We were recently invited by the team at Active Fusion for their annual charity golf day at Hickleton Golf Club! This was a fantastic day, supporting a brilliant cause! Despite the rain making a very determined appearance from start to finish, it didn’t dampen the atmosphere one bit. It was fantastic to see so many local businesses, sponsors, teams and supporters come together for such an important cause. helping raise an incredible £11,715 – the charity’s biggest and most successful golf day to date!
The day did get us thinking though about Golf, MSK issues & pain! Golf has a reputation for being a low-impact sport, and compared to football or running, it certainly is. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy on your feet. In fact, we regularly see golfers at our podiatry clinic in Doncaster who are surprised to learn that their foot pain, heel pain or even knee discomfort is linked to time spent on the course.
Think about it. A typical round of golf involves walking anywhere from five to eight miles, often over uneven ground, while repeatedly twisting, rotating and transferring your weight through your feet during every swing.
That’s a lot of work for your feet.
Whether you’re playing every weekend, competing regularly or simply enjoying a few rounds over the summer, looking after your feet is just as important as looking after your clubs.
Golf Starts From the Ground Up
Every golf swing begins with your feet.
They provide the stable base that allows you to generate power, maintain balance and control your movement. If something isn’t working right lower down, it doesn’t just affect your feet. It can influence your ankles, knees, hips and even your back.
It’s one of the reasons golfers often experience aches and pains that seem unrelated to their feet.
At Doncaster Foot Clinic, we don’t just look at where it hurts. We look at how you’re moving and whether your feet are contributing to the problem.
Problems We See in Golfers
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain is one of the most common reasons golfers come to see our podiatrists here at Doncaster Foot Clinic.
Walking several miles while repeatedly loading the foot during the golf swing can place extra strain on the plantar fascia, which is the thick band of tissue running underneath your foot.
Things you might notice:
- Sharp pain under the heel first thing in the morning
- Discomfort after a round of golf
- Pain that eases once you get moving before returning later in the day
Many golfers assume they’ll simply walk it off, but plantar fasciitis often needs proper assessment and treatment before it settles.
Joint Pain
Golf requires repeated rotation through the foot and ankle.
If you already have arthritis or reduced joint mobility, those repetitive movements can aggravate symptoms and leave you with aching feet after a round.
Joint pain doesn’t always mean you have to stop playing.
Often, small changes to footwear, support or biomechanical adjustments can make a significant difference.
Achilles Tendon Pain
Walking hilly courses or carrying your own clubs places extra demand on the Achilles tendon.
Pain or stiffness at the back of the ankle, particularly first thing in the morning or after playing, can be an early sign that the tendon is becoming overloaded.
Ignoring it often allows the problem to build gradually over time.
Forefoot Pain
Many golfers spend hours in golf shoes that fit securely but can sometimes become tight around the front of the foot.
Combine that with repeated weight transfer during the swing, and this can lead to pain underneath the ball of the foot or irritation around the toes.
It’s Not Just the Walking
When golfers develop foot pain, they often blame the distance they’re walking.
Sometimes that can be true. But often it’s a combination of factors. Your footwear. Your foot mechanics. Previous injuries. Joint mobility. How you load your feet during the golf swing. Two people can play the same course in the same shoes and only one develops pain. That’s because everybody moves differently and understanding those differences is a big part of what we do as podiatrists.
Don’t Ignore the Little Niggles
One thing we hear all the time is: “It’s only sore after golf” or “It settles after a day or two.”
While that might be true now, recurring pain is your body’s way of telling you something isn’t quite right. Small aches have a habit of becoming bigger problems if they’re ignored. The off-season isn’t the only time to deal with them. The earlier you identify the cause, the easier it usually is to manage.
How Podiatry Can Help
At Doncaster Foot Clinic, we regularly assess golfers experiencing foot pain, heel pain and joint pain. Rather than simply treating the symptoms, we aim to understand why the pain developed in the first place.
Depending on your assessment, treatment may include:
- Biomechanical assessment
- Diagnostic ultrasound where appropriate
- Custom made orthotics
- Shockwave therapy
- Laser therapy
- Footwear advice
- Strengthening and rehabilitation exercises
Every golfer is different, so our treatment is tailored to the individual rather than following the same approach every time.
Whether you’re dealing with heel pain, joint pain or recurring aches after a round, getting assessed by a podiatrist can often identify the cause before it becomes a bigger issue.
At Doncaster Foot Clinic, we help golfers across Doncaster stay comfortable, stay active and keep doing what they enjoy. If your feet are starting to hold your game back, we’d be happy to help you get back on course.