For the Love of Golf

In 2019 during golf majors season Nike Golf released three limited edition footwear packs that were each designed and inspired by the legendary golf courses that serve as the stages for these events. We took a fresh and unexpected approach to unify all the footwear collections under the notion that golf is hard and that everyone that takes on the game does it “For the Love of Golf.” Each Major featured a heart design that tied directly to the footwear product utilizing thoughtful design cues as a symbol of the collections it serves.

The Snake Pack capsule (Masters collection) is a full-fledged tribute to Augusta, giving a nod to golf's version of the “Garden of Eden,” with green snakeskin representing the fear-inducing yet fragile snakes that are rife throughout the green. The chrome-esque finish on the soles is inspired by the reflections from the course’s many ponds – a common sight when crossing bridges. Finally, the “prayer hands” are a nod to the Amen Corner, perhaps the most iconic three-hole stretch in all of golf.

To visualize and execute concepts we partnered with design agency ILOVEDUST.

Likewise the Safari-Bred Pack highlighted NYC’s toughest course — Bethpage State Park — where the PGA Championship was played. The concrete grey elements are inspired by the “concrete jungle” that is New York, while an outline of the signature emblem for NY state parks (such as Bethpage) is located at the heel of each shoe. We used these warning notices as one of the design inspirations for the “Safari Pack,” utilizing a black, red, grey and white color theme.

The final pack — No Denim Allowed — is a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal to traditional course dress codes. The site of this 2019’s third major was at Pebble Beach and was represented by a pattern drawn from Central California wildflowers: a wave for the host course’s coastal environment and a centennial symbol marking the 100-year anniversary of the host course.