Chapter Twelve
Golf Shoes and Their Spikes
A great deal has changed in the area of golf spikes since I wrote the last version of this book. The number of golf courses now using one type of soft cleat or another has reached 9,000+. And softspikes are no longer seen as some passing fad, but are viewed as an integral part of nearly every golfer's equipment. About the only question mark is what new spike design will prove the most popular in an industry that pulls in $50-$70 million dollars annually (earnings according to Kelly Elbin, VP with Softspikes, Inc. as noted in Golf Shop Operations Magazine, August 1999).
Most shoe stewards spend their time doing three things. Managing their locker rooms, restoring shoes, and putting on golf spikes. And the more popular the soft cleat has become, the more stewards have had to field the question, "Hey, could you switch these out to softspikes for me?"
If you are an independent contractor like I was the soft cleat has probably been a bonanza for you. That's because golfers with traditional spikes want theirs changed even if they aren't worn out. And soft cleats wear out quicker than their all-metal cousin, allowing you to earn more money in a shorter period of time (not to mention the fact that your club may require soft cleats).
What is becoming increasingly clear is that Locker Room Managers are putting on a bigger chunk of the industry's spikes every year. One company that has recognized this fact is Softspikes, Inc. Indicative of this fact is their creation of Softspikes, Inc. Locker Room 2000 Program. It allows Locker Room Managers to earn money and Softspikes gear at the same time depending upon how many spikes they order. I'll be providing their Cleat Replacement Guide at the end of the Chapter. Call (800) 638-0075 for updated information on The Program.
Anyway, back to the soft cleat itself. From a marketing/profit standpoint it's the perfect product. It delivers the comfort golfers want and wears out fairly quickly. Yet the consumer has no qualms with this aspect of the softspike and keeps coming back for more. Makes me wish I'd invented them!
In the last edition of this chapter I focused on trends in golf spikes in the past and present, and offered a number of techniques on how to remove troublesome metal and plastic spikes. I'll do that again. And despite the fact that you may not come across metal cleats in this Age of the Softspike, I've decided to include them anyway. Mainly because there are still some Neanderthal golfers of both sexes that take their clubs out of mothballs every five to ten years and show up with metal spikes. And you still have to know how to get those pesky things out.
Most of the information will have to do with techniques and methods that even the veteran of many respike jobs may not have heard of, including the recent invention and use of the SPIKEMASTER by clubs all over the country. This is one of the best, most innovative and efficient ways to change out shoes to softspikes. And if you have to change out thousands of spikes each year, this product can actually prevent you from sustaining injuries that result from overuse of muscles and joints. I'll provide a photo and give you a phone number to call at the end of the chapter so that you can order a SPIKEMASTER of your own. As of this writing I've had one for nearly two years and you'd have to pay me to go back to putting spikes on with a regular drill.
The chapter will also give you a few tips on spike management that can save you a bundle if practiced consistently (hint: it's a matter of being thrifty and smart). Before
Foot Joy
If you've been in the profession for any length of time you probably shine and respike more Foot Joys than any other brand. There's a good reason for that. It's because they manufacture more golf shoes than all other companies combined. At least that's what the.....
 
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