“Everything gets hotter when the sun goes down,” says a famous line from country artist Kenny Chesney. Does that apply to golf too? Is golf better in the dark? Night golf is an interesting little niche experience worth trying. I have played. And I would recommend it for golfers of all skill levels.

What is night golf?

When referring to “night golf,” you first need to determine what type. For this article, we will touch on both kinds.

1.  Glow golf: playing on a regular course with a ball that glows in the dark
2.  Golf courses with stadium flood lights

What is the most common way to play night golf?

It is unclear whether glow golf or night golf (under stadium lights) is more common… I would argue, though, that night golf has surpassed glow golf in popularity. Popularity is defined by the number of rounds played per year. 

Also, if you look at Google Trends, which shows how often people are searching “night golf,” you’ll see that the number of searches reached its peak in 2023!

And when you compare “night golf” to “glow golf,” Google searches for “night golf” are more popular:

While glow golf leagues may be common and more cost effective for the course, there has been a trend to view golf as a social activity for everyone rather than a competitive sport for the talented. Because of this trend, we have seen a rise in a number of entertainment venues, such as:

1. Night golf courses
2. Topgolf venues
3. Miniature golf bars
4. Indoor simulator bars

Considering these night golf courses are in areas you can play year round and in “golf destination regions,” I would bet they are getting a lot of play. 

Where is night golf most common?

The states with the most night golf courses: California, Florida, and Texas.

Why aren’t there more night golf courses?

1. Zoning and Permits
   1. What came first: the golf course or the houses?
      1. A lot of golf courses are built with the plan to build nice suburban communities surrounding it. How do you think the neighbors will like those beaming lights at 11 pm when they’re trying to sleep?
2. Costs
   1. Lights are expensive upfront, and they are not a sunk cost. You must maintain them, not to mention the recurring cost of electricity. 
3. Labor and long hours
   1. Who wants to sit in a pro shop at 11 pm?
4. Demand
   1. Risk of being an early adapter on a concept not entirely proven

The argument for night golf courses

With the rise in popularity of Topgolf, you could argue golf is better seen as a social event rather than a competitive sport. So why not widen your audience and create some buzz by targeting experience-driven social consumers?

What are some night golf courses with lights in my state?

Below are around 41 popular night golf courses located in 13 states.

Arizona 

Rolling Hills Golf Course

California 

Arroyo Seco

Arcadia Golf Course

David L. Baker Golf Center

Heartwell Golf Course

Mission Bay Golf Course

Pico Rivera Golf Course

The Lights at Indio Golf Course 

Van Nuys Golf Course

West Chester Golf Course

Connecticut

Highland Greens

Florida

Duran Golf Club: Short Course- Chippers walk

Holiday Golf Course: Par 3 and range

Jo Daddy’s Lighted Golf Course

Suncoast Golf Center

Legends Walk Golf Course

The Cove at Rotonda Golf Center

The Links of Naples

The Lit 9 at the Park

West End Golf Course

Georgia 

Peachtree Golf Center

Illinois 

Golf Center Des Plaines

Nevada

Angel Park Cloud 9

Las Vegas Golf Center

North Carolina

Knights Play Golf Center

Oklahoma 

JR’s Pub and Grill Golf Course

LaFortune Golf Course: Par 3

Pennsylvania

Manor Valley Golf Course

South Carolina

3’s in Greenville

Harbour View

Tupelo Bay Golf Complex

Texas 

Beacon Lakes Golf Course

Benbrook 3 Par

Hill Crest Golf Club

Melrose Golf Course

Preston West Par 3

The Links at Green Caye

San Pedro: Driving range + Par 3

Willow Creek Golf Center

Utah

Timpanogos: The Pasture Course- Par 3

Virginia 

Brookside Par 3 

We are missing some night golf courses, so don’t be hatin’ but let us know if we missed your favorite, and we will update the list! Also, we were too lazy to include the links (for now), but for a good course finder, check out GOLFPASS.

What are the best night golf courses in the United States?

1. The lights at Indio Golf Course, California
2. Cloud 9, Las Vegas
3. 3’s, Greenville, South Carolina

According to GolfPass.com

Alternatives to night golf?

Still looking for a fun social experience? Maybe a date night? Birthday coming up? Check out these alternatives to night golf. 

5 Iron Golf has grown to 20 locations

Indoor golf simulator bars

Our favorite: 5 Iron Golf: “Urban golf experience made for everyone”

Indoor putt putt bars

Our favorite: The Flatstick Pub: “The are only 2 rules at flatstick pub: Drink local and have fun”

Outdoor climate-controlled golf driving range

Our favorite: Topgolf: All in one entertainment venue for “food. fun. golf”

Your local driving range

Some driving ranges may offer stadium lights to hit balls after dusk.

Can you play golf at night?

Yes, you can. But not all courses offer it: There are between 75-100 night golf courses in the United States. It is especially popular in California, Florida and Texas.

If they do offer night golf, they may also offer glow golf leagues. Most leagues will be seasonal and be on the same day each week. Call your local course to find out more details. Please, don’t just show up, pitch black, expecting the pro shop to be open. Plan accordingly.

How do you set up for glow golf?

You will first need a golf ball that glows in the dark. These balls are known to be harder and do not travel as far as a regular golf ball. Secondly, the pins you will be aiming for will have added glow to them so you know where to aim. 

What can you expect for a glow golf outing?

Glow golf balls will be included, but you can expect to pay more than a normal round, and you should expect to sign up and pay in advance.

You may or may not be able to take a golf cart. That will depend on if the course golf carts have headlights. 

Most glow golf leagues will be 9 holes.

Some glow golf outings will do a happy hour before and after the round, they may offer food such as burgers and hotdogs.

Who normally plays glow golf?

You do not need to be an avid golfer to play glow golf. The tone of glow golf is often more playful and less intimidating than traditional leagues.

Glow golf is for anyone who wants to socialize and try something new.

Why do golf courses offer glow golf?

Golf is a seasonal business, so they need to squeeze in profits. It’s a risky business because of the weather. In a large portion of the country, golf courses see very low traffic for six months. Glow golf offers the golf course a fun way to potentially make a few extra bucks while building community and creating excitement through unique events. 

Should you play night golf?

Whether it’s glow golf or under the stadium lights, do it! Even better if you’re traveling to parts of California, Florida, or Texas and you need a fun activity.

And if that’s too intimidating, or there’s bad weather, or you don’t want to walk, there are plenty of other options to incorporate golf as a social lubricant. Two examples are Topgolf and 5 Iron. Get out there! The night is young.