by Joe
Brandon,
Chances are that if you are playing at a high-end golf course you either:
A: are rich, in which case $5 is nothing to you.
or
B: you are a client of someone else who is paying for your golf. IE you don't pay for your round---it is free! $5 is all you have to spend to play golf that day.
Bottom line is if you want cheap golf then go to a public course. Cleaning clubs is part of the high level of service that private clubs take pride in.

by Joe Drinker
It sounds like my bag of sticks resembles yours. Most of the time, I'd rather not have someone trying to clean them once I'm done - they'll be able to put together that I'm the one that tried to hit out of the lake, put a dent in their tree, chipped off the cart path and caused the fire on the seventh hole, etc.
My tried and true method to get away? Pretend you're on the phone. That way, you can walk right past them, head held high, and give them a goodbye nod or a mouthed "no thanks", and walk to your car. They usually know enough to not disturb those on the phone, and you don't have to run through the parking lot carrying your bag.

by mundy morning golfer
Come on Brandon. Tip the guys when you get there and if it is good enough they'll try to clean your clubs, figuring you are a good tipper. If you aren't . . . suck it up and quit complaining!