Beckett Simonon Has Created Eco-Futuristic Spikeless Golf Shoes

_{The new collection of shoes incorporates special traction and grip technology, and gone are the days of packing two pairs of shoes – the golf shoes and post course shoes}

Imagine a golf shoe that’s unlike any other, one where you don’t have to take two pairs of shoes with you, your golf shoes and your sneakers, when you go golfing. Beckett Simonon, founded by Andrés Niño, the CEO and Nicholas Hurtado, has created a solution for this. Their golf sneakers are a collection with a new take on water-repellent full-grain Italian leather shoes. They’re a two in one sort of shoe that can both be worn on the golf course and after playing nine or eighteen holes, and to be honest, they don’t look like golf shoes.

“With the rise of athleisure in recent years, golf attire has changed,” says Hurtado. “Golfers have always paid great attention to their clothing, but nowadays, there’s a higher sense of style in the sport, and shoes need to match such care. We wanted to offer a product that looked and performed well on and off the golf course. Functionality is critical; but comfort, style, and practicality are equally as important for modern golfers.”

The shoes are made, rather engineered with full-grain Vachetta leather for the luxury essence of the shoe, and they prevent odor-causing bacteria from starting, while regulating temperature and allowing breathability. Using the brand’s two most famous sneaker styles, Garcia spirit Angrythey’re modern, hip, and so un-golf-shoe-like in look.

“We wanted to offer a sneaker-like option so that if you’re off the golf course, it would be hard to notice you’re actually wearing golf shoes. And conversely, if you’re on the course, you would look fantastic and wouldn’t lose any performance. Months after we released this collection, we realized some of our customers were already wearing our regular sneakers on the golf course, which is interesting because it speaks of their desire to pursue a specific look. This new type of Golfer that practices golf for pure fun and pleasure, appreciates elements of style that can also be functional in their regular post-round activities. We have seen this in several other sports. Running is a great example. You can see brands like Tracksmith or Satisfy Running, they might not appeal to the super competitive runner, but they’re everything to someone who loves the sport and appreciates the aesthetics,” continues Hurtado.

The leather for the shoes is sourced from Italian and Argentinian tanneries. Using this textile for the golf shoes was a no brainer for the duo cofounders. But, what inspired Niño and Hurtado to create a collection of golf shoes? FootJoy, Nike, Adidas, and even Under Armor have a pretty tight grip on the golf shoe market.

“We entered the golf space because it was highly requested in our post-purchase survey for new product ideas. We have done these surveys for years and golf shoes were never in the top 3; but during the pandemic this changed dramatically. Golf shoes made it to the number one spot as our customers started doing more outdoor activities,” he states. When we noticed the demand, we interviewed several customers and their golf shoe expectations were quite interesting. Mainly they wanted shoes they could wear on/off course; comfortable, easy to clean, temperature and odor control, and most importantly, aesthetics. They requested golf shoes that matched well with casual attire for post-round plans.”

When being made, Beckett Simonon artisans use traditional shoe making techniques from sanding and waxing soles to polishing the uppers of a shoe by hand that gives a flawless look. Niño and Hurtado took this craft into creating the collection.

“Customers also wanted craftsmanship and quality,” continues Hurtado. “Most of our customers play golf for fun, so it was fascinating to see that technical features for enhancing performance weren’t a priority for them. That being said, we still wanted a shoe that performed well for a more competitive type of customer, and that’s why we decided to work with Vibram soles. It was also interesting to have that sense of exclusivity and to know that the shoes are handcrafted one at a time and not mass-produced. Our customers love telling the story behind their shoes and how they’re made, something they can’t do with other golf shoes.”

You can find the collection at beckettsimonon.comas well as their other products.