PAYNTR Golf, a Golf Shoe Brand Founded by Former Nike and Under Armour Executives, Grows Rapidly with Investment from Australian Golfer Jason Day
Founded in 2021, PAYNTR Golf is now the fastest-growing golf shoe brand in North America. According to co-founder Mike Forsey, its revenue will grow by over 80% in 2025, and the casual shoe line now accounts for nearly 20% of the brand's total business. In 2026, revenue growth is expected to exceed 160%.
Both co-founders have nearly 30 years of experience in the athletic footwear industry:
- Mike Forsey served as NIKE's Global Category Business Director and was involved in developing the NIKE golf shoe line in collaboration with Tiger Woods.
- Michael Glancy was responsible for golf shoe design at Under Armour.
Above: Mike Forsey (left) and Michael Glancy (right)
Among golfers, there is a saying: "Wearing PAYNTR Golf adds a few extra yards to your drive." PAYNTR Golf shoes offer exceptional performance, with every sole featuring patented propulsion plate technology that helps golfers harness ground reaction forces to increase swing speed and power.
Moreover, PAYNTR Golf shoes are comfortable and breathable, allowing professional golfers to wear them for 12 hours during tournaments without feeling stuffy or fatigued.
Above: PAYNTR Golf Sport Classic LE series, priced at $160 per pair (approx. RMB 1,120 per pair)
Founder Mike Forsey once said:
"Our initial idea behind launching PAYNTR Golf was that we recognized a gap in the high-performance golf shoe market. The market has undergone a massive shift, with people increasingly focusing on the fashion aspect of shoes rather than their performance as equipment. Our goal is to attract a specific type of golfer and help them understand how our technology can enhance their performance on the course."
Above: Every PAYNTR Golf shoe features patented propulsion plate technology
Co-founder Mike Forsey has been obsessed with the footwear industry from an early age. He recalls that his love for shoes likely stemmed from selling Timberland, Nike, and adidas products in a retail store during his early years. From then on, he aspired to work in footwear.
Forsey began his career at Nike, where he worked for 12 years. Shortly after joining, he was involved in developing the first golf shoe Nike created for Tiger Woods, and later participated in iterating nine versions of that shoe, eventually rising to become Nike's Global Category Business Director, overseeing footwear, bags, and gloves.
He later moved to footwear brand Cole Haan, golf brand Ping, and then served as Global Head of Golf Footwear at Under Armour, where he helped design the first golf shoe for Jordan Spieth.
It was at Under Armour that Forsey met his entrepreneurial partner, Michael Glancy. Glancy also has an extensive background in footwear, starting as a footwear designer at Reebok before joining Under Armour in 2011 as Golf Shoe Design Manager.
PAYNTR Golf launched its women's shoe line in early 2023. Pictured above is the first women's shoe, the X 003 F, priced at $150 per pair (approx. RMB 1,054).
In 2021, encouraged by Forsey's wife, he and Glancy decided to start a business—but PAYNTR Golf's journey has been quite曲折.
PAYNTR Golf initially appeared as a licensed brand of the cricket shoe brand PAYNTR. PAYNTR was founded in 2017 by former professional cricketer David Paynter and was gaining market share in Europe and India. To enter the U.S. market, where cricket is less popular, David Paynter approached Forsey with the idea of launching golf shoes to expand into the U.S.
At the end of August 2025, Mike Forsey and Michael Glancy bought back all intellectual property rights of PAYNTR Golf, meaning PAYNTR Golf is no longer a licensed brand but an independent brand fully controlling its brand image, product development, marketing strategy, and quality standards.
Above: Jason Day
In March 2024, former PGA World No. 1 Australian male golfer Jason Day joined PAYNTR Golf as an equity partner. By wearing the brand's shoes at various events, he further elevated the brand's profile.
Michael Glancy noted that the brand's collaboration with athletes goes beyond simply showing them sketches, designs, or prototypes for approval; it involves genuine participation. "Our strength lies in partnering with professionals and influencers who truly embody our brand philosophy. Our partners don't just receive a box of shoes each quarter. They are designers, innovators, trendsetters, and testers for any new project or sample."
He also revealed that PAYNTR Golf is working with an athlete to develop a brand-new signature golf shoe.
Above: Jason Day and Michael Glancy co-developing the limited edition Eighty Seven SCs golf shoe
Beyond athletes, PAYNTR Golf also listens extensively to consumer feedback. For example, when consumers expressed a desire for more casual and stylish products, the brand did not simply iterate on its existing successful products but launched the entirely new Sport Classic line. The brand states that the casual shoe line now accounts for nearly 20% of total business.
| Source: mygolfspy, golf.com, Forbes, golfbusinessnews
| Image credit: PAYNTR Golf official Instagram
| Editor: Esther