Casual Relief

Every duffer knows there's more to spoiling a good walk than a John Feinstein book. If your white wing tips leave your dogs barking, and they just can't take any more six-mile hikes through mud and goose poop, perhaps a pair of golf sandals is what you require. Made by Bite, of Redmond, Wash., they are the hacker's equivalent of Seinfeld's Himalayan Walking Shoe—made first for walking and then for playing golf. The sandals, which have oversized outsoles, are available in two tread designs, one with rubber "claws," the other with standard removable plastic spikes.

The sandals made their debut on the PGA and Senior PGA tours. In January, Paul Stankowski became the first Tour player to wear Bite footwear. While Stankowski doesn't wear the sandals every time he plays, Senior tour rookie Howard Twitty, who has a history of foot problems, does. In fact, some of Twitty's peers have taken to calling him Moses.

The claw sandals sell for $69.95, while men's and women's spikes go for $79.95 and $74.95 a pair, respectively. For more information contact Bite at (888) BITEGOLF (248-3465) or check out the company on the Web at www.biteshoes.com.