Morley Hayes golfers tee-off charity tournament just after midnight as restrictions ease

The tournament was raising money for the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre

Author: Alex MeakinPublished 29th Mar 2021
Last updated 29th Mar 2021

With the help of glow-in-the-dark balls and floodlit greens seven teams of golfers took to the fairways in the early hours this morning.

With restrictions on outdoor activities lifting in England players hit their opening drives at 12.01am at Derbyshire's Morley Hayes Golf Club.

The seven team, seven-hole tournament was held to raise funds for the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre.

Andrew Allsop, managing director of Morley Hayes Golf Club, told the PA news agency the idea for the nocturnal tee-off was made on a whim''.

He said: "It filled instantly, there was so much interest because I don't think there are any places in England that do night golf and we obviously want to try and get in the records that we're the first ones to reopen on March 29.

"I think the buzz has been made even buzzier because it's such great weather forecast this week. All the fair-weather golfers, everyone's out and the tees booked from Monday morning first light, 6.30am, right through ... and it's like that all week.

"We've been shut six months out of 12 so it's been very difficult but we'll survive and good times are ahead and like Captain Tom (Moore) said, tomorrow's another day, so I'm looking forward to it.''