Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Dierker.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Skinz Golf started almost by accident. A few years ago, I went on a golf trip with some buddies to Pinehurst and brought along a homemade putter cover I had made from a toddler sneaker. It got a lot of attention. Guys were coming up asking where I got it, how they could get one. That trip planted the seed. I set up an Etsy shop shortly after, just to see if there was real interest. Turns out, there was.
From there, it’s been a slow but steady grind, tweaking the product design, improving the fit and quality, and building a brand that’s equal parts fun, stylish, and a little rebellious. We moved to our own website, changed the name to Skinz Golf, and started to see real momentum. The brand has grown through word-of-mouth, customer love, and a shared belief that golf gear doesn’t have to be boring or buttoned-up.
We’re not trying to be the biggest. We just want to make cool stuff that golfers are proud to have in their bags.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road, but that’s part of what’s made it meaningful.
When we first started, there wasn’t a blueprint or a playbook we could follow. We were making putter covers out of toddler shoes in a way no one else was doing. That meant a lot of trial and error—figuring out sizing, durability, materials, even how to properly ship the product without it getting crushed. Every improvement came from real customer feedback.
Another challenge was getting people to understand what the product was. It didn’t fit neatly into an existing category. So we had to work hard to explain the value, build trust, and stand out without the benefit of a marketing budget or influencer support.
And like any small business, there were moments where it felt like we were doing everything—customer service, photography, packaging, product design. But those struggles have made the wins feel real. We’re proud that we’ve built something different, and that our customers consistently tell us how much they love the product.
We’ve been impressed with Skinz Golf, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Skinz Golf makes bold, sneaker-inspired golf accessories—most notably, our handmade putter covers crafted from real toddler shoes. They’re designed to look like iconic sneakers and built to perform on the course. No two are exactly alike, which makes them as much a statement piece as they are functional gear.
What sets us apart is that we’re not trying to blend in. The golf world can be a little traditional and stiff. We wanted to create something that brings personality back to the bag—something fun, stylish, and unexpected.
We specialize in what we call “Golf Bag Swag”—putter covers, alignment stick covers, towels, and more. Everything is designed to turn heads and start conversations on the course.
What we’re most proud of is the response from our customers. Thousands of golfers, a handful of well known celebrities, have added Skinz to their bags, and the feedback is consistent: “Looks even better in person,” “Crazy high quality,” and “Pictures don’t do it justice.” That kind of response makes the long hours worth it.
If your readers take one thing away, it’s this: we’re here to make golf gear that feels personal—gear that reflects your style, your swagger, and your love for the game.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing the product out in the wild—on someone’s bag at their local course or posted on social media with a proud caption. It’s a great feeling knowing something we made by hand is now part of someone’s golf routine, maybe even their favorite piece of gear.
Even better is hearing that it sparked a conversation—that a random playing partner asked, “Where’d you get that?” That’s the whole point of what we’re doing: helping golfers show up with a little more personality and style. Seeing that resonate with other golfers is what keeps us going.
And honestly, building something from scratch, making mistakes, and learning as we go. It’s hard, but it’s incredibly rewarding. That daily progress, even in small steps, brings a lot of satisfaction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skinz.golf
- Instagram: @skinz.golf
