What golf shoes actually do
Two things that ordinary shoes don't, and it's worth being precise about them because golf shoe marketing is vague.
Lateral grip during the swing. A golf swing generates significant sideways force through the feet — the body rotates hard while the feet stay planted. Running shoes are built for forward motion and their tread does little to resist that twisting. On damp grass, feet genuinely slip, which both ruins the shot and is a real way to hurt a knee.
Waterproofing over distance. Eighteen holes is around five miles, often starting early when grass is heavy with dew. Ordinary trainers soak through within a few holes, and three hours in wet shoes is genuinely miserable.
When trainers are fine
Being honest about this matters, because "you need golf shoes" is often just an upsell:
- A driving range session — you're on a mat, standing still.
- A par-3 or pitch-and-putt course, where swings are shorter and gentler.
- A casual round in dry summer conditions with grippy trainers.
- Someone trying golf for the first time to see if they like it.
That last one matters for gifting. Buying golf shoes for someone who's played twice is premature — see gifts for beginner golfers for what to buy instead.
When they genuinely earn their place
- Playing regularly — once a month or more, the grip and waterproofing both start paying back.
- Playing in wet or cold weather, or early mornings on dewy grass.
- Hilly courses, where sidehill lies mean standing on a slope while swinging.
- Club membership, where a dress code may require them anyway.
Spiked or spikeless?
If shoes are warranted, this is the only real decision.
Spikeless shoes grip through a molded rubber sole with many small lugs. Less outright grip in the wet, but wearable from the car to the course and out afterwards, and more comfortable off grass. Most golfers now choose these.
Spiked shoes have removable plastic cleats screwed into the sole. Better grip on wet grass and slopes; the cleats wear out and need replacing.
For a gift, spikeless is the safer pick — more versatile, nothing to maintain. Full comparison: spiked vs spikeless.
The gifting warning
Golf shoes are the highest-risk gift category we cover. They need a length and a width, sizing conventions differ between brands, and a half-size error is a real problem across five hours on uneven ground.
Unless you can read the size off a pair in their closet, buy something else. Our golf shoe guide has the picks if you can check.