Night Tournaments

[C-Tech]

Anyone ever played in a night tournament? My old club holds one every Halloween. They play 9 holes with those "Glow in the Dark" balls. There are two different types. One is clear and a glow stick is fitted in it, the other has a coating impregnated in the cover that will glow after exposure to a black light. They will both glow for 6 to 8 hours. They hang glow sticks on the flags. It is played in a four man scramble format. They move the tee boxes up considerably because the glow stick balls can only be hit about 150 with a driver.

I never got the chance to play in it due to bad timing for several years. My club waited until Halloween instead of the summer because of the fanged critters that live in and around the creeks that wind through the course. Wouldn't be advisable to traipse around the course in mid-summer with the potential to step on a water mocassin.

I hope to play in it this coming year. It does look like fun. Since it is staged on Halloween, there are also prizes for the best costumes, etc. They have a nice party afterwards.

[HotWheelz]

I've played in one. We played the front 9 during the day, then they fed us dinner, and then we played the back 9 at nine.

They are a lot of fun. Just don't use your good driver or hybrid. The glow in the dark balls are much harder and can dent your clubs.

[90civicracer]

Sounds interesting but I've never participated in one.

[C-Tech]

Originally Posted by HotWheelz

I've played in one. We played the front 9 during the day, then they fed us dinner, and then we played the back 9 at nine.

They are a lot of fun. Just don't use your good driver or hybrid. The glow in the dark balls are much harder and can dent your clubs.

I didn't know that about the hard balls.. I would have been upset to ruin my driver on a glowing golf ball.

[HotWheelz]

Originally Posted by C-Tech

I didn't know that about the hard balls.. I would have been upset to ruin my driver on a glowing golf ball.

Glad I told you then. They set the course up differently when I played. We were never more than 150 yds from the green. The glow in the dark balls don't go near as far either so I used a hybrid a couple of times. The next day I noticed it had a dent in it. Luckily, it was a cheap hybrid I was using to see if I wanted to put one in my bag.

If they don't have you tee off from more than 150 yds, you could get away with just using 3 and 4 irons on your tee shots.

[stlcard_25]

They had one at my course back before I started playing. I recall going up and watching it for a bit. Pretty interesting, and I'd play in one if I had the chance to there again. An area course has night tournaments quite often, but I've never had a chance to check them out.

[RobinHunter]

These night tournaments using glow-in-the-dark balls are a ******** blast!! I've been in a number of them and it's always a good time. The main thing for these tournaments is to make sure the group behind you always knows where you are at. We buy some of the larger glow sticks and put them all over our bags. Then, we always leave a bag where it can be seen by them so they know not to hit until it moves out of sight. If you've never been in one of these, I would highly recommend it. It is definitely a odd sensation trying to hit a ball when it is pitch black out causing you to have no depth perception where the clubhead is in relation to the ground. Another plus is that you'll never lose a ball in the weeds because you'll see it glowing as you get close.

[LadyWalker]

That sounds like a lot of fun. I don't think we have ever had a tournament like that.

[HotWheelz]

Oh, one more thing. BRING A FLASH LIGHT!!!!

Trust me you're gonna need it. You can always find your ball, but you won't know what kind of lie your in, and it helps for readying the green, find stuff in you bag, etc...

[boomer]

i've played in many at Shalimar in Florida. You could only use your flashlight for driving, never on the green or the lie. Just make sure the glow stick in the ball is 90 deg from impact, you can "eject" the glow stick from the ball on a good strike. We put glow necklace in the cup for putting and one of the large sticks on the flagstick so you can see it from the fairway. always played the whole nine not just 150yds and in. IT WAS A BLAST......

[JustMe]

Originally Posted by boomer

i've played in many at Shalimar in Florida. You could only use your flashlight for driving, never on the green or the lie. Just make sure the glow stick in the ball is 90 deg from impact, you can "eject" the glow stick from the ball on a good strike. We put glow necklace in the cup for putting and one of the large sticks on the flagstick so you can see it from the fairway. always played the whole nine not just 150yds and in. IT WAS A BLAST......

That sounds like a lot of fun. What a way to enjoy the game and have a blast doing it.

[atm_73]

As already stated, make sure you don't hit the ball the wrong way! (Good luck finding a clear ball without the glowstick!) I haven't played in one since a teen, but they are really fun. Of course, I'm sure a lot of folks who played when I did had fun regardless of the fact they were swatting a glowing sphere around the course! (never used those smiley's before!)

[Wazmankg]

This sounds like fun. I've often wished I had some glow-in-the-dark balls when I've wanted to play on for a couple past sundown. If they can damage your clubs I doubt I'd want to buy any for that purpose though.

[atm_73]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

This sounds like fun. I've often wished I had some glow-in-the-dark balls when I've wanted to play on for a couple past sundown. If they can damage your clubs I doubt I'd want to buy any for that purpose though.

This is the first time I've heard of the balls damaging your club-face. Although, back when I was playing a few night golf tourney's, the club-faces weren't nearly as thin as they are today! I always thought they were actually softer, but then again, it's been 10 years, and a lot of night's sleeps!

[300Yards]

I compete every Sunday at my local courses'. I love night golfing!! It's so different...if you hit your ball OB, you aren't finding it! I enjoy the challenge!
They give any clubs and bags and stuff for prizes...I won a Sasquatch not to long ago..but I already got a good driver, so I sold it to my friend. I've never used the glow balls though...makes it to easy IMO. That's what a lighted course is for!

[atm_73]

Originally Posted by 300Yards

I've never used the glow balls though...makes it too easy IMO. That's what a lighted course is for!

I think what c-tech was referring to is tourney's played on non-lit courses. After playing a round with a ball with a hole drilled through it, a course with no lights except maybe a few glo-sticks here and there to keep you from falling in the ponds, you'd change your tune. But, these things are all for fun anyway.

[J.D.]

I played in one of these tourneys a long time ago and had a blast...however my depth perception was messed up and couldnt make decent contact with the ball. It was also eerie to drive by a water hazard and see all the glow balls on the bottom of the ponds.

JD

[C-Tech]

When I lived in Hot Springs, there was a par 3 course across the street from my office. It was fully lighted, but they would only turn them on if they had a large group. It just wasn't worth it to spend the electricity for just a few golfers. I never caught it on a night when they were open, but wish I had. I have played plenty of baseball and soccer night games. I think there is something special about playing after dark.