes were scrapped for a plastic, more "cleat like" design that would allow for the same benefits, without the pain of hurt feet or the destruction of the course. Currently this is the only approved design of a golf shoe.

Golf shoes have been around for ages. Yet very few realize that it was  a Duke in England that had first invented them. From nothing more than just a simple boot, to a very comfortable soft-spiked shoe, golf shoes are a staple of any golfer's wardrobe. Without these shoes, a golfer may not have the ability to swing how he needs to.