"May the best man win!" With these words the Mayor of Uummannaq, Jens Lars Fleischer declared the third World Icegolf Championship 2001 open.
 

The Mayor fires the starting shot for the first round.
Due to the weather conditions the tournament committee decided to postpone the Hole-In-One competition to the first round on Sunday.
 

"We want to open the world's eyes to the wonders of Uummannaq, said Jens Lars Fleischer. The World Icegolf Championship has put Uummannaq and Greenland on the world map. Uummannaq Community has, since the beginning, invested significantly in the event both financially and in the form of manpower.
 

Louise was so inspired by her first visit in 2000 that she wanted to return. Her husband gave her a surprise Christmas present.
 

A quick dram before teeing off.
 

Mid afternoon the sun finally broke through and competitors heaved a sigh of relief!
 

Isak Pjetturson, chief of the security, has seven men standing around to check that the participants don't come too close to the icebergs; and to ensure that competitors respect the icy conditions in which they play.
 

Future champions? 150 people attended the Icegolf School on the Sunday before the tournament.
 

 

A light snowstorm at breakfast time cleared away to the best weather of the tournament and the cameras waited at hole number one as the golfers lined up to try their luck and pocket the million dollars on offer from sponsors. With great enthusiasm and a bit of nervousness the players started the hole-in-one competition.
 

Tom Ferrell: "I missed it. I'm still just a poor bastard from Colorado. Well, I didn't need the money anyway."
 

Art Strickland, Texas announced before teeing off that he would happily give up his amateur status for a million dollars.
 

Jeff Blakeley was only 2,5 meters from the hole-in-one measuring 140 meters. He was together with Michael Beamish, the only player who hit the green. According to Ian Riley, the adjudicator you needed to be extremely lucky to have a hole-in-one under these conditions.
 

Ramon Bernhard from Florida was fascinated by the icebergs and the snow. "This is a fantastic experience to play golf on top of the world and meet all these people, especially for someone like myself who has never seen snow before."
 

Tom Howie, Scotland with his caddie Morten from Uummannaq
 

In the afternoon all interest centered on the final group of Annika Östberg and Tom Ferrell, joined by Scotland's Bill Howie. As in the morning, Tom again outscored Annika but she held on to win by a convincing margin and retain her trophy.
 

Annika Östberg between number 2 and 3 Tom Ferrell said "The scenery is so amazing and beautiful. Everywhere you look up you see a new view. It's tremendous. Annika is a great player and I've played with the best icegolfer on the planet but it's great to know that I'm the best male! Tom thinks that the play is more similar to normal golf than he thought it to be.
 
South African Shaun Cullen moved into third place scoring three birdies in his 38 "It's unbelievable The only way to describe the feeling is "wow" meaning World of Wonders! The most spectacular experience I' ve ever had."
 

Annika thanked the inhabitants of Uummannaq for all their enthusiasm and the big effort they have put into the event ."You are very important for the success of the event. I hope to see you next year." Annika was lifted atop a traditional dogsledge as it is tradition in Greenland.
 

Once the winner was decided Annika was congratulated and toasted in glasses made of thousand-year old ice.
 

This year's course record of 37 stroke was made by Tom Ferrell and will last for ever. The ice melts in May and June and in February and March nature will form a new background for the icegolf course 2002.
 

The gala evening and trophy presentation took place at Hotel Uummannaq and lasted all night......
Annika accepted the invitation to defend her title in 2002 and said that winning the title for the second time was 'every bit as exciting as the first time'! A hattrick of world championships is in the offing!