How to Dry Golf Head Covers

A soaked golf head cover is more than just a minor annoyance, it’s a recipe for mold, mildew, and a funky smell that can permeate your entire golf bag. Letting them fester while damp also degrades the material, whether it’s premium leather or that nostalgic knit putter cover. This guide will walk you through the proper, safe methods for drying every type of head cover in your arsenal, ensuring they stay fresh, functional, and looking great for years to come.

Why Bother? The Hidden Dangers of a Damp Head Cover

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Consistently putting away wet head covers is one of the fastest ways to ruin your gear. Here’s what you’re up against:

• Mold and Mildew Growth: A damp, dark golf bag is the perfect breeding ground for mold. This not only creates a terrible odor but can also leave permanent stains and even cause allergic reactions for some players.
• Material Degradation: Moisture is the enemy of most materials. Leather can become stiff, crack, or discolor. Knit covers can stretch, lose their shape, and harbor bacteria. Synthetic materials aren't immune either, as moisture can weaken seams and linings over time.
• Rust and Corrosion: Though high-quality clubs have excellent rust resistance, trapping moisture directly against a metal club hosel or shaft for extended periods is never a good idea. A dry head cover protects your investment.
• Loss of Appearance: You likely chose your head covers because you like how they look. Neglect them, and that vibrant color will fade, that supple leather will harden, and that cool design will be marred by mildew spots.

Before You Dry: A Quick Guide to Cleaning

Trying to dry a head cover that’s caked in mud or grass stains is counterproductive. You’ll just be baking the grime in. If your cover is dirty from a tough day on the course, a quick cleaning is your first and most effective step. The method depends entirely on the material.

For Leather and Synthetic (PU) Leather Head Covers

Leather demands a gentle approach. Think of it like caring for a nice pair of shoes.

• Mix a Mild Solution: Get a bowl of lukewarm water and add just a small drop of mild dish soap or a specialized leather cleaner.
• Wipe, Don’t Soak: Dip a soft microfiber cloth into the soapy water and wring it out thoroughly. You want the cloth to be damp, not dripping. Gently wipe down the entire surface of the head cover to remove dirt and grime.
• Rinse with a Clean Cloth: Use a second, clean cloth dampened with only water to wipe away any soap residue.
• Condition (Optional but smart): For genuine leather covers, a small amount of leather conditioner applied after it's fully dry will keep it supple and protected.

For Knit or Wool Head Covers

These are like a favorite sweater, they can lose their shape easily if handled incorrectly.

• Hand Wash Only: Fill a sink or basin with cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent, like Woolite.
• Submerge and Swish: Place the knit cover in the water and gently swish it around. You can lightly squeeze the soapy water through it, but avoid any aggressive scrubbing or twisting.
• Rinse Thoroughly: Drain the soapy water and rinse the head cover under cool, running water until all the soap is gone. Gently squeeze out excess water, but do not wring it.

For Neoprene or Nylon Head Covers

These materials are durable and can usually handle a bit more of a direct cleaning approach.

• Spot Clean First: Similar to leather, a damp cloth with a bit of mild soap often does the trick for minor spots.
*
• More Aggressive Cleaning: For tougher stains, you can use a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush) with your soapy water solution to gently scrub the affected area. Rinse well with a clean, damp cloth.

The Best Way to Dry Your Head Covers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once your head covers are clean (or if they were just damp from rain or morning dew), this is the definitive process to get them perfectly dry without causing any damage.

Step 1: Get Them Off the Clubs and Shake 'Em Out

This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people just leave their bag in the garage to "air out." As soon as you get home from a damp round, take every single head cover off your clubs. Give each one a good, firm shake to dislodge any loose debris or surface water.

Step 2: Absorb Excess Moisture (The Towel Trick)

For a head cover that’s seriously saturated, you need to remove the bulk of the water first. Don’t wring it out! Wringing and twisting will stretch stitches, damage appliques, and ruin the shape of knit covers.

Instead, lay a dry, clean towel flat. Place the head cover on one half of the towel, then fold the other half over it. Press down firmly to blot the moisture out. For sock-style knit covers, you can even roll it up inside the towel like a sleeping bag and apply gentle, even pressure.

Step 3: Hang or Position for Maximum Airflow

This is the most important part of the drying process. Air is your best friend.

• Find a Good Spot: Choose a well-ventilated area inside your home, a covered patio, or a garage. Avoid direct, harsh sunlight, as this can fade colors and cause leather to become brittle and crack.
• Hang Them Up: The ideal method is to hang the head covers. You can use clothespins on a drying rack or clothesline. Even hanging them over a doorknob, a chair back, or a hook works, as long as air can circulate around the entire cover.
• Prop Them Open: For driver, wood, and hybrid covers, it's a great idea to prop the opening so air can get inside. You can use another golf club, a wooden spoon handle, or even a crumpled-up paper towel (just be sure to replace it if it gets soaked). This prevents the interior lining from staying swampy.

Step 4: Circulate the Air (Optional but Recommended)

To speed things up significantly, introduce a little airflow. Place an oscillating floor fan or a small tabletop fan a few feet away from your hanging head covers. Let it run on a low to medium setting. The constant, gentle breeze will wick moisture away much faster than still air alone, and it’s a lot safer than using heat.

What NOT to Do: The Head Cover Drying Don'ts

Sometimes, what you don’t do is as important as what you do. Avoid these common mistakes at all costs:

• NEVER Use a Clothes Dryer: This is the cardinal sin of head cover care. The high, tumbling heat of a machine dryer will warp synthetic materials, shrink wool and knit covers into unusable shapes, and make leather completely stiff and cracked.
• NEVER Use Direct Heat: Placing your head covers on a radiator, in front of a space heater, or using a hairdryer on them is a similarly bad idea. Concentrated heat will cause the same damage as a clothes dryer. Slow and steady wins the race.
• NEVER Store Them Wet: Again, the minute you get home, get them out of the bag. Leaving them on the clubs inside your bag is locking them in a damp prison and asking for trouble.

Pro Tips for Extreme Wetness and Long-Term Care

Got caught in an absolute downpour? Or just want your covers to last forever? Here are a couple of extra pointers.

Dealing with a Major Soaking

If your head covers feel like they weigh five pounds after a rainy round, the towel-blot method might not feel like enough. In this case, loosely stuff the inside of each head cover with crumpled-up newspaper or paper towels. The paper is extremely absorbent and will pull moisture out from the inside. Just check it after an hour or two and replace the damp paper with fresh, dry paper until it’s only slightly damp, then proceed with the air-drying method.

Preventative Maintenance is Your Best Friend

A little-known tip is to use a waterproofing spray suitable for the material. For fabric or knit covers, a product like Scotchgard can help water bead up and roll off rather than soak in. For leather covers, using a high-quality leather water repellent can work wonders. This simple, proactive step, done once or twice a season, can make drying a non-issue on most days.

Final Thoughts

Properly drying your head covers is a a simple but effective habit that preserves their lifespan, protects your clubs, and keeps your entire golf setup looking and smelling fresh. By following a straightforward process of timely removal, optional cleaning, gentle blotting, and patient air-drying, you ensure your gear remains in top condition for every round.

This kind of simple, proactive care for your equipment is part of a larger mindset of playing smarter, more prepared golf. We believe taking the guesswork out of the small things, like equipment care, frees you up to focus on the big things - like your next shot. It's why we built Caddie AI, to give you that same sense of preparedness on the course. When you have a tricky lie or are unsure about your strategy, you can get instant, expert advice right in your pocket, eliminating uncertainty and letting you swing with full confidence.