The country clubs of los angeles all hang by a thread. They continue to exist only so long as the tax system perceives that they have not changed hands. The city's lawyers put their best and brightest legal minds on it for six months, and on june second, 20, ten, the counti's tax court issues a solemn, four page ruling. If you're keeping track, that's the third straight up gift from god that elle's private country clubs have gotten in the last 50 years.