Skip to content 
A dirty club or ball can ruin a perfect shot. Using the wrong towel just smears the dirt around, making things worse. Choosing the right golf towel is a simple fix.
To choose the right golf towel, focus on three things: fabric, size, and features. A waffle-knit microfiber towel is best for cleaning club grooves. A size around 16×19 inches is ideal, and it must have a grommet or loop to attach to your bag.
Choosing a towel seems simple, but the details make a big difference on the course. I’ve spent years in the textile industry, helping brands launch products that perform. The right golf towel isn’t just an accessory; it’s a piece of equipment. Let’s break down exactly what you need to look for. This will help you make a smart choice for your game or for your brand’s next product line.
What type of towel is best for golf?
There are so many towel types out there—cotton, microfiber, waffle weave. Picking the wrong one means it won’t clean well or will stay wet and heavy all day.
Waffle-knit microfiber towels are usually the best choice for golf. Their textured surface cleans club grooves effectively, and they are highly absorbent yet quick-drying. This combination gives you the best performance for cleaning clubs, balls, and your hands on the course.
When we guide brands at TowelTrend, the conversation almost always starts with the material. The choice between microfiber and cotton is a big one, as it affects both performance and the feel of the product. A golf towel needs to do more than just absorb water; it needs to scrub. This is where the weave of the fabric comes into play.
Material Breakdown
The texture of a waffle weave is its biggest advantage. The small, recessed squares are perfect for trapping and removing dirt, sand, and grass from the tight grooves of a golf club. A standard flat towel can’t do this. It just moves the debris around. From a manufacturing standpoint, I’ve seen that high-quality microfiber holds its structure and cleaning ability wash after wash. While classic cotton terry towels feel soft and luxurious, they can leave lint behind and take much longer to dry.
Here is a simple comparison:
| Material | Key Advantage | Best For | Main Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microfiber Waffle | Superior cleaning power | All-around performance | Can feel less "plush" |
| Cotton Terry | Soft feel, high absorbency | Premium/luxury brands | Dries slowly, can shed lint |
| Blended Fabric | Balanced performance | Cost-effective options | A compromise on all fronts |
For brands focused on pure performance, I always recommend a waffle-knit microfiber. For those targeting a high-end, classic golf aesthetic, a premium, low-lint cotton can work well.
What is the best size for a golf towel?
A towel that is too big drags on the ground. A towel that is too small is useless after cleaning one club. It can be a frustrating problem on the course.
The most common and practical size for a golf towel is around 16×19 or 16×24 inches. This size is large enough to have separate wet and dry sections but compact enough to not interfere with your clubs or walking when clipped to your bag.
After helping countless brands decide on product specs, I can tell you that size is as important as material. If the towel is not practical, it won’t sell. A golfer needs something that works without thinking about it. The size should be a perfect balance between having enough surface area to be useful for an entire 18-hole round and not being so large that it becomes a nuisance. The standard tri-fold design, which hangs neatly from a clip, became popular for a reason—it works.
Common Golf Towel Dimensions
The right size often depends on the golfer’s preference, but there are industry standards that serve as a great starting point. When a new brand comes to us, we usually start the conversation with the standard bag towel. It’s the most versatile and has the widest market appeal.
Here’s a look at typical sizes and their uses:
| Towel Size (inches) | Common Name | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 x 18 | Caddie Towel | Attaching to bag | Compact and lightweight |
| 16 x 24 | Standard Bag Towel | All-purpose use | Ideal balance of size & function |
| 17 x 20+ | Tour Towel | Caddies, push carts | Maximum cleaning surface |
For most direct-to-consumer brands or private labels, the 16×24-inch size is the sweet spot. It allows you to create a product that aligns with customer expectations. It’s large enough to be screen-printed or embroidered with a nice-sized logo, and it delivers the functionality that keeps golfers happy.
What’s the difference between a golf towel and a normal towel?
You might think any old towel from your house will work for golf. But a regular bath towel is bulky, sheds lint, and doesn’t clean club grooves very well.
The main differences are the weave, size, and features. Golf towels often have a textured or waffle weave to scrub grooves. They are smaller and include a grommet and clip for easy attachment to a golf bag, which a normal towel lacks.
The difference is all about purpose-built design. A bath towel is made to do one thing: absorb a lot of water from your skin. That’s it. A golf towel, on the other hand, is a multi-tool. It has to clean, scrub, absorb, and dry, all while being conveniently attached to a bag. I’ve been in the textile business since 2004, and I’ve learned that products designed for a specific job always outperform generic ones. A golf towel is a perfect example of this principle.
Purpose-Built Design Features
The features that separate a golf towel from a regular one are not accidental. They are the result of understanding what a golfer actually needs during a round. The fabric weave is the most important. As I mentioned, the waffle weave provides scrubbing power. The deep pockets in the fabric grab dirt and sand in a way the soft loops of a bath towel never could. The material itself, usually microfiber, is also chosen for its ability to hold water in one section while another part of the towel stays dry. Finally, the hardware is essential. A built-in grommet and carabiner clip are not just add-ons; they define the product. A towel you have to tuck into a bag pocket is a towel that will get lost or left behind. The clip makes it part of the gear.
Are you supposed to wet your golf towel?
You see other golfers with damp towels, but you are not sure why. Using a completely dry towel won’t clean mud off your clubs, but a soaking wet one just makes a mess.
Yes, it is best to wet your golf towel before a round. The recommended method is to get the bottom half of the towel wet and leave the top half dry. This lets you scrub dirt with the wet part and then wipe the club or ball dry with the other part.
This simple trick is one of the biggest game-changers for getting the most out of your towel. It’s a technique that seasoned golfers use, but not everyone knows about it. When we develop towels for brands, we design them with this exact use in mind. An effective golf towel needs to be absorbent enough to hold water without dripping but also have a texture that works well for both wet scrubbing and dry polishing. It’s a functional detail that separates a great golf towel from an average one.
The Wet & Dry Method
The beauty of this method is its simplicity. Before you head to the first tee, just run the bottom third or half of your towel under a faucet. Wring it out well so it’s damp, not dripping. Now you have a dual-purpose tool for the entire round.
Here is how you use it on the course:
- Cleaning Your Clubs: After a shot from the dirt or wet grass, use the damp section to wipe away all the mud and debris from the club face. Get right into the grooves. Then, use the dry section to wipe the club completely clean. This prevents rust and ensures you have a perfect club face for your next shot.
- Cleaning Your Ball: On the green, a little bit of dirt can throw off your putt. Use the wet part of the towel to clean the ball perfectly, then use the dry part to wipe it before you place it back on the green.
- Cleaning Your Hands and Grips: Use the dry section of the towel to keep your hands and the grips of your clubs dry. This is especially helpful on hot, humid days or when it’s raining. A dry grip gives you much better control.
Conclusion
Choosing the right golf towel is easy. Pick a waffle-weave material, get a practical size like 16×24 inches, and always use the wet-and-dry method on the course for best results.
