What Happens When Golf Shoes Get Wet (Steps to Take)

Playing golf in wet conditions isn’t just about the challenges you’ll face on the course. It’s also about managing the aftermath. Wet clubs, drenched clothing, soggy gloves and soaked shoes can take a toll on your gear. 

After braving the elements and finishing your round, it’s crucial to take specific steps to ensure your equipment, especially 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 shoe you own.

Leather is prone to warping, cracking and losing its shape when exposed to moisture. If leather shoes are not cared for, they can start to break down.

Some synthetic shoes recover more quickly when exposed to water and moisture. However, if they are not dried properly, they can still develop mold and odors.

The right 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 having to replace your golf shoes. You’ll need a dry cloth, newspaper and a fan if you have one.

Start by wiping the shoe down 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 shoe. 

Removing the insoles and laces gives the shoe more air circulation and makes it easier for it to dry. Removing the insoles will help prevent the buildup of mold.

Crumble the newspaper tightly and stuff it into the shoes. You’ll be able to stuff quite a bit of newspaper into the shoe. Stick your hand into the toe area and press the newspaper into the toe.

Let the newspaper sit for about 20 minutes, soaking up whatever moisture it can. Then replace the newspaper. You will notice that, as the shoes begin to dry, the newspaper will not soak in as much water. Once you feel like the newspaper has pulled out any moisture it could, put the shoes in a dry and well-ventilated space. Keep them away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

Don’t put your golf shoes out in the sun or on the radiator to dry. These excessive temperatures can damage the materials.

A fan or shoe dryer can also be used. Position it so it hits the inside of the shoes.

The lingering issue

Sometimes, even after drying the shoes, you’ll notice a lingering smell from the rainy day experience. To keep odors away, you can neutralize them with baking soda. The baking soda absorbs moisture and helps to prevent mildew from growing in the golf shoe.

When to contact the manufacturer

If your shoes are waterproof (not just water-resistant), you may have a warranty from the manufacturer. This warranty still requires you to take proper care of your golf shoes.

However, it may be worth contacting the manufacturer if your shoes have suffered significant damage due to getting wet. You’ll notice things like the seams coming apart, material cracking and adhesive that seems to be separating.

The right shoes for wet conditions

When we do our testing for the best spiked and spikeless golf shoes, one of the things we look for is how well golf shoes handle the elements. Your process of managing or handling wet golf shoes is made much easier when your shoes are built for any condition. Some of the shoes with the highest scores for the elements include:

ECCO Biom Tour ECCO Biom G5 FootJoy Tour Alpha SQAIRZ Velo FootJoy Fuel Sport ECCO LT-1

Additional tips

Now that you have the basic process down, here are a few other tips to ensure you do the least amount of damage to your golf shoes.

Stay away from the hair dryer: Applying direct heat from the 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 the wet weather. The chance of mildew developing will be considerably lower. Rotate your shoes: if you are an all-weather golfer, rotate your shoes or save one pair for rainy days. Use shoe trees: Leaving a shoe tree in your partially dried shoe can help it maintain shape as it’s drying.

Final thoughts

The most important tip you can take away from this guide is to save a few newspapers and store them with your golf gear. You’ll be surprised by how much water the newspaper soaks up. It gives you the best chance of feeling like you can return your shoes to their original condition.

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