Everyone who eats is a food critic of some sort, so we should not have been surprised by the terrific response to our Dining Survey published in the magazine last spring. Well, OK, maybe the incentive of a $200 gift certificate for use at the winner’s home club helped. In any case, thank you if you participated.

All the answers and comments were interesting and thoughtful. One woman wrote that she realized, after she completed the survey, that she and her husband eat most of their meals in their hotels when traveling. She vowed they would venture out more. Another reader noted that he had visited more than 50 clubs in the past eight years and had enjoyed every meal. Another reader had visited 45 clubs worldwide. Here’s a reader who perhaps best summed up the dining experience: "Service makes the greatest impression."

To handle the drawing of our winner fairly and squarely, we recruited the assistance of the ClubLine — the Employee Partners behind those cheerful telephone voices that help you with tee times, dining reservations, hotel accommodations, and other travel needs. Lisa Grant, who has been a representative for the ClubLine in Dallas for more than three years, drew the name of the lucky member who has received the $200 club credit. Lisa, who served as event coordinator at Grand Prairie (Texas) Country Club prior to joining the ClubLine, says she likes talking to members — and she talks to a lot of them, averaging 80 to 100 conversations per day. Her busiest day: 126 telephone calls.

And the name that Lisa drew? Arthur S. Pfefferman, a member at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana, California. He is senior managing director of Coldwell Banker Commercial Properties and has more than 25 years experience in investment, leasing, sales, and development. He lives in Westlake Village, California, with his wife of 35 years, Sandy. They have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Over the course of his career, Art has done, in his words, "a ton of travel." That’s illustrated by the wide-ranging answers he provided on his survey — although he’s loyal to Braemar when it comes to having the best "suburban ambience." For business travel, he prefers Washington, D.C., and Buenos Aires. For pleasure travel, his picks are Las Vegas and the Greek islands.

Thanks again for your input — your ideas always are welcomed.

Enjoy the issue,
Patricia Baldwin
Editor in Chief
privateclubs@clubcorp.com

Photography by Lisa Means