Golf Towel Size Guide – Choosing Between Small, Medium, and Oversized
While material and attachment style matter, perhaps the most critical decision is selecting the correct golf towel size. The right golf towel size can streamline your routine, improve your club maintenance, and boost your on-course comfort, while the wrong size can be a constant nuisance. From the compact “hand-towel” style to the tour-preferred oversized blanket, each golf towel size category serves a distinct purpose for a different type of player.
Choosing the optimal golf towel size is not about picking the biggest one available; it’s about matching the towel to your playing habits, typical weather conditions, and personal preferences. A casual golfer playing a quick nine holes in fair weather has vastly different needs than a competitive player walking 18 holes in a drizzly climate.
This article will break down the pros, the cons, and ideal users for small, medium, and oversized towels, empowering you to make an informed decision on the perfect golf towel size for your game.
The Small Golf Towel: Compact and Convenient
Typical Dimensions: Approximately 12″ x 16″ (30 cm x 40 cm)
The small golf towel is the minimalist’s choice. Its primary advantage is its compact and lightweight nature, making it incredibly easy to manage.
Pros:
- Lightweight and Unobtrusive: This golf towel size adds negligible weight and bulk to your bag, perfect for golfers who like to walk and carry their clubs. It won’t get tangled with your clubs during the swing.
- Quick Access: Its smaller profile makes it easy to grab, use, and release with one hand. It’s perfect for a rapid wipe of the clubface or drying your hands before a putt.
- Specialised Use: Many golfers who use a larger towel will still carry a small one as a dedicated “hand towel” to keep it separate from the grime of club cleaning.
Cons:
- Limited Surface Area: The main drawback of this golf towel size is its limited coverage. In wet or muddy conditions, it can become saturated quickly, leaving you with no dry sections.
- Ineffective for Full Club Cleaning: Cleaning a driver or fairway wood head thoroughly can be challenging with such a small towel.
- Who It’s For: The small golf towel size is best suited for the casual golfer, the player who primarily uses a cart, or someone who plays almost exclusively in dry conditions. It’s also an excellent secondary towel for a player who wants a dedicated clean cloth for their hands or glasses.
The Medium Golf Towel: The All-Round Performer
Typical Dimensions: Approximately 16″ x 24″ (40 cm x 60 cm)
The medium towel is the “Goldilocks” option-not too big, not too small. It strikes a perfect balance for the majority of recreational golfers, offering ample utility without unnecessary bulk.
Pros:
- Versatility: This golf towel size provides enough fabric to dedicate different sections for different tasks. You can have a corner for a damp wipe, a section for drying grips, and a main area for cleaning clubfaces.
- Adequate Coverage: It is large enough to properly wrap around an iron head for a thorough cleaning or to dry off a wet grip completely. It can handle a wider range of weather conditions than a small towel.
- Manageable Size: It remains easy to handle and attach to the bag without drooping onto the ground or feeling cumbersome.
Cons:
- Can Be Pushed to Its Limits: In exceptionally wet and muddy conditions, even this golf towel size can struggle to stay dry throughout an entire round, potentially requiring a mid-round flip to a clean side.
- Who It’s For: The medium golf towel size is the ideal choice for the regular golfer. It satisfies the needs of most players who encounter a variety of course conditions. If you only want to have one towel in your bag, this is the most versatile and recommended golf towel size.
The Oversized Large Golf Towel: Maximum Coverage and Performance
Typical Dimensions: 20″ x 30″ (50 cm x 76 cm) and larger
The oversized golf towel is the choice of serious players and professionals. It prioritises function and preparedness above all else, offering a massive surface area for the most demanding conditions.
Pros:
- Unmatched Dryness: The greatest advantage of this golf towel size is its ability to provide a dry surface from the first hole to the eighteenth, even in a downpour. You can fold it into quarters and have multiple fresh sections to use throughout the round.
- Complete Protection: An oversized towel can fully drape over your entire set of clubs when attached to your bag, offering protection from rain, dew, or dust.
- Professional Standard: This is the golf towel size you see on the bags of tour pros. Its utility in maintaining perfectly clean grooves and dry grips is unmatched, which is crucial at the highest level where every shot counts.
Cons:
- Bulk and Weight: The main drawback is its size. It can be heavy when wet and may feel cumbersome to some golfers, potentially swinging or getting in the way if not properly secured.
- Overkill for Some: For a golfer who only plays in ideal, dry weather, this golf towel size is likely unnecessary.
- Who It’s For: The oversized golf towel size is designed for the dedicated golfer. This includes low-handicap players, competitors, caddies, and anyone who frequently plays in wet or variable climates. If you walk the course and need to be prepared for anything, this is the golf towel size for you.
Making the Final Choice: How to Select Your Golf Towel Size
Your ideal golf towel size should be a reflection of your typical golf experience. Ask yourself these questions:
- How Often and Where Do I Play?
- Casual/Range Player: A small golf towel size is sufficient.
- Weekly Golfer (Varied Conditions): A medium golf towel size offers the best balance.
- Frequent/Serious Golfer (All Weather): An oversized golf towel size is a worthwhile investment.
- Do I Walk or Ride?
- Walker: Prioritise weight. A small or medium golf towel size is often preferable.
- Rider: Bulk is less of an issue. You can comfortably opt for a medium or oversized golf towel size.
- What is My Local Climate?
- Dry/Arid: A smaller golf towel size will likely meet your needs.
- Humid/Rainy: A larger golf towel size is almost essential for comfort and performance.
Conclusion: Size Matters, But Having One Matters More
The debate over the perfect golf towel size ultimately highlights the tool’s importance. Whether you choose the convenience of a small towel, the versatility of a medium, or the comprehensive coverage of an oversized model, the critical step is ensuring you always have one on your bag.
The right golf towel size for you is the one that you will use consistently to keep your grips dry and your clubs clean. By thoughtfully selecting your golf towel size, you are making a simple yet powerful commitment to consistency, preparedness, and lower scores.
Alex Smith is the Head PGA Pro at Online Golf Shop. With over 20 years of experience in the golf industry, Alex has a passion for helping golfers improve their game. He shares trusted and authentic advice through tips, tricks, and thorough product reviews—always based on his own experiences and insights. Alex also helps shape our product selection, making sure it’s tailored to every golfer’s needs, helping you find the right equipment and strategies to play your best golf!
