The Best Places to Buy Golf Shoes For Less Than Retail

I’m a shoe guy. Always have been. It’s more than just a hobby … I’d call it a passion.

The only issue? It’s expensive. And, as I’m generally ballin’ on a tight budget with little discretionary income to go around, I’ve spent countless hours finding ways to be more thrifty.

It’s about dang time I share my findings with you. You, like I, value a good deal. Today, I’ll teach you the best places to shop (and how to shop them) in order to find golf shoes for less than retail.

This is retail therapy. Join me.

StockX

StockX is not the first place you think of when it comes to buying golf shoes (especially for less than retail). Most know StockX as an online marketplace to sell and purchase high-value goods, the likes of which include rare golf shoes.

However, what most don’t know is that StockX has a filter that allows you to browse their site for products whose market value is currently under retail. With the simple click of a button, you can easily scan StockX for golf shoes sitting below their retail value.

Note: Not all sizes will be less than the suggested retail value. However, with a little patience, you can generally find a pretty good deal on golf shoes from Jordan, NIKE, adidas and more.

The important thing to know about StockX is that each shoe is shipped first to StockX before being sent to you. They operate as a middleman to ensure what you buy is 1) authentic and 2) meets the condition specified. In short, when you buy from StockX, you know that your item has been verified before you get it.

Pros of Shopping at StockX

• Can find sold-out shoes
• Lots of size options
• Great for the hidden gems

Cons of Shopping at StockX

• Not a lot of “general release” inventory
• No FootJoy, ECCO, etc.
• Only certain sizes go on sale

eBay

eBay is a great place to find golf shoes for under retail. While eBay offers a StockX rival of sorts (dubbed eBay Sneakers) for more rare golf shoes that require authentication, you can also buy new golf shoes directly from sellers without the need for a middleman.

The key is that plenty of eBay sellers (like me) are looking to make a quick buck on a pair of golf shoes. Take, for example, my piece about flipping golf gear to make money. I’ve bought a lot of golf shoes for $30 and flipped them the next day on eBay for $60.

This is a win-win for buyer and seller. Often, these shoes have retail prices well above that $60 price point. So the seller is making a quick buck and you’re snagging a new pair of NIKEs for $60 instead of $160.

eBay has three selling/buying options. Auction, Buy it Now (set price) and Best Offer. If you’re willing to do a little bid sniping, you can end up with a great deal. Or, if a seller has an item that’s been up for a while, they may be more willing to take a low offer through the “Best Offer” function just to move the product and get it out of their inventory.

As with StockX, finding the perfect pair for under retail on eBay requires patience. Don’t be afraid to look for shoes listed as “Like New” as well, as generally you can find a demo pair that’s only been tried on for a great price.

My biggest tip is to do your homework on the seller from whom you’re buying. Make sure you read their feedback and look for red flags (asking you to take the purchase off of eBay to pay them directly) or anything of the sort. I’ve been sent shoes that didn’t match the condition. It’s always best to have eBay step in immediately if this happens to you. They do a great job at protecting buyers.

Pros of Shopping on eBay

• Great for older gear
• Can win an auction for a great price
• Vast selection

Cons of Shopping on eBay

• Open yourself up to scams if you aren’t careful
• Hard to verify condition of shoes
• eBay won’t verify authenticity (unless purchased through eBay Sneakers)

Golf Galaxy

While I generally try to avoid shopping at big box retail stores for budget golf shoes, Golf Galaxy has a great thing going with the “Deals” section of their website. With just two clicks, you can easily navigate to GG’s Footwear Deals landing page that is full of steep discounts (generally on previous-gen products).

The nice thing about Golf Galaxy is they carry all major brands. It makes it easy to find discount shoes from FootJoy, PUMA, Under Armour, NIKE and ECCO. If you’re willing to buy a pair of shoes that’s two or three years old, you can find a pretty good pair at a price that’s practically unbeatable.

Stock numbers may not always be on par with the current-gen products so, if you’re having a hard time finding anything available in your size, you might be better off searching one of the resell sites like eBay or StockX.

Pros of Shopping at Golf Galaxy

• Trusted name
• Carries all major name-brand products
• Ability to check physical retail stores for deals

Cons of Shopping at Golf Galaxy

• Discounts may not be as steep
• Previous-gen products
• Finding in-stock sizes can be tough

Ross, Burlington and Marshalls

I’m a Ross boss and proud of it. I’m spent too much time in Ross stores (and similar places like Burlington and Marshalls). Trust me when I say I’ve found my fair share of steals and deals.

There’s a reason I drag my wife to Ross most weekends.

As I mentioned in one of my articles about shopping Ross for discount golf gear, Ross always has deals because they buy overstock inventory and previous-gen products from big name brands. NIKE, adidas and Under Armour golf shoes often end up at Ross at the end of the product lifecycle. The best part? You’ll rarely see a pair for more than $35. No kidding. We bought my wife’s current pair for $17.

If you’re looking for more detailed information about shopping at Ross, you can check out the aforementioned article here. Otherwise, keep in mind that stock is always changing and, thus, your closest Ross, Burlington or Marshalls may not have many options.

Side note: Marshalls is the best of the three for “luxury” golf shoes like G/FORE, Cole Haan, etc.

Pros of Shopping at Ross

• Great discounts
• Physical storefronts
• Generous return policy

Cons of Shopping at Ross

• Limited selection
• No real consistency
• B-grade products or potential product defects

NIKE Factory Stores

If you’ve have a NIKE outlet (often called the NIKE Factory Store) nearby, it can be a treasure trove of discount golf shoes.

The biggest tip I can offer is to go straight to the back wall, to what is sometimes referred to as the “Hash Wall.” This wall of shoes stretches the whole store and is often associated with an extra discount (you’ll see the wall hit 20, 30 or even 40 percent off). The wall is made up of a combination of overstock items, one-off returns (Jackpot!) and sometimes NIKE’s refurbished shoes (another great option).

Besides being marked down, the extra discount associated with the Hash Wall means you can stack savings upon savings. It’s important to note that often you can find a limited, rare or otherwise sold-out shoe that’s been returned by a customer. I bought a rare Jordan 5 golf shoe at a local NIKE outlet a few years back … and got it for nearly $80 less than retail.

When in doubt, “Hash” it out!

Pros of Shopping at NIKE Factory Stores

• Good selection
• Stackable discounts
• Rare returned items

Cons of Shopping at NIKE Factory Stores

• Only NIKE shoes
• Can be hit or miss
• Often overcrowded and filled with scalpers trying to make a quick buck on the same shoes you’re looking for

What Else Did I Miss?

There are a host of other great ways (and places) to buy golf shoes for a deal. These are just a few I’m a fan of. However, I understand not everyone is looking for that one, unbelievable deal. In this case, here are a few more sites and stores that are great for decent discounts on golf shoes.

• Nordstrom Rack and Nordstromrack.com
• 6PM.com
• Sierra Trading Post
• Mercari
• Poshmark

Parting Wisdom

I’ll leave you with this: Patience is your best friend if you’re looking to save a buck. I’ve turned down pair after pair of golf shoes until finally finding the perfect combination of value, performance and price.

Maybe it’s a little superstitious but whenever I’ve had the feeling to wait on a deal, I’ve found something the next day, week or month that’s even better. There’s something to be said for having the self-control to walk away from a deal only to find a better one.