How Many Golf Towels Do You Need? A Practical On-Course Guide

If you’re wondering how many golf towels do you need, the practical answer is usually two. I prefer separating dirty cleaning jobs from anything involving my hands or grips.

That simple wet-and-dry system keeps the bag organized without loading it with unnecessary accessories. Below, I’ll show when one towel works, when two are better, and when a third towel earns its place.

How Many Golf Towels Should You Carry?

Two golf towels are the best starting point for most players. Keep one available for dirty equipment and protect the other from moisture.

I like this setup because it solves two different problems. A club-cleaning towel eventually becomes damp, muddy, or covered with grass.

• Casual dry round: One towel can be enough.
• Typical 18-hole round: Two towels provide better separation.
• Rainy or muddy round: Two towels plus one dry backup are useful.
• Hot weather: Consider a separate personal towel for sweat.
• Tournament play: Carry enough dry towel capacity to handle changing conditions.

A golf towel system simply means assigning different towels, or different sections of a towel, to specific jobs. The goal is to prevent your cleaning surface and drying surface from becoming the same wet mess.

For a short nine-hole round on firm summer turf, I wouldn’t insist on carrying multiple large towels. One accessible towel with separate damp and dry areas can work.

Once rain enters the forecast, my approach changes. A towel hanging outside the bag can become saturated before you reach the back nine.

Section Takeaway: Start with two towels. Drop to one for lightweight dry-weather golf, or add a third when rain, mud, or heat creates another job.

What Should Each Golf Towel Be Used For?

The first towel should handle dirty equipment, while the second stays dry for moisture-sensitive jobs. Keeping those roles separate is more important than owning an expensive towel.

What is the damp towel for?

Lightly dampen part of your cleaning towel before teeing off. You don’t need it dripping with water.

• Wipe grass and soil from iron faces.
• Remove sand after bunker shots.
• Clean mud from wedges.
• Wipe a golf ball when the Rules permit cleaning.
• Clean dirt from shoes when necessary.

Clubfaces can collect surprising amounts of debris during damp morning rounds. I find it easier to wipe the face after the shot instead of letting dirt dry in the grooves.

What is the dry towel for?

Keep your second towel as dry as possible. This becomes especially valuable once humidity or rain makes grips harder to keep dry.

• Dry your hands before gripping the club.
• Wipe moisture from grips.
• Dry a clubface after using the damp towel.
• Handle light rain on equipment.
• Keep personal wiping separate from muddy club cleaning.

Store this towel inside a protected bag pocket, under a rain hood, or somewhere sheltered. Leaving both towels exposed defeats the point when rain starts.

Can you clean your golf ball whenever you want?

No. The Rules of Golf allow a ball lifted from the putting green to be cleaned, but restrictions apply in several situations elsewhere on the course.

The R&A Rule 14 guidance explains the exceptions, including certain lifts for identification, interference, damage checks, and determining whether relief is available.

Section Takeaway: Let one towel get dirty. Protect the second towel so you always have a genuinely dry surface available.

Is One, Two, or Three Golf Towels Better?

Two towels offer the best balance for most golfers. One minimizes weight, while three provide more protection during difficult weather.

When is one golf towel enough?

One towel makes sense when you’re walking a dry course and want a light bag. Divide the towel mentally into a cleaning section and a dry section.

The system becomes less effective once the entire towel gets damp. That’s the biggest reason I prefer two for a normal round.

Why do many golfers prefer two towels?

Two towels eliminate the compromise between cleaning and drying. Your club towel can become dirty without sacrificing the towel you need for your hands.

This also gives you insurance against small mistakes. Drop one towel in wet grass and your second towel still has a job.

When is a third towel worth carrying?

Add a third when conditions could overwhelm your normal setup. Golf Digest also recommends carrying extra protected towels for persistent rain.

You can review its broader wet-weather golf bag preparation advice when rain is expected.

Section Takeaway: One works, two are more versatile, and three are mainly insurance against weather or heavy towel use.

More Learn

Are Golf Towels Worth It? Here’s When You Really Need One → Why Are Golf Towels So Thick? The Practical Reason Golfers Use Them →

Does Weather or Playing Style Change How Many Towels You Need?

Yes. Weather, course conditions, and whether you walk or ride can change the ideal number. Your towel setup should solve the problems you’re likely to face that day.

Dry summer golf

One or two towels are usually enough on firm turf. If you sweat heavily, keep personal use separate from the towel touching clubfaces and shoes.

Rainy golf

Rain changes everything because exposed towels eventually stop functioning as dry towels. I pack at least one spare somewhere protected before a wet round.

• Keep the cleaning towel accessible outside the bag.
• Protect the grip towel from direct rain.
• Seal the backup towel in a dry compartment or waterproof bag.
• Rotate towels only when the current dry towel becomes too wet.

Muddy or sandy conditions

A dedicated equipment towel becomes more useful when every approach shot leaves dirt on the club. Keep that grime away from your hands and grips.

Walking versus riding

Walking golfers usually care more about weight and anything dangling from the bag. One medium towel plus a compact protected towel is plenty for many walkers.

Cart golfers have more storage freedom. Carrying a third rain towel is less noticeable when you’re not carrying the bag for every hole.

Competitive rounds

A competition is the wrong time to discover your only towel is soaked. I would rather carry one small backup than spend several holes searching for a dry corner.

Section Takeaway: Match towel quantity to conditions. Two remain the default, while bad weather is the strongest reason to carry more.

What Size, Material, and Placement Work Best?

A useful towel must be large enough to clean equipment without dragging on the ground. A second towel can be smaller because its main job is staying clean and dry.

What size should your main golf towel be?

Around 16 by 24 inches is a practical reference size for many golf towels. Larger caddie-style towels give you more surface area but create extra bulk.

The PGA Shop, for example, lists a current championship tri-fold towel at 16 by 24 inches. That gives you a useful real-world reference rather than treating towel dimensions as standardized equipment rules.

Is microfiber or cotton better?

Both materials can work well. The more important question is whether the towel handles its assigned job.

• Microfiber: Lightweight and practical for cleaning.
• Waffle microfiber: Textured surface helps work around grooves and clubfaces.
• Cotton terry: Familiar feel with plenty of moisture-absorbing surface.
• Dual-texture designs: Useful when you want different surfaces in one towel.

Golf Digest’s golf accessory coverage also highlights towels as a basic bag accessory and discusses textured designs for club cleaning.

Where should golf towels go on the bag?

Keep the dirty towel where you can reach it without opening a pocket. An accessory loop, clip, rail, or similar attachment works well.

The dry towel needs protection more than convenience. Store it somewhere that limits rain, splash, and contact with dirty equipment.

Section Takeaway: Choose your main towel for access and cleaning surface. Choose your second towel for easy storage and reliable dryness.

How Do You Keep Golf Towels Ready During a Round?

A simple routine matters more than carrying extra towels you never manage properly. Assign each towel a job before you reach the first tee.

1. Dampen part of the cleaning towel. Keep the rest as dry as practical.
2. Attach it outside the bag. You should be able to reach it after every shot.
3. Protect your second towel. Store it inside the bag or beneath weather protection.
4. Clean clubs promptly. Fresh grass and soil are easier to remove than dried debris.
5. Use the dry towel deliberately. Don’t turn it into another shoe or club-cleaning rag.
6. Dry towels after the round. Avoid leaving damp fabric sealed inside your golf bag.

I also rotate towels through the laundry instead of waiting until they smell or become heavily stained. Starting the next round with a clean towel makes the whole system easier.

Inspect clips, grommets, magnets, or attachment loops occasionally. Losing a towel halfway through a round is avoidable if the attachment is secure.

As of 2026, towels remain one of the simplest golf bag accessories available. You don’t need complicated technology to build a useful setup.

Section Takeaway: Give each towel one main role, keep the dry one protected, and reset the entire system after every round.

Golf Towel FAQ

How many golf towels does a beginner need?

A beginner can start with one towel in dry conditions, but two are more practical. Use one for clubs and permitted ball cleaning, while keeping the second dry for hands and grips.

Why do golfers carry two towels?

Two towels let golfers separate wet, dirty cleaning jobs from dry jobs. One towel can remove mud, grass, and sand while the other remains clean enough for hands, grips, and drying equipment.

Should a golf towel be wet or dry?

Ideally, you should have access to both. A damp section helps loosen dirt from clubfaces, while a dry towel helps remove moisture from grips, hands, and cleaned equipment.

Do I need three golf towels?

Most golfers don’t need three for every round. A third towel becomes useful during heavy rain, muddy conditions, hot weather, or competition when having a protected dry backup can prevent problems later.

Can I use a regular towel instead of a golf towel?

Yes. A regular towel can clean golf equipment perfectly well if it’s a practical size. Purpose-built golf towels mainly add conveniences such as clips, grommets, magnets, compact folds, or textured cleaning surfaces.

Can I clean my golf ball with my towel anywhere on the course?

No. A ball lifted from the putting green may be cleaned, but Rule 14 includes exceptions for cleaning balls lifted elsewhere. Check the reason you were allowed to lift the ball before wiping it.

Should I wash my golf towel after every round?

Wash it whenever it’s muddy, heavily soiled, or starting to smell. At minimum, remove damp towels from your bag after playing and let them dry completely rather than leaving them sealed in a dark pocket.

The simplest answer is two golf towels for most golfers: one damp cleaning towel and one protected dry towel.

If you’re playing a dry, casual round, one may be enough. When rain, mud, heat, or competition makes moisture management harder, add a third backup towel and keep it dry until you need it.

Set up your towels before your next tee time and give each one a specific job. It’s a small change, but it makes keeping clubs, grips, hands, and permitted-to-clean golf balls much easier throughout the round.