The Best West Coast-Inspired Golf Shoes

With the demographics of golf becoming younger and more culturally driven, brands have been looking for ways to interact with the next generation player. One such strategy is to use sneakers, creating limited versions of people’s favorite silhouettes. Due to the seasonal nature of the golf calendar and the way it is event centric, there are plenty of opportunities for the likes of Nike, adidas Golf and FootJoy to capitalize on those moments.

West Coast golf tournaments regularly rack up some of the highest ratings for the obvious reason of jet lag. But some of the best golf courses in the world are also located on this side of the United States, such as Pebble Beach Golf Links, Torrey Pines Golf Course and Riviera Country Club. For these reasons, the US Open, PGA Championship and PGA TOUR make frequent stops in California and the Pacific Northwest. In recent years, many golf shoes have been released at West Coast tournaments, referencing the culture of San Francisco, the sunsets of San Diego, or the wildlife of Palm Springs.

As the US Open returns to Los Angeles this week for the first time in 75 years, we decided to rank our favorite West Coast-inspired golf shoes.

9. Nike Air Max 1G “Graffiti”

The airbrush theme seen on this rendition of the Air Max 1 G is Nike’s entry for this year’s US Open taking place at the Los Angeles Country Club. Speaking of the city’s street art tradition, neon tones of green and pink flash across the shoe’s toe box and mudguard. The details we liked are the matching speckled midsole and laces and the overlay logos on the heel and tongue.

8. adidas Golf TOUR360 XT Parley

The 2019 US Open was held at Pebble Beach on the Monterrey Peninsula, a famous golf course set against a mesmerizing blue Pacific backdrop. The TOUR360 XT Parley from adidas has been constructed from a full textile upper with interwoven light and dark blue threads. But the novelty of these lies less in the look than in the manufacturing process. It was the first ever adidas golf shoe made entirely from recycled ocean plastic, sending the right message at the right time.

7. FootJoy Premiere Series Collection Flint “Pacific Sunset”

More West Coast vibes are happening here with an entry from FootJoy, who don’t often compete in the US Open. The Massachusetts brand launched the Premiere Series in 2021 as an amalgamation of classic silhouettes where old school meets modern performance. This rendition of the Flint featured a gorgeous orange-to-yellow transition across its midsole, honoring the 2021 tournament in San Diego and the city’s idyllic sunsets.

6. Seamus Golf x Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour

As the only shoe on this list that wasn’t released in anticipation of a West Coast tournament, the Seamus Golf x Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour is more of a reunion of two Pacific Northwest brands. Seamus Golf specializes in bespoke golf headwear and accessories, and for this shoe model, an outdoor-inspired mix of materials come together like a buffalo brown leather base and camouflage waxed canvas upper. wooded. Looking closer, the shoe is lined with Pendleton Tucson Black wool and the sole reveals a Native American pattern.

5. Nike Air Max 97 G NRG “Tie-Dye”

The Air Max 97 was first released as a golf shoe in 2020 when Nike took the iconic “Silver Bullet” colorway and gave it water-resistant materials along with a more traction pattern. member. Shortly after, the shoe was remixed for the PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco, adding streaks of dye to the upper. To further the hippie culture theme, the words “Peace” and “Love” are revealed under each shoe.

4. Nike Air Max 1 G NRG “Grass”

The AM1 G NRG “Grass” is one of the most elusive pairs to get your hands on. As an ode to the WM Phoenix Open, the kicks nod to the tournament sponsor with faux green turf covering its entire upper. The white Swoosh nestled underneath like it was a golf ball sitting in the rough. The pair is finished with a pearl white midsole and gum colored outsole.

3. Metalwood Studio x FootJoy Premiere Series Wilcox “Above the Snakes”

As a rare entry on this list that doesn’t equate to a major championship, the “Above Snakes” arrived at this year’s PGA TOUR West Coast Swing just before the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles. An early shoe collaboration for Los Angeles-based studio Metalwood, rather than telling a coastal story, the brands opted for a desert theme by adding faux snakeskin to the saddle section of the shoe. Other thoughtful details included a terry brown leather welt and co-branded insoles.

2. Air Jordan 4G NRG “Torrey Pines”

The AJ4 G “Torrey Pines” is a unique shoe within the Jordan family, not only because of its golf conversion (see plastic spikes below), but also because of its durable materials. Showcasing a prominent shade of turquoise blue, the upper is constructed with a water-resistant textile that draws inspiration from the ACG line, giving it the ‘NRG’ rating. It remains a highly sought-after pair of shoes, DJ Khaled included (see above).

1. Nike Air Max 1 G “No Denim Allowed”

Like the other Nikes on the list, the AM1 G “No Denim Allowed” was part of a pack that included several silhouettes at different places on the spectrum from style to performance. Although the Air Max wasn’t ultimately worn by anyone playing Pebble Beach in 2019, it’s still one of our favorites due to the detailing and storytelling. With a frayed denim mudguard and Swoosh, these kicks defy the traditional rule that no jeans can be worn on the golf course or in the clubhouse.