By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The fairways of the Club Intramuros Golf Course in Manila glow under the starless night. And from the distance, the iconic clock tower of the Manila City Hall provides a dramatic backdrop as golfers take their shots .
It is a familiar scene for golf enthusiasts in the country, but the demand for playing golf at night has increased over the past months due to the unbearable heat in the city caused by El Niño.
“Usually, we only get around 20 percent (of golfers) playing at night. But now, it has increased to around, let’s say, 40 percent,” Club Intramuros Golf Course Resident Manager Mylene Magsino said in Filipino.
Southeast Asia has been enduring a brutal, record-setting heat wave over the past months, with temperature in Manila soaring to an all-time high of 38.8 degree Celsius. Even local government units are forced to suspend classes due to the dangerous conditions, while encouraging the public to stay indoors.
Club Intramuros Golf Course has actually been offering “night golf” over the past years, but the management saw the need to re-strategize after the extreme heat increased the demands for more playing time.
“We actually added one day for night golf last March to compensate for the demand and decided to make it a regular schedule because less golfers nowadays are playing during the day because of the heat and more are golfing at night,” said Magsino.
Schedules for night golf are now on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays with the first tee off set at 3 p.m. and the last at 7 p.m. Golfers, however, need to make reservations at least a week in advance for tee time slots.
Magsino said night golf offers a different playing experience apart from reprieve from the morning heat.
“Playing golf at night offers a unique and memorable experience for players,” said Magsino. “Aside from the cooler temperature, seeing the illuminated course and the historical sites around the wall at night just hits different.”
On the marketing side, it also allows the Club Intramuros Golf Course to diversify their offerings and cater to different demographics, including those who work during the day or prefer cooler conditions for players.
There are challenges along the way, including maintenance upkeep, but overall, Magsino said night golf is essential to golf course operators to carefully manage its impact on the course, the environment and the surrounding community. It also allows implementing sustainable practices, investing in quality lighting systems and communicating with stakeholders to address concerns.
