Store your golf clubs indoors over winter, somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Clean and dry everything first, including the grips and the headcovers. Avoid damp garages, sheds and the boot of the car, because cold and moisture are what cause rust, tired grips and musty bags by the spring.
Not every golfer puts the clubs away for winter, and plenty of UK courses stay open all year. But if you're taking a break, or playing less often, a little care now means the clubs come out in spring in the same state they went in.
Where is the best place to store golf clubs in winter?
Inside your home, in a cupboard, spare room or under the stairs. Anywhere that stays dry and at a steady room temperature works.
Golf Pride's grip care guidance is to "store your clubs in a cool dry place away from sunlight", and it lists "a basement, closet, or climate-controlled garage" as ideal. In a UK home, that usually means a cupboard or a corner of a spare room rather than a basement.
In the winter, I keep my golf clubs inside. It's the simplest way to avoid every problem in this guide.
Stand the bag upright, either on its base or on its stand legs, so the clubs aren't leaning on each other at an angle. Keep it away from radiators and fires, because Golf Pride also warns that "long sun exposure and heat are damaging to your grips."
Is it OK to keep golf clubs in the garage or shed?
It's not ideal. Most garages and sheds in the UK are cold and damp through the winter, and damp is what does the damage.
A cold, damp space causes condensation on metal surfaces, and that leads to rust spots on iron heads, wedge faces and steel shafts. Wedges with raw or unplated finishes are especially quick to rust. Titleist's guidance for carbon steel putters says to "never leave your putter in damp or cold atmospheres", and the same thinking applies to the rest of the bag.
Grips suffer too. A damp environment leaves rubber grips feeling slick and tired by the spring.
If a garage is your only option, give the clubs the best chance. Keep the bag off the concrete floor, away from outside walls, and inside a breathable bag cover rather than a sealed plastic one, which traps moisture. Check on them once or twice over the winter.
Why shouldn't you leave clubs in the car boot?
Because a car boot is a sealed, unheated space that swings between cold and damp. It's one of the worst places for clubs over a long period.
After a winter round, wet clubs, a damp bag and wet headcovers all go into the boot together. Left there, nothing dries. The moisture sits against the clubheads and inside the grips for days.
It's also an easy place for clubs to be stolen, and they take knocks every time something else goes in. Take them inside after every round, even if you're playing again at the weekend.
What should you do before putting your clubs away?
Clean everything, dry everything, and empty the bag. Starting dry is what matters most.
Clean the clubs. Titleist's club care guidance says its clubs "can be cleaned with mild soap and water and then dried with a soft cotton cloth." Clear the grooves on irons and wedges with a soft brush, and wipe the shafts down.
Clean the grips. Golf Pride recommends cleaning grips "with a soft brush, soap and water", then drying them thoroughly. Winter is also a good time to look at them properly. Golf Pride suggests checking grips "at least once a year" for wear, and if they're shiny, hard or cracked, the off-season is the easiest time to have them replaced.
Dry the headcovers. Titleist recommends that "your golf clubs and headcover be completely dry before storage", and warns that "storing golf clubs in wet headcovers can lead to rust and corrosion". If a headcover is damp, take it off and let it dry fully before it goes back on. Our guide to cleaning golf headcovers covers how.
Empty the bag. Take out wet towels, old gloves, half-eaten snacks and any balls caked in mud. Open every pocket and leave the bag to air for a day before it goes into storage.
Should you leave headcovers on over winter?
Yes, as long as the headcovers and the clubs are completely dry. A dry headcover keeps dust off the club and protects it from knocks while it's stored.
The risk is moisture. A damp headcover holds moisture against the clubhead for weeks, which is the exact problem Titleist warns about. If you're in any doubt, leave the headcovers off until they've had a full day or two to dry.
A clean, dry headcover on the driver also means one less thing to sort out in spring. The club comes out of the bag in the same condition it went in. Our guide to whether driver headcovers actually protect your club explains why that matters.
What if you keep playing through winter?
Then storage matters between rounds rather than over months. The rule is the same: everything should be dry before it's put away.
Winter golf in the UK means wet rounds. Surface water, rain and mud all find their way into the bag. The key habit is drying the clubs, grips and headcovers as soon as you're home, rather than leaving them for the next round. Our guide to what to do with your clubs after a wet round covers that step by step.
It's also worth keeping a dry towel in the bag at all times, and a spare one in the car.
What should you check when the clubs come out in spring?
Give everything a once-over before the first round, so any problems show up at home rather than on the first tee.
The clubheads. Look for orange spots on the irons, wedges and steel shafts. Light surface marks usually wipe away with a damp cloth and a soft brush. Anything deeper is worth showing to a club repairer before it spreads.
The grips. Feel them in your hands. If they're slippery, hard or cracked after the winter, a clean may bring them back. If it doesn't, this is the time to replace them, before the season gets busy.
The headcovers. Check for a musty smell or any mould inside, which means they were put away damp. Wash and dry them fully before they go back on the clubs.
The bag. Open every pocket again. Check the zips, the stand legs and the straps, which can stiffen after months of sitting still.
Your glove. A glove left in the bag over winter is usually stiff and past its best. Starting the season with a fresh one is a small thing that helps.
Frequently asked questions
Can cold weather damage golf clubs?
Cold on its own does little harm to the clubs. The problem is the damp that comes with it in a garage or shed, which causes condensation and rust.
Should I store my golf bag standing up or lying down?
Standing upright is best, so the clubs sit straight in their slots and the grips aren't pressed against anything. Make sure it can't fall over.
Do I need to oil my clubs before storing them?
Most modern clubs don't need it. Clean them, dry them thoroughly and store them somewhere dry. Raw or unplated wedges are the exception, and a light coat of oil can stop surface rust if they're stored for a long time.
Ready for the spring
A winter of good storage means the first round of spring starts with clubs that look and feel the same as when you put them away.
If you're replacing anything over the off-season, a new driver headcover is a small change you'll notice every round. Ours are barrel-shaped, lined in microfiber velvet and built for drivers up to 460cc, including The Greenside in a woven green and white houndstooth.