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This may seem a very strange thing to write about as a golf technique, but it is often the small things that amateurs don't tend to notice that cause problems in your game.

When I roll up at the Golf Club ready to play a round there are usually a number of folks in the car park getting their golf bags, trolleys and kit out of the back of the car or loading it back in after their round. I consistently notice one thing, it may seem small and insignificant but it will make such a difference to your game. The clubs going back into the car dirty and muddy I can understand - you've just spent a few pleasant hours going round the course and you naturally gather a fair amount of debris and dirt. What never ceases to amaze me is the kit that comes out of the car dirty!

Golf Clubs and balls are highly engineered pieces of equipment these days, and they cost a lot of money. On the grounds of preserving my investment alone I would be making every effort to keep them clean and make sure they are in good condition. Every golf club has grooves of varying shapes and dimensions tooled into the striking surface ' there is a reason for them. Those grooves are there to help improve the quality of the shot, the ball flight, control any number of things but they won't do that if they are full of mud, grass and dirt. The amount of mud I see on some clubs would even alter the angle of the blade so there is no hope of any consistency of shot.

Even keeping the ball properly clean seems to be beyond some players, why do you think there are ball washers on the Tees in most clubs, they are not just an ornament. Most golfers carry a cloth or towel, it only takes a second after a shot to wipe your club if necessary. Do you ever see a Pro's Caddy dropping a dirty club back into the bag?

When you get home from the course, take a few minutes to wash your clubs in a bucket of soapy water and wipe them dry. It takes less than half an hour and your game will benefit just as much as if you had spent half an hour on the range. Just use a soft brush to gently remove any dirt and grit from the grooves on your clubs and check them over for any nicks and scratches that might need to be dealt with at the same time. I just throw my golf balls and tees into the bottom of the bucket and by the time the clubs are washed they are clean too. A few minutes with a towel and they are dry and pristine ready for my next round.

It's good practice to check over your bag at the same time and make sure you have sufficient supplies of everything for next time ' and that it's all clean and that you have removed any rubbish. My memories of golf are mostly pleasant but I will never forget a playing partner diving into his bag for a ball and coming out with a stinking mass of banana skins and a half eaten moldy sandwich left over from a previous round!

As golf techniques go, this might not be the most glamorous but I will guarantee it will improve your game.