There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried:

The Cole Haan OriginalGrand spikeless golf shoes. Cole Haan is known for making fashionable and comfortable dress shoes but their foray into golf has been rather slow. 

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers. 

Cole Haan Golf Shoes: When Did This Become A Thing?

Nearly 80 years ago, Cole Haan patented their first golf shoes. After fizzling out in the 1980s while FootJoy reigned supreme, the brand turned the focus on its bread and butter: dress shoes. 

Fast forward to 2021. Cole Haan decided it was time to hit the links once again … this time (hopefully) for good. 

As an avid Cole Haan fan who cycles through a few different pairs between church and other professional endeavors, I figured it was time to give the Cole Haan OriginalGrand golf shoes a true test. 

Here are my thoughts.

Oh So Comfortable

The reason I love Cole Haan dress shoes is because Cole Haan knows comfort. Their cushion technology is among my favorites. Did you know Cole Haan was once owned by NIKE? The two have since gone their separate ways but some of that NIKE DNA can still be found in their shoes. 

The Cole Haan OriginalGrand golf shoes are the most comfortable traditional-style golf shoes I’ve ever worn. I’ve never been one to wear traditional-looking golf shoes and not because I don’t like how they look. Often I find them to be less comfortable and more stiff than their lifestyle-esque counterparts. 

I won’t name any names. But the Cole Haan OriginalGrand golf shoes are much more comfortable than other similar styles. From the buttery soft leather upper (that breaks in beautifully) to the cushioned insole and EVA foam midsole, Cole Haan knows comfort. 

Not So Stable

As a professional golf shoe tester, it is my duty to share the potential downsides of a golf shoe. In the case of the Cole Haan OriginalGrand golf shoes, I’m disappointed to report that stability was not given the time of day.

I’m not a fast swinger by any stretch of the imagination. That said, the lack of structure in the midsection of the shoe and the lack of a stout heel cup made the shoe twist and turn in ways that it shouldn’t. If you want true stability, I’d stay away from these. 

Stability is often (but not always) sacrificed in the name of comfort. That’s exactly what Cole Haan did here. While the OriginalGrand golf shoe is very comfortable, it the stability of a top-performing golf shoe. 

Traction Isn’t Terrible

I’ve said it a bunch and I’ll say it again: I see too many companies overlooking traction when creating a golf shoe. It’s evident Cole Haan did put some thought into the traction of their golf shoes. That said, the nubs are too small and pliable to create a reliable grip on wet ground.

The dry ground grip is a different story. Most spikeless golf shoes are going to grip on solid, dry ground. The Cole Haan OrignalGrand golf shoes are not the exception here. But if you need versatile traction that handles the transition from soft to hard, wet to dry, then you’re better suited with something a little stouter. 

Pleasantly Perplexed?

On one hand, I’m in love with the cushion and comfort provided by the Cole Haan OriginalGrand. On the other hand, I’m left wishing the shoe provided more stability than their everyday dress shoes. 

As a Cole Haan fan, I’m fairly impressed with the Cole Haan OriginalGrand golf shoes. But as an unbiased golf shoe tester, I can’t help but feel perplexed that Cole Haan didn’t put a little more effort into making this golf shoe perform like a golf shoe. They stuck to their dress-shoe DNA, that’s for sure. But does great comfort and decent traction justify dumping your go-to spikeless golf shoes in favor of the Cole Haan OriginalGrand golf shoes? That’s for you to decide. 

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