LAKEVILLE, Massachusetts — A night-golf project developed at Heritage Hill Golf Course has led to the launch of Beacon Golf Systems, a new company helping golf facilities extend play beyond sunset through practical solar-powered lighting.
Beacon Golf Systems was founded by Massachusetts golf operator Andrew Gildea, co-owner of Heritage Hill Golf Course and founder of Champions Indoor Golf. The company grew directly from the process of designing, installing and operating night golf at Heritage Hill.
Before building golf businesses in Massachusetts, Gildea spent several years coaching golf in China, where night golf was a familiar part of the golf landscape. It allowed players to access the game outside traditional working hours and gave courses a way to remain active well into the evening.
“When I was coaching in China, night golf wasn’t presented as an event or a novelty,” Gildea said. “It was simply another way people played the game. I always believed the concept could work in New England if there were a more practical way to install it.”
Traditional golf-course lighting typically relies on stadium-style fixtures, extensive electrical infrastructure and significant construction. Those requirements have historically made night golf difficult to justify for many private, public, municipal, and independently operated courses.
At Heritage Hill, Gildea and his team took a different approach. Solar-powered fixtures were strategically positioned around teeing areas, greens and other important playing zones rather than attempting to illuminate every part of the property.
The lights operate automatically, requiring no daily setup or breakdown by course employees. A standard installation can be completed in approximately five days, with work staged around normal golf operations so the course can remain open throughout the process.
“The system was built from the perspective of an operator,” Gildea said. “We wanted something that worked for golfers without creating another complicated daily responsibility for the staff. Once we saw it operating at Heritage Hill, we realized the same approach could make night golf possible for many other courses.”
Night golf gives facilities an opportunity to reach players who may not have time to play during the day while creating new possibilities for leagues, outings, events and food-and-beverage activity. It can also help courses introduce golf in a more social and accessible format.
Beacon Golf Systems will initially work with courses throughout New England, with an emphasis on public, municipal and daily-fee properties that have suitable layouts and adequate separation from neighboring homes.
The company can design systems for traditional nine- and 18-hole courses, par-3 courses, driving ranges, selected holes and dedicated event areas.
Beacon provides the complete project, including site evaluation, lighting layout, equipment procurement, foundations, pole and fixture installation, programming, commissioning and ongoing maintenance support. The company can also help operators develop the programming and operating plan needed to introduce night golf successfully.
“Beacon wasn’t created in a conference room,” Gildea said. “It came from solving a real operating opportunity at our own golf course. The course was already there. We simply found a practical way to add more usable hours.”
Golf-course owners, operators and industry partners can learn more about Beacon Golf Systems, view the Heritage Hill installation and request an initial site conversation at www.beacongolfsystems.com
Beacon Golf Systems designs, installs and maintains practical solar-powered lighting systems for golf courses, driving ranges and golf entertainment properties. Developed through direct operating experience at Heritage Hill Golf Course in Lakeville, Massachusetts, Beacon helps golf facilities extend play beyond sunset without the infrastructure required by traditional stadium-style lighting.
