Keeping Clubs Cool in Car

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By willbrogan

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  • 17 Replies
  1. willbrogan

    willbrogan
    Saint Augustine, Florida

    Hi All,

    New to TT since I just got my new clubs from a fitting that took me from two Titleist clubs in my bag to twelve. I am very excited and find Titleist's quality in all areas to be exceptional.

    Anyway, I thought I'd join the board by asking a question to the Team: I'm a traveling trainer for auto dealerships, so I play all over the US with free time on business trips. These days though, I'm mostly driving throughout Florida, my home state. I don't get to play much when I'm at home, so I squeeze nines in a lot when I'm done with work on the road before I head to the next hotel, etc.

    It doesn't matter much now in the "winter", but my clubs are always in the trunk of my SUV between dealer stores, and are effectively forced to sit in there all day. It's part of what made me need new clubs in the first place, my old irons were breaking at the hosel.

    Anyway, I've done or do the following when "storing" in the car: 1) White SUV, khaki interior to keep heat absorption minimal 2) I put up a Windshield reflector 3) If it's not raining, I'll crack the windows about two inches 4) Park in the shade if I can (this is harder than it seems) 5) I even put the visors down and rotate them to the side 6) I'm considering the deepest legal window tinting as well

    I know that's a lot, but if I want to play, I don't have much choice. Does anyone have any other suggestions to keep these beauties cool and in good shape as long as I can?

    Thanks, looking forward to our interactions,

    WB

  2. MMcgowan

    MMcgowan

    That's a bit of an odd one. I don't really know what else you could do you seem to have it covered. Being from the UK I could leave the clubs in the car all year round and wouldn't encounter your issues lol
  3. dwilliams

    dwilliams

    I’m in uk and have opposite issue with the cold and damp on my clubs!
  4. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Unfortunately golf clubs are not meant nor built to withstand the heat that is within a vehicle out in the sun all day. The temperatures inside a vehicle can be ten to twenty times hotter than on the outside. The will breakdown the glue and melt or crack the hosels. Some SUVs have those rear cargo retractable covers.....they can provide some shade. My 2019 KIA has one, I do not have an issue and my windows are tinted. If I am going to leave my car out more than an afternoon, I take my clubs out of the car.
  5. Peter G

    Peter G

    Military
    10-20? Try up to 50-60 degrees warmer inside a car in some places! Lighter interiors and tinted windows will only help the rate at which the inside heats up (and only by minutes), but does nothing in the end if you have your clubs in the car for hours. The peak temp will still be about the same. One idea is to wrap at least the heads with afoil like insulation blanket. I make home-made wine and they make one that wraps around the jugs that ferment the wine. It's about the right size to wrap around a golf club bag top...
  6. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    Here in the midwest I wouldn't think of leaving club in the car. Hot during summer very cold during winter & all temps in between & even during the week. Like 2 weeks ago 70+ degrees then 2 days later low 40's during the day mid 30's at night.

    I have had friends have hosel's become loose, heads crack on driver/fairways and every single one of them leave their clubs in their cars.

    if you can keep them protected that's awesome, but I'm not able to take that risk myself.


    DM
  7. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    Also being a FL resident, I am an anti leaving clubs in a vehicle person. I don't believe there is any method of relieving heat in a vehicle in FL. That said, I would take the clubs out of the vehicle as much as possible like when you are home or at the hotel. I know this sounds like a pain, but you need to protect your equipment.
  8. No'l

    No'l
    Palmdale, CA

    Sounds like you've done all there is to do while leaving your clubs in the car and I for one commend you for doing all those things- no it isn't easy. Summer heat inside a trunk or back of an SUV can be harsh to the epoxy on the clubs.

    My guess would be to have them in a club glove travel bag for an additional and heavy layer from the heat? I've never done it, but I'm thinking that if there is an extra layer of some heavy material, the temperatures cannot penetrate all that easy directly onto the clubs.

    Hope that helps, and hope you do get to play more often.
  9. Abdon M

    Abdon M
    Northern California (because it's a big state)

    Based on how you describe your situation, I can't think of adding to what you're doing without it being over the top like, storing your clubs with a 5lb bag of ice.

    I'm guessing you have a company car...another option if your employer allows, is to get an electric vehicle which gives you the ability to set the temperature of the cabin while the vehicle is parked. I have a Tesla and it has a "Dog Mode" which keeps the cabin temperature comfortable when I have my pet in the vehicle while parked. One thing to consider, doing this will drain your battery so, a lot would depend on your situation. If your vehicle is parked and charging, it shouldn't be an issue.
  10. willbrogan

    willbrogan
    Saint Augustine, Florida

    I do have remote start capabilities, so I’ve considered starting it from a distance and just letting it run for the 10 minutes that it will from time to time, eating my lunch in it and letting the cool air run and such.
  11. willbrogan

    willbrogan
    Saint Augustine, Florida

    Thanks so much for the replies!

    Just to follow through, I definitely take them out of the car every chance I get (hotel overnight, at home, etc) but obviously some of these scenarios the car in unavoidable.

    I like the “club glove” idea in the sense of maybe taking a cool towel and laying over them or something along those lines.

    Even considered battery-powered fans in the back too.

    Anyway, much appreciated to all!
  12. Abdon M

    Abdon M
    Northern California (because it's a big state)

    It's good to hear that some of the suggestions are helpful. Welcome aboard!
  13. William S

    William S
    TEMECULA, CA

    Military
    I kept knocking the head off my 1 iron. I leave my clubs in the truck 24/7 (Southern Cal including 29 Palms, Palm Springs, and Yuma AZ). Three times the pro shop said it was the heat. Three times I asked why this didn't happen to my 2 iron (or any other club in the bag). The final time it came loose I reattached the head myself with JB WELD Extreme Heat (good to 1000 F/538 C). No problems since. I've never had hosels or heads crack so I have no input with respect to those issues. Question: Are your clubs cast or forged? I would imagine that cast metals would be more susceptible to temperature variations.
  14. willbrogan

    willbrogan
    Saint Augustine, Florida

    Very interesting... I'll keep that in mind should one of the new ones falter. And they're forged, brand new T100s and Vokey wedges I just played for the first time last night. However the ones that kept breaking were cast, png S56, but all damaged at the hosel.
  15. William S

    William S
    TEMECULA, CA

    Military
    Keep in mind that if you do use JB Weld, more likely than not you will NOT be able to remove and replace that shaft.
  16. GKing

    GKing

    Same here. South Georgia. Summers can be as bad as Florida on heat and humidity. I had an issue with a 4-iron one time. Head kept flying off the shaft randomly. Turned out it was the kid at the golf shop not repairing it properly. Once a pro did it, I've never had issues since.

    I've never heard of trying to keep clubs cool in a car. I drive a truck and bought a weatherproof, albeit ventilated, crossover toolbox specifically for keeping my clubs with me at all times and not lose space in the rear seat for customers, friends, and family that may ride with me somewhere. The only concern I had were my clubs rubbing metal on metal, so I lined the toolbox with carpet remnants to prevent that.

    Outside of leaving them in the toolbox, I take very good care of them. Clean after every round, full polish after ever 3-4 rounds. I've never once had an issue with my clubs. Same set for 4 years, and they're cast. They're always dry, always ready to go, and always play as well as I swing 'em.

    Interesting question though.
  17. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military
    Will

    Problem is, you're trying to cool a whole bag of clubs. You can make a custom styrofoam cooler 1 ft by 4 feet and 4 inches deep about the size of the cardboard box clubs come in. Any packing store sells sheets. Gorilla tape it together and put your clubs in it. A few ice packs and off ya go.

    Deno
  18. Amanda S

    Amanda S
    Richmond, Va

    what happens if you keep golf balls in your car for an extended time? do they also get affected or no?

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