Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, July 30, 2007

HOLMAN - At first glance, Victoria Island might not seem the most likely place for a golf tournament.

After all, the Arctic location has many rocks, cold blowing winds, no trees, curious local wildlife and of course the ultimate water hazard of the Beaufort Sea.

nuvik's Jonathon Michel is greeted by community elder Elisabeth Banksland at Ulukhaktok's golf course. The Billy Joss tournament celebrated its 20th year in 2007. photo courtesy of Sarah McKenziephoto courtesy of Sarah McKenzie

However, despite these obstacles - local character, you might say - the community of Ulukhaktok has enjoyed a golf course for more than two decades.

From July 20-22 of 2007, the Billy Joss Open golf tournament also celebrated 20 years.

Speaking to residents over the telephone, News/North found people in Ulukhaktok are proud of their course - and their status as caretakers of Canada's northernmost golf tournament

Ulukhaktok's mayor, Peter Malgokak, said he remembers attending the first Billy Joss Open in 1987.

He said the tournament is very important to the entire community, and 20 years is a big landmark.

Although a modern sport the tournament incorporates a bit of Northern flair. This year's tournament featured a community feast, which was prepared by volunteers.

The evening was also attended by many community elders such as Gean Kagyut, Renie Oliktoak and Elisabeth Banksland.

"I remember going to the first one," Malgokak said of the tournament on July 25 over a crackling satellite telephone connection.

A man of few words, he described the Billy Joss Open this way: "I guess you could say it's pretty big."

Colin Okheena, who won second place in the masters category in 2006, has attended most of the tournaments over the years.

He said many amateur golfers in Ulukhaktok own sets of clubs - a significant feat, considering heavy goods are brought to the community once a year by shipping barge.

While the tournament has been happening for 20 years, the history of golf in Ulukhaktok goes back much further.

The community's tournament is named after a trader for the Hudson's Bay Company, who first visited the region in 1969.

Local legend says Billy Joss brought the game to Ulukhaktok, and there are stories of him chipping balls out on the ice by himself.

Little by little, Joss's example spread across Victoria Island, and in 1983 the community spent part of its recreational facility funding to build a nine-hole golf course on the tundra.

Today, players carry small mats from which to tee, and Astroturf provides the putting surface.

While the course might be less groomed than its Southern counterparts, residents say Ulukhaktok is a great place to play golf.

One advantage is the midnight sun.

When the Billy Joss Open happens every third week of July, the tournament includes both day and night golfing

Jonathon Michel, who lives in Inuvik and works for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, recently travelled to Ulukhaktok to take part.

Having once played golf in British Columbia - where pastoral greens are watered by cool mists and things are quite picturesque - he said Ulukhaktok's course was great fun to play.

Like many visitors, he also said the community atmosphere makes Ulukhaktok's course very unique.

"I was really impressed with the course. There was amazing scenery and the people were really nice, so it's a great atmosphere," he said.

And despite the rougher conditions of the course, Michel said Ulukhaktok's residents have reason to be proud.

"The roughs are a little rougher, but it's a challenge, it's an adventure," he said.