Night manoeuvres aid air ambulance

Intrepid players at Stapleford Park teed off in pitch darkness recently to help raise hundreds of pounds for the county's air ambulance appeal.

The 10 teams of four who took part in the event at the Leicestershire venue,  were aided by neon glow sticks and issued with special 'glow in the dark' golf balls - none of which were lost on the night.

A cloudy sky meant there was no moon and stars to help alleviate the darkness, although some of the teams used torches to help negotiate their way between the six holes which were played in Texas Scramble format on the night.

It was the first time that night golf had been tried at Stapleford Park but organiser and PGA Head Professional Richard Alderson (above) hailed the event as such a success that a similar one is already being planned for later in the year.

Alderson said: “Despite all the recent rain our course stood up well and you could hear people laughing and obviously enjoying themselves out in the darkness. It was a very popular event and we could have taken more than double the number of available entries.”

Around £500 looks to have been raised for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance Appeal (DLRAAA), and there was even support from the neighbouring Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Appeal as several golfers are also members of its Airshots golf society.

Stapleford Park and Airshots member Colin Eversden, who helped to organise the event, said: "This has raised money for a fantastic cause.”