Ealing Golf Club bans Adidas shoe

Seamus Rotherick
By Seamus Rotherick February 20, 2014 11:18

Ealing Golf Club in London has maintained a ban on one of golf’s most popular shoes, the Adidas Adizero Tour, after some of its greens experienced damage.

The decision to maintain the ban, which was first enforced in December when a spokesman for the club said “it looks like a pair of football boots have been walked across the greens”, comes after the club’s course manager, Greg Evans, and its director of golf, Ricky Willison, met with Adidas officials last week and tested a new version of the shoe.

At least two other golf clubs have also banned the shoe for similar reasons in recent months, but West Cornwall Golf Club lifted the ban when Adidas introduced a soft spike in the shoe, and North Hants Golf Club, which is also in discussions with Adidas, has said it will make a decision on removing the ban when it has tested new versions of the product.

However, at Ealing, despite what the club has described as a positive meeting with Adidas, the ban remains in force.

“We first noticed a problem when one of our members reported that someone was playing golf with football boots on,” said a spokesman for Ealing.

“This was very noticeable on the greens and, after some investigation from our course manager, we found out that there was an issue with certain types of golf shoes, in particular the Adizero Tour.

“We decided to put a ban on these shoes until further notice and several other clubs followed suit.”

The spokesman added that while the ban remains in place, Ealing hopes to lift it shortly.

“Adidas were very positive and came armed with their new ‘improved’ model as well as several others. The course manager tested the new shoes on the 18th green. What he felt is the new cleat, which is softer and at less of an angle, is a lot more green friendly than the old one, but based on today’s conditions these were still deemed unacceptable to the greens. We then tested other models, some of which have yet to be released, and these are a lot more friendly to the turf.

“We feel that the Adizeros, new and old, are still unacceptable for our greens, but we have been assured that as conditions improve this will change. For the time being, the ban continues but we will be monitoring the situation closely.

“We were delighted to hear that Adidas take this subject very seriously and have no issue with any other Adidas shoes.”

Ealing acknowledged that the ban “has caused quite a stir amongst the golfing community”, with many golfers posting angry comments online about the policy.

For example, one golfer wrote on Twitter: ‘Golf club snobbery at its worst. Some of the best golfers in the world wear these shoes and no one accuses them of damaging greens!’

However, other golfers have also defended Ealing’s stance. One head professional wrote on Golf Monthly’s forum that the original design of the shoes can cause damage to a club’s greens.

Ealing Golf Club is also well-known for having a very low height of cut on its greens – currently about 2.5mm. Several agronomists have criticised this approach, but even more golfers have praised the club’s greens in recent years.

 

Seamus Rotherick
By Seamus Rotherick February 20, 2014 11:18
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15 Comments

  1. Soames January 13, 12:55

    Now banned at my home club, The Bedford GC, Woburn have done too. The damage these shoes do is appalling.

    Reply to this comment
  2. @Woolleyparkgolf March 12, 08:46

    Take note when buying new shoes: Ealing Golf Club bans Adidas shoe » Golf Club Management http://t.co/CFB6YIxwLx #footjoyonlyshoeforus

    Reply to this comment
  3. @BenjaminDollery February 24, 19:37

    @cherrytreeman over 20 courses now banned them take alook http://t.co/JJkHXZW6Ef

    Reply to this comment
  4. @BenjaminDollery February 23, 16:07

    @SimonGisby @GaryStubbs54 http://t.co/JJkHXZW6Ef

    Reply to this comment
  5. Paul Law February 22, 13:05

    lets give Sergio a shout and ask him for his shoes back and Adidas to change the design of the shoe because Ealing Golf Club said they’re a little ‘denty’.
    sounds like my club that. should ban green usage when they are too soft.

    Reply to this comment
  6. James Wilson February 21, 18:37

    I have these shoes and they are the best shoes I have ever worn. Yes they leave a mark like all my older golf shoes, but no more than 60-90 seconds! Have these green keepers seen the course conditions this winter? My course is saturated and all the greens are ten times wetter and slower (with thatch) that even a mouse could make a mark these past few weeks. Typical golf club snobbery. Focus on getting the course up to scratch instead of blaming a golf shoe!

    Reply to this comment
  7. @TheOnLneProShop February 21, 06:27

    Ealing Golf Club bans Adidas shoe » Golf Club Management http://t.co/eecHFQdTcY

    Reply to this comment
  8. @EastbourneDowns February 20, 18:05

    Ealing Golf Club bans Adidas shoe » Golf Club Management http://t.co/1Y81uER2j6

    Reply to this comment
  9. @EastbourneDowns February 20, 14:43

    Ealing Golf Club bans Adidas shoe

    Reply to this comment
  10. Ken February 20, 14:41

    I’m not surprised having just looked at the shoes on a web site – they’re ghastly.

    Reply to this comment
  11. WST February 20, 14:39

    The shoes are phenomenal but they do leave a mark on greens, especially if the surface is wet.

    When Adidas sort it out they’ll have the best shoe in the business – bar none.

    Reply to this comment
  12. @Soydoncabe February 20, 12:06

    “@noraventu: Algunos clubes d USA prohiben los zapatos Adidas Adizero Tour x efectos sobre pasto http://t.co/K06LasofmH cc @r_gruneisen

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