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Night golf isn’t as strange as you think. It’s unconventional but just as fun as regular golf. Of course, once the sun sets, most golfers leave the course but as long as the course has reliable floodlights, a spot of nighttime golf can be ideal.
Not sure about the allure of nighttime golf? The reality is that floodlights can create an atmosphere as though you were in a sporting stadium and that’s unique. There is more competitiveness among golfers and you can see the beautiful night’s sky. You can play golf with the celestial star map above you and enjoy a new experience.
Understanding the Appeal of Night Golf
A lot of people don’t grasp the concept of night golf but it’s playing a round of golf at night instead of the daytime. The course is illuminated by floodlights and golfers play as they would during a regular game. This is a popular pastime in many parts of the world, including the Middle East and Portugal where the temperatures are fairly warm. While the majority of floodlit-courses remain par-3 courses, championships courses may have floodlights available too.
Do You Have To Learn New Rules For Night Golf?
Newcomers are worried night golf is different from traditional or daytime golf but the reality is you play as you normally would. The only difference between night and day golf is that you play under floodlights. Some nighttime golfers believe they can improve their shots because the visibility is better under the floodlights. Of course, quality floodlights are necessary to ensure a fun-filled round. However, if you’re hitting a hundred-yard shot and it disappears into the rough, it’ll be tough to find it at night. That’s a drawback of nighttime golf. Remember, the floodlights light the fairway and not much else so you have to be extra careful with your shots.
You’ll require GPS watches, glow sticks, reliable floodlights, glow golf balls, and more to play safely at night. Fortunately, there are more night courses available as nighttime golf increases in popularity. Learning about nighttime golf may enable you to enjoy playing under the stars.
The History of Night Golf
If you want to take part in night golf, it’s essential to find a suitable golf course. Traditionally, golf courses usually open early in the morning and close around sunset; however, many courses are now staying open and switching on the floodlights. Depending on the actual golf course, it’s generally safe to play at night. Of course, this is dependent on adequate lighting and safe playing conditions, especially if there is a stream or water feature on the course. If you’re lucky enough to find such a course, you can have a lot of fun and it’s a new experience for most golfers too.
It was only in 2018 when the idea of night golf was introduced. The Majilis course, at the Emirate Golf Club in Dubai, was the first professional venue to bring the concept to life. It was during the European Tour held at the Dubai Desert Classis and organizers installed state-of-the-art floodlights on the 9th and 18th greens. However, what is important to remember is that floodlights cover the green and tee areas and the rough is not. That’s essential to keep in mind, especially if you have a habit of hitting into the rough.
Unfortunately, many golf courses cannot afford to install state-of-the-art floodlights as they’re expensive to run. Also, additional employees would be necessary to oversee things and that’s another expense to worry about. Most golf courses or clubs look to specialized night golf equipment as it is more cost-effective.
A High-Visibility Golf Ball
Traditional golf balls aren’t always suitable for nighttime golf as they’re harder to spot. Instead, an LED or glowing golf ball would be necessary to play night golf. There are a variety of specialized golf balls available and most have some sort of light feature to make it easier to hit and find. High visibility golf balls aren’t too expensive to buy, including the Championship sports ground, Glow V1, and 4 Nighthawk golf balls. There are lots more available too.
Here are the types of illuminated golf balls to choose from.
- UV-Powered
- LED
- Glow-Stick
While all glow-in-the-dark golf balls are useful, the UV-powered golf balls tend to be among the more popular options.
Is The Glow V1 The Best Night Golf Balls?
The Glow V1 is a popular choice among night golfers because it glows-in-the-dark and offers lots of impressive features. It’s UV-powered and that is useful for those serious about a spot of nighttime golf. While they might be somewhat limited with spin, they are reliable and affordable. You could buy glowing golf balls and see how you like them.
This is an impressive and useful golf ball. It has a bright UV light and remains illuminated for around fifteen minutes. That should be more than ample time to retrieve the ball and play another shot. The Glow V1 offers a good battery life and is made to impress; you’ll need an AAA battery and you should charge the ball after you play each round. Having a few spare batteries may also be wise.
Is The Golf Buddy Voice 2 The Best Watch With GPS Capabilities?
Playing golf at night does present a few problems and it’s essential to know where you are and how far you need to play the next shot. If you don’t know where you’re aiming for then you’re in a spot of bother. With the Golf Buddy Voice 2, you can get a reliable GPS watch that makes nighttime golf simpler.
The GPS watch has an auto-hole advance detection feature and is pre-set with over forty thousand courses worldwide. That’s very useful and is waterproof; it also sports a 14-hour battery life with talk functions. It doesn’t cost more than one hundred dollars and is a nice GPS watch for nighttime golfers.
Adequate Headlight
A golf headlight or lamp is essential. While floodlights are necessary, it doesn’t hurt to have a headlamp available. You will be able to get a better view of the immediate area and can be useful if you’re going into a bunker. What’s more, you may be able to spot an animal on the course with a headlamp and hopefully, you’ll be able to avoid it. Flashlights can be useful too but they’re a bit troublesome if you want additional light as you’re taking a swing at the ball.
Buying Glow Sticks
While you might not think too much about glow sticks, they can be useful when playing night golf. You can use the glow sticks as markers around the golf course so that you know where the green ends and the rough begins. They can also be used to light up holes and fairways. Unfortunately, glow sticks can be a little costly to buy so you may want to buy in bulk or use fewer around the course. You could keep them for trickier areas on the golf course.
Top Tips to Make You Enjoy Night Golf
Here are a few top tips to make your game of nighttime golf a little more enjoyable.
- Know Your Surroundings
Golf courses have yardage markers and signs telling you how far away you are from the hole; these are the things to use. They can help keep you on the right path and hopefully avoid going into the rough. Remember, it’s a different atmosphere at night and you can overestimate your abilities. It’s best to look at your surroundings and markers so that you can hit the ball with more edge and accuracy.
- Train Your Eyes For Nighttime Golf
As said, hitting a ball at night is very different during the daytime. The lighting is different, it’s dead calm, and it’s just a completely different atmosphere. You need to give yourself time to adjust to the nighttime setting.
- Play Safe
You probably think playing safe is boring but the reality is that night golf presents new challenges. You can hit a golf ball five-hundred yards and end up losing sight of it. Glow-in-the-dark balls are available but if you hit an incredibly long shot, by the time you’re in the general location, the ball could run out of light. Instead, playing safe or controlled golf can be somewhat better and safer. Also, if you can’t see the ball you can’t alert anyone its coming and you wouldn’t want anyone to be hurt.
- Keep It Fun
Golf is fun or rather it is supposed to be. Nighttime golf is supposed to be fun too, especially when it offers a different and unique experience. You’re going to play good shots, bad shots, and some in-between but it’s all about the fun and enjoying your round of golf. Not everyone has the ability or chance to play golf at night so if you are, embrace it and enjoy it.
Nighttime golf is an experience most will never forget. It can be fun, exciting, and very unique. Enjoy your round of nighttime golf and view the beautiful night’s sky. You can create your custom night sky star map and enjoy watching the celestial vault high above.
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