For a majority of golf courses once the sun sets the day is done. After all, you can’t play golf without sunlight, can you? Actually, some courses continue business as usual by fully lighting up the golf course with floodlights.
It is a really cool experience – and we at Premier Glow are going to provide you with a guide on where and how to play night golf so that you can enjoy this fun pastime.
What is night golf?
Basically, night golf is simply playing golf at night with the golf course lit up with floodlights. Usually, night golf courses are in areas where the temperature is still nice enough to play golf after the sun has set. For example, in the Middle East or Portugal. Lit golf courses are normally par-3 courses such as the Yas Links par-3 Academy course in the United Arab Emirates. However, championship course can have floodlights as well, such as the back nine of Turkey’s Montgomerie Maxx Royal, which is a European Tour venue.
Is it different than ‘regular’ golf?
Some people say that there is better visibility for your golf shots when you play at night compared to playing during the day. Although that will greatly depend on the quality of floodlights that are used, it is good to remember that you cannot hit a shot 100 years off-line and assume you will be able to find your ball out in the rough somewhere. Yes, these floodlights are bright, but they light up just the fairway and a small portion of the rough. So if you have a big slice problem then you should play it safe when you play night golf and your driver should be kept in your golf bag.
That relates to our next tip: when you are playing night golf you should not expect too much. There is a good chance you will not be playing your best golf based on the act that you are simply not accustomed to it. So try to set up your game so it is more friendly: place side bets with friends or if you are playing by yourself, play two golf balls. Most important of all: enjoy yourself. Let’s be honest, it is really cool to play golf at night.
Night golf is a lot of fun and can be enjoyed by players at all different ability levels. Just imagine what it would be like to hit an illuminated golf ball down a driving range that is lit up with LED lights and full of hoops and targets. Doesn’t that sound cool? It is also a great way to make improvements to your golf game without any pressure. The following are four tips to help you improve your swing:
Make sure your golf swing is kept on the line: Your goal here is to keep your clubface pointed towards the target and open. Imagine a line running from the golf ball over to the target and then swing your clubface on this line.
It is very useful to visualize the trajectory of the golf ball and your swing. When the ball is kept ahead of center slightly that makes it a lot easier to hit the ball using a square clubface.
The type of club that you’re also using can make a big difference – kinda of like like the difference is you were using a fairway or a hybrid wood – so make sure to keep that in mind.
Grip using your fingers: An inexperienced golfer ends to use their palms to grip their club which causes slices and hooks that comes with over control. However, the summer heat on a golf course can also cause a club to slip through your sweaty hands also. All the grip of your club to rest in the space where your fingers connect with your palms. Make sure to relax your grip and then focus on the path of your swing rather than on your grip.
Remain committed: Lack of proper follow through is the biggest evil, next to grip, to a golfer’s swing. “Keep your head down and your chin up” is the best golf tip anyone has ever given me. At impact, your club should fully release while your head is kept behind the ball. Then your head should rise naturally with your right shoulder. This motion creates a balanced and smooth follow through, which is what you are aiming for.
Balanced Approach: Balance, in many ways, should be first on your list of priorities. However, it goes well beyond simply your posture. Of course, you need to make sure that your shoulder is over your knees when you are getting ready to swing. However, you also need to approach your golf ball using a balanced swig. Otherwise, when you hit the ball it will lack a smooth and consistent delivery. When it comes to playing golf, balance should extend also to your mental state by having a focused and positive mindset.
