Why Do Golf Towels Have a Slit or Hole in the Middle?

I remember the first time I used a large caddie-style towel with a slit through the middle. At first glance, it looked like someone had accidentally cut a perfectly good towel.

Once I put it over an alignment stick in my bag, the design made immediate sense. In this guide, I’ll explain what that opening does, how I use it, and when I prefer it over clips, grommets, and magnets.

What Is the Slit in a Golf Towel For?

The center slit is mainly an attachment and positioning feature. It lets the towel sit over a club, alignment stick, or similar support instead of hanging entirely from one corner.

This is common on larger player and caddie-style towels. Some golfers call it a center slit, center opening, club slit, or simply a hole in the towel.

Definition: A center-slit golf towel is a golf towel with a reinforced opening near its middle that allows the towel to be draped or secured over a golf club or similar support.

The opening is intentional. For example, Club Glove’s microfiber caddie towel lists a center slit specifically for securing the towel over golf clubs.

I find that setup most useful with longer towels. A large towel hanging from one corner can swing around while I’m walking, while a centered support balances the fabric more evenly.

Is the slit supposed to look unfinished?

A purpose-made center opening should normally have reinforced or finished edges. That helps the fabric resist fraying during repeated use and washing.

If your towel suddenly develops an irregular tear elsewhere, that’s different. A ragged opening with loose threads may be damage rather than a design feature.

• Designed slit: Centered or deliberately positioned, with stitched edges.
• Grommet hole: Small reinforced hole, often near a corner, made for a clip.
• Accidental tear: Irregular shape, loose fibers, or damaged stitching.

How Do You Use a Golf Towel With a Center Slit?

The easiest method is to place an alignment stick or suitable club through the opening. The towel then hangs with fabric available on both sides.

1. Find the center opening. Lay the towel flat so you can see where the slit sits.
2. Choose a support. An alignment stick works well because it can stay dedicated to the towel.
3. Pass the support through. Slide the stick or club carefully through the opening.
4. Return it to the bag. Let both ends of the towel hang outside the bag.
5. Create cleaning zones. Keep one area damp and another area dry.

I normally prefer an alignment stick because I’m not constantly pulling it out for shots. The towel stays in roughly the same position throughout the round.

If you place it over a club you use frequently, you’ll have to move the towel more often. That’s not a major problem, but it can become annoying after several holes.

How I divide the towel during a round

I don’t treat the entire towel as one cleaning surface. Separating it into working zones keeps mud away from the areas I use on my hands and grips.

• Damp end: Clubfaces, soles, grass, soil, and bunker residue.
• Dry end: Final drying after the clubhead is clean.
• Cleaner upper area: Hands and grips when needed.

This setup becomes especially useful on dew-covered mornings. I can clean an iron with one end without turning every inch of the towel into a wet, dirty mess.

Why Do Golfers Like Center-Slit Towels?

Center-slit towels are popular because they make a large towel easier to carry and reach. The benefit isn’t complicated, but it becomes obvious once you use one for a full round.

Both ends stay usable

A corner-mounted towel hangs from one end. A center-slit towel can hang closer to its midpoint, leaving working fabric on both sides.

That makes it easier for me to keep separate cleaning areas. One side can get ugly while another stays relatively clean.

There’s no clip required

Carabiners work well, but they’re another piece of hardware that can break, rattle, or disappear. A center slit gives you an attachment option built directly into the towel.

You can still buy towels that combine a slit with a loop, clip, or magnet. The designs aren’t mutually exclusive.

Large towels become easier to manage

Many center-slit towels use a long caddie-style shape. A large towel gives you far more usable cleaning surface than a compact tri-fold model.

The tradeoff is bulk. A long wet towel can become heavy, so I still pay attention to fabric thickness and how much water I add.

It can stay higher on the bag

Positioned correctly, the towel can sit around the top portion of the bag. That can help keep the ends from dragging near wet grass or dirty cart paths.

Placement still matters. An extra-long towel hung too low can reach the ground regardless of its attachment style.

Section Takeaway: The slit does one simple job well: it gives a long towel a practical central hanging point while keeping plenty of fabric available for cleaning.

More Learn

Why Do Golf Towels Have Different Textures? → Why Are Golf Towels So Thick? The Practical Reason Golfers Use Them →

Center Slit vs Grommet vs Magnet: What’s the Difference?

There isn’t one universal attachment system that’s best for every golfer. Center slits, grommets, clips, and magnets solve slightly different problems.

Here’s how I think about them when choosing a towel for my bag.

I prefer a center slit when I’m carrying a full-size towel. For a small 16-inch towel, a basic clip often makes more sense.

Magnetic towels are useful when quick removal matters. They can be especially convenient around a cart, although the attachment system adds another component to the towel.

For broader equipment comparisons, the Golf Digest equipment section is also a useful place to research current golf gear categories before buying.

Should You Choose a Golf Towel With a Hole?

Choose a center-slit towel if you like large towels and want easy access to both ends. You don’t need the feature simply because you play golf.

Your normal playing conditions matter more than the opening itself.

A center slit makes sense if you:

• Use a long caddie-style towel.
• Carry alignment sticks in your bag.
• Want separate wet and dry cleaning areas.
• Prefer fewer dangling clips or carabiners.
• Frequently clean irons and wedges during a round.

A clip may make more sense if you:

• Carry a small or tri-fold towel.
• Walk and want a compact setup.
• Already have a convenient towel ring on your bag.
• Don’t want a towel sitting among your clubs.

Material matters too. Microfiber, cotton, and blended towels can all work with a center opening.

Microfiber is common because it can combine a relatively light feel with useful cleaning texture. Cotton often feels softer and can hold plenty of moisture, but a large cotton towel may become noticeably heavier when soaked.

Don’t buy by the slit alone

I would look at the whole towel before worrying about attachment style. Size, fabric texture, stitching, washability, and drying time have a bigger effect on everyday use.

The R&A is also a dependable resource when your towel use crosses into a Rules question, such as whether a ball may be lifted and cleaned in a particular situation.

Section Takeaway: A center slit is a convenience feature, not a requirement. Choose it when it fits the way you carry and use your towel.

How Do You Keep a Center-Slit Golf Towel Working Well?

Most towel problems come from dirt buildup, excess moisture, or rough treatment around the attachment point. Basic care keeps the fabric and center opening in better shape.

Wash it before dirt becomes permanent

I wash mine once it starts holding visible soil or develops a stale smell. Letting wet mud dry repeatedly inside the weave makes cleaning harder later.

• Shake out loose grass and sand first.
• Follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions.
• Avoid pulling aggressively on the center slit.
• Let the towel dry fully before storing it.
• Check the stitching around the opening occasionally.

Don’t overload the slit

The opening is designed to hang the towel, not to support other equipment. I wouldn’t use it as an improvised strap for bottles, brushes, or heavy accessories.

Repeated stretching can distort the opening. Once its edge stitching starts separating, repair or replace the towel before the tear grows.

Keep the grip-cleaning area separate

This is the habit I care about most. I don’t use the same muddy patch on a clubface and then immediately rub it across a grip.

Keeping one clean, dry section protected gives you somewhere sensible to wipe moisture from your hands or grips.

Pro tip: If grip condition, club setup, or equipment fit is affecting your swing or causing physical strain, ask a certified PGA professional or qualified club fitter for hands-on guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a hole in the middle of my golf towel?

The hole or slit lets you drape the towel over a golf club, alignment stick, or another suitable support. This keeps a long towel accessible while allowing both ends to remain available for cleaning and drying.

Is the slit in my golf towel a manufacturing defect?

Probably not if the opening is centered and has neat, reinforced stitching. Purpose-made player and caddie towels commonly use center openings. An uneven tear with loose threads is more likely to be damage.

What club should I hang a golf towel on?

You can use a club that won’t make the towel inconvenient during normal play. I prefer an alignment stick because it stays in the bag and doesn’t need to be removed for shots.

Can I put the towel over my driver?

Yes, if the slit fits comfortably and doesn’t interfere with the club or headcover. However, you’ll need to move the towel whenever you use that club, so a dedicated alignment stick may be more convenient.

Is a center-slit towel better than a clipped golf towel?

Neither style is universally better. Center slits work especially well on long caddie towels, while clips are convenient on compact towels and bags with dedicated attachment loops.

Do professional-style golf towels need a slit?

No. Large golf towels can simply be draped over a bag or clubs without an opening. The center slit is one attachment solution that can make the towel more secure and balanced.

Can I use the same towel for clubs, balls, grips, and hands?

Yes, but divide the towel into zones. Keep dirty or damp areas for clubheads and reserve a cleaner, dry section for hands and grips. Only clean your golf ball when the Rules allow it to be lifted and cleaned.

The bottom line: that strange-looking slit in the middle of your golf towel is there for a practical reason. It gives a full-size towel a convenient place to hang over a club or alignment stick while keeping both ends ready for work.

If yours has a neatly reinforced center opening, don’t sew it shut. Put it over an alignment stick for a round, divide the towel into damp and dry zones, and the design will probably make much more sense by the back nine.