Fun and Fear at Fenghuangshan

Conditions

Very good indeed. Like many of the newer courses in the immediate region, Fenghuangshan uses a combination of the hardy saline-tolerant Seashore Paspalum grass (a type popular due to the generally poor quality of water available) on its fairways, tees and roughs and silky Bermuda TifEagle grass on its greens. On our visit, the putting surfaces were running at around nine on the stimpmeter, which makes them quicker than average, while it was hard to find fault with fairway lies, with most balls sitting up high on the Paspalum. Only time will tell if the club can maintain these kind of playing surfaces.

Caddies

Most of Fenghuangshan’s caddies, who are all female, hail from the central western provinces of Sichuan and Hunan – and the majority are very new to the game, although they’ve clearly been well trained. Understandably, Mandarin is their language of choice, but most have a decent grasp of Cantonese. English speakers, however, might struggle to communicate at times, but their enthusiasm in congratulating good shots (and their thoughtfulness commiserating bad ones) makes them a nice bunch to be around. You should listen to them, too. Don’t be surprised by some of the club selections off the tee – it’s that kind of course.

Clubhouse

Although describing the current nondescript two-storey clubhouse as a flophouse is probably something of a disservice, there’s no doubt the facilities at Fenghuangshan are spartan and decidedly minimal. There’s a reason for this: it’s only a temporary structure, although when the club will complete its main clubhouse, a massive edifice commanding excellent views of the surrounding area, is uncertain. It was due for completion in the first half of this year, but that is looking far from likely. In the meantime, visitors will have to make do with an austere locker room (think British boarding school-style circa 1970), a poorly-stocked pro shop and a simple restaurant on the second floor. A slightly better equipped conference area, capable of sitting up to 80 people, makes it possible for societies to host tournament days here.