“Rich is when you have money; wealthy is when you can go for a hike on a weekday.” This nugget of unsolicited wisdom showed up on my Instagram feed the other day. Utter nonsense if you ask me. Not sure how geotargeting works, but it’s clearly not infallible: a walk is a luxury for Delhi residents, a hike isn’t even on the radar. And jobless folk like your columnist, not wealthy by any standards, have plenty of time on weekdays. And since a hike isn’t an option, (perhaps even if it was) plus given the lower green fee, and relative lack of crowding, weekdays are the only days I end up playing golf. But I digress.
The point I was trying to make is that for most people–who lead productive lives greasing the wheels of commerce–golf on weekdays is usually not an option. And it’s for those folks, presumably with dormant club memberships, that golf at night is a no-brainer. “Work in the day, and play at night,” says Karan Malik, an enthusiastic kart and rally driver, an unwilling, but diligent, second-generation entrepreneur, and natural swinger of the golf club. Malik and I played together in a corporate event a few weeks back and now we’re back at his home course–the Jaypee Greens Golf & Country Club–to play 18 under the recently floodlit layout. He’s had a long work day, and until this popular layout in Greater Noida, became the first fully floodlit championship course in the country a few months back, Malik would frequent a gold simulator lounge. Now he’s a convert: “nothing like the real thing,” he says.
The last time I teed it up after dinner was at Levi, a magical town in northern Finland close to the Arctic circle that gets 18 hours of sunlight in the summer months. The experience of gold under the midnight sun was quite surreal (you can read about it in the articles archive of this column) but to be able to do so at Jaypee was no less novel. There’s something inherently magical about stepping onto a golf course after the sun has set. The hum of the city fades into the background, replaced by the occasional rustle of leaves in the night breeze. The fairways stretch out like shadowy ribbons under the glow of floodlights, and the golf ball… Alas, the golf ball does nothing special. It continues to be thinned, topped, and sliced out-of-bounds, much like it would in the day. The night has not done anything to improve the quality of my game.
Night golf isn’t just a novelty; it’s an example of the sport’s adaptability. In a world where time is a luxury, playing at night is perfect for those who can’t spare daylight hours. And while the course isn’t crowded on this particular February night, I suspect that is likely to change in the coming months. In a city like Delhi, with its scorching summer, golf at night is a boon. There are some challenges, to be sure. The high cost of lighting and maintenance is a significant barrier for many courses. Additionally, the traditionalist nature of the sport means that many purists view night golf as a departure from the game’s roots. For them, golf is as much about the natural environment as it is about the game itself. The idea of playing under artificial lights can feel antithetical to the spirit of the sport. Moreover, night golf requires a different set of skills. The lack of natural light can make it harder to judge distances and read greens. But I’m nitpicking here; as night golf goes, Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort is as well lit as some of the other courses I’ve played around the world.
If you’re an itinerant golfer, and like the night golf experience then here’s a brief round up of a few you can consider playing on your travels…Dubai is home to The Els Club, one of the most famous night golf destinations in the world. The desert backdrop, combined with the city’s glittering skyline, creates a surreal setting for night golf. The cooler evening temperatures make it a popular choice for locals and tourists alike, offering a respite from the daytime heat. Mission Hills, Haikou has 10 courses, one of which is fully lit for night play. The Blackstone Course, designed by Brian Curley, is particularly renowned for its dramatic lava rock formations and lush vegetation, which take on an entirely new character under the lights.
In Egypt, the Palm Hills Golf Club in Cairo has embraced night golf as a way to cater to its members’ busy schedules. The course features nine floodlit holes, allowing players to enjoy the game well into the night. The cooler evening temperatures and the stunning views of the Pyramids in the distance make it a unique experience. Another Dubai gem, the Emirates Golf Club, is home to the iconic Faldo Course, which offers night golf on its par-3 course. The course is fully lit, providing a perfect setting for beginners and seasoned players alike to enjoy the game after dark. The club’s commitment to innovation extends beyond lighting; it also offers glow-in-the-dark balls and other tech-driven enhancements to elevate the night golf experience.
But there’s nothing quite like having one in your neighbourhood; and there’s no question that in the summer of 2025, it’s going to be hard to get a post dusk tee time at Jaypee Greens. As I walked the illuminated fairways, I couldn’t help but marvel at the ingenuity of it all. Here’s a sport, centuries old, reinventing itself to fit the rhythms of modern life. It’s not for everyone, night golf isn’t, but you’ll certainly see the game in a new light.
Meraj Shah is a seasoned golf writer and video producer