[dutch putt]

Fairhaven, MA -- FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf, announced today that it will cease
footwear manufacturing operations in its Brockton, MA facility, within the next six
weeks. As a result of the plant's closure, the company will eliminate 103
manufacturing and support positions.

FootJoy's shoe factory is the last remaining footwear production facility in a city
that was once known as the "Shoe Capital of the World" in the early 1900s.
Brockton's collection of footwear factories once supplied over 50 percent of all
domestic footwear in the United States. .

"This was a very difficult decision made necessary by the declining demand for
premium welted, leather soled golf footwear," said Jim Connor, President of FootJoy.
"While this factory produced a small portion of our worldwide supply of golf shoes,
some of our craftsmen and women were from several generations of shoe makers. All
of us at FootJoy are deeply saddened by this outcome."

The Brockton facility produced Classics Tour and Classics Dry Premiere golf shoes
and a small line of men's dress and casual footwear. Those categories will be
discontinued this summer when stock is depleted. The company does not anticipate
this decision will impact its worldwide sales of golf footwear or its continued
leadership of the category in every major market around the world.

[speeder717]

No more classics? Are you kidding me?

[JJGolfPro]

I just got the email myself. I couldn't believe what I was reading and thought there might be another place where they made Classics. At the bottom of it is a FAQ area that makes it clear that once all stock is depleted, there will be no more Footjoy Classics.

[stage1350]

That's worse than the loss of the Hogan line.

When Classics are gone, it will be a sad day indeed.

[demetri17]

that would be ridiculus to stop making classics. nicest shoes on the market in my opinion.

[mttrout]

Wow, what a disappointment. I purchased a pair of USA made classics about three years ago and they are still in excellent shape after very 100 rounds or so. This is really too bad.

[StaffBag]

speeder717, on Feb 26 2009, 04:38 PM, said:

No more classics? Are you kidding me?

No.... 100% NOT kidding you!

That's it! No more FJ Classcs lines! Stick a fork in them they are done! (I only hope that FJ is not done because of this. The Classics were not a flagship shoe any more for them, they had become more of a niche shoe due to the price they were listing at at reatail.)




Damn this recession!! !!
Damn it to hell!!!!!

[iscarter69]

I cannot believe that I'm reading that. What are the half of the Titleist/FJ tour staff now going to now wear? Sorry Poulter no more new purple shoes.....

[CooGAR]

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

[MortonGolfSales]

It's a very sad day for the golf industry. While the Classics line and the factory that the shoes were made in hadn't made Foot-Joy any money for awhile, it was a separator for them. So many of the people there were second and third generation- some had worked there 4 decades or more. What's crazy is that over 50% of shoes made in the US came from the city of Brockton and this was the very final footwear plant. It will be missed.
Ken
www.MortonGolfSales.com
GolfWRX Sponsor
888.988.FORE

[markheardjr]

mttrout, on Feb 26 2009, 03:10 PM, said:

Wow, what a disappointment. I purchased a pair of USA made classics about three years ago and they are still in excellent shape after very 100 rounds or so. This is really too bad.

There's one of the problems, the classics last so long, that consumers don't repeat purchase nearly as often as other shoes. I remember a Foot-Joy glove that had graphite powder in the palm, it lasted like a whole season! They stopped making them immediately! Stride Gum, the flavor last so long, but please, chew another piece!

[tbowles411]

markheardjr, on Feb 26 2009, 06:36 PM, said:

mttrout, on Feb 26 2009, 03:10 PM, said:

Wow, what a disappointment. I purchased a pair of USA made classics about three years ago and they are still in excellent shape after very 100 rounds or so. This is really too bad.

There's one of the problems, the classics last so long, that consumers don't repeat purchase nearly as often as other shoes. I remember a Foot-Joy glove that had graphite powder in the palm, it lasted like a whole season! They stopped making them immediately! Stride Gum, the flavor last so long, but please, chew another piece!

Looks like I have to buy my last pair of FJs. I've gone to Adidas, but the classics are truly an excellent shoe.

[Slapjax7s]

Foot Joy is closing its Brockton Mass Plant. They will no longer produce Classics.

More news to follow...

[golfprojg]

WHAT!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?????!?!?!?!?

[Simp]

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

[csiachos]

Well that just all around sucks the big one.

[demetri17]

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 07:03 PM, said:

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

personall preference. i have a ton of shoes and there is not better shoe then the footjoy classic. Ecco classics are close but still not the styles to keep up. And very few people pay 375. You can get them for 170- 230 on most websites. that is what you would pay for any quality shoe.

[tbowles411]

demetri17, on Feb 26 2009, 07:09 PM, said:

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 07:03 PM, said:

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

personall preference. i have a ton of shoes and there is not better shoe then the footjoy classic. Ecco classics are close but still not the styles to keep up. And very few people pay 375. You can get them for 170- 230 on most websites. that is what you would pay for any quality shoe.

True, I just paid $180 for shoes that are built like a tank. It is what it is. There is a difference between that and a $50 shoes. Gotta treat your dogs right!

[mizunogolf74]

Where did you hear this?

Classics are just sooooo nice. Not the same with anything else.

[mat562]

Crikey.

No more Foot Joy Classics is on a par with there being no more Christmas. Truly the end of an era.

Very sad news.

[j0npeterson]

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 04:03 PM, said:

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

I've gotta ask, have you even worn them?

Probably the most comfortable pair of golf shoes I've ever owned after they were broken in.

As it was noted above, people rarely paid over $300 for a pair. I know I never did.

[Beenerpro]

Got an email this afternoon....

Fairhaven, MA -- FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf, announced today that it will cease footwear manufacturing operations in its Brockton, MA facility, within the next six weeks. As a result of the plant's closure, the company will eliminate 103 manufacturing and support positions.


FootJoy's shoe factory is the last remaining footwear production facility in a city that was once known as the "Shoe Capital of the World" in the early 1900s. Brockton's collection of footwear factories once supplied over 50 percent of all domestic footwear in the United States.


"This was a very difficult decision made necessary by the declining demand for premium welted, leather soled golf footwear," said Jim Connor, President of FootJoy. "While this factory produced a small portion of our worldwide supply of golf shoes, some of our craftsmen and women were from several generations of shoe makers. All of us at FootJoy are deeply saddened by this outcome."


The Brockton facility produced Classics Tour and Classics Dry Premiere golf shoes and a small line of men's dress and casual footwear. Those categories will be discontinued this summer when stock is depleted. The company does not anticipate this decision will impact its worldwide sales of golf footwear or its continued leadership of the category in every major market around the world.

[Tighthead]

I liked their tassel loafers - much like Allen Edmonds.

[Simp]

j0npeterson, on Feb 26 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 04:03 PM, said:

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

I've gotta ask, have you even worn them?

Probably the most comfortable pair of golf shoes I've ever owned after they were broken in.

As it was noted above, people rarely paid over $300 for a pair. I know I never did.

I'll be honest: No I haven't. I can't fathom paying upwards of $300 for a pair of shoes. Especially a pair of shoes that I'm gonna wear about 50 times per year, if that. I'm sure you'll want different styles and colors to go along with different color pants, so now you're in for at least 2 pairs. I might spend $500 for equipment but it'll be a cold day in Hades before I drop that on 2 pair of shoes. Sorry, but I find that rather ridiculous.

[j0npeterson]

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 04:36 PM, said:

j0npeterson, on Feb 26 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 04:03 PM, said:

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

I've gotta ask, have you even worn them?

Probably the most comfortable pair of golf shoes I've ever owned after they were broken in.

As it was noted above, people rarely paid over $300 for a pair. I know I never did.

I'll be honest: No I haven't. I can't fathom paying upwards of $300 for a pair of shoes. Especially a pair of shoes that I'm gonna wear about 50 times per year, if that. I'm sure you'll want different styles and colors to go along with different color pants, so now you're in for at least 2 pairs. I might spend $500 for equipment but it'll be a cold day in Hades before I drop that on 2 pair of shoes. Sorry, but I find that rather ridiculous.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I walk, almost exclusively on the golf course. I don't have a problem paying for comfort and quality, especially when the lack of comfort would come at the expense of my feet.

Again, I don't personally know anyone who has paid $300 for Classics.

[hogans71]

What a shame- have been wearing a variation of the Classics for close to 15 years. Looks like I'll be stocking up on a few pairs soon...

[Simp]

j0npeterson, on Feb 26 2009, 07:43 PM, said:

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 04:36 PM, said:

j0npeterson, on Feb 26 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

Simp, on Feb 26 2009, 04:03 PM, said:

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 06:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

Exactly! They can take their Classics and stick 'em. There are MUCH better shoes out there for less than half of that.

I've gotta ask, have you even worn them?

Probably the most comfortable pair of golf shoes I've ever owned after they were broken in.

As it was noted above, people rarely paid over $300 for a pair. I know I never did.

I'll be honest: No I haven't. I can't fathom paying upwards of $300 for a pair of shoes. Especially a pair of shoes that I'm gonna wear about 50 times per year, if that. I'm sure you'll want different styles and colors to go along with different color pants, so now you're in for at least 2 pairs. I might spend $500 for equipment but it'll be a cold day in Hades before I drop that on 2 pair of shoes. Sorry, but I find that rather ridiculous.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I walk, almost exclusively on the golf course. I don't have a problem paying for comfort and quality, especially when the lack of comfort would come at the expense of my feet.

Again, I don't personally know anyone who has paid $300 for Classics.

That's what it all boils down to: Different strokes for different folks.

[EYEOMATIC]

Very sad.

[Pure745]

It also boils down to.. you've never worn them!!

[TM golf guy 182]

I'm going to buy 3 or 4 pairs of them. What a shame. I guess the resoling and all of that will end too.

[poppman2142]

This is the only thing that set them apart from nike and adidas, I think this is a mistake, but I guess the big wigs know better.

[Pure745]

Is this going to make the price of them go up or down? I too might have to buy a couple pairs.. I've been wearing the 360LTD's lately but the Classics are super comfy as well.. and look well.. classic..

[Simp]

Pure745, on Feb 26 2009, 08:06 PM, said:

It also boils down to.. you've never worn them!!

It's probably best that I didn't, because that'd be my luck: Get a great shoe and they quit making them!

[mat562]

No more beryllium wedges.

No more green Victory Cords.

No more balata golf balls.

No more coloured Ping barrel-shaped headcovers.

No more World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth.

No more cheers echoing through the trees of Augusta's back nine.

And now no more Foot Joy Classics?!


The comfort blankets of my life are disappearing, one by one, before my eyes.

[toddnt]

Not true, you just havent been looking in the right place!!!!

CooGAR, on Feb 26 2009, 07:33 PM, said:

No more $375.00 golf shoes?? You GOT TO BE kidding me!

[Grant076]

I am in absolute shock. Why not just consolidate the factory instead of completely eliminate it?

[Night train]

The only truly great line of golf footwear that remained...........it's quite sad. It's getting very hard to buy anything made in the USA.

Next it'll be Red Wing boots!

[woodlandsgolfer]

Grant076, on Feb 26 2009, 07:48 PM, said:

I am in absolute shock. Why not just consolidate the factory instead of completely eliminate it?

I know. Why can't they move production somewhere else? I know they're handmade and the only shoes made in the US still, but it will be sad to see them go. I've got 5 pairs and they fit like a glove. Its the only shoe I wear. I'll have to stock up and scour eBay looking for more.

It almost makes me a little sick.

[Simp]

mat562, on Feb 26 2009, 08:34 PM, said:

No more beryllium wedges.

No more green Victory Cords.

No more balata golf balls.

No more coloured Ping barrel-shaped headcovers.

No more World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth.

No more cheers echoing through the trees of Augusta's back nine.

And now no more Foot Joy Classics?!


The comfort blankets of my life are disappearing, one by one, before my eyes.

Sucks getting old huh? Well, you know what they say, your vision is the second thing to go....

[Dbogey]

A sad day indeed...especially for the employee's of that plant. Brockton is also know as the city of champions...hopefully they will find work soon.

I have 2 brand new pairs of classics that aren't even broken in!!

DBOGEY