It might be a challenge to match the success of last year's sold-out 20th Annual Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Golf Tournament, but TOTA is definitely going to try – and the way plans are shaping up for the 2012 tournament, it looks like it will definitely be another winner!

The 21st Annual TOTA Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, September 6 at the beautiful Summerland Golf & Country Club. The yearly event is a great opportunity for tourism stakeholders from throughout the region to get together for a day of golf, networking and loads of fun with colleagues and friends. Last year 120 people had a blast at the 20th Tournament, held at the Vernon Golf & Country Club.

Each year up to 120 golfers – representing all types of resorts, hotels, media companies, ski areas, and other tourism-related businesses from across the Thompson Okanagan region – enjoy the 'Texas scramble' format tournament.

The 2012 tournament in Summerland will kick off with registration starting at 11:00 a.m. and a shotgun start to the golf at 1:00 p.m. Participants always enjoy a number of fun holes and special activities on the course during the 18-hole tournament, as well as cocktails and a full dinner banquet following the golf – complete with prizes for everyone.

In addition to a major Hole-in-One prize, a Putting Contest, and Longest Drive and Clostest-to-the-Hole competitions, a number of businesses and destinations sponsor individual holes, with some offering samples of food and refreshments and others presenting fun activities at the hole.

The 6,656-yard 18-hole course at Summerland Golf & Country Club offers stunning scenery on two distinct nines. The front nine is characterized by generous fairways, relatively flat terrain, and a combination of links style as well as tree-lined holes. The back nine moves into a wonderful grove of Ponderosa pines and features rolling fairways, elevation changes and undulating greens. Five holes skirt the massive Trout Creek Canyon. The clubhouse, with a large 1,500-sq-ft balcony, looks out onto a panoramic view of the golf course and overlooks the Okanagan Valley. Facilities include the 140-seat Canyon View Grill, locker rooms, Pro Shop, and putting green.

This year's accommodation sponsor will be the Summerland Waterfront Resort, a gorgeous condo-suites hotel right on the shore of Okanagan Lake. All suites feature a full kitchen and fireplace, and the resort includes a geothermal heated pool and hot tubs, as well as rental waterski boats, pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, and scooters. The resort is offering a special rate for TOTA Golf Tournament participants.

Meaghan Racine, TOTA's Stakeholder Sales Specialist, says limited spots are available for Tournament participants, so she encourages people to register early. She is also welcoming interest from potential sponsors for the various Tournament activities, at levels of $250 (for events like Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin), $500 (for sponsorships of the golf carts, the Putting Contest, and individual holes), and $1,000 (for the Banquet Dinner or the Hole-in-One contest). Call 250-860-5999 ext 203, or email sales@totabc.com.