FootJoy is celebrating 100 years of performance and design innovation – a proud history and heritage that is unmatched within the golf industry.
Although the brand’s early origins can be traced back to 1857, when Frederick Packard broke away from his father’s boot workshop to start making shoes of his own, it was in 1923 when Packard and Harvard graduate Perley Flint set the Foot-Joy brand on its way. Flint had a passion for golf and had been tinkering with golf shoe designs for many years, tweaking the construction and styling while fine-tuning fit and comfort.
A major breakthrough came in 1927 when an FJ sales representative convinced Walter Hagen to kit out the US Ryder Cup team in FJ shoes. After the successful matches against GB&I in Worcester, Massachusetts one player – Johnny Farrell liked the shoes so much he went on to wear them at the 1928 US Open where he defeated Bobby Jones in a 36-hole play-off.
The reputation for FJ’s superior performance continued to grow and it became the most worn shoe brand on the PGA Tour in 1945 – a position it has held every year until this day.
The business was eventually bought by Bill and Dick Tarlow who, in 1957, decided to focus solely on making golf shoes.
Gloves were introduced in 1979 and FootJoy apparel entered the market in 2012. StaSof has been the most popular glove on tour since 1983, while FootJoy outerwear is the choice of more PGA Tour players than any other brand.
Footwear franchises such as Classics, DryJoys, DNA, Pro|SL and Premiere Series have continued to dominate the worldwide professional tours, while being the overwhelming shoes of choice for club golfers.
FootJoy’s focus has remained on golf-specific technology to help maximise traction, stability and comfort while offering styles for all tastes. The introduction of Premiere Series and FJ Traditions was a huge hit for golfers looking for a classic style with modern performance benefits. Those in favour of an athletic look were treated to models such as FJ Fuel, Flex and HyperFlex.
With millions of new golfers taking up the sport, FootJoy has widened its appeal through collaborations with fashion icons such as Jon Buscemi, Todd Snyder and Garrett Leight.
Staying true to the roots of the game the brand has also worked with Harris Tweed Hebrides ahead of the last two Open Championships to create limited edition shoes worn by the likes of Cameron Smith, Will Zalatoris, Max Homa and Cameron Young.
Engaging with dedicated golfers remains pivotal to the brand’s strategy with investments in shoe-fitting technology forming part of activations at The Open Camping village at the 151st Open in St Andrews and also Royal Liverpool in 2023.
FJ Brand Director Russell Lawes said: “Our rich history and heritage is something that really sets us apart and is something we are all extremely proud of. But we are always looking forwards to see how we can better meet the needs of dedicated golfers and our retail partners. We will continue to make the best golf shoes, gloves and apparel to help all golfers play and look their best while supporting our partners to help them bring these products to life with next-level marketing assets and support. We’re humbled by our past but incredibly excited about our, and golf’s, future.”
To mark the 100-year anniversary FootJoy will be launching a limited edition red, white
and blue Premiere Series Wilcox shoe which will be worn by FJ ambassadors at the US Open
at Los Angeles Country Club. The shoe will be available at footjoy.co.uk and through selected retailers from June 15.
