This golf season, you may be wondering how to make your golf clubs look as good as new. If this is the case, then read on!
You may have hit a ball really hard or you may have done something really dumb on the course. In either case, your golf club may have sustained some damage. Regardless of the cause, when it comes to golf clubs the phrase ‘green mat’ may pop up. (For the sake of this article, we will assume you mean the plastic strip on the floor of the putting green rather than a police officer or prison guard.)
The problem is that the green mat has built up a thin layer of green algae over the years. If you are worried about your golf clubs not looking as good as new, then you need to remove the green mat. Thankfully, this is quite easy to do.
All it takes is a simple 15-minute home cleaning session. During this time, you will remove all of the mats from the golf club head and the grip. (It is advisable to do this before you play with the clubs, otherwise you may end up removing the protective coating from the head of the club.)
When you are done, give the clubs a good cleaning and dry them thoroughly. Now you can hit the links with confidence!
Table of Contents
Take Out The Strips Of Pet Hair
If your dog has recently groomed himself, then there is a good chance that a bit of hair has been shed onto one or more of your golf clubs. It is very easy for our furry friends to shed hair, particularly if they are nervous or unsure of a new environment. (This is also why you should always take your dog for walks on a short piece of lead.)
When you get home from a round of golf, immediately remove the golf club from the bag and remove the green mat. It is preferable to do this outside, in the fresh air. After taking out the green mat, you should inspect the club closely for hairs on the surface. If you find any, then give the surfaces a good brushing to remove as much of the hair as possible. (Do not use a vacuum cleaner as it may end up removing the protective coating from the surface of the club.)
Once the surface hair has been brushed off, rehang the golf club bag and let your golf clubs rest until the next time you use them. (It is advisable to do this even if you have not noticed any hair on the surface of the club.)
To prevent your golf clubs from getting any more hair brushed or vacuumed off, you should always store them in a clean environment. This means that it is preferable to store them in the garage or storage shed and keep them away from any animal and natural elements such as soil or sand. (This is also why it is preferable to store golf clubs outside of the house rather than inside.)
Wash The Club Heads And Grips In Soda Walther
Soda water is ideal for cleaning many surfaces and is much easier to transport and more environmentally friendly than many other cleaners. It is also a relatively inexpensive and common household item. (All you need are the ingredients: sugar and water.)
To clean your golf clubs, pour a small amount of soda into a bowl, then dip the club head and the grip in the soda. Once the soda has been absorbed into the surface, wipe it down with a cloth or dryer sheet.
The key here is to make sure that your hands are completely clean. A small amount of soda on your hands will not cause any harm, but it will prevent you from reusing the same hands to clean other items. After cleaning your clubs with soda, let them air dry before reusing them. This will ensure that the soda does not dry out and become sticky again.
Soda is not meant to be ingested, so make sure that you do not drink it while it is still in contact with your skin. Some people, however, claim that it is healthy to drink soda occasionally, particularly when washing down food. The key, again, is moderation.
Blow The Heads Of Your Clubs
Another way to clean your golf clubs is to use a hairdryer on them. After you have washed and dried them, you should pop the heads of your clubs in the hairdryer to remove any residual moisture. (Do not put the shafts in the hairdryer as this may cause damage.)
Once the heads of your clubs have been dried, they should be stored in a cool, dark place until the next time you use them. This is important to retain maximum shine and prevent the rusting of the iron.
When you are storing your golf clubs, make sure that they are clean and well-maintained. This means storing them in a cool, dark place and regular cleaning.
Use A Brush
A better and more environmentally friendly way to clean your golf clubs is to use a brush instead of a cleanser product. Simply dip the brush into a tank of water and then into a container of nail polish. (Do not use an oil-based product for this, as it will strip away the protective coating on the surface of the club.)
Once the brush has been saturated with nail polish, wipe it down with a clean cloth or dryer sheet to remove any excess moisture. Finally, rehang the golf club bag and let your clubs rest until you use them again. (It is advisable to do this even if you have not noticed any hair on the surface of the club.)
The above methods will not remove all of the hair from your golf clubs, particularly if you have large ones. These methods may also remove some of the protective coating from the head of the club. In either case, it is advisable to replace this coating before you play with the club.
Lube The Irons
Most golfers will agree that the irons are the most important part of any set of clubs. These club heads are what you will hit the ball with and, as a result, they will determine how well you perform on the course. (It is also why the irons are sometimes called ‘pennies’.)
To retain maximum performance from your irons, it is advisable to avoid all friction when playing with them. This means avoiding all contact between the clubs and the ground as much as possible while still maintaining full control of the ball. The best way to do this is by regularly lubing your irons.
To properly lube your irons, you should use a thin layer of oil, such as vegetable or synthetic oil. It is preferable to use the vegetable oil as it has a longer shelf life than many other types of oil. (Do not use any oil that has been infused with dusting powder or detergents, as these will affect the performance of your club.)
Once you have applied the oil to the surface of your iron, wipe it down with a clean cloth or dryer sheet to ensure that none of the oil is left on the surface. (Do not use a brush for this, as it will remove some of the coating on the iron.)
Do not apply oil to the sole of the club, as this is where the rubber ball meets the ground and a small amount of oil on the sole will affect the flight characteristics of the club. (Try out different oils to see which one works best for you.)
Clean The Greens
When you are storing your golf clubs, it is preferable to clean the greens, otherwise they will become sticky and cause you to trip or fall while playing. (This also means that water should not be allowed to remain on the surface of the green for very long.)
For this, you will need a small, stiff brush and a cleaning product with green paint remover built into it. Simply dip the brush in the product and then in some water, then wipe down the green as usual. After the wash, let the greens air dry before playing again. (It is preferable to do this outside, away from the house.)
These cleaning products are generally inexpensive and are available from most home stores and online retailers.
Check The Connectors And Washers
Home repairs and maintenance should never be underestimated, particularly when it comes to your expensive golf clubs. As a result of many years of use and close to limitless power, your golf clubs will inevitably develop a crack or two on the surface. (Or, more likely, a few! As they are made of metal, it is quite possible for them to break.)