How to make your golf clubs last as long as possible

It's nice, obviously, to get a new set of golf clubs. Unless you're lucky enough to buy a new set every year or two, you'll want them to last. So here's some advice on making your new set last for many rounds in the future.

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(Yeah, some items will seem obvious. But it's useful to be reminded.)

Clean them regularly:  (This is the most obvious, but also the most important. I'll confess to leaving post-round dirt on my clubs till my next round. I'm trying to be better.)

Dirt, sand, and debris left on a club can damage the finish, perhaps cause rust, and degrade the grooves. Ideally, carry a wet towel and a club brush when you play and wipe each club after you hit. Then do a more thorough cleaning after your round, but BEFORE you throw them in the car – otherwise you'll probably forget.

Don't leave them in the car. (I'm guilty of this sin.) Extremes in temperature can be damaging to grips. Better to store them in a cool, dry place.

Keep the grooves dirt-free. Use a tee to remove dirt post-round, then at least every month or so invest the time in using a real groove-cleaning tool.

Get a golf bag with 14 separate club openings. Your clubs won't bang into each other as much as with a big that has only a few openings for 14 clubs. Ideally, you want a bag that has dividers that go all the way to the bottom.

Don't carry your clubs, use a push cart. If you prefer to walk than ride a power cart, use a push cart rather than tote your bag on your shoulder. While carrying carries some cache and marks you as an old-school (probably good) golfer, your clubs will bang against each other as you walk. A push cart will be gentler on them.

Curb your temper. Not only will throwing a golf club, or banging it on the ground, in anger make you look like a hothead in front of your friends, you might damage it. Maybe think about how much it will cost to repair or replace the club ($100+ for an iron, several hundred bucks for a driver) before you toss it.

Use club covers. I'm not going to tell you to use iron covers, but do use covers for your driver and fairway woods. Unless the sight of scratches doesn't bother you.

Travel smart:  If you travel with your golf clubs, invest in a hard-shell travel case to protect them from careless baggage handlers.

Regrip regularly:  Grips won't last as long as your clubs, so considering getting new grips every couple years or so. Maybe you won't be tempted to spend money on new clubs quite so often.

Think about trade-in value. When it comes time to purchase new golf clubs, you'll thank yourself if you kept excellent care of your old clubs. They'll be worth more as trade-ins.