Never underestimate the game-changing impact of a good golf towel. Whether sweating up a storm or playing through a light drizzle, golf towels absorb moisture from your face, arms, and palms, remove dirt off your clubheads, grips, and golf balls and keep you and your golf gear as dry and clean as possible.
Can you play well without a golf towel? Sure. But without one, you risk wet palms loosening your grip, dirty clubheads making poor contact with the ball, and muddy balls falling short of the green. That’s why the pros always seem to have a towel in hand!
And as tempting as it may be to toss a hand towel from the linen closet into your bag and call it a day, we don’t recommend it. Like every other type of golf accessory, the golf towel has evolved over the years to provide golfers with certain benefits that no other type of towel can provide — be it high levels of absorbency, surface designs and materials well suited for cleaning, or features that make the towel easier to keep within reach. So, put that hand towel back where it belongs and keep scrolling to find the Best Golf Towels of 2023.
Top towels for golf
Best for performance: Ghost Golf Magnetic Greenside Towel
Best runner-up: Blue Tees Golf Magnetic Golf Towel 4-in-1
Best oversized: CLINCH ‘B.A.T’
Best budget: Mile High Life Tri-Fold Golf Towel
Best for rain: Callaway Rainhood Towel
Best fast-drying: Frogger Amphibian Golf Towel
Best kit: ToVii Golf Towel with Golf Accessories Set
Best trifold: PING Tri-Fold Towel
Best magnetic: STICKIT Magnetic Golf Towel
Best for cleaning clubs: Nike Caddy Golf Towel
How we chose the best golf towels
We scoured the internet high and low to find as many golf towels as possible. Once we had a lengthy list of towels to choose from, we researched manufacturer specifications, including size, material, features, and more, to group towels together into various categories. Then, we referenced customer reviews to see which towels consistently received the best ratings from actual buyers and which ones left golfers out to dry (and not in a good way). When our work was done, each category had its top towel champ!
Best for performance: Ghost Golf Magnetic Greenside Towel
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Benefits
— Strong magnetic hold
— Ultra-absorbent microfiber
— 10 colors with a waffle-weave pattern
The Ghost Golf Magnetic Greenside Towel is designed to stay out of sight and out of mind — but always within reach the second you need it. Customers online described the towel’s magnet as strong and convenient because of its firm hold on metal surfaces and ability to be scooped up with a club in a snap. Professional reviewers have chimed in, too, noting the towel’s durable construction and quality microfiber material.
Its waffle-weave pattern contains deep pockets for cleaning your golf balls and clubs. According to Ghost Golf, the microfiber material can hold up to 400% of its weight in water. While we can’t find any third-party studies to confirm the claim, customer reviews agreed the Ghost Golf Magnetic Greenside Towel is highly absorbent. Honestly, we had difficulty finding any negative comments on this one!
Material: Microfiber | Size: 18 x 18 in. | Clip: Magnet (plus carabiner clip)
Best runner-up: Blue Tees Golf Magnetic Golf Towel 4-in-1
Benefits
— Magnetic strip for easy pick-up and carry
— Built-in scrub brush and groove cleaner
— Absorbent waffle-weave pattern
A tool that tries to do too many things can often fail at doing anything well. According to customers, that’s not the case with the Blue Tees Golf Magnetic Golf Towel 4-in-1. As the name suggests, it has four key features: a magnetic strip for easy pick-up and carry, a scrub brush and groove cleaner to keep your clubs in tiptop shape, and a waffle-weave pattern to absorb moisture and clean gear without leaving residue.
While some customers wished the magnet was stronger, buyers loved this towel’s versatility, praising its absorbency, scrub brush, and groove cleaner. In fact, the relatively weak magnet is the only reason the Blue Tees Golf Magnetic Golf Towel 4-in-1 came in a close second behind the Ghost Golf Magnetic Greenside Towel as our Best Overall pick.
Material: Microfiber and rubber | Size: 18 x 18 in. or 18 x 39 in. | Clip: Magnet (plus carabiner clip)
Best oversized: CLINCH ‘B.A.T’
Benefits
— Large towel for multiple purposes during play
— Micro-fiber cloth material
Because of its sheer size, the Clinch Golf ‘B.A.T’ offers versatility on the course. You can keep one side wet for cleaning and the other side dry to wipe away sweat. The towel’s absorbency and soft feel along with its classic caddie style are just a few of the reasons this towel ranked as our best oversized towel.
Although it only comes in one color, the Clinch Golf ‘B.A.T’ has digitally printed logos on both sides allowing for a change of style with the simple flip of the towel. After your round don’t worry how dirty you get it, this towel is incredibly easy to clean.
Material: Micro-fiber cloth | Size: 20 x 40 in. | Clip: Carabiner snap
Best budget: Mile High Life Tri-Fold Golf Towel
Benefits
— Low price
— Includes retractable brush and groove pick
— Available in a wide variety of colors
The Mile High Life Microfiber Waffle Pattern Tri-Fold Golf Towel is by far the most affordable towel on this list. It comes as part of a toolkit that includes a brush and pick on a retractable cord and clip, giving you even more club-cleaning power for your money.
The tri-fold towel’s microfiber material features the waffle pattern design you’ll find on the other (pricier) towels on our list. But if you’re worried that Mile High Life cuts corners to make its towel more affordable, don’t be; customers highly ranked this towel for its quality and absorbency..
The retractable extension cord that connects the brush to the clip may wear out quickly, but overall, the Tri-Fold Golf Towel is a great kit for the price.
Material: Microfiber | Size: 16 x 21 in. | Clip: Carabiner clip
Best for rain: Callaway Rainhood Towel
Benefits
— Doubles as a bag cover
— Water-resistant outer layer
— Microfiber interior
Looking for a towel that protects your clubs when rain sneaks up on you? That’s exactly what the Callaway Rainhood Towel is designed to do. A golf towel that doubles as a rain hood, the Callaway Rainhood Towel sports an absorbent microfiber interior and a waterproof nylon exterior.
When rain strikes, you simply slip the towel over your clubs (nylon-side up, of course) and secure it to your bag using its Velcro lining. You can clip it to your bag with the included carabiner when you’re not using it as a hood.
Customer reviews called out the Callaway Rainhood Towel’s water protection and absorbency (referring to the nylon exterior and microfiber interior) as top-notch. However, the towel’s small size may not serve as a rain cover for your clubs.
Material: Waterproof nylon (exterior), cotton microfiber (interior) | Size: 20 x 19.5 in. (folded) | Clip: Carabiner clip
Best fast-drying: Frogger Amphibian Golf Towel
Benefits
— Reversible dry/wet inner and outer layers
— Retains moisture on the wet side
The Frogger Amphibian Towel is designed to dry your hands, face, and clubs quickly — no matter the weather. On sunny days, the cotton exterior remains dry while the bamboo interior retains moisture. But on rainy days, the cotton exterior absorbs and retains water while the bamboo interior stays dry. In other words, come rain or shine, you have a wet and dry towel to clean and wipe off your clubs.
A waterproof inner membrane prevents moisture from moving between the two materials and ensures consistently fast drying. Buyers online confirmed that this is indeed a fast-drying towel. While the carabiner clip may start to detach after several uses, the Frogger Amphibian Towel received much praise for its durability.
Material: 100% cotton (exterior), 100% bamboo (interior) | Size: 14 x 14 in. | Clip: Carabiner clip
Best kit: ToVii Golf Towel with Golf Accessories Set
Benefits
— Absorbent and fast-drying material
— 3-pack
— Brush tool and divot repair tool included
The ToVii Golf Towel with Golf Accessories Set comes with not one but three microfiber waffle-weave golf towels, a foldable divot tool, and a brush groove pick — all for a reasonable price.
The towels are designed to absorb water, break away dirt, and dry quickly. If you’re dealing with dirt and mud that’s extra troublesome, the two-sided brush features wire bristles for irons and nylon bristles for woods. And when you need to repair the grass on the course, the divot tool unfolds with a push of a button.
Some reviews noted the divot tool breaks easily, but overall, this set is of great value for the price.
Material: Microfiber | Size: 16 x 16 in. | Clip: Carabiner clip
Best trifold: PING Tri-Fold Towel
Benefits
— Slim tri-fold design
— Webbing loop with snap for fast, secure attachment to the bag
— 3 color options
Want a towel that’s on standby but doesn’t stand out? The PING Tri-Fold Towel sports a slim profile that measures 16-inch width when unfolded (5-inch width when folded) and is constructed from 100% cotton to soak up moisture and dry quickly. Reducing its footprint even more, the PING Tri-Fold Towel does away with the typical carabiner clip in favor of a webbing loop with a snap that’s smaller but arguably just as secure.
Customers appreciated the towel’s sharp look and soft, absorbent material. However, some preferred it came with a carabiner clip.
Material: 100% cotton | Size: 21 x 16 in. (unfolded) | Clip: Webbing loop with snap
Best magnetic: STICKIT Magnetic Golf Towel
Benefits
— Industrial-strength magnet
— Highly absorbent microfiber material
— Towel is machine washable (magnet is removable)
With its 25 pounds of pull resistance, the STICKIT Magnetic Golf Towel will stick to your golf cart or any other object with a metal surface without budging, thanks to its industrial-strength magnet. Simply put the towel near any club or other metal object, and it’ll snap right to it for easy retrieval or storage.
The towel is designed for easy cleaning, with its magnet housed in a patch you can remove before tossing it into the washing machine. Plus, customers routinely confirmed the magnet’s strength and highly absorbent and quick-drying towel.
Material: Microfiber | Size: 15.5 x 12 in. | Clip: Magnetic
Best for cleaning clubs: Nike Caddy Golf Towel
Benefits
— Soft and absorbent
— Safely cleans clubs without scratching
— Oversized for multi-purpose use
The Nike Caddy Golf Towel is designed to clean your clubs safely. That’s why it sports a soft and absorbent microfiber material that removes dirt and mud without scratching. Aside from protecting your clubs, the Nike Caddy Golf Towel will have plenty of its 19-by-41-inch surface left over to wipe the sweat from your hands and forehead.
Some reviewers noted that the texture does a great job getting into the grooves of their irons, while others wished the towel had a carabiner clip, slit, or another method for securing it to their bag.
Material: Microfiber | Size: 19 x 41 in. | Clip: None
Choosing your ideal golf towel takes time
It’s easy to mistake choosing a golf towel as a trivial task. But just like any other golf equipment, a golf towel can impact your play for better or worse. Your shoes, gloves, clothes, and clubs are all tailored to you to bring out your best performance. A golf towel should be no different.
If you’re prone to sweating profusely even in cooler weather, then the fast-drying Frogger Amphibian Towel may be for you. This is an example of choosing a towel based on a physical need. And there are other factors besides physical ones to consider, too.
How to pick the right golf towel for you
Consider the following factors when shopping for your next golf towel. Rank these factors from most important to least important. Then, within each factor, write in your specific preference or need. For example, if you rank “size” as your most important factor. Beside it, write if you prefer a “large” or “small” towel. This will help you narrow down your options until you find your ideal towel.
Size
We’ve covered both ends of the spectrum on this list, from the large TaylorMade Tour Towel to the PING Tri-Fold Towel. If you don’t mind a towel being a bit cumbersome on the course and want the extra surface space just in case you need it, opt for a towel on the large side of the spectrum. If you prefer a towel that’s discreet and easy to handle, go for a tri-fold design.
Attachment
Some towels use carabiner clips, buttons, or magnets to attach to your golf equipment. Other towels have no way to attach to your gear at all. Carabiner clips arguably offer the most secure attachment method due to their simple design and intuitive nature. Buttons attached to a loop can come undone or wear out over time but minimize profile. And magnets can vary in strength but are easy to pick up off the ground using clubs and can stick to places where clips and buttons can’t.
Material
The material of a towel will determine its absorbency, how fast it dries or remains wet, and how well it cleans your clubs. Towels made from cotton are soft and absorbent, meaning they dry quickly and likely won’t damage your clubs. They also tend to be highly affordable. Then there are towels made from polyester microfibers. These tend to cost a little more than cotton towels, but they absorb more water and dry faster. They also attract and pull dirt and other particles from the grooves in your clubs in a way cotton doesn’t.
FAQ
Are golf towels worth it?
A golf towel is a worthwhile investment for golfers of all skill levels. Golf itself is an investment of your time, energy, and finances. Given that towels are relatively cheap compared to other golf equipment, a good golf towel that keeps your clubs clean and your palms dry can be a great return on the money spent.
Should you wet your golf towel?
This comes down to personal preference. However, there can be such a thing as a golf towel that’s too wet. While a wet golf towel can help you stay clean and cool, it can add unnecessary weight to your equipment and even trap heat if it’s too soaked. Our best advice would be to opt for a golf towel that’s mildly damp versus overly wet.
What’s the point of a magnetic golf towel?
A magnetic golf towel carries all the benefits of a typical golf towel but with a couple of added bonuses, including fast retrieval from the ground via a club or another metal object and easy attachment to your bag, clubs, or cart to keep it within reach.
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