Question for those who played in the metal spike era (putting then vs. now)

[OrangeGravy]

Watching all these old tournaments during this time and one thing that has really stuck out to me, is the gauntlet of spike marks around the hole. I would loved spikes, but I struggle with 3-4 ft comeback putts enough as it is. I don't remember it being a huge problem back then, but that's just how it was then, so maybe I never really thought about it? You can tamp then down now, so it wouldn't be like it was.

How much worse would your putting be if you had to navigate those spike marks today? Some of those low camera shots on short putts during old tournaments makes it look like a total crap shoot whether or not your ball holds it's line.

[COACH9]

I don't know how those tournament greens were, but the muni's had a bunch of foot-draggers.

You'd swear some of those guys must have had a stroke.

[Old Tom Morris]

People with manners would be mindful to walk carefully and tap down anything near the hole upon departing the green. As you would guess, there were people marking up the greens by dragging their feet, usually the same people playing slowly and generally unaware of what was going on around them.

The sound of cleats on asphalt is marked on my brain. Also, surfaces were trashed from walking on them with cleats such as pro shop floors, benches and cart bumpers. Generally, you had to change shoes when walking in the clubhouse as not to tear up the floors inside.

[Old Tom Morris]

Occasionally I miss wearing cleats on the course because of a side hill lie or standing on pine straw but most of the time it’s fine without them and the putting greens are in better shape.

[wobgon]

If you had the wrong guy playing in the group in front of you, it could cost you a bunch of strokes.....We would tap down the spike marks after holing out, but if "that guy" was in front of you it was brutal.

[OrangeGravy]

Where I'm at it's dry as a bone. Back then there were probably as many people wearing sneakers as there were spikes. I don't remember ever seeing a ton of marks. I do remember the foot draggers though. Nothing like 3 7 inch racing stripes in your line. The only time I probably really miss wearing them is in the hard pan or super dried out areas. Even with good soft spikes it's like ice on that stuff. Even metal would slip on occasion with the really baked out hard pan we have here when it gets 100+ in July/August. I got in a baked out fairway bunker last summer and my 8 iron full swing didn't even leave a mark. Might as well have been the cart path

[ChipNRun]

People dragging their feet was a problem in the metal spike era. Golfers who were a bit out of shape tended to drag their feet on the back nine out of increasing fatigue.

Also, weather had an effect on spike damage. If green was dry and firm in late spring or hot summer, the metal spikes were less likely to do damage - you got mini-aeration. If the greens were a bit soggy, the spike damage would increase.

Even with modern soft spikes, foot-draggers can still mess things up.

 

[OrangeGravy]

Noticed in old footage that the tournaments in the humid part of the country had a much more noticeable spike mark problem vs the drier climates. Remember some of those tournaments where it rained all night and the marks were horrible looking on the greens the next day.

[OrangeGravy]

[aenemated]

Ah god, those were the worst.

Not gonna lie though ... I miss the CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH of spikes on pavement.

[COACH9]

Is a great sound.

[James the Hogan Fan]

I played a vacation round at Royal St. Georges (2020 now 21 Open host) and some of the greens there had spike marks from metal spikes. Didn't get to hear the half-crunch/half clipclop of spikes on asphalt, but I thought it was cool that they weren't completely dead.

Played a course yesterday with a brand new sign reminding no metal spikes in the clubhouse.

The spikemarks at RSG were not particularly bad, just little pinpricks. I have found some of the softspike or even the spikeless shoes can leave terrible marks around the flag on softer golf greens. I've read some articles from superintendents who find turf damage from modern shoes is worse than the old metal spike days.

[PJ1120]

I don't remember how many years ago it was but Vijay went off on Phil who was in the group in front of him for doing his 360* walk-around look of the hole before he putted.

[DShepley]

Honestly, the foot draggers can be worse now with the design of some of the soft spikes. Also, if the greens are soft, the soft spikes leave big indents, (the eventually release out), but if you have to putt through them they can be a bit worse than the pin holes left by metal spikes. It is nice to get in a cart that doesn't have the dash destroyed by spikes, I also remember the damage they did on the steps of the clubhouse. In all I think we are better off with soft spikes and the design of them and the shoe materials give better traction with the benefit of being much more comfortable.

[OrangeGravy]

The local greens I play on were so soft this weekend (golf just re-opened on the 5th in WA) that any shoe or barefoot for that matter, left shoe prints everywhere. They were very deep. Looked like a bunker that someone walked all over without raking. They were super spongy compared to usual. I often forget my golf shoes and just play in tennis shoes. My golf shoes are the molded type. I don't like the replaceable soft spikes.

[DShepley]

I only have one pair of golf shoes that have soft spikes on them. Once the course dries up, I switch to a pair of Adidas spikeless shoes that are the most comfortable golf shoes I've ever had. They occasionally cause issues with slipping, (at dusk sometimes when the due appears), but for the most part they are great. They look more like a running shoe and I imagine in old age, I'll be the old man holding down the coffee shop seat in New Balance walkers....HA!

[farmer]

It was common enough that I don't remember anyone getting very worked up over spike marks. At my place, it was "I see Kenneth has been here, or, was Ted hung over?".

[DLiver]

I spent decades playing in metal spikes. The sound was awesome, but the shoes were much heavier and less comfortable than today's footwear. It beat up the greens, but green speeds were slower back then so your roll wasn't as subject to imperfections in the greens. Occasionally you would have a big hockin' spike mark right in your line and you were screwed. It was a PITA having to change out of your spikes to have a beer after the round. All in all, soft spikes are a huge improvement over metal. Except for that cool sound

[gripandrip]

I miss pegs on my shoes. The sound of the crunch on the pavement and the grip on wet pavement. However, greens are better now because you could never eliminate the foot draggers.

[OrangeGravy]

The old "dress" shoe type of spikes were not comfortable unless you're Phil and can have custom shoes made. I will say, the last pair of spikes I owned were a pair of Nike Air that are still do this day the most comfortable pair of golf shoes I've ever put on. It was 94/95 or so and they were among the first wave of sneaker platform golf shoes. I remember being so pissed when someone stole them along with my Callaway 16* 3/4 WD. My 2 favorite golf pieces at the time.

[Mudguard]

I don't miss a single thing about metal spikes to be honest. Shoes were less comfortable, heavier, the bane of getting a too worn one out, not being able to drive in them, holding my breath stepping onto lino or a steel urinal... And don't get me started on the greens!

[Barfolomew]

I worked at a golf course when they were swtiching over to spikeless in the 90s and our course would swap them out for free.... sometimes we would rip up a guys soles on his raggedy old crappy shoes trying to get those mothers out putting all our weight on the drill haha man what a b****

[DShepley]

Yes...I had this task when I worked in the proshop too, (mid 90s). I remember a rep came into the shop one day with the Black Widow soft spike samples....our pro basically threw him out on his ear claiming it was a fad that would never catch on! Funny, I think it was only maybe 8 months later and you couldn't even buy a shoe with metal spikes and not long after that, he had golf sandals in the shop, (no, he isn't CPG but at times it sure felt like it).

One of my fondest memories of working in the proshop, was on the evenings when I got to close up the course by myself, (small public course). Hitting various lost and found clubs, (the interesting mid 90s kind), on the range by the glow of the Coke machine.

 

[northgolf]

The problem of foot draggers didn't disappear with spikes.

[moehogan]

Nails were awesome!

[OrangeGravy]

That's funny. I tended bar at a small public course in the mid 90's. I worked grounds a couple summers prior to turning 21, mowing greens/fringe etc... When worked the closing shift in the bar, I had the run of the place. I let the league regulars run a tab for weeks at a time. I had a few side hustles at night. Our 10th tee was right off the bar patio, short-straight downhill par 4. I would get a bucket of range balls and have a long drive contest with the patrons. $2/ball and I would put everyone's name in sharpy on a ball and we'd proceed to the 10th tee. Ship captain crew dice game on the bar and 1 dart, $2 anti highest number from all the way across the bar from the dart board. I would give away the leftover hotdogs and what not to keep them getting too rowdy. It was a fun time. I was 21 and these guys were all my dad's age. Add in the free golf and the freedom to basically "demo" anything in the pro shop for extended periods, it was probably the most satisfying job I ever had.

[DShepley]

We used to stuff plastic beer cups in the pockets of the pool table to play for free. Also ran a closest to the pin on the practice green from the patio, (over the railing). There was carpet on the floor of the bar room and I made up this betting game similar to curling we called putt putt. The floor was uneven and the putt was about 18 feet past the bar, towards the stairs. Each player had 3 balls, and you got a point for each ball you got closer to the stairs without falling over, than your opponent. In a space about 4 feet wide, the putt would break from either edge towards the middle and the carpet was worn and fast. The play was to throw up a guard, and bury your ball behind it, take outs were in play, it was great. Sad day when they replaced the carpet with vinyl plank!

[Chip Duffer]

That sound was the gateway that said to the conscious and subconscious that it’s play time. That the rest of the world was in time out. After the round, I could pick up all, some or none of the stresses and life issues when I put those shoes back in the trunk with the persimmons.

Until then, the sounds, the manicured beauty of the course and this magical game renewed my being. Everything else could wait a while.

[Old Tom Morris]

until we started taking cell phones with us on the course.