Reebok Club C Golf Shoes Review: Loads of style but is there any substance?

Key Features

• Premium leather upper keeps the water out
• Spikeless outsole provides grip
• Terry towel collar throws back to the OG sneaker

As a standalone sneaker, Reebok's Club C is a shoe that needs no introduction. It's been an icon in the UK since its launch back in the mid '80s, when it arguably perfected the DNA of the classic tennis shoe with its sleek silhouette and plush comfort.

So when Reebok announced its splashy entry into the golf market a few months ago with Bryson DeChambeau at the helm, it made sense this would be one of the first models to get a course-ready makeover. Now, it's here. But how exactly does it perform, and does it warrant a place in the conversation among the best golf shoes to drop this year?

Thankfully, as the Club C Golf Shoe arrived across the GolfMagic desk, Reviews Editor Brad Nash was en route to Staffordshire's JCB Golf & Country Club for the LIV Golf UK media day. So he laced them up and played nine holes around one of England's toughest tournament courses to find out.

Watch our full golf shoes test here:

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Reebok have nailed the aesthetic of the original Club C in their golf-oriented revamp. Indeed, worn on the course where the added platform of the spikeless outsole is hidden under the grass, you'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart from their streetwear counterpart.

Reebok have clearly used a high-quality leather to build the Club C, which in the colourway we got sent arrived in an almost dusty chalk white, complimented with a stripe of classic Reebok navy.

For fans of the brand's most classic look an all-white version is available, while a white and green variant equipped with a gum outsole adds a nice splash of colour to the choices on offer.

As such, it's safe to say that if you're after a truely timeless golf shoe that leans on the casual side, it's hard to go wrong with the Club C. It's a shoe that looks super clean out of the box, and as many Club C loyalists will tell you, arguably starts to look better as it gets dirtied up a little and the leather starts to break in.

Aside from other sneaker-derived golf shoes like Adidas Originals' Gazelle Golf and Nike's Air Jordan 1 G, there are few models out there with more tee-to-street appeal.

Technology & features

As is the case with a lot of sneaker-turned-golf shoes, Reebok have kept the tech minimal on the Club C golf shoe. In fact, aside from the update to the outsole, there aren't many differences from the street shoe at all.

Waterproofing comes by way of a leather upper that feels slightly sturdier than the sort you'd find in the street shoe, while a spikeless pattern of rubber lugs beefs up the outsole to provide added grip.

A padded inner sole adds a little extra cushioning, while in a nice shout-out to the beloved Reebok sneakers of the '80s and '90s, the terry towel-padded collar also makes a surprise return (a feature sadly no longer present in the street shoe).

Aside from that, however, what you see is largely what you get. There's no hidden foam, no air pocket like you'd find in Nike's Air Pegasus 89 G, and no inner sock liner. This, then, is one for those who err towards form over function.

With all this in mind, we were expecting the Reebok Club C Golf to provide a relatively pedestrian feel out on the course, and were largely proven right. 

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course. The similar-feeling Air Jordan 1 G remains a popular shoe even at tour level. But those looking for a dynamic and distinctly sporty feel from their shoes will probably want to look elsewhere.

While the Club Cs are broadly pretty comfortable by the standards of a low-profile '80s sneaker, that's about the what you can expect to find here. Reebok have used a stiffer, sturdier leather to beef the Club C golf up slightly, and it shows on the first couple of wears. As the leather breaks in and softens up, however, the Club C will likely begin to feel familiar and comfortable in the way only a good pair of trainers can.

A particular area I would have liked to see Reebok push things a little more, however, is padding under foot. The minimal cushioning, combined with the firmer outsole, might prove a little firm for some over the course of a full 18, particularly if you're wearing them too and from the course, as is intended. 

Working in a more padded inner-sole or hiding away a layer of midsole foam to enhance the comfort factor would have helped the case of the Club C's immensely. At the same time, however, the minimalist platform makes for a great feel on the greens, and the lack of tech keeps the price down to make these a great, stylish option for those looking for an entry-level pair of shoes for casual rounds.

The outsole, meanwhile, was a pleasant surprise and pretty grippy for a spikeless golf shoe. It gave great traction on the range, on damp tees and on tight fairways, delivering above and beyond given the lugs aren't super-aggressive.

Should you purchase the Reebok Club C Golf Shoes?

Having only played a short time with the Reebok Club C Golf shoes on foot, they're shoes I'd absolutely recommend if a minimalist platform is something you're willing to take on in the pursuit of aesthetics.

In my eyes, they're one of the best-looking shoes on the market, and a true representation of trainer culture adopted into the golf scene in the right way. However this only gets you so far, and while as a bit of a fashion tragic I expect I'll personally wear these a lot, the lack of cushioning might mean they're become more of a rotation option for super-serious golfers.

That being said if you're after a golf shoe for casual rounds that provides surprising grip and an instant shot of style to any outfit for well under £100, you should definitely take a look.

The Reebok Club C is available in the US and Australia now, with a UK launch planned for the Autumn.