Course operators in the arid north are in a constant battle with the elements as they struggle to keep their fairways and greens in championship condition.
'It is a huge task to keep the course in good shape. It is much easier for courses in the south of China as it rains a lot more and the grass grows quickly, but up here it is a big challenge to keep the grass alive,' said Marlboro Ma, a manager at the Honghua course.
Honghua has more than 100 ground staff who work year-round tending the course. Winter in the frigid north presents them with the greatest difficulties. Enduring sub-zero temperatures, courses in the north are forced to close from early December to the end of March each year.
To protect the course during this time Honghua is first covered with tonnes of fine sand. On top of this the fairways and greens are laid with straw mats, which are then covered with plastic netting to retain heat.
Any snowfall has to be immediately swept off the covering as it stops the grass from breathing. The grass has to be watered at least every three days throughout the winter months, with the water manually pumped through holes broken in the frozen lakes.
Every few days the covers have to be pulled back to ensure the grass is not dying, Ma explains, and on rare mild afternoons everything is uncovered and exposed to the winter sun.
