CALENDAR
• Nov. 11 and 19. The 14th annual Lobster Feast at participating clubs.
• Nov. 11. Cunard Cruise Wine Dinner at River Creek Club in Leesburg, Virginia.
• Nov. 23. Great Hall tree lighting at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia.
• Dec. 2. Tree lighting and other holiday festivities at Pinehurst Resort in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
• Dec. 26-29. 58th Donald Ross Junior Golf Championship at Pinehurst Resort in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
• Jan. 27-29. WinterFest 2006 at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia.
• March 11. The 15th annual Washington Wines Festival at the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle.
• March 27-April 2. The Champions Tour Puerto Vallarta Championship at Vista Vallarta Club de Golf in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

ACURA CLUBCORP CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
• March 23-26. Two-Man Best Ball, Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin, Texas.
• May 17-21. Women’s Tennis Challenge Cup, Pinehurst Resort, Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
• June 14-18. Couples Championship, Marina Vallarta Club de Golf, Marina Vallarta, Mexico.
• July 12-16. Business/Sports Club/Society Team Championship, Pinehurst Resort, Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
• Sept. 6-10. Country Club and Resort Team Championship, Pinehurst Resort, Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.

LOBSTER FEAST COMES ASHORE
Pull out the lobster bibs — the 14th annual Lobster Feast will be held Nov. 11 and 19 at participating clubs. For each lobster sold, $3 will go to the United Service Organizations (USO). Also on the menu: New England clam chowder, salad, redskin potatoes and sweet corn, and apple pie. Contact your club for more information or to make reservations.

WINEMAKER DINNERS
Watch for details in the January/February issue of Private Clubs about upcoming Bordeaux winemaker dinners slated throughout February at clubs in Seattle; Costa Mesa and San Jose, California; Dallas; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago.

CLUBCORP CHEFS ATTEND CULINARY INSTITUTE EVENT
Several club chefs recently participated in the Iron Chefs Competition during the Greystone Experience held at the Culinary Institute of America’s campus in St. Helena, California. Chefs were paired into two-person teams and given a mystery basket of ingredients. They were instructed to create a three-course meal for six people in a three-hour time span. Teams were judged on creativity, culinary technique, menu items names and descriptions, flavor profile and food pairing, and the practicality of the items. First place honors were awarded to the team of Doug George, executive chef at The Downtown Club at Plaza in Houston, and Bill Wilt, executive chef at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas. During the weeklong continuing education workshop, the chefs learned new cooking techniques and service procedures, and experimented with new recipes. The following are the winners of the Iron Chefs Competition at the Greystone Experience.

First place: Tomato Consomme with Pea Pancake by Doug George, executive chef at The Downtown Club at Plaza in Houston, and Bill Wilt, executive chef at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas.

First Runners-Up: Salmon by Kraig Thome, executive chef at the University Club of Houston, and Eric Nenneman, executive chef at Bear’s Best Las Vegas.

Second Runners-Up: Poached Supreme of Chicken by Derek Healy, executive chef at City Club on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles, and Matt Samson, executive chef at Desert Falls Country Club in Palm Desert, California.

RESORT NEWS
Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Austin, Texas
• The Darrell Royal Ballroom has been expanded by 1,000 feet to a total of 8,240 square feet. The room now features windows overlooking the Fazio Foothills course and the surrounding Hill Country. The room can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for corporate and private functions, wedding receptions, and special events.

• Caddie and forecaddie services are available at Barton Creek. A caddie accompanies an individual golfer during a round of golf, and a forecaddie accompanies a group. The services are available seven days a week, and forecaddies are available for tournaments or group outings.

The Homestead
Hot Springs, Virginia
Make plans for a post-holiday getaway to the Allegheny Mountains for WinterFest 2006 (Jan. 27-29) at The Homestead. Activities include skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, informative classes and clinics on wintertime sports, and evening entertainment.

Pinehurst Resort
Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
• This holiday season, take part in traditional events, including s’mores and stargazing by the fireplace on the West Lawn; the Village Tree Lighting in Pinehurst, with complimentary hot cider and cookies and a sing-along to holiday songs; and live holiday music during teatime at the Carolina every weekend in December.

• The Championship Package will be offered through the end of the year. The popular package includes a round of golf on Pinehurst No. 2, caddie service, and golfer’s massage.

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
• La Cima Club in Irving, Texas, will begin a yearlong celebration of its 20th anniversary at a party on Dec. 31. To purchase tickets for the event, call the club at 972.869.2266.

• The Bankers Club in Cincinnati will mark its 60th anniversary at a gala event on April 22, the day the club was formed in 1946. To purchase tickets for the event, call the club at 513.651.3660.

SOCIETY CALENDAR
Where can you get the best seats and the hottest tickets in town? Through your area Society, that’s where. Call your Society about the events listed below.

TAMPA BAY (FLORIDA) SOCIETY
• Marvel at the daring feats accomplished by the acrobats in Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai. The Society’s tickets are $74.50 each for the shows at Tropicana Field on Dec. 3 and 10 at 8 p.m.

• Enjoy The Nutcracker holiday tradition at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. The tickets offered through the Society are $59.50 each.

COMPASS SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Compass Society has tickets for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, as well as the NHL’s Kings, games at the Staples Center. Seats in a suite or the stands are available. For prices or to purchase tickets, call 866.630.2582.