Night Golf
Had a really great evening, a few weeks ago, hosting the boys’ high-school golf team’s end-of-season party.
After a swim and pizza and cookies, at 7 pm we all drove out to the course and had what was planned as a 6-hole round of night golf.
Courtesy of:
Glow Products ( http://www.glowproducts.com ), which makes glow-in-the-dark golf balls, as well as the “traditional” glow sticks. The way the balls work is: each ball has a hole in it, into which you jam a small glow stick. I think they’re supposed to last for 12 hours, or something.
Anyway, one of our coaches went out during daylight and staked the tees and greens (and flagstick) with glowsticks, so we could sorta find our way around. (He taped a glowstick midway up each flagstick.) Knowing the course, obviously, helps.
As things turned out, we had too many kids to all play in one group, so the coach and I took 5 boys with us and started on #17. The rest of the boys played together, starting on #5.
And a great time was had by all. I personally would recommend trying this sometime. We were amazed at what great shots we managed to hit (with low expectations). The balls themselves felt like maybe hitting an 80-compression (ladies) ball. My only real problem (because I didn’t have a headlamp) was aligning the clubface in the dark.
Cost of the balls is about $2.50. Which is cheaper than a Titleist.
Try it sometime. On a night with no moon. One group used their headlamps to illuminate their balls at address. Our group played in the dark completely, using our headlamps and flashlights only to walk the course, and found it was more fun. (With the exception, as I mentioned, of using the dim glow of the ball to get the clubface square at address.) All in all, I think playing “dark” was much more fun.
It was a great way to end a long and fun golf season.
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Aspen, CO