Retro-inspired footwear, especially in golf, is not a new trend. Reinvigorating classic silhouettes with today’s technology gives brands the opportunity to not only introduce their tried-and-true models to new audiences, but rewards and excites long-term loyalists.

New Balance is doing just that with its new line of golf shoes for 2024, available exclusively in-store and online at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy.

Paying homage to a number of classic styles over the years, the men’s Heritage golf shoe, available in two colorways, features a DynaSoft midsole that offers much-needed responsiveness and plush cushioning, while an Ndurance rubber outsole is designed to move naturally with your foot.

“New Balance has a tremendous history in footwear and has an amazing archive of silhouettes that can be reimagined to meet the latest trends in the market,” said Carey Langley, vice president of KloneLab, a New Balance licensing partner for nearly 15 years. “Our job on the golf footwear side is to tap into those archives but reimagine them to be sure they also meet the performance needs of today’s golfer.

“Golf has changed so much over the last few years, and it’s important to look as good on the course now as it is off the course.”

Golf is more popular than ever. Approximately one in seven Americans played golf in 2022, according to a study from the National Golf Foundation, bringing the sport’s participation to 41.1 million in the U.S., up from 32 million in 2016.

As a safe, socially distant outdoor activity during the height of the pandemic, golf has grown in popularity, especially among younger, more diverse demographics. Golf-entertainment venues like Topgolf, Popstroke and Drive Shack make the game more accessible, while emerging fashion brands including Malbon, Eastside Golf and Bogey Boys have fused streetwear and golf, making the game cooler on and off the course.

Young adults (ages 18-34) is golf’s biggest customer age segment with 6.2 million on-course participants and another 5.8 million off-course only participants, according to the NGF. Newcomers to the game also continue to be more diverse than the overall participation base, with beginners 45% more likely to be non-white and 35% more likely to be women, compared to current golfers.

“Today’s golfer still craves comfort, fit and performance in their shoes,” Langley said, “but now more than ever, they really care about how that shoe looks, and how they feel about the brand they’re wearing on their feet.”

New Balance also introduced a new women’s golf shoe for 2024 to cater to that growing segment in the game. Approximately 6.4 million on-course golfers in 2022 were women, while women represent a disproportionately higher percentage of beginners (41%), juniors (37%) and off-course participants (41%) than they do in the overall golf population.

The New Balance & Calia women’s 327 golf shoe is inspired by New Balance’s iconic 1970s running shoe. These spikeless shoes with a waterproof microfiber leather upper offer a comfort insole along with a lace-up closure for a secure fit for traction on and off the course no matter the weather conditions.

A decade after first getting into the golf space, New Balance has certainly found its identity as it continues to balance past and present with its styles, silhouettes and technology as golf continues to grow and evolve.

“In the beginning, to be honest, we were searching for who we wanted to be in the golf space,” Langley said. “We have always used New Balance’s trusted technologies, but our design aesthetics were a bit all over the board. All along, the answer was right in front of us—we wanted to be authentic New Balance.

“So instead of looking for inspiration in other brands in the golf footwear space, we now look within to see how we can stay honest to the New Balance brand integrity, but be sure it is built to perform on the golf course.”