Clubs banning spikeless shoes...

[Mark Johnson]

Fellas,

I wish this was a joke, but it isn't.

Just found out that Minneapolis Golf Club has banned Trues and Eccos.   Their logic being that they have so many "pegs" that they destroy greens.   

Also found out that another local top 10 club will be banning them next year as well.  (wont post the club name since i have only heard it from one person).

Has anyone else ever heard of this happening?   I know most clubs have banned metal spikes and several have banned spider spikes, but i have never heard of a club banning spikeless shoes.


I know Rob Rigg occassionally posts here so maybe he has some insight.

[noonan]

I wear spikeless......my turf trainers do far less damage than black widow spikes....no common sense left anywhere

[Kirk Moon]

I wear a pair of Trues around 1/3 of the time and Adidas and Footjoy soft spikes the rest of the time.  I have a really hard time accepting that the spikeless sole would cause more damage to green surfaces than "standard" soft spikes.  Is there any objective evidence that this is correct? 

Could it be that the real reason these clubs are banning them is because they look too much like sneakers? Not "classy" enough for the country club set? 

Unrelated to the topic, but related to the shoes, in my experience the Trues are super comfortable but whenever there is moisture (rain, dew) on the ground I think they have a bit less traction than soft-spike shoes.  I have had a couple of incidents of foot slippage that I haven't had with my soft spike shoes.  To add to my suspicions, I was watching Tiger on TV a couple of months ago (? during the PGA) when he was wearing the new Nike spikeless shoe and he had a slip. The commentators were sort of hyping his shoes right before he had the slip and they kind of went silent right after the shot.  Was kind of humorous.

Anyone else notice this phenomenon? 

[Mark Johnson]

Actually ive played with trues in rain a bunch and haven't had any slips unless the course is drenched. 

My only issue has been on hardpan.  That is the only place where I miss traditional spikes.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Didn't they ever see uncle fester lie on a bed of nails?
glad those clubs have enough members...

[Sam Morrow]

I think the clubs banning these shoes are the clubs that are old, blue blood clubs where the pro is a Titleist staffer, thus Foot-Joy.

[Jud_T]

When you look up "rules that tip you off that this might not be a club you'd want to join" in the dictionary, this would be right below racist and sexist policies, at least in my book.

[Jonathan Decker]

I think the clubs banning these shoes are the clubs that are old, blue blood clubs where the pro is a Titleist staffer, thus Foot-Joy.

Sam,

Great point and I also think it may have to do with the sneaker look as well.  Some folks just don't appreciate the West Coast style like they should!

JD

[David Harshbarger]

I've noticed the Trues leave a nubby for print, visible enough to help me place a ball for a retry on the putting green about where I putted from.

[Chris Johnston]

This is silly.  Dismal River WILL NOT be banning Trues and Ecco's.

[C. Squier]

This is silly.  Dismal River WILL NOT be banning Trues and Ecco's.

What a relief!

[Tim Martin]

I can`t imagine that this isolated decision will gain any traction. Sort of like saying that you can`t put any mustard on your hot dog at the halfway house because it will damage the roll. Who comes up with this stuff?

[Jim_Kennedy]

I think the clubs banning these shoes are the clubs that are old, blue blood clubs where the pro is a Titleist staffer, thus Foot-Joy.

Foot Joy has had spikeless shopes in its line up for many years, and they are adding a new one that will compete with Ecco in looks and nubbs.

It's been an incredibly wet season, at least in the NE, and nubbs leave wide depressions in soft greens. Some spider style spikes are also very aggressive.

 

[Ken Fry]

I think the clubs banning these shoes are the clubs that are old, blue blood clubs where the pro is a Titleist staffer, thus Foot-Joy.

Sam,

This is a dumb response whether it was meant to be funny or not.  Do you believe a pro would have the clout to pull this off?  Besides, Foot-Joy has a shoe available just like the ones being banned....

Ken

[Mike_Young]

It's already been proven that "looks can fool".  The 6mm steel spike had less impact on a putt than the softspike but itlooked worse on a green from the top view.  Put a plaster cast on the area and the soft spikes were much bumpier.  So if one chooses to ban eccos or Trues then they may as well ban the softspike.  The companies know the smooth sole tennis shoe has the least impact.  Have you noticed how many of the pros let their caddies get the ball out of the hole so that they don't step in the two foot circle?  Presently I don't think we have the answer for right spike yet. 

[Jim_Kennedy]

http://www.usga.org/course_care/articles/other/spikes/Golf-Shoe-Study-II/

[Jon Wiggett]

There was something very special about the sound of metal spikes on a hard surface (except the clubhouse wooden floor ) I still prefer to wear them and even more so when it is wet.

Jon

[Mike_Young]

http://www.usga.org/course_care/articles/other/spikes/Golf-Shoe-Study-II/

Jim,
Interesting..sort of disproves my theory....but then I don't buy their USGA greens theory either.  Mizuno and Dave Pelz both did similar test which I will try to find more info on.  This is where I got my info.  The biggest difference I see is that they were testing more for how the spikes affected "roll"  The spike affected roll much less...and even today I know several pros who will swear that the spike had less affect on true roll than soft spikes...AND I think they were working with .125 instead of 3/116th...AND then we now have the ultradwarfs down here...that might be a completely different outcome...

[Peter Galea]

Much to the dismay of several of my members (some of them very vocal), I did ban the "Freddie" shoes last winter, and will do so again when the conditions warrant.  

In the Santa Cruz area we play golf all year.  On my push-up greens, mowed to a tenth of an inch, the nubs leave a very noticeable mark which lasts for quite a while. It affects the putting much more than soft spikes (r in a circle) and...don't get me started on those.

The players now understand, and when conditions are right they are allowed to wear them.  
Most golfers have more than one pair of shoes, just like they have more than one putter, or driver, etc.

Just because a manufacturer makes, markets and sells something doesn't mean it works in all situations at all times.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mike,
The USGA did the original study, but Charles Cogan, Green Committee Chairman at Irvine Coast Country Club, California, undertook his own study of spiked shoe damage to greens in 1960, with UCLA adding another study in 1983.  The USGA reported the findings, which jived with the original.


Pete Galea seems to be one who is of the same opinion as the author of the article, that:  "....instead of one pair of shoes for all seasons, golfers should have two pairs of shoes for two seasons."

I wish we could do that here.

[jeffwarne]

http://www.usga.org/course_care/articles/other/spikes/Golf-Shoe-Study-II/

Jim,
Interesting..sort of disproves my theory....but then I don't buy their USGA greens theory either.  Mizuno and Dave Pelz both did similar test which I will try to find more info on.  This is where I got my info.  The biggest difference I see is that they were testing more for how the spikes affected "roll"  The spike affected roll much less...and even today I know several pros who will swear that the spike had less affect on true roll than soft spikes...AND I think they were working with .125 instead of 3/116th...AND then we now have the ultradwarfs down here...that might be a completely different outcome...

Don't worry Mike.
those are the same guys who say the ball's not appreciably longer every year

[David_Elvins]

I have been to plenty of houses where I have been required to take off my shoes before entering, and I have never been able to work out why we are not required to do the same before walking on a putting green.  You don't need spikes to putt and a pair of flat soled putting slippers would be quick to change into and improve green conditions.   

[jeffwarne]

I have been to plenty of houses where I have been required to take off my shoes before entering, and I have never been able to work out why we are not required to do the same before walking on a putting green.  You don't need spikes to putt and a pair of flat soled putting slippers would be quick to change into and improve green conditions.  

 

ick

we could keep them in a bag with our putter headcovers


It's an outdoor sport

[Brett_Morrissy]

What a crazy decision, vote with your feet: "just change channels"

[Jud_T]

If this is really a problem we're either overwatering or getting a bit too prescious about perfect greens.