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Shoes & Apparel

What you wear on the course. Comfortable, grippy golf shoes, shorts that pass a dress code, and sunglasses that stay put through the swing — picked for comfort and value first.

What you wear matters more than beginners expect, and less than the marketing wants you to think. You do not need a wardrobe of technical clothing to play golf. You do need shoes that grip during the swing and keep your feet comfortable across a few miles of walking, and — on a bright day — sunglasses that stay on your face and help you follow the ball. Sore feet or a lost drive into the sun will ruin a round faster than any swing flaw.

Below are the shoes and sunglasses worth buying as a beginner, each with a live price and a buy link for the top pick. The theme is comfort and value first: this is gear you should enjoy wearing, not gear you are told a “serious” golfer needs.

Everything in Apparel

Dressing for the course without overthinking it

A couple of practical choices cover almost everything you will wear on your first rounds.

Comfort comes first with shoes

The single most important thing about a beginner’s golf shoes is that they are comfortable to walk in for a few hours, and that they grip during the swing so your feet do not slide. Waterproofing is a real bonus, because morning grass is wet. Get those three and you are set; everything else is style.

Spiked or spikeless?

Golf shoes come spiked (with small replaceable cleats for maximum grip) or spikeless (with a molded, dimpled sole). For most beginners, spikeless is the better first buy: nearly as grippy for a developing swing, far more comfortable to walk in, and wearable off the course too. Choose spiked if you swing hard and want the most grip possible.

Sunglasses that actually stay on

A fashion frame slides down your nose the moment you bend over a putt. Sport-style frames wrap closer to the face and grip better, so they stay put through a full swing. Look for a light, secure fit and lenses that cut glare; just know that polarized lenses can make some GPS and phone screens harder to read.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need golf shoes to start?

You can start in any comfortable athletic shoe with good grip, but proper golf shoes help — they grip through the swing and keep your feet dry. Spikeless golf shoes are the versatile first buy: comfortable and wearable off the course too.

Are spiked or spikeless golf shoes better for a beginner?

Spikeless, usually. They are comfortable, versatile, and grippy enough for a developing swing. Choose spiked shoes only if you swing hard and want the most traction possible.

Do I need golf-specific sunglasses?

Not specifically, but a light, secure sport frame that stays on through the swing is a genuine help on bright days. Some golf-tuned lens tints boost contrast to help you read the green and track the ball.

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