In pictures: Wekweètì’s new beachside mini golf

A new 18-hole mini golf course has opened in Wekweètì, partly in the hope of attracting more tourism to the isolated Tłı̨chǫ community.

Senior administrator Fred Behrens said workers spent almost three weeks on the project, which was completed last month.

The community of roughly 140 residents hosted the 20th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering at its Alexis Arrowmaker School this week. During the event, which roughly 400 people attended, a 30-person tournament was held on the new course.

Behrens said the mini putt is close to what he called Wekweètì’s “second beach” – half a kilometre away from the community’s core. It joins an existing nine-hole golf course.

Wekweètì is ready to “entertain anyone” who wants a game of golf, be it full-size or the mini putt, Behrens said.

“We rent clubs, we’ve also got golf carts to rent out, and of course, lodging as well – either at our culture camp or in the community,” he added.

As the annual gathering started inching closer, Behrens said the Tłı̨chǫ Government was able to find funding to set up the new course and begin construction work.

The project was initiated last year when the community government decided to create a mini putt for local youth, who were less keen to play the main Dechi Laot’i golf course and wanted an area to practise.

The Dechi Laot’i course was built a decade ago. Now, at least a dozen golf enthusiasts play there most evenings. Robert Judas, who scored Wekweètì’s first hole-in-one last September, was one of the first people on the mini golf course this week.

“I think it’ll possibly bring in a bit more tourism,” said Behrens.

“One idea we’re working on now is to charter a Twin Otter for a load of people to come in and maybe do half a day of golf and half a day of fishing.”

This week’s annual gathering hasn’t been without its challenges.

Wekweètì, supporting hundreds more people than usually live there, lost power for 25 hours earlier in the week.

“The school where they have the actual meetings had a backup generator. The community government provided a backup generator for the kitchen so that meals could get completed there as well,” said Behrens.

“The only little bit of a problem was at night, they had a hand games tournament. When the sun finally did set it got rather dark in there, but they did find one light to put over everyone.”

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