How to Care for Your Golf Shoes

The cheapest way to save money on golf shoes is to make the pair you own last. Clean them after muddy rounds, dry them slowly and never on direct heat, re-apply a waterproofing treatment periodically, and store them properly — and a value shoe will serve you for years.

Golf shoes take a beating: wet grass, mud, sand, sun and miles of walking. A little routine care protects the two things you actually paid for — grip and waterproofing — and stretches the life of an inexpensive pair well past what neglect would allow. None of this is fussy or expensive.

Cleaning

Knock off loose mud and grass after each round, and give the shoes a proper clean when they need it: a soft brush, mild soap and lukewarm water, worked gently over the uppers and into the sole pattern. Clean out the dimples or lugs on a spikeless sole so they keep gripping. Avoid harsh detergents and scrubbing that can damage a waterproof membrane or the upper material. Wipe, do not soak — you want the dirt off, not water forced in.

Drying — the step people get wrong

Never dry golf shoes on a radiator, in front of a heater, or in direct sun. Direct heat cracks leather and synthetic uppers, warps soles and can ruin a waterproof membrane — it is the single fastest way to destroy a good shoe. Instead, dry them slowly at room temperature: loosen the laces, remove the insoles, and stuff the shoes with newspaper or a shoe-drying insert to absorb moisture and hold their shape. Let them dry fully before the next round; playing in still-damp shoes wears them out faster and is miserable besides.

Waterproofing and storage

• Re-waterproof periodically.Even shoes sold as waterproof benefit from a spray-on or wax treatment suited to the material every so often, since the factory treatment wears with use. It restores water resistance and extends the shoe's useful life.
• Store them cool and dry, out of direct sun and away from heat, with shoe trees or newspaper to hold their shape. Do not leave them baking in a hot car trunk between rounds.
• Rotate if you can. If you play often, alternating two pairs lets each dry fully between rounds, and both last far longer than one pair worn every time.

The value takeaway

Shoe care is the definition of spending where it matters — a few minutes and a cheap waterproofing spray protect a purchase you would otherwise replace far sooner. Buy a good value golf shoe, look after it, and it will outlast a neglected premium one. For choosing the right pair in the first place, see our spiked vs spikeless guide.