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RANKIN INLET
The Al Burrill Memorial Golf Tournament attracted golfers of all skill levels earlier this month, even one golfer who hadn't held a club in 30 years.

Ruben Kubluitok sets up for a swing on top of an excavation site during the Al Burrill Memorial Golf Tournament. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

Randy Miller hadn't stepped foot on a course since a high school gym class in Summerland, B.C. He had never even played an actual game.

And it's safe to say it showed. But with every over shot, under shot, or water shot, there was a great laugh and some even better jokes.

"I'm just going to remember that hole number five is the swimming hole," Miller joked as he rolled down his pant legs after wading into the water to get his ball.

He wasn't the only golfer to put his team, also known as the A-Team, in a tough spot.

On the fourth hole, Ruben Kubluitok, who was chosen as the team's best driver on the ninth hole, drove his ball on top of a dirt pile.

"Only in Rankin Inlet do you play golf on an excavation site," joked Rick Lepage, while awkwardly standing on a rock, trying to shoot the ball out of the dirt and onto the green.

While walking the fairway, Lepage said he plays golf to get that one perfect shot and on the ninth hole he not only got one, but two. Despite his success, his team came in last place with a score of 40, putting them six over par. The winner of the tournament was a team called Betty's Boy Toys who came in on par with a score of 34.

The third annual tournament, which attracted 12 golfers, is put on by the Rankin Inlet Flight Services Station in memory of their former co-worker and friend Al Burrill.

Burrill was the field maintenance supervisor at the Rankin Inlet airport for 13 years before passing away suddenly in September 2008.

The proceeds of the event go toward the RCMP Christmas Hamper Fund, one of Burrill's favourite charities. This year, the tournament raised $5,600. That money, along with any other money the RCMP raises, will be given out to families in the community in the form of food vouchers this Christmas.

Lepage is one of the event's organizers.

He said the sponsors and the community support for the event were very touching.

"It shows Al is alive and well in Rankin Inlet."

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