Lodge Dinners

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

Plenty of clubs have overnight accommodations, and even more offer "Chef's table"-type experiences. We thought… why not combine the two? We have seven lodges on property here at Flint Hills National Golf Club and are fortunate that our lodging occupancy remains “maxed out” most of the year, especially in peak season (for us this is May-October). Using our Catering guide (banquet menus) as their starting point, our members can truly personalize their experience knowing that, no matter their choices, they will enjoy fresh local produce, top-quality seafood and meats, and world-class individualized service. In season, we are hosting an average of 5-6 lodge dinners per evening, each with a dedicated chef and server/bartender, and, as aforementioned, a customized menu. Even in our “off seasons” (March-April, November-December), we are doing three or four dinners a night. This schedule is challenging, fun, and rewarding for our service and culinary teams… and it certainly keeps us busy! Lodge dinners have become the bulk of our banquet/catering business at this point; of course, we still have larger-scale events that we host in our various Clubhouse spaces, but lodge dinners enhance our operation significantly.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

Lodge dinners continued to be loved and supported by our membership in huge ways. In 2022, we served over 500 lodge dinners! They have become one of our most popular and utilized member amenities and have certainly become integral to our banquet/catering business. A really special part of the lodge dinner experience is the opportunity for our team members to engage with our Club members on such a personal level. This opportunity is especially cherished by our culinary team, as chefs often do not have many chances to be member-facing… and the members love it in return! So much so that they regularly request particular lodge chefs and servers by name. Another thing that our members love about lodge dinners is that they are universal and accessible to all; they are something that can be taken advantage of by all members – national/non-resident members, full golfing members, social members, and even corporate memberships. Speaking of, it is a great way for our national/non-resident members, who we may not see as frequently, to really feel welcomed and included in the Club. All members seem to love the “come as you are and make it what you want” style of our lodge dinners.