Foot pain and swelling on the golf course is usually due to lack of circulation. The feet and legs are the hardest place for the heart to circulate blood to and from. Gravity is pushing down on the body and when you’re on your feet for long periods of time or have circulation issues, blood can pool in the feet to cause pain and swelling. Compression socks essentially act as an additional layer of muscle to compress veins to allow blood to flow at a higher velocity.