Many of us study how to improve our game or increase swing speed, but it is also crucial to learn how to clean golf clubs.
But what is the best way to clean golf clubs? And how often should golf clubs be cleaned? We’ve put together the only guide you need on how to keep your golf clubs spotless, so you can easily keep your equipment in top shape.
Why You Should Clean Your Golf Clubs
Cleaning your golf clubs and caring for them properly offers a variety of benefits:
- Higher Resale Value - When properly cared for, golf clubs maintain a high aftersale value. If you plan to upgrade in the future, taking care of your clubs now ensures the highest resale price. Just look at the stories of PGA Pros keeping a stockpile of their favourite irons and selling them for absurd amounts of money.
- Improved Performance — Along with protecting their value, cleaning your clubs can also improve their performance. If a face is caked with dirt and debris, it can lower your accuracy.
- Preservation — Golf clubs are an investment. Proper maintenance can help your clubs last for years and ensure you get the most value out of them.
How to Clean Golf Clubs During a Round
It is important to know how to clean clubs during and post-round. During a round, you only need a damp towel and a dry towel. How to clean clubs during a round:
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Clean Your Grooves
- Wipe and remove dirt from the grooves after each shot using a slightly damp towel, or even a tee, this will ensure that each strike will make good contact and give the right amount of spin. -
Remove any dirt, sand or moisture
- After your practice shots, give the club face and sole of the club a quick wipe, this will ensure there is no dirt, grass or moisture that could affect your next shot. -
Dry the grips off
- Keeping a grip on the club is essential if the weather is hot and you've got sweaty hands or perhaps the wet weather got to it. Grab your towel and give them a quick going over.
How to Clean Golf Clubs Post-Round
Now that we’ve covered a quick breakdown of how to clean clubs during a round, we’ll look at the specifics of cleaning each club type post-round.
To keep your clubs spotless after a round, you don’t even need any special equipment or tools. Most of the items you need are probably already in your house.
Here’s what you’ll need to clean golf clubs:
- Towels
- A bucket of lukewarm water
- Soap (mild liquid dishwashing detergent works well)
- A sponge
- A soft-bristled brush (a golf brush or old toothbrush are great options)
How To Clean Golf Irons
If the grooves on your irons are dirty, the clubface won’t perform as well. To clean your golf club irons:
- Fill a bucket with enough lukewarm water (never hot) to submerge your clubheads
- Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of mild dishwasher liquid or liquid soap to the water
- Submerge the clubheads for 5 to 10 minutes to soften any debris
- One by one, take out each iron and use a soft-bristle brush to gently scrub away any dirt from the front, bottom, back, and the grooves
- Rinse the iron off in the water, taking care to avoid getting water on the grips or shaft
- Dry with a towel
- Repeat with each iron
- Wait a couple of hours before putting the clubs back in your bag to make sure they are fully dry
How to Clean Wooden Clubs
Extra care must be taken when cleaning wooden clubs. Avoid dipping wooden clubs in water or scrubbing them with a brush. Instead, use a cloth slightly dampened with warm water to carefully wipe down the wooden clubhead. Once clean, use a dry towel to gently wipe it until dry.
How to Clean Golf Club Grips
Golf club grips go through a high amount of wear and tear and can easily get worn and dirty. Aim to clean your golf club grips after every time you play.
To clean grips, wipe the entire surface with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
How to Clean Golf Club Shafts
Golf club shafts also need to be cleaned to prevent build-up and grime. Use a damp cloth to clean the shaft before drying it thoroughly with a towel.
How to Protect Your Golf Clubs
Your golf clubs need protection — on and off the course. In between uses, keep your golf clubs safe and help them last longer by following these tips:
- Always keep your clubs covered and out of the weather
- Keep your headcovers on (quality headcover is one of the best investments you can make when it comes to protecting your clubs, especially expensive drivers)
- Avoid placing headcovers on a club immediately after cleaning (allowing the club to fully dry prevents mildew)
- Lay your club up against your bag instead of on the floor to protect it from dirt
- Put the head cover back on your driver after every shot
Additional Ways to Clean Golf Clubs and Keep Your Gear Protected
Now that we’ve covered how to clean clubs, we’ll look at some frequently asked questions about golf club care.
How Often Should I Clean My Golf Clubs?
How often you clean your golf clubs depends on the type of conditions you play and how frequently you play. In general, it is recommended to clean your golf clubs at least once every few rounds.
If you play a course on a muddy or rainy day, it is important to clean the dirt and debris off before storing your clubs back in your bag. Clubs should also be cleaned before you store them away at the end of the season.
How Can I Protect My Golf Clubs in the Rain?
Getting caught in rain on the golf course is inevitable. While golf clubs are meant to withstand variable weather conditions, extra care is needed if your clubs are exposed to wet or muddy environments.
If your clubs get wet during a round, clean and wipe them down post-round and allow them to dry for several hours. Empty your golf bag out to allow it to fully dry as well.
How Should I Travel with Golf Clubs?
- Choose a golf travel bag that is the right size - you want it to be big enough to comfortably store your gear but not so big that clubs can shift around easily.
- For extra protection, remove the heads off of your woods and driver to reduce the risk of breakage (take a picture of the settings with your phone to make it easy to replicate the settings when you put the heads back on)
- Keep head covers on during travel
- Consider buying a stiff arm if you don’t want to remove the heads
- After you remove the clubheads, place your clubs in your bag upside down to protect the shaft’s lower section
- Use clothes, towels, or shoes to strategically fill any empty spaces to prevent your clubs from shifting around and banging into each other
How Do I Remove Rust from a Golf Club?
The process of how to remove rust off golf clubs is quite simple. Apply a small amount of vinegar to a cloth and use it to gently remove any rust or residue off the shaft. Then, use a damp cloth to rinse away any vinegar residue and dry your club thoroughly.
Need More Tips on Caring for Your Golf Clubs?
With the right care, golf clubs are an investment that can last for many years. If you need more tips on cleaning golf clubs, please reach out to our team.
As golf enthusiasts, we know the importance of caring for golf equipment. Our small team is dedicated to handcrafting the best head covers in Australia at affordable prices so you can protect your investment and focus on enjoying the game.