We’re very lucky to have golf all year around here in Japan, even though it is a country with 4 distinct seasons. It’s stays warm enough here in Chiba averaging 5-8C in the winter and barely ever reaching below freezing so we can dress warm and still go out for a nice round and have our choice at Chiba’s 157 full length courses. Lately though, I’ve been busy with work and my playing partners as well. Golf is also very expensive here on weekends so lately my playing partner Taka and I have been heading out on weekeday nights after he get’s off of work.
There are several courses here in Chiba that go all day up to 11pm at night so you can still play 9 holes in the evenings and if you’re lucky enough to start around dinner, even 18 holes. At first I was skeptical about playing at night wondering if I’d be able to see anything and worried about dealing with the colder weather since it is of course colder at night. It’s still around 18-22C during the day which is pretty good for mid November but at night it gets down to around 8-12C already.
Both concerns of mine turned out to be nothing to worry about as I was pleasantly surprised at how well the courses here are lit at night. Also we’ve been lucky, as long as it’s not windy, its easy to stay warm with the current temperatures. I thought about playing with a colored ball at night but white with some sort of pearl in the outer cover works well as the lights reflect off the ball. You’re actually motivated to keep the ball straight and in the fairway which is of course the best lit part of the course. If you’re OB or out in the woods you can pretty much kiss your ball goodbye.
The first time I went a few weeks ago, I dressed too warmly and brought all my unwanted balls with me. I ended up not losing a single ball over 9 holes and staying perfectly comfortable. The best is to layer and/or bring extra clothing just in case. Weekdays are great too, as its not crowded at all and the pace is great so its easy to stay limber and warm. The only thing that bugged me a bit was depending on where you are standing or teeing off for that matter, and where the lights are, there can be unwanted shadows cast on your ball.
Many of the courses these days are also using GPS equipped carts so you always know where hazards are and your distances from the pin. All the pictures I took here are from Moon Lake in Mobara which is not a difficult course but pretty fun, especially at night. For those who are curious, pictures were taken with my Olympus E-PL1 handheld with no flash of course. My playing partner Taka is taking a practice swing in the above picture, he is not actually teeing off on the Par 3 with the group ahead on the green!
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Awesome post T! I voted in the I love it column but my experience with it was not as well lit as the course you were on. Were they serving beer?
I can see having a bunch of friends, some beers, and having a good time. Looks fun!
looks well lit actually or maybe those pictures just look nicer than it is ;) never tried, would be keen to try given opportunity presents itself. would have been nice if any of my local courses made it possible.
Surprisingly well lit. Much better than I expected which is why I went back again.
No beer… that’d be dangerous with the amount of alcohol the Japanese love to drink! ;)
My club had night golf years ago and i use to play there quite often. But the took it off completely as it was very expensive for them to run. I would play night golf anytime.
I also heard that Thailand has a couple of courses that runs 24 hours. That will be so cool for golf nuts.
The only problem I see is mosquitos if you live in a wet area.
Just incredible!
So you don’t mention how much of a difference in price it is to play at night? How much is it? How much is the day price and what is the night price?
@Budi:
You could go to places like Norway in the summer, it’s never really that warm, but you can play all night there WITH THE SUN, as it NEVER GETS DARK due to its location in the far upper reaches of our planet………. LOL A couple of my good friends from Norway told me they used to do it all the time (of course), they would play 3 to 4 full rounds in a WHOLE day, WALKING!! LOL
That rules! What’s the general feel like compared to daytime golf?
Notice if your scoring is different from day to night?
@Geet, that would be cool. I use to pay 50% for lighting fee if that is of any help. :)
I would not be able to walk 3-4 rounds. LOL
Nice pics! Did you have any trouble judging distance at night? That was my problem when i played night golf.
Night golf sound awesome!! Started to snow here out in Montana. Really miss the goilfability ( not a word ? ) during winter in Japan and in California. BUT … I get to enjoy 5 months of skiing starting next month!!
It’s certainly cheaper than playing during the day. These courses are trying to attract more business at night so they price down 9 holes and 18 holes by anywhere from 20-40% less than day time depending on the course. But keep in mind that it’s the full deal in Japan especially during the day with GPS cart, full lunch (high quality), use of clubhouse facilities (Japanese bath) etc. Daytime rounds take sometimes 7 hours including, playing eating, playing bathing.
Similar scores… I feel I may even concentrate better at night. :)
Night golf is great. There are a couple courses in Vegas. More clubs should consider this. Neighborhood restrictions and worry of crime are two of the biggest issues, but for those away from housing and that have a well bordered course should look into this.
that would be great because my husband and i play from sunrise to sunset…the most holes we have gotten in on a day of golf is 82 holes…i have said to him i wish they had night golf because we wouldn’t have to leave when the sun goes down….we live for golf and it is our peace away from the world…the course where we are members used to think we were nuts but now if we are the last ones on the course they go ahead and leave and we put the cart up when we are done…we have had flashlights out looking for our balls before…we would love to play night golf !!!
Are there any courses in Tennessee ?
@gocchin:
Yeah…….. don’t get TOO hooked on the night golf thing, Gocchin, you’ll find it difficult to get back into the day, you’ll turn into a Vampire Golfer! LOL No, but seriously, the CONSTANT, CONSISTENT shadows from the same lights at the same angles is something you should NEVER love too much, as in the real world of the Sun, it’s the light changes that also make the game more interesting, since it interferes and changes our perception and also changes the way the grass faces as the grain reacts to the sun.
It’s a nice money-making scheme, but for proper golf, it’s not something we should even consider.
Oh definitely won’t do night only. I get to play during the day too. I live on a golf course… literally. There is only daytime play here.
You’re right on though with perception, with the lighting and shadows, everything looks different, the slopes and undulations even judging distance. I just go at night cause I take any chance I get to golf, simple as that.
Go again!
I would think this would be a popular option in cities with a big golfer population. I guess not if the prices are lowered to attract more people.
Would definitely love to try though.
great post! I have not heard of this before and i will defnitely find out if they got night golf near by.
Wow!!! …I am almost speechless. It’s things like these that make me want to back to asia.
Wow – The photos do a great job of depicting the lighting challenges – It owuld seem the course in the photos is VERY well lit! Aside froma par 3 course on Long Island in New York state (USA for foreign readers), I have never seen a US course lit up for night golf.
Are there any complaints from people living near this and other Japanese golf courses about all of the light? Or are these course far enought away from housing developments that this isn’t a problem? I cannot imagine any of the courses around my area of the states (Cape Cod in Massachusetts) ever getting permission to light up the sky like this…The par 3 course on Long Island is on a densely built up commercial area hard on the highway and thus gets away with it…
Great idea for those hard core golfers! It would be an interesting challenge for those of us that are used to playing in the day… Great novelty idea for a tournament!