Playing golf in wet conditions isn’t just about the challenges you’ll face on the course. It’s also about managing the consequences. Wet bands, wet clothing, wet gloves and wet shoes can damage your equipment.
Once you’ve braved the elements and completed your round, it’s essential to take specific steps to ensure that your equipment, especially your golf shoes, stays in good condition. Here’s how to properly care for your shoes after a rainy round so you don’t have to replace them.
What happens when golf shoes get wet?
The damage done to golf shoes after a round in the rain depends on the type of shoes you own.
Leather is prone to warping, cracking and losing shape when exposed to moisture. If leather shoes are not cared for, they can begin to deteriorate.
Some synthetic shoes heal faster when exposed to water and moisture. However, if they are not dried properly, they can still develop mold and odors.
The proper way to dry wet golf shoes
This step-by-step process isn’t difficult, but it can save you hundreds of dollars by preventing you from replacing your golf shoes. You will need a dry cloth, newspaper and a fan if you have one.
Start by wiping the shoe with a dry cloth to remove any water that remains on its surface. Clean off any dirt, mud or sand so it doesn’t dry on the shoes.
Removing the insoles and laces gives the shoe more air circulation and makes it easier to dry. Removing bedding will help prevent mold from building up.
Crumple the newspaper tightly and stuff it into the shoe. You will be able to stuff enough newspaper into the shoe. Place your hand on the sole area and press the newspaper on the toe.
Let the newspaper sit for about 20 minutes, absorbing any moisture it can. Then replace the newspaper. You will notice that as the shoes begin to dry, the newspaper will not soak up as much water. Once you feel like the newspaper has extracted all the moisture it can, place the shoes in a dry, well-ventilated space. Keep them away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
Do not put your golf shoes in the sun or on a radiator to dry. These excessive temperatures can damage the materials.
A fan or shoe dryer can also be used. Place it so that it hits the inside of the shoe.
Protracted issue
Sometimes, even after the shoes have dried, you will notice a lingering smell from the rainy day experience. To keep odors at bay, you can neutralize them with baking soda. Baking soda absorbs moisture and helps prevent mold growth on the golf shoe.
When to contact the manufacturer
If your shoes are waterproof (not just water resistant), you may have a manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty still requires that you take proper care of your golf shoes.
However, it may be worth contacting the manufacturer if your shoes have suffered significant moisture damage. You’ll notice things like seams coming apart, cracks in the material, and glue that seems to be coming apart.
The right shoes for wet conditions
When we do our testing of the best studded and non-studded golf shoes, one of the things we look for is how well the golf shoe handles the elements. Your process of managing or handling wet golf shoes becomes much easier when your shoes are built for every condition. Some of the shoes with the highest scores for the elements include:
Additional tips
Now that you’ve completed the basic process, here are a few more tips to make sure you do as little damage to your golf shoes as possible.
- Stay away from the hair dryer: Applying direct heat from a hair dryer can damage the materials of your golf shoes. Air dry when you can.
- Leave your shoe bag open: Just in case the shoes are not completely dry, leave your shoe bag open after a round in wet weather. The possibility of mold growth will be significantly lower.
- Rotate your shoes: if you’re an all-weather golfer, rotate your shoes or save a pair for rainy days.
- Use shoe trees: Leaving a shoe tree in your partially dried shoe can help it retain its shape as it dries.
Final thoughts
The most important tip you can take away from this guide is to save some newspapers and store them with your golf equipment. You will be surprised how much water the newspaper absorbs. This gives you the best chance to feel like you can return your shoes to their original condition.
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