When South African Richard Sterne won February’s Joburg Open, it wasn’t just his impressive stroke-play that turned heads – people were also quite taken with his footwear.
For the 31-year-old, Pretoria-born, European Tour star was sporting a dashing pair of spikeless ‘Dandy You’ Duca del Cosma golf shoes – and while the Germany-based, Italian brand wouldn’t claim credit for Sterne’s success, it has helped in his renaissance. The current European Tour Race to Dubai leader has endured serious back problems for nearly two years, but his recovery has been aided by the comfort and optimum stability offered by his Duca del Cosma shoes.
Stylish, bold, classy, elegant and sporty, the multi-award-winning Duca del Cosma styles bring a breath of fresh air to golf courses across the world, and the cutting-edge technology used in its shoes guarantees comfort for its discerning customers. The brand is available in 30 different countries and the UK&I can now be added to that list, with the spring / summer 13 range now available through all good pro shops.
Duca del Cosma shoes are made using only the highest-quality calfskin and cowhide leather, which is chromium tanned, then subjected, immediately afterwards, to a hydrophobic treatment and is made water-repellent using a chemical procedure without altering its natural characteristics. The interior is made from a special micro-fibre material with a membrane and waterproof tape sealing to produce stunning, award-winning shoes developed with the utmost dedication.
The range features heavily the brand’s renowned Airplay spikeless sole which is often imitated but never improved upon.
For 2013, the ladies’ range has evolved to the Airplay IV sole on the lightweight, feminine Lounge and Venus, and dress-shoe style Primadonna. The crossover styles – Eternity Evolution, Eternity Speciale and Arona – retain the popular Airplay III sole, while the elegant and unique Duca sneakers utilise the Duca, a fashionable, all-rounder, lightweight rubber sole.
The lightweight, rubber, spikeless Airplay III sole also features on the men’s Eternity Neromare, Dandy You – as worn by Sterne – Pressure, Moondancer and Kuba ranges, while the sneaker-style Ducas, like the ladies’ model, feature the functional Duca sole.
Another innovation for 2013 is ultrarosso – used on the stylish Giola and Blueyes ladies’ lines and the men’s Maine and Beatball – a newly developed, lightweight, spiked sole which offers a sophisticated appearance far beyond its use as a sports shoe.
The top-of-the-range ladies’ Coello and men’s Corleone both feature the handmade leather-rubber composite Executive spiked sole for the more traditional brogue-style golf shoe appearance.
And the Hybrid ProTraction range – developed in association with golf professionals and serious golfers – includes a technically advanced, three-component sole designed to increase shock absorption and minimise abrasion. The design offers high lateral stability and the special spike placement ensures optimum traction during downswing to reduce uncontrolled pivoting.
Duca del Cosma produces only the highest quality products; designed, created and produced using meticulous craftsmanship, while respecting social working conditions in its manufacturing companies. Numerous awards, worldwide recognition and a rapid corporate growth are tangible proof of the quality of the brand’s design and production.
The secret of Duca del Cosma is quite simple: in order to always remain one step ahead in fashion and technology, head designer and CEO Baldovino Mattiazzo takes his time, working and re-working designs to bring them to perfection. Samples are produced from those drawings which are then further improved and optimised. Only visually perfect products are passed on for testing to the Duca del Cosma golf pros – including Sterne, Germany’s Martina Eberl-Ellis, Spain’s Emma Cabrera-Bello and Maria Verchenova, from Russia – and their feedback is essential.
Subsequently, only after further intensive testing, are the prototypes released for production.
The brand was launched only in 2004 and introduced its first spikeless models – Mare and Neromare – a year later. Picking up design awards almost annually, Duca del Cosma has continued to push the boundaries of design and comfort.
The full range of Duca del Cosma product can be viewed in the SS13 catalogue.
Surrey-based Barrelfield Golf Europe, official UK distributor of the Duca del Cosma spring/summer 13 footwear range, also distributes Kikkor Golf, North American ‘street-style’ golf shoes; SwingSmart, a unique, lightweight golf swing analyser; Chervo, the most prestigious of Italian golfwear brands; the ever popular Greg Norman Collection of golf apparel; and the Sumi-G range of innovative resilient head covers
Duca del Cosma www.ducadelcosma.com