Do you need golf shoes to play golf? No, you do not have to have golf shoes to play golf, and very, very few golf courses require the use of golf shoes.
Golf shoes are a good idea, however, because they are engineered to keep your feet from sliding around during the golf swing.
Golf shoes have come a long way, stylistically, over the past 15 years or so, too. You can still find “old school” golf shoes — black and white wingtips, leather and tassels. But golf shoes now come in many styles and colors, some indistinguishable from other athletic shoes, some in moccasin and even sandal styles.
If you do not have golf shoes and can’t afford or just don’t want to buy golf shoes yet, wear the pair of shoes with the most “gripping” soles you can find – rubber with lots of ridges or bumps.