Night Golf is coming to Cork for the very first time and later this month Cork golfers will have the opportunity to experience the unique format in Lee Valley Golf Club.  Thanks to Mardyke Arena UCC and sponsors Cogan’s Toyota, Lee Valley will be lit up like an airport runway for the event which is being held over three nights.  The ten-hole event will take place in darkness, with coloured lights marking the fairways, greens and hazards, and with a luminous golf ball in play, golfers will have no excuse for not keeping it in play.  The team of four event takes place from Wednesday 29^th to Friday 31^st March, the shotgun format will see the 20 teams start at 8pm with prizes and refreshments included on each night.  Already over a third of the places have been reserved so anyone interested in playing should book their place now.  All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting Marymount University Hospital and Hospice.  Teams for the Wednesday and Thursday nights are €300 and teams on the Friday night are €400.  Full details and booking details are available from Wayne Falvey in Mardyke Arena UCC.  This is first time that Night Golf will be held in Munster and the idea came from Patsy Ryan.  Patsy is a past captain of Lee Valley and he’s also General Manager of the Mardyke Arena, and he has been the driving force behind the novel event.  The interest has been very strong too with the event set to sell out.  “We set out to take 54 teams over the three nights and we’re now hoping to get up to 60 teams out” said Ryan.  “The Marymount brand is one which opens doors and pockets so I’m sure we’ll hit the target.  For anyone who tried it the launch it’s great fun and it’ll be a novelty that everyone will enjoy.  I’d like to thank Robert from Cogan’s, starting off any project with a sponsor is a great boost to the event.  Special thanks too have to go to the Keohane family who have provided all of the facilities for the event.”

Gallery: Night Golf Launch at Lee Valley

Stewart Kyle from Irish Golf Expo events is the man behind the technology and he’s excited about their first venture in Cork: “We are delighted to team up with Lee Valley Golf Club for the Night Golf extravaganza, raising money for Marymount University Hospital and Hospice.  We will be lighting up Lee Valley with our revolutionary Night Sports USA technology giving golfers the chance to play golf in dark.  Our Night Golf events have taken Ireland by storm receiving glowing feedback from players, club officials and charities.  It really brings another fun element into the game and is a fantastic social occasion.”  Kyle launched night golf last year and after holding a few events in Ulster he’s now extending the reach, providing the equipment to courses all over Ireland.  Kyle’s company is also behind the very successful Irish Golf Expo which was held at Citywest Hotel last weekend.

Lee Valley Captain Pat Power was delighted to endorse the event at the launch last week: “We’re very excited to be hosting the first night golf event in Cork, it should three very interesting evenings of golf.  I’m really looking forward to the event, I know that with the Marymount name behind it that it will be a great success and will be oversubscribed.”  Lee Valley’s David Keohane was also fully supportive of the event although he did admit to having a few concerns initially: “Patsy approached us a number of months ago and asked if we’d be interested in holding a night golf event.  First of all I was thinking night golf could mean trouble – insurance, people falling over in the dark, but when Patsy explained the concept and we looked into it we were delighted to support Marymount, we’re delighted to support such a worthy cause.  Patsy and Wayne have been driving it, and it’s great to have Cogan’s sponsoring the event and we’ll have lots of members stewarding on the night”.  Anyone interested in playing in the event should contact Wayne Falvey in Mardyke Arena or Lee Valley Golf Club.