What’s worse than having brand new golf equipment go bad while you’re out on the course? Knowing that it’s your fault and could’ve been avoided.
As avid golfers or potential golfers, we all know that golf equipment isn’t necessarily the cheapest, most affordable equipment in the sporting world. Taking good care of our equipment is essential to ensuring a great experience when we hit the golf course.
Whether professional, or for leisure, it’s good practice to keep your golf equipment in good condition since your equipment directly affects your performance, comfort, skills, and golfing experience.
Simple ways to keep golf balls in good condition, proper maintenance and storage of clubs, good golf bag care, and even basic maintenance of golf carts, are a few of the topics we explore in this article.
So, take a look at some of our maintenance tips to make your golf equipment last longer.
- You’ve Got The Balls
It can be said that to play golf you need balls – literally. Golf balls can be easily overlooked as being part of your golf equipment.
Contrary to popular belief, golf balls need as much care and attention as the rest of your seemingly more important golf equipment.
Keeping golf balls clean is a basic but important step in golf ball care. Dirt picked up from the course can eventually cake to the golf ball, making it harder to clean, and more importantly, change the physics and dynamics of the golf ball.
So, unless you’re looking for an excuse as to why you’re grossly over par, try to keep golf balls that you plan to reuse clean. Remember, the longer the dirt stays on, the harder to clean.
- Hearts, Spades, Diamonds…CLUBS!
Second to balls, you’ll need your clubs if you plan to have any semblance of action on the course – and yes, we’re still talking about golf.
Club care is almost as important, if not more important, as golf ball maintenance. Admittedly, it’s far easier and cheaper to replace golf balls than it is to replace club. Consider these few points
- Avoid exposure to heat – At all costs, don’t keep your golf clubs cooped up in the trunk or backseat of your hot car baking in the sun. Prolonged exposure to heat can jeopardize and weaken the integrity and materials of your golf clubs.
- Clean your clubs – It’s a good habit to clean your clubs after every few rounds or so. If you feel as though it’ll keep back the game, then after every game is acceptable. Warm, soapy water and a soft brush will do the job. Be sure to towel-dry the club after cleaning.
- Headcovers – Headcovers are great for preventing unwanted “nicks” and “dings” primarily in your woods. Again, a“ding” in your putter is a lousy excuse for ending up in the bunker.
Generally, inspecting your club heads and shafts for cracks, areas of wear and tear, and splits is always a great idea.
- Tee Time
As golfers, we all know teeing contributes significantly to drive shots. So, reusing dirty, broken tees in bad shape is a no-no.
Similar to golf balls, should you opt to reuse tees, basic care such as cleaning tees after games, and avoiding the collection of dirt can lengthen their “lifespan” significantly – giving you more games without having to purchase new ones.
- Bag & Tag
Your golf bag – the first line of self-defense for your golf clubs. Naturally, a golf bag in good condition means golf clubs in good condition.
Always be sure to secure your golf bag when traveling by golf cart. The last thing you need is your bag, with your clubs, banging around between holes, or worse yet, falling off the cart.
Avoid exposing your golf bag to extended periods of moisture such as rain or damp environments. Golf umbrellas or rain covers are great for keeping your bag dry when the weather decides to become uncooperative.
Similar to your clubs, avoid keeping your golf bag baking in the car or trunk. Humid conditions can introduce rust to the contents of your golf bag as well.
When storing your bag at home, be sure to store it in a cool, dry place. Make sure all its contents are dry before storing. Mildew and mold aren’t a good look for the course. Storing your bag in damp conditions can also weaken your bag and lead to some quite unpleasant odors.
It’s always a good idea to have a towel on hand to dry your golf bag and clubs should they get wet on the course. If you reduce the collection mud and dirt while you’re on the course, it’ll make for a much easier clean up afterward.
- If It Fits…
As we both know, your golf gloves protect your hands against unforgiving blisters as well as offer you a firmer grip on your club – no golfer wants sweaty hands (although it’s a good excuse in the event of another bunker shot).
It’s highly recommended you clean your golf gloves regularly since over time, especially in hot, humid environments, gloves can accumulate sweat, dirt, oils, etc. Apart from yet another potential source of unbecoming smells, this too can affect grip.
Warm water, mild detergents, and air drying are the essential elements in cleaning your golf gloves. At all costs, avoid heat drying as this will shrink your glove.
- I Would Walk 10,000 Miles
Why would you ever want to mistreat the things that make you look the coolest? Exactly! Take good care of your golf shoes and they just might outlast you on the golf course.
- Apart from the relatively frivolous idea of them making you look cool, golf shoes provide the comfort, feel, and performance you need when golfing. They can affect your stance, swing and your performance in general.
- Try not to cram your feet in when you’re putting on your shoes. It’s not a clown car. A shoe horn can significantly increase the lifespan of your shoes’ heel counter, diminishing the possibility of blisters and discomfort.
- Avoid storing shoes damp or wet. Air drying them indoors and out of direct sunlight or heat sources does the trick.
- Always remove dirt, mud, grass, and debris after rounds on the course. Clean shoes will naturally last longer.
Similar to your other golf equipment, avoid storing your golf shoes in the hot car, back seat, or trunk, where extended exposure to heat can lead to the breakdown of your shoes’ materials.
Basic tender loving care of your clubs, bag, shoes, gloves, best golf gps and other golf equipment can go a long way and can gain you a few years of faithful service from your equipment.
- Shut Up And Drive!
Okay, so you’ve finally decided to invest in a golf cart. Yes, it was quite a costly investment, but a good one nonetheless. Like your personal vehicle, a golf cart requires some basic preventative maintenance to ensure it’ll be your faithful mule all the way to the 18th hole.
The batteries are the heart of your cart and, just like your motor car, require small but essential maintenance measures.
- Always keep your batteries charged.
- Periodically check connectors, poles, and leads for corrosion.
- Clean the battery terminals periodically with a battery brush.
- Check battery fluid levels and ensure the cell plates are covered with fluid.
If your cart is gasoline powered, ensure that its components such as; spark plugs, filters, belts, and other motor components are adequately maintained.
Always check your golf cart’s suspension and tires. Ensure tires are properly inflated and that the suspension is in good condition. It’s not a bad idea to check the cart’s underside for foreign objects and debris.
The exterior of your golf cart may seem like a non-issue, but it’s equally as important in maintaining your golf cart. For extended periods when you’re not using your cart, consider using a cart cover to avoid its exposure to the elements.
CONCLUSION
Your equipment is essential to your comfort, performance, and overall experience on the course, and once you take these simple preventative measures, you can prolong the life of your equipment significantly.
You never know, good care of your golf equipment could mean the difference between a double eagle, or a day in the rough.
Happy golfing!
Contributed byhttp://www.ubergolf.net/
