The exact wattage and lumen output of a golf course lighting system depend on the golf facility. That is, if the holes cover a wide mountainous or smaller flat area. The watt per lumen ratio is the way to go when deciding which flood light system to use. What is sure is that LED lighting is the most recommendable for both the driving green or putting green training.
For the most complete answer, I have gathered all the most relevant data concerning the main factors at play. First, you will read about the reasons that require you to use adequate lighting. They also introduce the main performance and safety themes. Then, I will give some examples for an 18 hole golf course and a driving range. Plus, some insider tips to help you get the best lights and reduce the overall energy costs.
Importance of having a bright golf course and driving range
1. Improve golfers’ performance
The very first reason relates to the action on the playing field. Without a doubt, better lighting means that it is easier for a golfer to make more birdie, eagle, or double eagle. No player wants to adduce bad lighting to explain a bogey or even par, but some will. Not only that, they could start noticing other flaws too, everywhere they look.
For the professional, illuminance means the ability to analyze the fairway to avoid hitting the rough. Then again, it is harder to perform an explosion shot if the lighting is not alright. Keep in mind that excessive lumen output can also be a problem by causing glare.
2. Bright and flicker-free lighting for broadcasting golf tournaments
From a level of competition upwards, television broadcasting becomes a relevant factor. The choice of lighting sources thus becomes a tech issue. In brief, the luminance level must be bright enough to ensure perfect shots. But at the same time, it must be compliant with the video recording tech being used. That means that the lights must be flicker-free lighting sources.
To explain, LED lights are the obvious choice for big golf courses that host prestigious golf tournaments. But standard LED lights have a minor flaw, which is their flickering. When a video camera frames flickering artificial light, the result is a bad quality streaming. So, the solution is to use flicker-free lights. They satisfy the tech specs necessary for television broadcast.
3. Golf cart driving safety
Every golfer knows a story or two about some kind of incident on the golf course. The fact is that after the first shot from the tee box, you move through a huge field with many hazards on the way. And you repeat that for 18 holes or 9 holes at a time. Just think about the golf cart driving safety. With better lighting, you can see any obstacle and uneven surface. You do not run the risk of damaging the golf cart and hurting yourself in an accident. So, illuminance and brightness levels are really a topic that crosses many diverse situations. In some countries, it could also prevent to meet wild animals. Especially dangerous crocodiles or poisonous snakes.
4. Security
Renowned golf facilities may attract bad people and thieves. Just like any university and college golf course. So, you may implement several lighting solutions to protect your players, guests, and staff members.
A LED flood light may come with light sensors to light up an area automatically when natural daylight goes out. As you are going to read later, solar golf course lights are available on the market. They are among the most useful devices to prevent any evening illumination issue. Especially for security reasons.
Any golf driving range must provide security illumination for preventing any accident. Besides, security lights guide the golfers out of the building or facility in case of fire or other serious threats.
Factors affecting watts and lumens of golf course lighting
1. Size of the golf course
If you think about an 18 hole, 9 hole, and 3 hole, each one has a different size. Therefore, you need higher wattage and lumen the larger the golf course is. The watt per lumen ratio suggests that the efficiency of a light source is crucial. Especially when it comes to calculating the outturn electricity price.
Of course, the total wattage can only increase with a large series of golf courses. A golf facility will need to install more lights and possibly, light poles. All throughout the fairway down to the greenside bunker, adequate lighting should ensure comfort and safety during each player’s shot.
2. Light source
The countless products on the market can distort our perception of lighting efficiency. For one thing, higher wattage doesn’t mean brighter. Here is an example: a 100W LED light source generates the same brightness as a 1000W halogen bulb. That is, a 100W LED lamp is equivalent, yet it consumes way less than the 1000W light. Mostly because LED has 10x higher luminous efficacy.
The wattage of a single product does not help when considering the lighting needs of the golf facility. Instead, you need to look at the necessary lumen output of the golf course flood lights. In this way, you can calculate how many light sources you need. Then, when it is all planned and done, you get to know the total wattage to forecast the energy cost.
3. Golf course light pole height
All around the fairway and near the green, usually, you find several light poles. The average light pole height in a golf course is 15 to 30 meters tall. Of course, more wattage and lumen are necessary for a higher pole because the taller it is, the more light loss.
Sometimes, the golf course light poles reach the branches of the nearby trees. It is not uncommon to find light poles that mimic, in some way, the presence of another tree on the golf course.
Finally, some light poles may mount circular lighting. Especially those near the green and the greenside bunkers. Or between the short grass of the fairway and the long grass of the rough where golfers need to use higher lofted clubs.
4. The number of golf course light poles
If there are few light poles in the golf course (light pole density is lower than usual), each high mast will be responsible for a larger area. As a consequence, the light loss will also be greater. So, in the end, the wattage per light pole will be higher than it would be with more light points.
The distance between each pole requires the use of high-power light sources. But the dimension and shape of a course could require the installation of more fittings. Usually, the lighting design gives a precise idea of the area that each light pole should cover.
5. The beam angle of golf course flood lights
Every time large beam angle flood lights are in use, let us say >60 degrees, more lumens are required. This is because the lights are less concentrated, and thus more light loss is achieved.
The correlation between the beam angle and the wattage of a light source is not that simple. For LED lights, usually, a narrow beam angle corresponds to a more intense luminous flux. Specifically, one of those in use for long-range illumination. On the other hand, a broad beam angle is more suitable for short-range distances.
Each type of light source may have a different beam angle, which may link to specific limitations. For example, an HPS lamp has a broad beam of light to reduce overheating.
How many lumens and watts does it take to light an 18-hole golf course?
Let us assume the standard 18 hole golf course size is 100 acres (404,700 sq. meter). Well, the lux required for a recreational golf course = 200 lux. So, the lumen required for 18 hole golf course = 404,700 sq. meter x 200 lux x 1.25 (light loss factor) = 101,175,000 lumens.
Since LED lighting efficiency is around 150 lumens per watt, the wattage required for an 18 hole golf course shall be determined as follows:
101,175,000 lumens / 150 lumens per watt = 674,500 watts (of LED golf course lights).
In the end, 700,000 watts are necessary per 100 acres golf course. But this figure may vary because some golf course parts may not need lighting. For example, the rough, lake, or even part of the fairway.
With the use of metal halide or mercury vapor, you would need 1,400,000 watts as their luminous efficacy is around 75 lumens per watt. With halogen lights, the figure would skyrocket to 7,000,000 watts as the luminous efficacy plunges to 15 lumens per watt.
How many lumens and watts do we need to light a golf driving range?
Now, let us assume the standard driving range is 300m length x 50m width. That is, 15,000 sq. meters. The lux required for the driving range is 150 lux. So, here is the formula to calculate the lumen required for driving range floodlights:
15,000 lumens x 150 lux x 1.25 (light loss factor) = 2,812,500 lumens.
As a result, the total watt output required for driving range lighting is:
2,812,500 lumens / 150 lumens per watt = 18,750 watts
Just like in the previous example about the necessary lumens and watts for an 18-hole golf course, the lumen per watt ratio refers to LED light sources. LED flood lights are extremely widespread when it comes to illuminating the driving range.
How to reduce lumens and wattage required for the golf driving range?
1. Using a shorter light pole
Among the five most popular solutions, this is the most practical one. If you use shorter light poles, you reduce light loss as the lights travel a shorter distance. On the other hand, the light pole cost may be higher.
With this solution, you will need more poles. Mostly because you will have to install LED lights that do not cause excessive glare. The light distribution factor becomes vital for the wellbeing of the players in the golf facility. At the same time, you would end up using fewer lumens and wattage. So, it is still a viable solution for any modest driving range with a few uncovered hitting areas.
2. Using a small beam angle to light a large section
Here is a counter-intuitive solution. With a high-power small beam angle LED spot light, you can reduce light loss as the light is more concentrated. The lighting uniformity is attenuated slightly, but you can cover a large portion of the driving range.
When the lighting uniformity decreases, it could be harder to distinguish the ball. Especially if many golfers are swinging at the same time. But you would still reduce the lumens and wattage. So, a doable solution to this issue can be to use targets and yard markers for each hitting area. You could also keep this option for junior and hid’s golf club practices.
3. Using LED lights to replace metal halide, mercury vapor or HPS
LED has higher luminous efficacy (energy efficiency). So, replacing all the old fixtures with more efficient ones would greatly impact your electricity bill.
Convenience is apparent every time you compare a metal halide, mercury vapor, or HPS light source to an equivalent LED light. By choosing LED light sources, you are going to save approximately:
- 93% compared to HPS fittings
- 90% compared to halogen bulbs
- 70% compared to metal halide lamps
Mercury vapor and HPS lights are way too expensive to justify their use in a modern golf course. Even if you held on to their supposedly better color rendering. In reality, typical white LEDs have a color rendering index of 60-70, at both 3200K and 5500K. But you can find more performing LED lights nowadays.
4. Using solar lights to reduce electricity cost
When anyone tries to reduce the lumen and watt outputs, they really want to reduce the running cost. So, here is an idea designed specifically for that purpose.
You can reduce running costs by using solar flood lights. In detail, the reduction can vary depending on how many of them you can install. Usually, around 10% to 25% of the golf course lights can switch to solar lights. You cannot reach a 100% use of solar lights in a golf facility because the total power of flood light is too large. Still, independent LED light sources with a solar panel are useful in the tee boxes or along the fairway. Basically, anywhere you can install shorter light poles.
5. Getting a photometric lighting design
The most cost-competitive solution to get the best results is to request a photometric study report. In detail, experts like us have the tools, and the know-how, to exactly calculate the most performing lighting design. In other words, we create a custom golf lighting design. Even by sampling the golf course with professional equipment if necessary. Then, we develop a DIALux lighting design calculation report.
DIALux is software that simulates the lighting outcome. This includes lux levels, lighting uniformity, and glare rating. In the end, we optimize the use of golf driving range lights to best suit your golfers’ needs. And of course, we let you know all the ways you can reduce your current lumens and wattage.
Conclusion
So far, you have read all there is to consider in order to calculate the lumen output and wattage required to light a golf course. Most of this info applies to retrofitting and renovation projects as well. But you might want to consider a professional report to achieve the best results and cut down the expenses.
If you own or plan to construct a golf course or driving range, the golf course architect will need the size and dimension of the project. The length of the golf course, of the project for an 18 hole, 9 hole, or mini 3 hole course will then dictate some of the requirements. Make sure you cover the driving green and putting green training areas as well.
LED lighting is the most efficient solution. And lastly, install a solar flood light every once in a while, especially in strategic locations, to save on running costs.
