Golf, as everyone knows, is a game of tradition. So when the Acushnet Co. announced last winter that it was closing its FootJoy Classics factory in Brockton, Mass.--which for decades had produced leather-soled, welted golf shoes that set a standard for refinement--purists were despondent. The Classics line had gone the way of persimmon woods and balata balls. Now, amid the endless store racks of unstylish, if functional, shoes, golf's traditionalists again have a place to turn: the company has introduced a new line of finely detailed brogues called the FootJoy Icon.

The Icon comes in five patterns--including wing-tips and plain-toe saddle, both adapted from the old Classics--and a total of 19 styles. In addition, all but one of the patterns are part of FootJoy's MyJoys program, in which customers can choose from thousands of color and other personalized options, such as collegiate, NFL and MLB logos. Sartorialists will appreciate the Icon's traditional touches: full-grain leather uppers, calf-skin detailing, a leather-covered "fit-bed" designed to mimic the natural shape of the foot. These are combined with 21st-century technological innovations including a tri-density outsole for a stable hitting platform and two-part forefoot channels for comfort and flexibility.

FootJoy Icons can be found on the feet of such PGA Tour pros as Hunter Mahan, a fan of the two-tone wing tip (see photo gallery,) and Ian Poulter, whose wildly colorful trousers often require a solid white shoe. For those of us golfers who have to pay for our footwear, the Icon's suggested retail price is $250 for stock styles, $270 for original MyJoys and $290 for MyJoys bearing licensed logos.

ECCO, the luxury golf shoe brand sported by everyone from Catherine Zeta Jones, Justin Timberlake and Kid Rock, to Bill Murray, Samuel L. Jackson and even Donald Trump has created this unique shoe for the Solheim Cup, which takes place this year August 17-23 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, IL. The shoes are also worn by international Tour stars, like Juli Inkster, Carin Koch, Linda Wessberg, Iben Tinning, Fred Couples, Aaron Baddeley, Colin Montgomerie, Stuart Appleby, Arjun Atwal, Thongchai Jaidee, Thomas Bjorn, John Bickerton, Bradley Dredge and others.

What makes ECCO shoes so special? Well, not only are they fused together so that the sole will never wear away from the rest of the shoe, but they are made from the very highest quality leather -- the same leather used to make Louis Vuitton leather goods, Coach handbags, BMW car seats and Wilson baseball gloves -- ensuring maximum comfort and durability.

So, if you're attending the Solheim Cup, be sure and pick up a pair of these at the on-site merchandise pavillion for $180. The shoes will also be available to official U.S. team members and LPGA Tour staff. Not heading to Solheim? There are a lot of great shoes available for men and women in performance, golf, street, and dress styles at eccousa.com.

One of the more welcome trends in golf is the renewed popularity of walking (with a caddie, ideally) over riding in a cart. And if you're going to walk, you need to pay attention to what you wear on your feet. ECCO, the Danish shoemaker known for its durable soft-soled styles, has introduced a top-of-the-line golf shoe designed for the player who wants comfort without sacrificing a classic look.

The World Class Ltd. Edition, which the company debuted at the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, features super lightweight cushioning and an internal stabilizer for crucial support during the swing. It also has a Gore-Tex membrane for water resistance. In terms of styling, the shoe has genuine leather uppers and a handsome stitched saddle and leather welt. It comes in four color combinations: white on white, black on black, white with black saddle and white with coffee saddle (pictured). Priced at $430, the new model will be available at select on- and off-course retailers and at www.eccousa.com. You'll also see it on the feet of Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Aaron Baddeley and other sharp-dressed PGA Tour pros this season.

A reader brought my attention to Michael Toschi golf shoes. These are some of the most attractive golf shoes I have seen. They are basically fine Italian footwear that is wearable out on the golf course. The shoes have an Italian calf upper with a kidskin lining and the CONTAC sole. The days of lethal spikes are gone, these shoes have a terragrip outsole with a stance-stabilizing traction system. The shoes start at over $400 with most of the styles selling for $530.

[Thanks, Marc]