In bright sunshine, the participants met up at the course start point in good spirits. The starting pistol signalled the beginning of the first round of the tournament at 9.30 AM.
 

"Playing Ice Golf for the first time, Jack shared his strategy for success: "There's a lot of luck involved, but I have learnt the importance of hitting the ball to where you can find it. It's not easy to find balls out here on the rough surface of the frozen sea"
 

Big hitting first-timer, Ed Rice, managed to lose a record 12 balls during today's rounds, and had to borrow extra balls from defending champion, Annika Ostberg, in order to finish!
 

Annika, from Denmark, remarked about this year's course: "In golf, we usually talk about difficult pin positions, in Ice Golf, we are talking about difficult green positions. It's not every day you get the chance to play around an iceberg!"
 

Chip Thompson, ex PGA player from Austin, Texas might have some problems challenging the Greenlandic ice packs.
 
Despite difficulties of these harsh conditions, not one of the players complained about frustration today. Just look around and wonder at the beauty of this amazing country and we all remember why we are here.
 

It requires a great deal of concentration - and a certain amount of luck - to get the ball into the hole on a Greenlandic "white". Here Thomas Møller, Nuka in Greenland is making an attempt.
 

John Baker-Beall of Australia took up golf just 5 weeks ago. He is one of a tiny minority who start their tournament career on ice.
 

Jeff Weingrad, Rudi Sailor, Frances Grandhuis and Jonathan Brown: "This is the fourth time I've come to Uummannaq, and every year it's been fantastic - different every time.
 

Ice golf at the top of the world is yet another of Dan Davies' special golf challenges. He has been playing golf for 21 years, during which time he has played in some unusual locations, including the subway in New York
 

"To be the first person ever to beat par over 18 holes in The World Ice Golf Championships". This is Jack O'Keefe's ambition and he has one more day to achieve it.
 
Taking time out from the Hooter's tour in the US, Jack is leading the pack after the first day's play with a score of 71 (34 this morning and 37 this afternoon). He will be a hard man to beat, but Roger Beames, a Scotsman who plays on the European Challenge, will be hot on his heels as will Chip Thompson from the US. They scored 75 and 76 respectively. In Ice Golf though there is nothing for sure, it's an unpredictable game, in which there can be many surprises.
 
While the landscape here is mainly white, the local culture is remarkably colourful. Last night we enjoyed learning about Greenlandic culture - and were fascinated to discover that 80% of the world's halibut comes from this area!
 

Local hunter Pavia Nielsen talks about the kayak and his own experiences as a hunter in Uummannaq, both summer and winter. The kayak - that dainty little boat - is a powerful symbol of the Inuit people's ability to cope with the Arctic landscape. It provides a direct insight into an important piece of cultural history, a glimpse of the fascinating but harsh and dangerous world of the sealers.
 

The participants also get to have a go. And if ice golf is hard, that's nothing in comparison to keeping your balance in a kayak, when the waves are high and the waters around you are full of seals. Here David Beamish tries the difficult art of kayaking.
 

The golf clubs have been put away for a bit. Stephanie Comstock from Jacksonville, Florida, looks like she's got a flair for hunting from a kayak.
 

 

Today in Uummannaq, in a spectacular landscape described as "like playing on the moon!", Challenge Tour golfer Roger Beames of Scotland beat the cold and hair-raising competition from American pro Jack O'Keefe to win The World Ice Golf Championship 2002 by just one stroke.
 

The first player ever to shoot par on the 9 hole course, which is determined by nature and changes every year, Roger was behind by two strokes in the third round before hitting two eagles and nearly making the tournament's first hole-in-one. His brilliant play with a score of 30 in the fourth round saw him storming forward to claim the title and prove that even under the most extreme conditions skill remains crucial to success. "I knew I might have been in with a chance, but never expected to win. There have been some serious golfers out here this year. Jack played so solidly throughout the tournament, and it was all down to the last hole that decided the winner - it was nail biting stuff!"
 

Second place Jack O'Keefe of the United States had streaked into the lead on the first day of the 36 hole, two day tournament with a display of consistent and controlled golf despite temperatures of minus 17 degrees Celsius. Playing under glorious blue skies in surroundings that reminded him of "the final scene in the Superman movie where Clark Kent flies back to Krypton," Jack kept up the pressure to gain a strong lead of 4 strokes over Roger at the beginning of the second day.
 

But despite a solid performance by Jack, luck was on Roger's side. After the event Jack was disappointed but philosophical. "I've played on fast and hard greens when it gets cold in Kentucky but nothing can prepare you for this. Despite the difficulties, you can't get frustrated. Just look around at this amazing country and you remember why we are here."
 

The three winners.
Competition for third place was also intense during both days. Challenge Tour player Rudi Sailor of Austria was a favourite to win after leading the field with one below par on the practice day, but could only manage third after rallying back from a bad round on day one. PGA Tour instructor Chip Thompson moved from fourth to fifth in the final round, beating defending Champion Annika Ostberg of Denmark. Annika slipped to 15 strokes behind the leader after being separated by only six strokes at the end of round two.
 

Annika did not pull off the hat trick she hoped for, but remained buoyant. "I was up against some tough competition from some really good players. It has been an amazing experience to be allowed to play for three years in a row. I will never forget this city, the kind people, the participants and off course playing on the ice. I will miss playing around an iceberg!
 

Physical exposure on the course, especially cold fingers, posed a problem for some golfers. Roy Wegerle, the former Chelsea, QPR and Blackburn Rovers striker who quit football for golf after playing for the United States in the 1998 World Cup, struggled with conditions, which were a far cry from his native Miami. He commented, "To try and play golf under these conditions is very awkward. For a start you've got to have about seven layers of clothing on!"
 

Residents from Uummannaq followed the event and their presence lends the tournament local colour and a unique atmosphere.
 

2002 Champion Roger Beames summed up the past two days. "I cannot even begin to tell you what an incredible event this has been! We have all been egging each other on and the team spirit has been brilliant. I guess there are moments in an event such as this when it is all down to sheer luck - it's not your usual round of golf that's for sure, but its probably the most amazing one!"
 

In true Greenlandic manner the winner was lifted high in the air on a dog sled and cheered by the other participants and the crowd of residents from Uummannaq. According to traditional practice Roger Beames was invited to the Championship 2003 to defend his title.
 

The players congratulated each other and toasts were proposed using the many glasses, which off course - like the bar on the course - were made of ice.
 

A swirl of activity was going on at the icebar. The children of the city were treated with juice.
 

A frequently asked question: Where are the polar bears?
 
After the gala dinner everybody face South again. Some go directly home, others continue the adventure with new experiences in Ilulissat - town of icebergs.