Meet the man who will save your old golf shoes (and your money)

If you’re about to chuck out your current golf shoes to buy a new pair, a word of advice: don’t!

Matthew Cunningham has a far better idea.

In his spare time, the 31-year-old from Edinburgh breathes new life into beat-up kicks, saving golfers hundreds of pounds in the process.

Cunningham runs his own shoe-cleaning business ‘Kickz N Kleen’ and has steamed, cleaned and painted golf shoes to make them as good as new.

Here’s what he has to say about it all…

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What made you start the business?

I always had a passion for shoes, whether that’s trainers or golf shoes, so I thought I’d try a shoe-cleaning business to start with. I’ve always collected shoes and enjoyed having a nice pair of golf shoes because I play a bit.

How did the golf shoe repairs come about?

I restored a pair of shoes for my dad’s friend, and they turned out brilliantly. It’s the same kind of materials with golf shoes, working with leather, like the old FootJoys.

Is there a difference between cleaning normal shoes and golf shoes?

Some trainers have mesh and suede, whereas you don’t get that as much with golf shoes, unless you’re working with high-end shoes like [Nike] Jordans. The majority of the time it’s working with leather and rubber on the shoes.

What goes into cleaning and restoring golf shoes?

I use tools in the house like steamers and designated brushes, as well as the right formula and solution to clean them. I go through my own method on a step-by-step basis and, once they’re clean, if they need a paint, I can give them a whole new lease of life.

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How long does it take?

All in, it takes over an hour. For the clean, maybe less than an hour, but there’s time after that. You see what needs to be done and if you paint the shoe, you might need a couple of coats and then apply a finisher, so it adheres. That way, when someone plays it doesn’t just come off.

How much does it cost to have your shoes fixed?

For a standard clean-up, it’s about £30, whereas a signature clean would be £35 to £40, depending on what needs done. That will include a clean and paint after, too. I’d say it’s pretty good value, especially if you’re paying up to £150 for a pair of golf shoes, like FootJoys or Nike Jordan’s. They cost a lot of money and if you can breathe another life into them, then it’s money well spent.

For more information and to get your golf shoes fixed, visit ‘Kickz N Kleen’ on Instagram.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.