How To: Get the Most Golf In At Twilight

We’ve already covered some of the great benefits of twilight golf in a previous post, and by now you’re probably ready to squeeze some late-afternoon golf into your schedule. Whether you’re looking for less of a crowd or better tee time rates, twilight golf is a great way for everyone—from beginners to long-time golf addicts—to play and enjoy more of the game. But now that you’re considering those late-day tee times, the next question is – how can you make the most of them and squeeze maximum golf into the day before the sun goes away?

There are a bunch of ways to get the most out of your twilight tee times, but we’ve selected a few here that we think have the most impact on playing as much of your round of golf as possible before the daylight fades away. Take a look at these recommendations and incorporate some of them the next time you book that twilight tee time!

#1 – Get to the course on time – or early!

First up is an obvious way to get the most out of your tee time, but one that’s especially important – get there on time. While twilight times are less busy than other times of day on the course, and you may not have people in front of or behind you, getting to the course and checked in on time still gives you the most hours of daylight to play your round and play as many holes as you can.

And getting there just a little bit early can be an even bigger help. Whether you like to grab a couple of beverages before you start the round, or you just want time to get your clubs set up and prepare for your game, rolling up to the first tee just at the right time ensures that you’re out and playing and enjoying every minute of that late-afternoon light and scenery.

#2 – Don’t chase runaway golf ball(s)

Tip number two is all about saving time; specifically by not trying to hunt down an errant shot that winds up in the woods or in the weeds. That’s time that you could use to take the drop and the one-stroke penalty (or the mulligan, if you’d rather), and set yourself up with a better shot. We’ve all spent a fair amount of time hacking through the weeds looking for a golf ball we were sure was nearby, but when your daylight is limited, you’re better off letting that ball go and moving on to enjoy your tee time and your afternoon on the course.

#3 – Expand that “gimme” range

Whether you’re teeing it up with a group of friends or on your own, another way to make the most of your twilight tee time is by widening that “gimme” range you use. If you would usually count anything under two feet from the cup as a gimme, why not stretch that to three or four feet when playing a twilight round? (Don’t worry – we know you would’ve made that shot.) And that way, you can pick up and move on to the next hole sooner, which in turn means more opportunity to play as much of the course as possible.

#4 – Don’t be afraid to skip holes or play through

Especially when the daylight is waning, there’s nothing wrong with skipping a hole or two so that you can get a chance at golf you enjoy. For example, if you’re familiar with a course and know that you always end up losing a golf ball in the woods or in the water on a particular hole, you can always jump ahead and get to the next hole where you stand a better chance of enjoying your shot and your round.

Finally, if there is a group of golfers in front of you, it’s never a bad thing to ask if you can play through, or even skip a hole and jump ahead to maintain your own pace. If it’s a smaller group and you’re playing solo, you can even ask to join them and finish out the remainder of the round together. Just don’t hit into any golfers in front of you, of course.

Now, where should you tee it up?

Now that you know how great twilight golf can be, and how to get the most out of those late-afternoon tee times, the next question is – where should you play?

Don’t worry, because we have you covered there, too. Below are just a handful of examples of golf courses that feature twilight tee times, many of which have special rates for twilight golf or other kinds of deals and offers that go along with twilight rounds. And remember, these are just a few – there are tons of great twilight golf options available in nearly every region, so find your favorite places to play and then check into what’s available near you.