Teeing off for golf contest on frozen surface of the world’s deepest lake

The World Ice Golf Cup is underway on fairways off the Irkutsk region lakeside resort of Listvyanka.

The qualifying round were held on 5 and 6 March with the finals on Sunday 8 March.

Yury Milvit, chairman of Golf Federation of Irkutsk region, said: 'Participants are playing on a course with a perimeter of 2,020 metres (6,627 ft).

Bright cranberry-coloured balls are used in ice tournament. Pictures: Yuri Milvit

'This tournament is dedicated to 75th anniversary of the Victory in Great Patriotic War, therefore we will have two Leningrad holes.

'The distance between the two of them in metres will be compatible to number of days of Leningrad siege’ (872 days).

Snow traps and ice drifts make the game even more unpredictable. 

Thunder-like noises as they play their shots is another hazard - the sound of ice cracking.

‘Competing in these circumstances requires not only physical but also psychological stamina,’ said one player. ‘The competition turns into a real adventure for its participants.’

The first golf on Baikal was played in 2003 and since then the contest has attracted players from South Korea, China, Canada and other countries. 

Beneath the ice the lake contains 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen freshwater - more than the North American Great Lakes put together. 

Crescent-shaped Lake Baikal is larger in area than Belgium. 

It is the world’s oldest and deepest lake.