Ireland joins the spikeless debate

A FEW generations ago back in 1921, to be exact Golf Illustrated carried an advertisement for a new product called "Steady Man" golf shoes. The main attraction of the shoes was that they featured raised rubber studs rather than metal spikes.

Deja' vu? The 1990s has witnessed a phenomenon started, like many other things, in the United States which has labelled metal spikes as mashers.

Ireland has arrived relatively late into the spikeless debate, but Softspikes cleats have enjoyed favourable comment since their introduction here last year and, now, Smartspikes Non Metal Inserts being distributed in Ireland by Pat Gittens, the club professional at Corrstown GC in north county Dublin have joined the debate.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) began studying the issue of the conventional golf spike as far back as 1958, but it is only in relatively recent times (with the introduction of replaceable spikeless alternatives) that the matter has been taken seriously.

Statistics are impressive. An average golf shoe has 11 spikes. The average number of paces taken on a green is 52. Therefore, each golfer leaves 572 individual spike marks on every green. In one 18 hole round, a single player will leave behind 10,296 spike marks. If the course receives 200 rounds on any given day, the total number of spike marks on its greens reaches 2,059,200.

A simpler way of highlighting the potential damage of metal spikes is possibly to remind people of the commonest sign on any clubhouse door. "No spikes allowed." Metal spikes cause damage to carpets and wooden flooring, likewise greens yet, many people passionately resist the concept of having to wear spikeless shoes on their greens. The argument, mainly, is that metal spikes offer a player more traction.

Gittens, however, insists that the new Smartspikes which can be inserted into all makes of golf shoe, be it Ecco, Cotswolds, Foot Joy or whatever offer equal traction and also provide added comfort to the wearer.

An indication of the spikeless revolution in the USA is that, on May 1st next, nine public courses in the Tulsa area of Oklahoma will put a ban on all metal spikes. Ireland hasn't reached that stage yet. But Corrstown are implementing a one day ban next Sunday and, for £450, Gittens (01-864 3322) will organise a promotion day at any course and fit Smartspikes to members' shoes on the day.

The non metal inserts normally retail at around £6 a pack. By comparison, metal spikes range in price from £3.50 to £8.