Field Notes
Night Golf: How to Play, What to Bring, and Why You Should Try It
Night golf is one of the most underrated ways to play — cooler temps, empty courses, and a completely different challenge. Here is how to set it up and what you need.
What Is Night Golf?
Night golf is golf played after dark on a standard or designated night golf course. The fairways are typically lit by glow sticks along the edges, and players use LED or glow golf balls that activate on impact and remain visible in the dark. Courses that host night golf events usually open after sunset, often on Fridays and Saturdays in summer. Some courses run full 18-hole night rounds. Others run 9-hole twilight events that blend into darkness over the back nine.
LED Golf Balls — How They Work
LED golf balls have a small LED core that activates on the first impact — drive, chip, putt. After activation, the ball glows for 8+ minutes per light cycle, visible from 100+ yards in full darkness. The WYX Night Golf Glow Ball Set ($42) includes 12 balls in 4 colors (white, red, blue, green) — 3 of each. Playing each person in the group a different color eliminates ball identification confusion in the dark. Standard 1.68-inch diameter, two-piece construction.
How to Find a Night Golf Course
Search for "night golf near me" or check your local course calendar for Friday and Saturday evening events. Resort courses, charity tournaments, and golf clubs near vacation areas run the most night golf events. Some courses permanently illuminate a 9-hole loop for after-hours play. The fastest path to a night round: call your home course and ask if they permit twilight play with LED balls on the back nine in summer.
What to Bring
Night golf bag checklist: (1) LED golf balls — bring 2-3 per person. (2) Glow sticks or LED clip-on lights for the bag — marks your equipment in the dark. (3) Headlamp — for reading putts and the scorecard. (4) Insect repellent — courses near water get busy after dark. (5) Light layers — it cools down quickly after sunset even in summer. (6) Your scorecard holder — harder to write in the dark without a light source.
Why Night Golf Is Worth It
Night golf is slower, cooler, and fundamentally different from a regular round. The darkness eliminates the visual reference points you rely on normally — aim, distance, hazards. It forces trust in your routine and feel rather than visual confirmation. Most golfers report that night golf is more relaxing than a regular round, because the darkness lowers the self-consciousness about watching your ball. The WYX Night Golf Glow Ball Set at wyxgolfsupply.com — use WYX10 for 10% off.
Continue with WYX golf essentials or read The Long Game.