Abstract: Water-repellant, self-cleaning coatings and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. In one embodiment, a hydrophobic or super hydrophobic coating is applied to the surface of a golf ball to make the golf-ball water-repellant and self-cleaning. Suitable coating materials include silicone compounds, silicone compounds, nanoparticles, silanes, fluorocarbon polymers, perfluoroalkyl ethyl methacrylate (PPFEMA) coated polycaprolactone, hydrocarbons, polymer mats made of polystyrene and poly[tetrafluoroethylene-co-(vinylidene fluoride)-co-propylene] (PTVFP); polyethylene glycol with glucose and sucrose in conjunction with a hydrophobic substance; combinations of nanoparticles with polyethylene or polypropylene; high density polyethylene, technical waxes; films of rough particles of metal oxides, polymer binder layers containing a plurality of porous protrusions, and combinations thereof.