United Ability fundraiser to feature nighttime golf

If you don’t think you can play golf at night, think again. At Driving After Dark, an unusual fundraiser hosted by the Junior Board of the Birmingham nonprofit United Ability, you can do just that.

The annual event takes place at Highland Park Golf Course from 3-11 p.m. May 25.

Attendees play nine holes in daylight, then play the back nine in the dark using DayGlo painted golf balls.

Driving After Dark is a “unique experience,” said Jennifer Dowdle, United Ability marketing director.

“On the first nine holes, everyone is trying to play a usual golf game, but once the sun goes down, all bets are off,” Dowdle said. “Even the best player will undoubtedly lose a ball or slice a stroke when playing in the dark, but they seem to have so much fun that they don’t even mind.”

And for the first time, this year’s fundraiser includes round-robin tennis at the Highland Park Tennis Center — an addition organizers said they hope will widen the audience, according to Dowdle. 

Players will break for dinner from Taziki’s Mediterranean Café at 6:30 p.m. The break will include a raffle for door prizes.

At Tiki holes around the course, players can play such games as tin cup and corn hole. The event will also feature longest-drive and closest-to-the-hole competitions. Beverages will be provided to players on the course.

Proceeds support United Ability, which helps 3,000 infants, children and adults with disabilities. For tickets, contact Lee Thrash at 944-3909 or lthrash@unitedability.org.