COUNTERPOINT
I normally enjoy taking a few minutes to peruse Private Clubs as a source of information for future trips or travel opportunities. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get past the cover of the May/June 2004 issue as I was overwhelmed in a wave of nausea! In no way do I consider Mr. [Donald] Trump to be an admirable example of the American business executive, but rather a self-centered, arrogant personification of all that undermines the credibility and character of quality business management. I believe this to be a poor role model for a quality publication, unless one wants to glamorize that which is a facade of self-adoration. My condolences.
John W. Wyllie, M.D.
Lexington, Kentucky
Member, Country Club of Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

A ‘MEMBER CONNECT’
I received a copy of Private Clubs in the mail today. I want to thank you for the kind way you presented our conversation about La Cima Club and the Business Alliance ["The Pleasure of Business," May/June 2004]. I feel honored to have been a part of this well-done article and I hope everyone who takes the opportunity to read about La Cima would be moved to come and visit. I will keep you up to date on the Business Alliance growth throughout the year. We are currently up to 29 members and we had three new potential members visit yesterday.

I also will tell you that having Donald Trump on the cover will get more than just our members to pick up and look through this copy.
Danny Clemens
Member, La Cima Club
Irving, Texas

My wife and I enjoy reading Private Clubs. You are doing a fine job. It is the only publication that we actually fight over when it arrives as to who is going to read it first.

I enjoyed the article on La Cima Club ["The Pleasure of Business," May/June 2004]. I would like to contact Danny Clemens and discuss how he got the Business Alliance started at La Cima. I would like to start the same type of club at Brookhaven Country Club.
Brad Conner
Member, Brookhaven Country Club
Farmers Branch, Texas
Editor’s note: We have connected Danny Clemens and Brad Conner and hope to report soon about the launch of a Business Alliance at Brookhaven.

BATTER UP
I really enjoyed the baseball article ["Take Me Out to the Ballgame, March/April 2004]. Can you send me the contact information for the company organizing the baseball tours. My son and I would enjoy such a vacation. Thank you.
Mike Lender
Member, Wildflower Country Club
Temple, Texas
Editor’s note: Contact Sports Travel and Tours at www.sportstravelandtours.com or 800.662.4424.

BEAMING
I truly enjoyed Louis Marroquin’s piece on Craig Beam and the American Heart Association ["Clubs & Members," May/June 2004]. Craig is truly a leader in the AHA’s efforts to reduce death and disability from heart disease — America’s number one killer.

I enjoyed, as well, Louis’ article on the La Cima Club in Irving, Texas ["The Pleasure of Business," May/June 2004]. When I was chairman of the board of the AHA (2000-2001), I entertained Craig and other senior officers and staff of the AHA at La Cima on more than one occasion. ClubCorp membership helps make it a small world indeed.
Bill Bryant
Member, Summit Club
Birmingham, Alabama

WALL OF FAME
I recently went to lunch with Dick Kimberly at the City Club of Washington at Columbia Square. As I walked toward the main dining room, I saw the reprint of your interview with Dick ["The Ethics of Persuasion," July/August 2002].

As a public affairs consultant in Washington, I realize that lobbyists are not always highly regarded. But you only have to read this piece to understand how a top-quality lobbyist works. It is important to recognize people who are fine examples of how Washington works.

I thought it was amazing that the club thought enough of Dick and the magazine to frame and post the entire article. Hats off to the staffs of the City Club and Private Clubs magazine.
Steve Hellem
Chairman and CEO, Navista Inc.
Washington, D.C.

UNLIMITED RETURN
My husband, Jim, and I are members of Bay Oaks Country Club. We recently upgraded from Signature Gold to Signature Gold Unlimited.

Jim had a business meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, recently and he suggested I fly to Fort Worth and we would visit Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Texas. We also had a fabulous dinner at La Cima Club in Irving and a lovely room at the Westin Stonebriar Resort in Frisco.

The best news is that I aced my second hole-in-one on No. 8 of the Fazio Course

(a 148-yard par-3). I was using complimentary clubs — a 5-wood. It was beautiful. Great weekend. The Fazio Course even had a wooden tag made for me.
Cheryl Maultsby
Member, Bay Oaks Country Club
Clear Lake, Texas

HOMESTEAD HIKE
We just had to share our most enjoyable ClubCorp experience ever — after a long (but not long enough) weekend at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. We took our boys, ages 5 and 10, on a tour of the nearby gorge, led by our phenomenal tour guide, Brian LaFontaine, a 17-year employee of The Homestead. Brian’s enthusiasm, coupled with his knowledge of and passion for the outdoors, thoroughly entertained all of us so much that we didn’t want the hike to end! From pointing out rare and medicinal flowers to teaching us sign language and how to make a whistle out of hickory nut, Brian kept us captivated the entire time. There aren’t enough Star Cards around to show how much we appreciated his enthusiasm. He made the hike an experience we will all treasure. We will be back.
Jeff and Carolyn Harper
Members, Jefferson Club
Louisville, Kentucky

FIRM FOUNDATION
Just wanted to send a quick note to say how much my friends and I enjoyed our visit to the Foundation Room – House of Blues in Las Vegas. I made the reservation through the ClubLine. We had a lovely, quiet dinner and the service was impeccable. A superb benefit of membership — this in addition to our wonderful club in Seattle and its attentive staff. Our member relations director Thesvy Cashen is a real jewel — tirelessly devoted to making our membership experience absolutely first rate!
Caroline Corum
Member, Columbia Tower Club
Seattle

SAN ANTONIO STANDOUT
As new members with Associate Gold Unlimited benefits, we recently had the opportunity to have both lunch and dinner at the Plaza Club in San Antonio. We would like to commend the staff that greeted and served us. Bo, our waiter for lunch, was very courteous making our lunch extremely enjoyable. [The staff] could not have been more gracious and helpful throughout the evening. Members who were having a private ballroom dancing event invited us to join them. It was truly a fine dining experience.

The Plaza Club is an exceptional standout among clubs.
Pat Reviel
Member, Las Colinas Country Club
Irving, Texas
Bill Watts
Member, Tower Club
Dallas

NOT JUST A MEAL
Recently, we had the pleasure of staying with friends in West Palm Beach, Florida, and after noting the Governors Club was nearby, we made reservations for dinner through the ClubLine. This represented our first opportunity to take advantage of Associate membership privileges and visit another facility.

The courtesy extended to us as out-of-town visitors was remarkable as evidenced by the special attention and gracious hospitality of the maître d’ and plentiful waitstaff. And, as anticipated, the food was exceptional.

It is fair to say our dinner that evening was not just a meal, but also an outstanding experience. The comprehensive benefits of membership with ClubCorp were certainly in evidence.
Bill and Pearl Moss
Members, Country Club of Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

AUSTRALIAN GOLF HOLIDAY
My wife and I recently visited Australia on holiday and had the pleasure of playing Macquarie Links International Golf Club. When we booked our tee times before leaving Canada, one of the staff members insisted that they would pick us up at our hotel in Sydney at 7 a.m. and take us to the course. Brad Clarke, the membership manager, not only picked us up, but also gave us a lift back to the hotel in the afternoon. We played the course twice and found the staff at the club to be immensely courteous. Brad Clarke and the Macquarie Links staff were exceptional.
Brian and Karen Grier
Members, Emerald Hills Golf Club
Toronto, Canada