Cape Dorset (Apr 28/03) - After months of work, the final preparations are being made for this year's Peter Gzowski Golf Tournament in Cape Dorset.

TV star Jonathan Torrens tees off in Pannituuq at the last Peter Gzowski Golf Tournament, held in Nunavut in 2001. - photo courtesy of the Nunavut Literacy Council

The event is scheduled for May 7-9 and plane tickets have been booked for most of the celebrities. The only thing left now is creating the course.

"We've got the plan ready, it's just a matter of making the actual course," said Margaret Gillis, a member of the tournament's organizing committee.

The community's senior administrator, Art Stewart, promises the course will be great.

"Right now, it's just a plain sheet of ice but we've got the approval from councillors to go ahead with it," said Stewart.

There will be nine holes on the course and to make things a little easier, the participants will be using fluorescent tennis balls instead of golf balls.

Among the celebrities to attend the event are Jonathan Torrens from the Trailer Park Boys, Rick Mercer from This Hour has 22 minutes, Shelagh Rogers from CBC Radio and writer Kenn Harper. Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik, commissioner Peter Irniq and Member of Parliament Nancy Karetak-Lindell will also take part in the tournament.

Organizers said the great part about the tournament in Nunavut is that it's not all about golf. There will be a banquet, a pancake breakfast, celebrity visits to the schools and of course an award ceremony.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to the Nunavut Literacy Council. Executive director of the council, Kim Crockatt, said the event brings in money to help support literacy programs in the territory.

"Last time, we raised about $24,000. We provide communities with the opportunity to apply for small grants to set up their own literacy program," said Crockatt.

Although it has not been confirmed, the organizing committee hopes that a player from the National Hockey League will attend.

The Peter Gzowski Golf Tournament has been held in the North since the early 1990s.