If there’s one thing the Euros have on the Americans it’s their duds. With their exotic fabrics, wild patterns, eccentric styles, and super-snug fits (often tight enough to make a rock star blush), the “old world” men and women have a way of going one up before a match has even begun. But, for many of those fish-and-chip eatin’ stylists from across the pond, it all starts with the shoes.
And one particular UK shoe company seems poised and ready to make a big splash in the golf shoe market – not just in the UK, but the entire world. Hi-Tec, a company that started making sports shoes thirty years ago in, believe it or not, a small town in England called Shoeburyness, has dubbed itself the “instantly comfortable and lightweight golf shoe company.” Currently, UK golf stars Padraig Harrington and Ian Woosnam wiggle their toes into a pair each and every time they tee it up. Their style of choice is the smart-looking (of course!) Custom Comfort X5.
I recently tried a pair and quickly realized that Hi-Tec doesn’t pull any punches with their slogan. The Custom Comfort X5 shoe, which retails for under $100 bucks (US), fits and feels as good as anything my flat-bottomed flippers have ever trod in. In fact, after five rounds I’m growing exceptionally fond of these babies. The Custom Comfort features a full grain leather upper, Dupont Coolmax Temperature Regulation System, Custom Fit Footbeds (regular and wide), a water proof guarantee and more.
Surprising, however, is the no frills look of this traditional saddle shoe. It’s not eccentric, it’s not cosmic, it’s just a great looking traditional saddle shoe that, once again, proves the Brits have more than hairy underarms and afternoon tea going for them. www.hi-tec.com.
Andrew Penner is a 12-year member of the Canadian PGA. His book, One Flew Over The Caddyshack, was published by Falcon Press in 2003. He can be reached at andpenner@shaw.ca
