Night golf tourney makes debut at Dirab; Hobbs team wins

RIYADH: Night golf under lights, yes. In total darkness? Why not?
Friday night, the city’s intrepid golfers in teams of four soaked up this totally new golfing experience - all in the spirit of fun - during the 1st Annual Crescent Moon Night Golf Tournament at Dirab Golf & Country Club.
As if playing golf is not challenging enough this event, though strictly for fun, had more to offer to test one’s wits and patience. Imagine hitting balls to a target you cannot see with only blinking lights on golfcart paths, and fairways looking more like runways at night.
The balls used are called glow balls that go lights out after eight minutes. The players wear glow necklaces and on their carts are attached red glow sticks.
And oh, a ball loses its light on mishits putting it out of play and forcing team members to continue with shared ball in the four-person Texas Scramble format competition.
American Efrain dela Cruz, the man who introduced night golf to DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani, said it was in Hawaii where he first saw a night golf event in which El Jadiani put a new spin in that here it’s played in total darkness and in Hawaii under lights.
This pilot event forms part of the 20th year anniversary celebrations of Dirab Golf & Country Club, and the start of night golf tournaments to complement the club’s daytime activities, according to El Jadiani.
On this night, the team that had the most fun was the quartet of David Hobbs, Roberta Hobbs, Denise Holding and Murad Mirza which posted the winning net score of 67.
The team of Dela Cruz, Anjum Mullah, Rashid Amin and Rana Irfan was second on 68, while the foursome of Raghe Hassan, Qaiser Hussain, Thomas Howard and George Baaklini took third position on 69 on countback from two other teams namely Colin Brown, Michael O’Donnnell, Tony Brocklebank and Chuck Davin; Ed McFarland, Tracy Collins, Charli Neikirt and Jeff Smith.
Tyran McDonald and Holding won the awards for men’s and ladies longest drive while Rashid Amin took home the closest to the pin plum.
El Jadiani handed out prizes to the winners at the dinner-awards ceremony.
Also awarded prizes were the winners in the junior putting competition for boys and girls as follows: Boys - 1st place Majid, 2nd place Omar El Jadiani , 3rd Mohammad Majdi; Girls – 1st place Reem, 2nd place Sarah El Jadiani, 3rd place Hanna Hassan. Also present at the ceremony were Fahad Abunayyan, deputy general manager of Abunayyan Sons Group and board member of Saudi Golf Federation, and Dirab Golf Committee Chairman Tariq Javed.