Thanks to Adidas, there’s now such a thing as pimento golf shoes.
The sportswear giant has unveiled its new Pimento Edition Crossknit Boost golf shoes, which pay tribute to one of the most popular concessions item at the prestigious Masters tournament. Called a “time honored tradition” on Adidas Golf’s Facebook page, the pimento cheese sandwich has been a favorite at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., for decades.
It’s a tradition that started in the 1960s, about 30 years after the tournament itself launched. The original spread was created by Nick Rangos, who would spend weeks leading up to the tournament mixing up gallons of cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and a secret ingredient to meet the demand of Masters attendees. He did this for 45 years until the early 2000s, when a local restaurant owner took over Rangos’s role. Rangos refused to divulge his secret ingredient, and to this day, the original recipe hasn’t been revealed (Rangos passed away in 2015 and his children have reportedly kept mum). However, the legacy of the original pimento cheese sandwich lives on every April in Augusta.
Back to the shoes. At first glance, they look like, well, any other pair of white kicks. But every element is symbolic of Augusta’s favorite sammie and this prestigious tournament. The crisp white represents the white bread. Subtle pops of green on the heels and soles are a nod to The Masters’ signature color, seen most visibly on the coveted green jacket awarded to the tournament’s victor. But it’s only when you get inside the shoe that you can really see the inspiration: a pile of pimento sandwiches printed on the cushioned sockliners. Not leaving any detail untouched, the shoes come in a green bag, mimicking the straightforward packaging of the pimento sandwich.
Priced at $180, the shoes are a little more expensive than the $1.50 sandwich. But for Masters fans and pimento enthusiasts, snagging one of the 100 available pairs will be just as satisfying as enjoying this classic sandwich on the Augusta National course. They officially go on sale April 3 at adidasgolf.com.
Feature Photo Credit: Adidas Golf
Rachel E. McLean
Rachel is an editorial intern at culture for Spring 2017. She is Junior at Boston University studying Journalism and Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Known as "the cheese queen" among friends, she's had a passion for fromage from a young age.
