Night Golf Holidays

There are many benefits to jetting off to play golf in a place like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Turkey or Portugal.

Exciting off-course attractions, luxury hotels and world-class golf courses are but a few and the weather of course is a great plus too, with perfect conditions for golf on offer throughout much of the year.

There’s also the night-clubbing too...

Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Yas Links Golf
Yas Acres Golf and Country Club

Floodlit golf is all the rage now in parts of the world where the climate permits and that makes sense too. The nights come pretty early in the UAE so golf after about 7pm wouldn’t be on the cards without floodlighting.

It’s certainly still warm enough, even in a t-shirt, to play golf at night in Abu Dhabi. Getting to the 1st tee around 9pm and enjoying 9 holes under the lights can be a big highlight of a golf trip.

When the opportunity arises to play night golf while on holiday you simply must take it so with that in mind.

There have always been 2 golf courses at Abu Dhabi Golf Club; the Championship Course which hosts the cream of the crop on the European Tour each year, and the Garden Course. It’s on the Garden Course, reduced to 9 holes and fitted with floodlighting in 2011, where you can enjoy a bit of night golf.

The quality of the lights is brilliant – it’s probably easier to see your ball than it is during the day! –and it’s not just a par-3 course, as is the case at some other venues. Playing to a par of 36, there are 2 par 5s, 5 par 4s and two par 3s; a proper test of golf.

The course closes at 11pm so keep an eye on the time…but apart from that just enjoy it! Oh…and the refreshment booths on your way around too!

The championship course at Yas Links Golf Club is certainly the main attraction here. After all it ranked as the top course in the whole of the Middle East. But should you fancy hanging around in the clubhouse, maybe enjoying a bite to eat and a cold beer as you go, and then heading back out for a bit of fun under the floodlights, then why not do exactly that?

The par-3 Academy Course at Yas is fully floodlit until 10:30pm, not quite as late as Abu Dhabi GC, but with just par 3s to contend with, teeing off as late as 9pm still allows you to complete the course.

The practice areas are also under lights but let’s face it…you’re going to have a crack at the par 3 course instead of beating balls on the range…right?!

Emirates Golf Club
The Address Montgomerie Dubai
Dubai Creek Golf
Trump International Golf Club

It is no surprise that "Night Clubbing" in Dubai is becoming very popular, with high temperatures through the day, night golf offers a little bit of respite from the heat!

As the desert sun sets and the heat of the day fades away your Dubai experience is just beginning. Imagine teeing off under a blanket of stars with championship fairways bathed in brilliant spectacular floodlights.

The Majlis Course at The Emirates Golf Club is undoubtedly the main attraction here. As the first 18 hole all grass course to be built in the Middle East, as well as the host of the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, it will always turn heads but its sister course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, comes to life at night when the floodlights are switched on.

The Faldo Course is the only fully floodlit 18-hole course in Dubai, and thanks to its fairly central location, Dubai’s stunning night time cityscape serves as a dramatic backdrop. Rock up with your clubs from 4pm onwards and play until midnight!

❝The Faldo Course can be played by day or by night, but there is something special about playing golf after the sun sets that most certainly cannot be experienced everywhere.❞
Simon Aiken - Senior Product & Contracting Manager

One of the most exciting options available after a round of golf in Dubai is to venture to TopGolf Dubai. Located within Emirates Golf Club, TopGolf is a perfect option for night golf with views across the Dubai skyline. TopGolf is a popular option for golfers staying in Jumeriah Beach Residences as it is just 15 minutes drive away or just 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport.

Whilst golf is a big draw to visiting TopGolf there are a whole host of different things to enjoy whilst there with top-rated bars and restaurants to a host of things to do in the evening. TopGolf is a place where golfers and non-golfers can have fun under the bright lights, regardless of ability or experience.

Perfect for groups and couples alike, TopGolf Dubai has quickly become a must-visit destination for those on golf holidays and regular vacations alike.

Once you’ve finished your TopGolf be sure to head to The Loft for a great place to relax and enjoy a drink whilst looking out over the Dubai Marina skyline. As 19th hole vistas go, this is pretty hard to beat.

Montgomerie Maxx Royal
Cullinan Links
Carya Golf Course

Turkey's Belek region, already a destination synonymous with five-star luxury and world-class fairways, offers the exhilarating experience of night golf.

Imagine stepping onto the tee as powerful floodlights brilliantly illuminate the course, transforming familiar holes into a spectacular new challenge.

The air is cool the atmosphere is electric and the game takes on a thrilling third dimension.

Unlike the courses on offer in Abu Dhabi and Dubai mentioned above, Carya Golf Club in Turkey offers the full monty when it comes to night golf, as when the sun sets here, the whole 18 hole championship course is lit up, allowing golfers to play the full course long into the night.

Playing at Carya after dark is not simply playing a round on a lit course; it is entering a sensory-rich environment where every shot feels cinematic. The sophisticated lighting system brings the stunning heathland design to life, highlighting the white sand bunkers and lush fairways with dramatic effect.

Under the lights, the air is perfectly temperate, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely evening round that still leaves your daylight hours free for relaxation or resort indulgence. This is golf redefined—strategic challenging and utterly memorable.

The Montgomerie Maxx Royal features 6 pars 3s, 6 par 4s and 6 par 5s so the playing experience is an extremely dynamic one which keeps the golfer on their toes from start to finish.

Fairways are generous but have been carved through the mature pines that typify the Belek region, placing an emphasis on accuracy from the tee, without being overly penal on the odd stray tee shot.

A great extra feature of this course is that the back nine holes are floodlit allowing golf to be played into the evening.

The night golf experience at Cullinan Links is a unique convergence of the floodlit back nines of both the Aspendos and Olympos courses. This structural choice transforms the course into a cinematic theatre, allowing players to start their round in the twilight and finish under a sophisticated canopy of lights.

The experience offers two distinct moods, the Aspendos back nine features striking, hyper-defined water hazards and pine-lined fairways, while the Olympos back nine provides the serenity of playing in the cool evening air against the softly glowing silhouette of the majestic Taurus Mountains.

Night tee times are highly sought after and offered on an exclusive, limited basis due to the high operational demands of floodlighting. The complete package ensures that a night round at Cullinan Links is an unforgettable immersion into luxury Mediterranean golf.

While Abu Dhabi and Dubai draw most of the plaudits when it comes to golf in the UAE, the likes of Ras Al Khaima and venues such as Al Hamra Golf Club provide excellent alternatives.

Al Hamra boasts an 18 hole championship course designed by Peter Harradine and with holes 1-7 and the 17th and 18th all fully floodlit, you can enjoy nine holes under the lights here, escaping the heat of the day with a fun round of night golf!

View all golf holiday deals in Ras Al Khaima >>

While the 9-hole Oceanico Academy Course, located between the Faldo and O’Connor courses, is primarily aimed at beginners looking to hone their skills before tackling the main championship courses in The Algarve, it’s also a fantastic option for more seasoned players too, who might be looking for some golfing kicks even after the sun has set.

Built to the same high standards as the main courses, this nine hole track is fully floodlit and with three tees on each hole which vary the line of play into the greens, there is plenty of variety too.

View more golf holidays in Portugal >>

The exotic Ba Na Hills Golf Club in Vietnam is just 25 minutes from Da Nang International Airport and boasts a magnificent course designed by former world number one, Luke Donald, it comes as no surprise that it is regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world.

At night Ba Na Hills becomes the only comprehensive floodlit golf course in Da Nang, the entire course is lit from the first tee to the 18th green, allowing visitors the unique experience of playing golf after dark.

View all golf holidays deals in Vietnam >>

Night golf is available at several locations across the UK, offering a unique golfing experience after dark. Venues such as Morley Hayes, Billingbear Park, Cowdray, Pyrford Lakes & North Downs utilise LED lighting to illuminate the course and glow-in-the-dark equipment for players.

What to expect

Illumination:
Courses are lit up with LED lights on fairways, tees, and greens.

Equipment:
You will use special glow-in-the-dark golf balls that light up when hit.

Format:
Events often feature team formats like Texas Scramble to make it a social and fun experience.

Atmosphere:
Expect a unique atmosphere with music, food, and drinks available in the clubhouse after the round.

Morley Hayes (Derbyshire)
Offers night golf on its Tower Course, with illuminated greens and tees, typically from Monday to Saturday.

Billingbear Park (Berkshire)
Organizes private night golf events with glow-in-the-dark balls and a Texas scramble format.

Pyrford Lakes (Surrey): Hosts special night golf events with illuminated fairways, glow gear, a DJ, and a BBQ buffet.

North Downs Golf Club (Surrey)
Has special events for night golf on illuminated holes, with burgers and drinks available.

Cowdray Golf Estate (West Sussex)
Has hosted night golf events in the past, so it is worth checking for future dates.

Handicap: 11
Favourite Course: Chiltern Forest
My 'Expert' areas: Kent & the Home Counties
Best trip I've done: Dubai with golf & Rugby 7's with my dad
Where my next trip is to: Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way

Give Rick a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break.