Cast bronze is the longest-lived material on any golf course — signs cast a century ago still mark tees today. Its secret is the patina.
Let the patina work
Bronze protects itself. The surface oxidises into a stable brown-green layer that shields the metal beneath. Most "damage" greenkeepers worry about is simply this natural process.
Never wire-brush or polish weathered bronze — you'll strip decades of protective patina in minutes.
The seasonal routine
- Spring: rinse with clean water, soft brush for debris
- Summer: nothing
- Autumn: clear fallen leaves from recessed lettering
- Winter: nothing
That's the whole regime. The best care for bronze is benign neglect.
