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They’ve been causing quite a stir on social media – and now Hannah Holden and Steve Carroll can finally take a closer look
The new Premiere Series from FootJoy looks to combine inspiration from classic shoes with some serious modern technology.
These are the most premium in a new line of Classic shoes from FootJoy so I’ve roped in Steve Carroll – whose favourite golf shoe ever created is FootJoy’s Icon – to give us his thoughts.
“I still don’t know whether to wear these or frame them,” Steve says. “No one, in my opinion, tops FootJoy when it comes to a truly classic golf shoe and these timeless additions are going to be venerated by those who love to look stylish on the course.
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“They’re far from just a cursory nod to the past. They’ve got everything you’d expect from a modern shoe as well – comfort, flexibility, and solid traction.
“I usually struggle to wear something straight out of the box, thanks to a foot shape that leans more towards duck than runner, and that would usually steer me away from this kind of model.
“But the availability of a wide fitting here has made a huge difference.”
FootJoy Premiere review: The line-up
There are three different designs in the Premiere range all inspired by important people in FootJoy’s history.
First up is the Tarlow model. Bill and Dick Tarlow bought the FootJoy business back in 1957 and made the decision to focus the brand primarily on golf.
Exquisite is the only way to describe the detail and craftsmanship that has gone into these.
Perley Flint designed the FootJoy’s first golf shoe in 1910, and the navy Flint model has been created to have a timeless look thanks to the clean leather design.
Frederick Packard created a shoemaking company in 1857 that would become FootJoy. The new clean, elegant Packard shoe is named after him.
The range also features the Women’s Premiere shoe which comes in a navy and white colour way or a black offering.
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The Tarlow, Packard and Women’s offerings will all be available for customisation via the MyJoys process.
And that’s not all.
FootJoy have also collaborated with Harris Tweed to create a limited edition version of the Packard called Black Watch for their ambassadors to wear at this summer’s Scottish Open and Open Championship.
The Black Watch Packard feature authentic Harris Tweet cloth. This is the only fabric in the world governed by its own Act of Parliament – the Harris Tweed Act – which says the fabric must be handwoven in the homes of residents of the Outer Hebrides to be able to use the Harris Tweed name and logo.
Unusually, the wool is dyed before being spun, allowing a multitude of colours to be blended into the yarn, creating a cloth of great depth and complexity. Harris Tweed cloth has been produced on the islands of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra for generations using truly traditional methods.
Each shoe features its own unique piece of Harris Tweed Black Watch cloth on the saddle, with each pair having its own blend of the blue, black and green wool used.
Each pair also comes with a unique shoe bag made from the same Harris Tweed cloth.
FootJoy Premiere review: The technology
All these shoes are designed to be lightweight to help with that comfort element out on the course. The Tarlow and Packard have soft sheepskin linings for comfort while the Flint utilities soft microfiber allowing that pop of red around the collar.
The Versatrax sole seen across this range is available in both a spiked and spikeless offering which can be customised via the MyJoys process.
This features an anti-channelling tread pattern to provide grip and any lie or angle you may face out on the course. That means the grips and treads don’t all align in one direction so you can grip the ground from all over the shoe and have more surface area to push against.
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It also features a combination of plastic compounds in the sole to help grip on different surfaces. A harder TPU helps with on-course grip while a softer TPU helps with traction on harder off-course surfaces.
FootJoy Premiere review: NCG verdict
Back to Steve…
“With something this pretty, you don’t subject it to a British winter. We had a pretty wet December, and then lockdown intervened, so I haven’t been able to get these out on the course yet.
“That said, I have been gazing at the shoes longingly from time to time and have been wearing them in so I can put them into action as soon as the padlock is off the club gates.
“I’m a big fan of the Icons, and always thought they would be my ultimate FJ shoe. But the Premiere Series – and the Packard I’ll be wearing – have gone straight to the top of my charts.”
The details
Available: March 15 (Flint/Packard/Tarlow/Women’s); July 8 (Black Watch)
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