It's one of those questions I get asked almost every week, usually by someone standing in front of the shoe wall in the middle of winter.
The honest answer is that some golf shoes are waterproof, some aren't, and even the ones that are won't stay that way forever. That last part is the bit most golfers don't know until it's too late.
Not every golf shoe is waterproof
This catches people out more than anything else.
A lot of the lighter, more athletic looking models are built with a mesh upper. Mesh is there to breathe, which is exactly what you want in January, and it does that job brilliantly. What it doesn't do is keep water out. Heavy dew on an early tee time will get through it.
So before you buy, check whether the shoe is actually sold as waterproof rather than assuming. If it's a mesh upper, assume it isn't unless it says otherwise.
That's not a reason to avoid those shoes. They're excellent in the right conditions. It's just a reason to know what you're buying.
What the waterproof warranty actually means
Waterproof golf shoes come with a warranty, and the term varies by brand.
With FootJoy, most models carry a one year waterproof warranty. Some of the top of the range shoes go to two years. Other brands set their own terms, so it's always worth asking rather than assuming they're all the same.
Here's the part people misread though. That warranty isn't a promise the shoe will be waterproof forever. It's a promise the waterproofing won't fail prematurely under normal use and reasonable care.
Those last four words do a lot of work. How long a shoe stays waterproof depends enormously on how much you play in them and how you look after them. Two golfers can buy the identical pair on the same day and one is still bone dry after two winters while the other is soaked through by the following spring.
The two things that wreck a waterproof shoe
I see the same two mistakes over and over.
Heat
This is the big one. Someone finishes a wet round, gets home, and puts their shoes in front of the heater or the fire to dry out fast. Or worse, in the dryer.
Direct heat is the quickest way to ruin a golf shoe. It breaks down the adhesives and it damages the waterproof membrane inside the upper. The shoe might look fine afterwards, but the waterproofing is gone and it isn't coming back.
It's also the fastest way to void your warranty, because it isn't reasonable care.
The boot of the car
The other one is throwing them in the back of the car after a wet round and forgetting about them until the following weekend.
A car boot is dark, unventilated and gets warm in the sun. A wet shoe sitting in there for six days is doing itself no favours at all, and it'll smell for its trouble.
How to actually dry them
Take them out of the car. That's step one and it's the one most people skip.
Then stuff them with newspaper or paper tissues. Push it right down into the toe. The paper draws the moisture out of the shoe from the inside, which is where it needs to come from. Change it out for fresh paper after a few hours if they were properly soaked.
Leave them somewhere with air moving, at room temperature, away from any heat source. Take the insoles out if they'll come out easily.
It's a two minute job and it's the single biggest thing you can do to get a second or third season out of a good pair.
Why I'd rather own two pairs than one great pair
This is the part I'd genuinely encourage people to think about, and it's a bit different to what you'll usually be told in a shop.
My own preference is a rugged winter pair and a lighter summer pair, rather than one very good waterproof shoe doing everything.
For winter I want a moulded sole with soft spikes fitted into it. In my opinion that combination gives you the best traction there is. Wet grass on a slope in July is where you find out whether your shoes are up to it, and that setup handles it better than anything else. Pair it with proper rainwear and winter golf stops being a chore.
For summer, or any dry spell, I'll wear a plain moulded sole. No spikes needed. The ground is firm, you don't need that level of grip, and it's a more comfortable shoe to walk in.
The logic is simple. Why would you wear out your best waterproof pair in the middle of summer when you're not getting any benefit from the waterproofing? You're just using up the life of an expensive shoe in conditions that don't need it.
Two pairs looked after properly will usually outlast one pair worn every single round, and you'll be better shod in both seasons. If you're only ever going to own one pair, buy the waterproof one, because you can play summer golf in a winter shoe more comfortably than you can play winter golf in a summer one.
Come and have a look
If you're not sure what you're standing in, bring your current pair into the shop at Mount Maunganui and we'll have a look at them. Sometimes they've got another season in them and sometimes they're well past it.
We stock golf shoes across all the major brands in both waterproof and breathable models, and we'll tell you honestly which one suits the golf you actually play rather than the golf you might play. If you're sorting out the rest of your winter kit at the same time, there's more in what to wear for winter golf in New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Are all golf shoes waterproof?
No. Many lighter models use a mesh upper built for breathability rather than wet weather, and those will let water through. Check whether the shoe is sold as waterproof rather than assuming.
How long does the waterproof warranty last?
It varies by brand. Most FootJoy shoes carry a one year waterproof warranty, with some top of the range models covered for two years. Other brands set their own terms, so it's worth asking before you buy.
Does the warranty mean my shoes will stay waterproof for that long?
Not automatically. The warranty covers premature failure under normal use and reasonable care. How long the waterproofing actually lasts depends on how often you play in them and how you dry and store them.
What's the best way to dry wet golf shoes?
Stuff them with newspaper or paper tissues and leave them at room temperature with air moving around them. Never put them near a heater, a fire or in a dryer. Direct heat damages the waterproof membrane and the adhesives.
Should I buy spiked or spikeless golf shoes?
I like a moulded sole with soft spikes fitted for winter, which gives the best traction on wet ground, and a plain moulded sole for summer and drier periods. If you're buying one pair only, go with the spiked winter option.
Can I claim on the waterproof warranty if my shoes leak?
Bring them in and we'll take a look. Claims are assessed on whether the waterproofing has failed prematurely, so evidence of heat damage or general neglect will usually count against it.
Happy golfing,
Scott Pickett
PGA Professional
Founder – Golf 360
Mount Maunganui
