If you’re serious about your golf game, you need to ensure you store your golf clubs the right way, in order to keep them in pristine condition. Tossing your golf bag on the floor or stashing them in the downstairs closet right after a round can be very tempting, but if you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on your pro-quality golf clubs, you need to give them the TLC they need in order to prevent damage, such as rust, and keep them in peak form.
Key Takeaway: The key to keeping your golf clubs looking new is to store them in a temperature controlled, dry environment. If you don’t plan on playing golf for several months, whether it’s due to the cold winter months, or because you’re injured, your first step should be finding a safe place to keep them. If stored properly, you can easily use the same set of clubs season after season.
There’s more to storing your golf clubs during the winter then just keeping them in the right environment. Clubs must be prepared before they’re stored, otherwise you’re inviting mold growth and rust. So, before you put your clubs away for the season, follow the care tips we’ve included here.
Keep reading to learn more.
Preparing Your Golf Clubs for Storage
After a game or before you store your clubs for the winter, the first step is making sure each club is clean. The grips and clubheads should be cleaned using a rag dipped in warm water. Carefully wipe down the clubheads and grips, removing grease, dirt, dust, and grime. Next, take a thick dry towel and thoroughly dry the club. Failure to do so, especially when it comes to the ferrules, can result in rust. Each club should be completely dry before you replace it back in the golf bag.
The golf bag itself should be stored in a dry, climate controlled environment. Never store your clubs in a room with poor insulation, or in a damp environment, such as an unfinished basement. Wherever you store the golf bag, the room should be free of moisture and humidity. As a last result you can put a rain cover over the golf bag for extra protection.
Keeping your golf clubs in the trunk of your car can be very convenient, but it’s a rookie mistake and definitely one you want to avoid. Storing clubs in a trunk can cause serious damage to your clubs. The humidity and heat in this type of environment can easily cause the clubs to rust. At this point, the clubs will not be salvageable. Not only will heat and humidity cause rust, it can also cause the glue in the handgrips to break down, as well as ruin the epoxy that’s used to affix the clubhead to the shaft.
Heat in a car trunk can easily climb up to two hundred degrees during the summer months.
On the other hand, constant exposure to cold weather can also wreak havoc on your clubs. Daily exposure to cold weather conditions can dry out the grips, causing them to harden and it can also damage the shaft and clubhead.
However, the intense heat or cold isn’t the only reason you should place your clubs in your trunk. If not secured properly, your clubs can get banged up and easily damaged.
Why Can’t I Keep My Golf Clubs in the Garage?
Storing your clubs in some garages can be perfectly okay, but in many cases it can be a poor choice for long-term storage. When stored for a day or two you should make sure the golf bag and each of the clubs are completely dry.
If you plan on storing your clubs in your garage for the winter, you should only do so if you don’t have a moisture problem in your garage. This usually isn’t an issue in newer garages. Remember, high humidity environments can lead to rest. But because the heat build up in the average garage isn’t often a problem, you won’t have to work about resin breakdown like you do when the clubs are stored in a trunk.
Best Places to Store Your Clubs
If you need a spot to store your clubs for a few months or even a few days, the best place is often in the home. You can also store them in another interior location, one that’s temperature controlled and dry. The room should not be too cold or too hot. You don’t want to deal with a rust or mold situation, both of which can quickly overtake a club. Once mold invades the handgrips it’s basically impossible to get rid of for good.
When stored, the clubs should be placed in an upright position in the bag. This will prevent the clubs from getting damaged, dinged, and tangled. This is especially important if the clubs are stored in a closet that you use often.
For extra protection you can purchase covers for your woods and drivers. The covers will protect the clubheads from gouges, dirt, debris, dust, and dings.
Another option, although it’s an expensive one, is purchasing a golf rack. You can find golf racks for sale online or at your local golf store. However, online you’ll find more options.
Storing Your Rangefinder
If you’ve invested in a golf rangefinder and you’ve decided to store your clubs during the offseason, make sure you don’t leave the rangefinder in the golf bag. Instead, the rangefinder should be removed, wiped clean and the batteries should be removed. Models such as the Precision Pro Golf NX7 Pro Laser Rangefinder are very delicate and can easily get scratched or damaged. Instead, store the rangefinder in a dresser or other safe space. The rangefinder should also always be stored in a carrying case, in order to prevent damage to the screen.
For more information on leading golf rangefinders, check out our rangefinder buyer’s guide.
Golf Club Deep Clean
If your clubs aren’t very dirty and generally in good condition, then wiping them down with a wet rag and drying them before storing them should be sufficient. Additionally, there are certain types of clubs that need extra care and should never be cleaned with a basic dish detergent. Other, hardier clubs can easily handle a deep clean and will definitely benefit from the extra care and attention.
So, if your clubs are filthy or you can’t recall the last time they were cleaned, then you’ll need to use a little elbow grease and deep clean the clubs properly before storage.
To deep clean your golf clubs, follow these steps:
First, soak the clubs in a bucket that’s filled with warm soapy water. You can use a gentle dish detergent such as Dawn. When placing the clubs in the water you will only need two to four inches of water, ensuring the water only covers the clubheads. Allow the clubs to soak in order to loosen up the dirt. You do not want to soak any woods. Instead, just use a warm wet washcloth to clean them.
Next, scrub the clubheads using a brush with soft bristles. Most pros recommend using a toothbrush.
Use a soapy rag to wipe down the grips and shafts.
Rinse off the clubheads, then dry them off completely before returning them to the golf bag.
For certain clubs, such as milled putters you can apply baby oil over the clubhead before you store them. You can also apply baby oil on unplated carbon steel wedges. Doing so works to prevent rusting.
During this time you’ll also want to pay extra attention to the grips, taking the time to remove dirt and oil. You can use the same dish detergent and warm water with a soft bristled brush. If the clubs have synthetic grips you can use rubbing alcohol to thoroughly clean the grips.
Upgrading Your Golf Gear
If you’re new to the game of golf, aside from learning how to clean your clubs and how to store them during the offseason, there is plenty to learn including the different golf swings that can improve your golf game and the different types of golf clubs available. If you’re a beginner check out our article on the 14 golf clubs to always carry with you. Most beginners mistakenly believe that the golf clubs that come in the standard golf club set are the clubs you have to use out on the green. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you’ve invested hundreds of dollars in your new golf clubs, then you can never be too careful when it comes to how to store your golf clubs. Clubs that are kept in pristine condition can be used for several years. But once your clubs begin to rust or the handgrips slip or start growing mildew they should be tossed. Remember, keep the clubs in a temperature controlled environment, one that’s not too hot or too cold. Clean the clubs prior to storage, and if possible, use clubhead covers for ultimate protection. And never store your clubs in your trunk.
