Need the History of Golf Cleats [No Joke, No Zots Please!]

[blu]

Hey, before you start, I bet the Kitties enjoy a game now and then!

[blu]

I've looked everywhere I can, and I can't find the answer. When did women start wearing cleats for golf? You do call them cleats, right?

[cripplecreek]

I once met a mentally disturbed man on a bridge where I couldn't escape. His pants were down around his knees and he got right up in my face and screamed "DON'T FORGET YOUR CLEATS" and continued on his way.

Ive had an irrational fear of cleats ever since.

[elli1]

As to the first reference of spikes worn on golf shoes, Janet Seagle, USGA Librarian and Curator of the Golf Museum, in Far Hills, New Jersey, came up with this 1857 passage from "The Golfer's Manual," a publication from Scotland:

Let the novice invest in a pair of stout shoes (boots constrain the ankles too much), roughed with small nails or sprigs, and he will march comfortably and safely over the most slippery ground that canbe turned out by the meridian sun in the dog days.

Source

[perfect stranger]

When did women start wearing cleats for golf?

Most likely just as soon as they saw the men wearing them when they play golf.

You don't play golf, do you?

You do call them cleats, right?

They call them spikes, too.

[blu]

Dahling, if I played golf I'd know the answer, or where to find the answer! Thanks for playing!

[Cvengr]

Wrong question. Women have always worn cleats in golf attire,..as much as men have.

For many years women were not allowed on the fairway to play the man's sport. It wasn't until late 60s or 70s that many golf clubs allowed women to play or join the clubs.

Requirements for cleats are probably closer associate with proper golf attire.

Some greenskeeping rules are in effect to reduce damage to the greens and fairways.

Most recently, metal cleats have been disallowed on many courses in favor of plastic cleats to avoid unneccessary damage to greens and adjacent facilities.

[blu]

Thank you. I guess if my sister shows up at our '40's golf costume event with boots with nails in them, she'll lose! What I learned was that in 1921, golfers were asked to stop wearing their boots with nails in them in the clubhouse. Man, talk about an extreme sport!

[blu]

Women have played golf since the 1600's. One Queen (in Scotland) was criticized for playing golf on the day her hubby was buried. See? I've been researching this! However, I am not writing a thesis (I just want to beat my sister!) and therefore resent (in advance) the minutes my brain will waste tonight building a time line...while I'm trying to sleep.

I imagine gays wear men's golf shoes. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

[perfect stranger]

Here's my favorite computer golf game.

It's more challenging after cocktails.

[elli1]

1949 Golf Costume

[blu]

Cool! Thanks. Where'd you get that?

[Albion Wilde]

Here's a cool history of golf, which mentions the first woman player, Mary Queen of Scots, back in 1553. It does not mention cleats, but says the first women's competition was in Musselburgh in 1810. This would indicate to me that women's participation in golf pre-dated the invention of the cleat, so that when cleats did come along, women golfers naturally had them, too.

Early football cleats were made of leather. In 1913, John T. Riddell, a high school coach in Evanston, Illinois, invented the removable football cleat.

Leather cleats first appeared on English soccer shoes in 1890, according to the history page at Soccerpost.com. Additional development of cleat or "stud" technology continued from the 20s through the 50s, with the basic design remaining classic since then.

[Albion Wilde]

Women, of course, didn't play golf in its early days.

Incorrect. See post #14.

[Brainhose]

Was that you!? I was concerned that you were going to forget your cleats.
Sorry I freaked you out so much, I was genuinely concerned over your obvious lack of cleatedness.
Being Scottish cleats are often forefront on my mind, that and haggis.
The whole pants thing.... well that's another story. :)

[elli1]

http://www.fashion-era.com

[cripplecreek]

My uncleaten attire was entirely my own business, besides I was only a young lad and you have scarred me for life.

[blu]

Thanks very much! I will print the pic.

As a gossipy aside, I conned Sister Dearest (#2) into telling me what her costume is. She said it's more of a dressy type thing, not actually sporty. She does play golf, she plans on winning the hole in one contest (I've been practicing with my 2.5 yr old grandson and his plastic golf kit) and she likes to win, and have a few adult bevvies. Her description of her outfit led me to tell her it sounds like she's dressing as the 19th hole!

[elli1]

Sounds like a fun!