When you think of “winterizing equipment”, you wouldn’t normally picture golf clubs. However, as an avid golfer, that’s exactly what you should be picturing.

We are all aware of the importance of winterizing our car tires, the cottage, the boat and our gardens, but nobody ever talks about the importance of winterizing your golf equipment - BIG MISTAKE!

Your golf equipment is built for warm summers spent on the greens, not frigid temperatures spent squished in your car’s trunk.

Do Harsh Canadian Winters Affect Your Golf Clubs?

In short, yes! Canadian winters, as we are all well aware, are quite treacherous. With unpredictable weather changes and harsh temperatures, it’s no wonder we all hunker down inside for most of the winter.

But, as you’re enjoying the warmth indoors, your clubs are usually left to suffer the cold on their own - possibly in the garage or, worse, the trunk of your car!

Although the cold weather won’t necessarily harm the shaft or club heads, it can damage the epoxy that holds these elements together. As temperatures drop, the epoxy can actually dry out, causing the two parts to become disconnected.

The cold temperatures can also cause the grips on your clubs to dry out completely, leaving them hardened and cracked.

In order to prevent this damage and extend the life of your golf clubs, we always recommend that they are stored in a dry, temperature-and-humidity-controlled environment.

Where Should You Store Your Golf Clubs Throughout The Winter?

So, we’ve made it clear where you should not be storing your golf clubs (being anywhere that is cold), but where then should they be put for their long-term hibernation season?

As we mentioned above, anywhere that is both temperature and humidity controlled is normally a good bet.

If your garage is not a part of your home’s heating system, or if it is normally quite damp or even quite dry, this is not a good place to store your golf equipment.

For best results, we recommend bringing your equipment inside with you for the duration of the winter season.
 

But Wait! Before You Pack Your Equipment Away, Don’t Forget To:

1. Clean Your Equipment.

Unless you want to open your golf bag up in the spring to find rusty shafts, smelly gloves, mouldy pockets and caked-on mud all over your club heads, we recommend giving everything a thorough cleaning.

• Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water (use a soap that won’t cause surface rust over time - ie. dish soap).
• Place irons in water and let them soak (about 5-10 minutes to loosen the grime).
• Scrub the club heads with a soft-bristled brush - don’t forget to get right into those grooves!
• Rinse with clean (non-soapy) water- be sure to rinse away all the soap suds.
• Using an old towel, dry off the clubheads first and then drag the towel up the shaft of the club.

If you are cleaning wood/hybrid golf clubs, see Step 6 on our recent blog post.

Did You Know: Dirty golf clubs can actually affect your golf game! The caked-on mud and grass from the year before can hugely impact how your club is going to strike the ball.

2. Check For Damages.

Your golf equipment is, unfortunately, not immortal. There are some pieces that need to be replaced on a yearly basis even, depending on your usage habits, the quality of the equipment and the upkeep of it.

One of the main damages to watch for on your golf clubs are signs of rust. Driver, hybrid, iron or carbon steel equipment all need thorough inspection and care.

To Remove/Prevent Rust On Your Clubs:

• Use a towel to dry the clubs properly.
• In severe cases use WD-40 lubricant to remove rust and protect your wedges and clubs that are made from iron. Don’t use on bag, grips or shiny driver surfaces.

3. Give Your Equipment a Tune–Up.

Other damages you should be watching out for are bent steel shafts, any rattles in your clubs and torn or worn out grips. Instead of sending your equipment to the shop for repairs during prime golfing season, consider having these repairs taken care of during the winter months! This way, you won’t have to miss a single day on the greens!

Winterize Your Clubs, Not Your Passion For The Sport!

Now that your clubs are properly winterized and packed away in a dry, safe place, does that mean that your passion for the sport also has to be packed away?

Absolutely not!

In fact, winter is the perfect time to start investing your time and energy into improving your skill!

Here Are 4 Ways To Improve Your Golf Game This Winter:

1. Work on your grip with golf grip models to enhance your swing.
2. Find a local, indoor driving range. Kingston might be the closest for this.
3. Improve your “short game” by putting at home.
4. Pick up a couple golf books or youtube videos and learn from the pros!

Become A 2022 Member Of Picton Golf & Country Club

Are you eager to get back out on the grounds for another great golfing season? We are too!

By becoming a 2022 Picton Golf Member, you receive:

• Special Membership Promotions
• League and Competition Participation
• 7-Day Booking Advance
• Guest Fee Discounts
• Pro Shop Membership Discounts
• The View Membership Discounts

Become A Member HERE or contact our team for more information at (613) 476-2222.