Totem Golf - Celebrating Business Excellence

GOLF YOUR WAY TO THE ROCKIES WITH TOTEM GOLF

by Rennay Craats

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he Thorogood family knows a thing or two about building, founding Totem Building Supplies in 1970.

After Jim and son Ryan sold Totem in 2004, they brought younger son Dane into the fold and set out to build something completely different.

The result was the Totem Group – a combination of golf courses, accommodations, real estate development and a charitable foundation – that applies the work ethic that made Totem Building Supplies a success. The centrepiece of this endeavour is the unique experience that allows guests to golf their way to the Rockies, with great packages featuring a hotel stay and rounds at Greywolf Golf Course and Sundre Golf Club.

“Sundre and Greywolf are both awardwinning, prestigious courses in different ways. One is a tucked in, well-maintained treed country course and the other is the best mountain golf experience I’ve ever played,” says Dane Thorogood, general manager of Totem Golf.

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JAW-DROPPING CLIFFHAN

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reywolf was named the number one public golf course in B.C. by SCOREGolf, and this par-72 course earns the honour with some world-renowned holes.

The Cliffhanger, Greywolf’s #6, was partially replicated on a smaller scale at the RBC Canadian Open. People were invited to hit into a simulator to reach the fairway and putt out on the recreated green so they could experience this iconic hole for themselves.

Greywolf’s restaurant draws its name from #6. Cliffhanger Restaurant overlooks the 18th hole, offering as much of a feast for the eyes as the palate. New executive chef Galasa Aden revamped the menu during the recent relaunch, filling it with from-scratch Canadian contemporary cuisine ranging from burgers to gnocchi to steelhead trout. And with its location at the foot of the mountain, it services Panorama’s skiers in the winter and golfers in the summer.

The resort and golf course have a symbiotic relationship as each contributes to the success of this destination area.

With ongoing improvements to the already amazing golf and world-class skiing and resort, Panorama continues to attract visitors year-round.

“Greywolf is the jewel in the crown of Panorama and its reputation has grown immensely because of the investments put into not only the golf product but the resort as a whole. It’s something we’re very proud of,” says Panorama Mountain Resort CEO and president Steve Paccagnan.

With an incredible golf weekend in the Alberta foothills and B.C. mountains – and a luxury stay in between – Totem has truly built something special with this unique golf experience.

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Executive chef Galasa Aden.

JEWEL OF THE VALLEY

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reywolf is the ideal destination course for a ladies’ weekend or a guys’ trip. Ranked the number one public course in British Columbia, this picturesque course brings an exceptional experience at an attractive price. And to ensure it delivers that high-value, enjoyable experience to every golfer, Greywolf added forward tee boxes on 12 holes to allow less-seasoned golfers to modify their play. Thorogood wants guests to be comfortable and have fun so they come back again and again.

“We want people to enjoy the experience and have fun, and if their shirt’s not tucked in or their slacks aren’t pressed, I don’t care. Golf has changed,” he says.

What hasn’t changed is the amazing round to be had at Greywolf Golf Course.

It guarantees a superb golf game every time, with the Purcell Mountains as a stunning backdrop and beautifully designed holes that accentuate the natural beauty of the area.

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SMALL-TOWN COURSE DELIVERS BIG

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undre Golf Club, ranked number one for value in Alberta, is a fantastic par-72 course with mature trees and water features. It offers a scenic round of golf with views of the Red Deer River and the Rocky Mountains.

“It is always in good condition and it’s playable for every golfer but at the same time it’s challenging. For the price, it’s an unbelievable course,” Thorogood says.

By adding Mountain View Inn & Suites a stone’s throw from the course, it’s an easy getaway from Calgary and Edmonton and a perfect place to hold an event or corporate tournament. The Thorogoods make it easy to golf offering a 48-seater bus – for events with over 72 participants – that picks up from Calgary, Edmonton or points in between. Participants can also stay at Mountain View at a reasonable rate.

The hotel is also a great stopping point for golfers who are warming up the clubs at Sundre Golf Club before heading to Greywolf Golf Course in Panorama, British Columbia.

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