Review: House of Kangaroo Coober Pedy Golf Shoes, by Jeffrey Reed

I know what you’re thinking: "Will golf shoes made of kangaroo leather help me hop from hole to hole?" While the folks at the House of Kangaroo Canadian headquarters in Oakville won’t promise to lower your handicap, they do come through with their promise to provide amazingly comfortable yet strong, supportive golf shoes. That combination alone may help you score better from tee to green.

Montreal native and former CPGA professional Paul Donolo, president of HOK North America Ltd., started House of Kangaroo with his partners in 2003, and already boasts 100 products. "Hands down, there’s no comparison as far as durability," says Donolo in regards to kangaroo leather. It’s very lightweight, extremely durable, and softer than any leather I’ve ever seen meaning no break-in period and added comfort on the course. Most of the company’s products are manufactured in Indonesia, while the hides come from Australia. From golf shoes and gloves, to handbags and wallets, kangaroo leather draws no comparison.

In case you are wondering about the kangaroos, there are 48 species in Australia. Only five species are used commercially, and since they can’t be farmed nor exported, Australia is severely overpopulated with the animal, much more so than we are with deer in southwestern Ontario. The Australian government and wildlife agencies all approve of the process used to source the leather.

The Coober Pedy modern golf shoes from House of Kangaroo are unlike any other golf shoe I’ve worn. As soon as I took them out of the box, I was surprised at the combination of softness and strength of the shoe leather. Secondly, the cool design of the shoes is an eye grabber. They feature a combination of a traditional wing tip dress shoe design and a contemporary golf shoe style not unlike the attire worn by the hippest of today’s PGA Tour and LPGA Tour stars. Best of all, the Coober Pedy shoes are water resistant, and feature a butadiene rubber outsole and PHAS system for extra cushioning and shock absorption in heels and arches. They provide the perfect combination in style, comfort and durability – a real winner on the course. And the silver accent lining adds an original touch, too.

Just like a reliable sports car, what lies underneath these shoes is important, too. Pyramid-shaped turf grips provide numerous traction points, and side traction bars create torsion stability. In addition, stab-trax ridges in the forefoot and heel help provide added traction and stability during the golf swing. What does all this mean? In layman’s terms, from the ground up, you’ll come equipped with a better game when you wear the Coober Pedy golf shoes from House of Kangaroo – and you’ll look sharp, too.

The Coober Pedy modern golf shoes are available in black or white, both with silver lining. Also from House of Kangaroo: Nullaboor Classic golf shoes, a classic saddle golf shoe.

For more about these ground-breaking shoes and House of Kangaroo, visit www.houseofkangaroo.ca.