Last night my friend Charlie and I hit the links to play some twilight golf at the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort. There were very few people on the course and we were able to get in 11 holes. We were using our hickory sticks to add to the fun. As darkness slowly descended upon us we notice a couple of things that made our experience more enjoyable. These are things that might make your round better as the end of our golf season is just around the corner.

First, I found that it was quieter on the course. For some reason, the ambiance was very tranquil. There was no one around us and we just enjoyed the serenity of the moment. We did not see any wild life (except for the odd golf swing 😉 ) like I do during early birds, but I know they were watching.

Second, the ball rolled a bit more than normal. Probably because the ground was not covered with dew. These course conditions really help when playing with hickory sticks because any extra distance is eagerly accepted.

Lastly, we were able to practice different shots with different clubs. Instead of grabbing a wood all the time, we hit a few long irons. Instead of always using a wedge, I used a jigger and mashie niblick around the green to practice my up and down shots. Using the different clubs was great fun because it lowered expectations about the score….which we did not keep.

One real tip that I taught Charlie was using the toe a bit more when making a long putt with our mallet putters. For some reason, the ball pops off the clubface when the ball is struck just bit towards the toe and centre of the club. I am not sure why, but it makes putting long shots much easier and more accurately. I do not notice if this tip makes a difference with my modern putter, but I am going to try it out to make sure.

On a side note, Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort is doing some major renovations on the course. They are fixing several fairways, removing unneeded brush, cutting down some dead trees and fixing some tee boxes. I applaud the new changes and look forward to seeing what they are doing next!

Twilight golf is great fun. As we raced against the darkness, Charlie and I had a great time. The best part of playing was playing golf with a friend. I look forward to playing at night again very soon.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!