How FootJoy Became Golf’s Unshakeable Icon

*In partnership with FootJoy*

There’s a kind of silence in golf that speaks louder than words. A pause over the ball. The hush of a crowd as history approaches. FootJoy lives in that silence, not as a shout, but as a steady presence. For over a century, the brand has been there, beneath the feet of icons and everyday players alike, shaping the look and feel of the game without ever breaking stride.

This is not a comeback story. This is a story of never leaving. FootJoy has led with discipline, clarity, and an unmatched understanding of what a golf shoe should be. It’s a brand that never chased hype because it never needed to. Its authority is not inherited, it’s earned.

Where It All Started

Brockton, Massachusetts. Long before golf became a televised spectacle or a cultural obsession, FootJoy began with craftsmanship. Known then as the Field and Flint Company, the focus wasn’t speed; it was quality. When they introduced the FootJoy name in 1923, it wasn’t just a rebrand. It was a declaration.

By 1927, FootJoy was on the feet of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. It wasn’t marketing. It was merit. And when the brand became #1 on the PGA Tour in 1945, it quietly started a streak that remains unbroken.

What was happening around them? Golf was moving from elite private clubs into the public imagination. The game was getting younger, more televised, more accessible. And FootJoy, without ever needing to announce itself, was always there.

The Design That Defined Discipline

Throughout the mid-20th century, the world underwent rapid evolution, marked by industrial growth, cultural explosions, and technological revolutions. Golf got louder, brighter, and more marketable. Brands chased after trends, borrowing from sneakers, streetwear, and techwear. FootJoy did none of that.

Instead, it evolved with restraint. Saddle shoes. Wingtips. Kilties. They refined them, not reinvented them. Even as they introduced new technologies—StaSof gloves, DryJoys waterproofing, IntelliGel footbeds, laser fitting systems, FootJoy didn’t announce change. It integrated it.

Each innovation solved a problem. Nothing was ornamental. Nothing was extra.

This was, and still is, design integrity. The kind that ages beautifully.

Always There, Always Trusted

Ask any Tour player about what’s on their feet. The answers might vary in style, but the constant is trust. FootJoy has been the most worn shoe on Tour since 1945. Every generation of players, through persimmon woods, titanium drivers, adjustable hosels, and launch monitors, kept choosing FootJoy.

And for good reason. The brand didn’t try to be trendy. It just kept being excellent.

From the Classics Dry Premiere to the FJ ICON to the ICON Black, and later to the FJ1857 and the current Premiere Series, each pair is a masterclass in proportion, materiality, and poise. In a sport that’s obsessed with tempo, FootJoy became the rhythm.

Even the launch of MyJoys in 2003, a customizable take on their signature models, felt more like a tailoring service than a marketing pivot. It was personal, not performative.

In a world where every brand fights to be seen, FootJoy is felt.

The Reason It Resonates

FootJoy’s influence isn’t just about longevity—it’s about presence. The kind of presence that lives in photos from the 1960s and still shows up on tee boxes today, looking just as relevant. Their shoes don’t age like others. They hold their posture. Whether it’s a pair of Classics at your local muni or a Premiere Series spotted on Tour, they carry a look that doesn’t belong to any single era. That’s design with lasting power.

What makes that even more impressive is how FootJoy continues to move forward while honoring that history. They’ve proven they can collaborate with the culture without compromising themselves.

This past year alone: a refined, fashion-first drop with Jon Buscemi.

A clean, elevated take with Aimé Leon Dore.

And then came the Legends Series—a curated expression of the brand’s identity, reimagined in seasonal colorways. The latest, a collaboration with Harris Tweed, was worn by multiple athletes at The Open Championship. The moment felt intentional, but effortless. That’s the FootJoy way.

Their ability to step into conversations with fashion-forward leaders—and still remain FootJoy—is rare. It’s not a stretch. It’s not performative. It’s proof of strong brand values and even stronger product.

Because the truth is, FootJoy doesn’t just make shoes. They shape the language of golf style. Quietly. Precisely. And without ever losing who they are.

And FootJoy always walks right.

Because in a world of constant motion, FootJoy stood still long enough to get it right—and kept walking.

It’s always been the shoe that’s different.

And it’s still the No. 1 Shoe in Golf.