MOUNTAINGATE COUNTRY CLUB

ADDRESS: 12445 Mountaingate Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

WEB SITE: www.mtngatecc.com

PRETTY & PROPER: This club's scenic setting shows off the Santa Monica Mountains; its dining room features a marble fountain and a fireplace.

EVENT AREAS: Event spaces range from the casual 19th hole restaurant, with space for 100 guests, to the 2,371-square-foot tennis pavilion.

HOLE IN ONE: The garden terrace measures 6,032 square feet and can accommodate 500 guests.

FANCY SPOT: Staff says the club's golf course, designed by famed course designer Ted Robinson, is one of the most picturesque and challenging courses in Los Angeles.

Posh party: The club points to three new wedding trends — an increase in size, parties lasting till early morning, and a rise in requests for ethnic and kosher menus.

STONEBRIDGE RANCH COUNTRY CLUB

ADDRESS: 7003 Beacon Hill Road, McKinney, TX 75070

WEB SITE: www.stonebridgeranchcountryclub.com

PRETTY & PROPER: Set on an 18-hole golf course, the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club overlooks hills and lakes. The building resembles a Victorian castle with interiors rich with dark wood and plush carpeting.

EVENT AREAS: The venue can hold up to 250 guests at an outdoor event.

HOLE IN ONE: The clubhouse's reception floor overlooks the golf course. A two-sided gas fireplace splits the large ballroom in two; a large covered patio extends the space outdoors.

FANCY SPOT: The staff notes that “food is king” at events today. Action stations, do-it-yourself options and delicious desserts are all popular choices.

Set in stone: Located just 25 minutes outside of Dallas, the club dates back to 1988; it was originally called the Flying M Ranch.

DUPONT COUNTRY CLUB & BRANTWYN ESTATE

ADDRESS: 1001 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803

WEB SITE: www.dupontcountryclub.com

PRETTY & PROPER: The recently renovated club offers a 60-acre garden and the Brantwyn Estate, a two-story Georgian mansion with 11 rooms.

EVENT AREAS: The Peirce Library at the Brantwyn Estate looks out onto a side garden. Charmingly named rooms at the estate include the Raspberry Room, the Boxwood Suite and the Toussard Quarters.

HOLE IN ONE: The club offers two spacious ballrooms, eight banquet rooms and an outdoor terrace. With its parquet floors and a 20-foot-high ceiling, the Crystal Ballroom holds 300 guests.

FANCY SPOT: Located in the Brandywine Valley, the clubhouse dates back to 1949.

Tee time: Event attendees can arrange golf outings on the Dupont Golf Course, which was restored and updated in 2005.