I have three pairs of golf shoes in rotation and they all leak.
I'm not talking about "playing the in the rain leaking," I'm talking about walking in low levels of dew leaking. When one buys golf shoes these days, you want to see if the "water resistant" or "water proof" shoes are covered by any warranty.
The shoes I've mentioned all have a two year waterproof warranty. Now, the average golfer on the street might assume from that, that New Balance or Sketchers might then be eager to provide shoes to get you through the two year period with dry, toasty feet. And that they probably expect that one pair of shoes would last beyond that period.
The back story is that I've claimed leaky shoes from New Balance and they provided a new pair, two actually, as I had bought two pairs and after about 7 months both were leaking. They shipped identical shoes out fairly quickly and I didn't have to return the shoes, which costs about $15, don't ask me how I know that, it's another story.
My feet were once again dry and I used both pairs in rotation, even got some shoe trees to help them stay happy. But it's been another 7 months and my feet are now wrinkly and cold. All the replacement shoes are leaking, including some from Sketchers that about 1 year old.
I contact New Balance and what do I find? Yes, well, as they see it they are liable for only the original shoes and there is no warranty on the replacement shoes as "I didn't buy them." The two year warranty is not a time period in any normal sense and it crashes to a close as soon as the original shoes are replaced.
I was a bit surprised by this, but this policy was also in place at the Sketchers web site -- I knew enough to read the fine print this time around. I'm guessing that I have no recourse at this point. The question becomes then how to minimize the cost of golf shoes. Let's buy a new pair, wear them until they leak. Assuming this is in the warranty period, I claim a replacement. But since the replacement shoes have no warranty, put them on the shelf and buy a new pair.
When the new ones leak, which it seems they always will, make a claim and get the replacement. At this point, hopefully two years out, we have two pairs of new shoes with no warranties. We use them, wear them out, then replace them. That should get me about three and a half years wear for a purchase of two pairs.
Current status: I've purchased some Pumas and Foot Joys. I've started the clock and I'll run with these. Warm and dry for the first few rounds. I've still got the Sketchers to return.
Other news: the car wants to go into the shop. The new golf bag is breaking rivets and still is short a few pockets and what's worse, has the zippers going in the wrong direction -- so if you bend over with the bag on your back, stuff falls out of the pockets unless the zipper is fully closed!
New schedule for January. I'm going to play a lot of pickleball, less golf and make a modest five swing changes! Grip, stance, takeaway, downswing, and left foot pressure. Otherwise, I'm happy with my swing. I'll play pickleball in the morning, have some lunch, then off to the driving range in the afternoon.
I've been on this schedule for about a week and I'm happy with the shift in my attention. I'm getting more interested in the pickleball details and there are a few. It's also more aerobic and physically demanding.
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