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Golf sandals can make sense for dry, warm-weather golf at a venue that accepts them, provided your feet remain secure while walking and swinging. An open design is a particular choice, not an automatic substitute for the shoes you wear throughout the year. Establish permission and fit before comparing colours. A sandal marketed for golf still needs to suit the actual slopes, paths and conditions of your round.
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Guide checked: 8 September 2026. This article uses the linked manufacturer and retailer information. We have not carried out hands-on product testing. Confirm the exact specification and current offer before buying.
| Situation | Decision to make | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Warm, dry round | Consider a golf-specific sandal | Venue permission and secure footing |
| Wet or muddy ground | Reassess an open design | Exposure and comfort on your route |
| Holiday purchase | Plan beyond the course | Course and clubhouse footwear requirements |
Table of Contents
Ask the venue a precise footwear question
Ask whether golf sandals are permitted on the course and whether you need different footwear in the clubhouse. Do this before ordering specifically for a trip. “Golf footwear required” leaves room for interpretation, and a product description cannot answer for the venue. Keep any written visitor guidance with your booking details so the group can pack consistently.
If you are uncertain, bring a familiar pair of closed golf shoes. The extra pair is a practical backup for changed conditions or a dress requirement you did not anticipate. Think about practice facilities as well: permission for a casual putting area does not establish the rules for the main course. Avoid spending most of your holiday footwear budget on a design you cannot use for the booked rounds.
A golf-specific example: OluKai Ulele Golf
OluKai’s UK page identifies the Ulele Golf as an open sandal with a spikeless golf outsole. This provides a concrete model to investigate instead of assuming that any casual flip-flop is suitable. The linked Trench Blue selection is the golf version; check the complete product name when comparing retailers.
The manufacturer’s description does not establish how securely the sandal will hold your foot. Try your normal stance, a gentle rehearsal swing and ordinary walking on a clean permitted surface before committing. If you need to grip with your toes to keep it in place, or the foot shifts independently of the sole, reconsider the fit rather than expecting the golf branding to solve it.
Read the product details for OluKai Ulele Golf sandal at OluKai UK
Assess fit through movement
An open upper makes size alone a limited comparison. Look at where your heel rests, whether the strap sits comfortably and whether the foot remains centred as weight moves. Check both feet. Do not accept rubbing at the strap merely because the length looks correct, and do not choose excessive spare length as a substitute for the right shape.
Follow the retailer’s conditions for an indoor fitting trial and retain the packaging until you have decided. Your first outdoor wear should not be a full day on unfamiliar terrain. Start with a short, appropriate session and pay attention to comfort. This is a personal suitability check; it is not evidence that the model offers the same support or traction as another golfer’s shoes.
Match the purchase to your usual ground
Picture the entire route, including car park, steps, side slopes and paths between holes. A pleasant level practice area is only one part of a round. Consider how much of that route exposes your feet to grit, damp grass or mud. A claimed grippy outsole does not create a universal non-slip guarantee on every surface.
For someone who mainly plays early mornings on damp turf, the open design may have limited use even in summer. For an occasional dry holiday round at an accepting venue, it may be a worthwhile extra. Base the budget on those realistic opportunities. Our summer golf-shoe guide helps if you decide a closed option would be more versatile.
Keep the buying decision narrow
Compare the correct golf model, fit policy, delivered cost and intended number of uses. Avoid bundling in extra casual sandals solely to qualify for an offer. Check the maker’s cleaning instructions and allow the footwear to dry as directed before storing it. Do not assume an outdoor product can be cleaned with any detergent or left beside a strong heat source.
Buy when you can name the courses and conditions where you expect to wear the sandals and the fitting trial feels secure. Otherwise, put the money towards a pair that covers more of your actual golf. The strongest reason to choose an open sandal is a clear personal use case, not a general claim that it is the best summer footwear for everyone.