It can take years to find golf clubs you feel comfortable using on the green. Once you compile the perfect set, strive to keep each piece in pristine condition because corrosion and wear can affect the way you play. To care for your equipment, here are a few tips you should follow and other practices to stop immediately.

Do:

Store clubs indoors.

You may keep golf clubs in the garage so that you can load them into the car quickly or never have to take them out of the trunk. However, temperatures can get too hot in these spaces, breaking down the adhesive holding the shafts and clubheads in place. These parts can shift while you tee off, affecting your ability to control how the club makes contact with the ball.

The garage and trunk can also be humid, causing the metal to rust. Shots won’t land properly with rust, too. To prevent these issues, keep clubs in a cool, well-ventilated, dry space inside the house, like a bedroom closet.

Keep all components clean.

Wipe down your clubs with a towel after every use. Caked dirt, grass clippings, and sand can alter the iron head’s grooves, impacting how much the ball spins when it’s hit. You should also clean the grips and shafts—dirt and oily residue from your hands can slowly wear the materials. At home, use warm, soapy water to clean the components.

Don’t:

Forget to use headcovers.

Clubs can shift in the bag on the way to the course and bump into each other while you ride in the cart or walk from hole to hole. The driver and fairway woods don’t fare well on bumpy journeys because they have large, hollow clubfaces. These surfaces are vulnerable to dents and nicks upon impact, which will compromise its ability to execute long shots. To cushion the blows, place headcovers on these clubs before you move the bag.

Store damp clubs.

After you wash the equipment at home, go over the shaft, grips, and clubfaces with a dry towel. Remaining water droplets can cause rust to develop on the metal. The moisture can also cause resins holding rubber parts together to deteriorate. When equipment suffers from premature wear, you won’t be able to play at your best.

If you’re looking for a course to put your pristine golf clubs to use, visit the Royal Kunia Country Club in Waipahu, HI. With views of Oahu’s south shore, this country club features a sprawling course that’s challenging for all levels of players. Call (808) 688-9222 to book a tee time, or learn more about their course online.