The trademark for EKOL was registered by Royal Patent and Registration Office as N 9678 on the 4th October 1905.
Proper care for golf shoes
In 1905 James Braid won the British open at St. Andrews in 318 strokes. The same year EKOL was registered at the Royal Patent Office in Stockholm. As early as 1880 EKOL was already a well established business in the conditioning and treatment of saddles, bridles, and riding boots.
Today EKOL leather oil is a well known standard to the riding and trotting horse enthusiasts here in Sweden. EKOL has also become well known in the UK, and it is used at the riding stables of Queen Elisabeth. The excellent properties of the oil have captured the attention of leather users in the USA and sales have increased accordingly.
EKOL products today maintain their tried and tested original formula. The critical ingredients of the oil, have over time undergone various purifications, which as raw materials have made the oil even better today. The leather care products provided by EKOL today are excellent for cleaning, conditioning, and waterproofing of all leather goods.
Golf Shoes
In particular EKOL provides special treatments for golf shoes. No shoes are worn harder than golf shoes, and in most cases no shoes are cared for less than one’s golf shoes. The normal wear on golf shoes is hard, but also the leather of the shoes is affected by the chemicals used on golf greens. Fertilizer and grass chemicals used to keep greens in top shape often react in a negative way to the care of leather.
We want golf shoes to be waterproof, to hold their finish, elasticity, and not for the leather to split open or crack. By using EKOL leather care golf shoes will be more comfortable to wear and also resist wear, water, and damage. It is normal to expect the life of golf shoes to triple, and they will look well groomed in appearance while being worn. EKOL leather care is an excellent way to maintain golf shoes, and a good investment.
Ten steps to care to triple the life of golf shoes using EKOL leather care
1) Spray on EKOL’s liquid Leather Soap, and then wipe away all of the dirt that had accumulated on the shoes. This is especially important for white shoes that are otherwise not so easy to keep clean.
2) Use a stiff brush to remove all grass and soil that has accumulated under the shoes and on the cleats, as well as between the sole and the upper part of the shoe.
3) Use shoe trees, preferably of cedar wood (cedar wood absorbs moisture), which will smooth the leather both inside and out.
4) If you have played golf in the rain, stuff newspapers into the shoes to absorb the moisture.
5) Never dry golf shoes or any other shoes rapidly with high heat. The leather will split as the moisture evaporates from its cell structure. If the leather has not been oiled previously there is no protection from the rapid evaporation, drying and splitting.
6) Rub the shoes with EKOL Leather Balsam as part of a daily routine to create a water repellent surface, and also to keep the leather of the shoes fresh. The best result is achieved if the Balsam is allowed to dry before polishing to a dry surface with a polishing cloth.
7) Be aware that light colored leather can darken once treated with leather Balsam or Leather Oil. This is normal and does not damage the leather in any way.
8) Golf shoes should be treated with EKOL Leather Oil three to four times a season, and before storage of the shoes for the winter months. Treatment rejuvenates the leather so that it does not dry out and split. Drying and splitting of leather will allow water to seep into the leather. EKOL Oil provides protection against salt and mildew that come from the presence of water. The oil also increases resistance to scratching. It is important to apply enough oil, but not too much, and excess oil can be wiped off easily.
9) Be careful if you must use regular shoe polish to restore the color of the shoes. Normal shoe polish easily blocks the pores of the leather, not allowing it to breathe. The result is poor insulating capacity and the leather will also dry out.
10) These ten recommendations will make your golf shoes more comfortable, better looking, plus they will last much longer. Even shoes with a waterproof coating should be treated with EKOL products in the same way.