Boo-gie on the fairway

Things are getting spooky at Shawnee Hills Golf Course in Bedford, Ohio.

The Cleveland Metroparks course is preparing to host a Halloween-themed glow golf event that’s already sold out. Golfers lucky enough to land a tee time need to remember their, ahem, witching wedge: the affair will take place on the par-3 course.

“Moonlight Golf,” scheduled for October 24, tees off with a 6:30 p.m. shotgun, with spooky seasonal drinks available. Guests can come dressed in their best costumes and use glow-in-dark golf balls while enjoying the well-decorated course. Flagsticks will be replaced with glow-in-the-dark sticks, tee markers will turn into light-up jack-o’-lanterns and glow sticks will line the greens. New to the event this year: glow balloons, an eco-friendlier option than plastic glow sticks.

“The guests love it. It's a unique look,” says Geoff Koller, Cleveland Metroparks senior manager of golf clubhouse operations. “The Metroparks are always looking for ways to get people involved in outdoor recreation, and this is another specialty event to get people out and enjoy the golf courses.”

Glow golf events happen frequently at Shawnee Hills and Mastick Woods Golf Course around Cleveland. Three to four are hosted in the spring, with a few more added throughout the fall for a terror-ific time. 

“It’s really optimal for all the short courses, not the traditional length courses, just with the quality of the golf ball that lights up with the equipment,” Koller says. “With the nighttime aspect for safety, we try to keep things a little more condensed.”

In preparation for the glow events, Shawnee Hills superintendent Brad Vecchio ensures the course will be ready for golfers. He preps the course with the player in mind, cutting cups in ideal locations. 

“It’s going to be to the golfer’s advantage,” Vecchio says. “It’s going to either be in the middle of the green, or if the greens got some slope, it’ll be to wherever that slope runs to, and just to kind of naturally keep things moving quickly.” 

Just to be safe, Vecchio and his team will also cover all 18 footgolf holes on the course. They don’t want any grave mistakes.

Glow golf provides a unique opportunity for golfers to play the sport at night in a fun environment. If other courses are considering the event, Vecchio says go for it. It makes for a fang-tastic evening.

“If anyone’s been on the fence about it, definitely invest in the glow sticks and the glow stuff and give it a shot,” Vecchio says. “It’s a cool event. Sells out fast. I bet we could run it once a month if we wanted to, and it would still be popular.”

You might say golfers are dying to try it.

Kelsie Horner is Golf Course Industry's digital editor.