For anyone living in Ireland, the nights are drawing in fast -as you may already be aware! Unfortunately for Golfers this tends to mean the end of the season, it’s not particularly their most enjoyable time of year because late Autumn tends to mean damp, cold, frost and rain as well as dark nights- all of the things that impacts on playing a game of golf and so, therefore, it may be time to pack up until next year.
Many Golfers tend to store their clubs away in November; however, this has to be done with utmost care- if you intend on keeping them in the best form ready for the next season! Storing golf clubs alongside other items is particularly concerning because as all Golfers know full well, their equipment are precision pieces and need quality care to maintain their condition. Golf clubs have to be transported carefully and stored in the best environment they can so that these expensive pieces of equipment are in the best possible shape, ready for use.
Time in storage
Golf Clubs will spend an awful lot of time in storage because aside from the out of season period, they are not generally used often, certainly not daily and oftentimes only weekly at most. Although many may not be aware of it, harsh weather conditions can be damaging to golf clubs, damp and cold can be detrimental as much as humidity and heat, so getting the conditions right-within the environment of the storage- is extremely important.
Fortunately, golf clubs can be properly cared for and stored appropriately so that the inevitable never happens; it just requires some basic methods of cleaning clubs efficiently and placing them into a climate-controlled space. And for those who are struggling to find the right kind of environment for this, then a self-storage unit may be just what you need, as it ticks all of the boxes!
Cleaning before storing
After a long hard season on the Golf Course, I think it’s safe to say those clubs deserve a well-earned break but not before a good clean up! Those clubs need a good soak and not just a quick a rinse at the Gold course because chances are the golf course cleaning buckets contain traces of fertilizer, this may not be of concern if you are using the clubs regularly, but for long-term storage, fertilizer traces can lead to rusting.
End of season cleaning needs to be a little more thorough, here’s what we recommend;
- A bucket of soapy water, washing detergent will do, soak clubs so that only the heads are completely submersed and allow time to soak.
- Wipe down the heads of the wood clubs with a soapy wet rag.
- Wipe down shafts and grips, removing all traces of dirt.
- Scrub club heads with a soft brush; a toothbrush works well!
- Focus on the striking surface as it’s the ball contact point and tends to gather debris and dirt.
- Focus on the ferrule- the plastic that coats the union between the club’s head and shaft-again. It usually attracts the most debris.
- Once you are satisfied that the cleaning is completely done, make sure that every inch of the clubs is entirely dry because any damp or leftover moisture and residue can lead to rust.
- Milled putters/unplanted carbon steel wedges may need some baby oil or Vaseline spread over their surface before going into the headcover as it helps to maintain condition by deterring rust.
- If the environment for storage is particularly salty such as by the sea, it may be worth rubbing down the shafts with chrome cleaner or gauge steel, prior to storage.
Packing ready for storage
Fortunately, golf clubs come with suitable packing, aka their storage bags. Golf bags are designed to safely house clubs when not in use, they are generally padded and able to protect against water spills however they do need to be stored flat, and be free of any pilling, so never store them and pile things on top of them afterwards as it can be rather damaging to clubs. Always use the rain cover for long-term storage- as an added precaution-but try to avoid anywhere, that is at risk of getting wet. If you plan on putting you clubs into long-term storage (such as self-storage where they are going to be stored with other items) you could take extra precautions by putting the whole set-bag included-into a box, however this is only for safety reasons, not for environmental conditions, since many self-storage units are climate controlled and free of moisture and damp.
Suitable storage solutions
The most ideal conditions to store golf clubs long-term needs to be free from moisture, damp as well as humidity; otherwise, you may be faced with unexpected consequences come next season, which is a huge price to pay. These very delicate pieces of equipment may pack a punch on the golf course, but when placed into unsuitable and rather harming conditions, they soon start to fall apart. Joints and coverings will quickly decay, grips face the risk of splitting, and fraying and metal can rust. If this happens to be continuous season after season, those clubs will not last the longevity of their expected lifespan. Wood is fragile, too; they risk drying and cracking or even expending when not stored in climate-controlled environments, which is why it’s always better to store clubs indoors when not in use. If the option to store in your home is not manageable, perhaps due to lack of room and space, then considering self-storage is probably the best option because these units are safe and can even be fully climate-controlled, allowing you to store your clubs with full peace of mind.
