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Wishing to determine whether they are better at golf in the dark than in the light, more than 40 golfers were seen swishing around Awali’s Golf Club’s course last Saturday, in the Day-Night Social competition, organised by Sarah Hobday and Kerry Diaper.
Being a unique event in the club’s golfing calendar each year, things are somewhat different to normal, kicking-off with a shotgun start over seven holes played in daylight and balls conforming to the Rules Of Golf.
By popular demand, players then make their way back to the clubhouse for refreshments to prepare them for the second half of the event.
The tannoy announces ‘new balls please’ and the air-hooter then signals the start of a shooting-star display, courtesy of illuminated golf balls that glow in the dark, with play over the same seven holes for a second time. To make things a little easier, hazards are illuminated too, as is the flag-stick.
But to counter this, a secret sprinkling of gremlins was also in the mix, in the form of illuminated balls that, obviously tired of being smacked around so much, went out when struck rather than glowing with pleasure.
The play format was teams of two playing shots alternately, Stableford scoring with a handicap allowance of one-quarter of the individual handicaps.
With hoots of laughter almost as loud as the starting signal, some players clearly demonstrated the intended less-than-serious attitude, whilst some also suffered the sad realisation that they played better in the dark than in the light.
This was the case for the winners, Jo Pawson partnered with visitor Evan Fonk winning with 35 Stableford points. Dave and Nicki Bailey were runners-up with 33 points, with Anil Nair and Jeffrey Barrett in third place with 30 points.
