1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26


                             FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE
                     CLUBCORP EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

         This Amendment is made by ClubCorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
formerly ClubCorp International, Inc. ("ClubCorp").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, ClubCorp previously maintained the ClubCorp Stock Investment
Plan (the "Prior Plan");

         WHEREAS, ClubCorp amended and restated the Prior Plan, effective
January 1, 1999, as the ClubCorp Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("CCESOP");

         WHEREAS, ClubCorp has subsequently amended the CCESOP with the most
recent amendment effective December 29, 1999;

         WHEREAS, ClubCorp now desires to amend the CCESOP: (i) to clarify
certain provisions of the CCESOP relating to PreTax Contributions and (ii) to
clarify that the CCESOP will not be required to issue fractional shares upon
distribution but instead will distribute any fractional shares held in a
participant's account in the form of cash; and

         WHEREAS, the CCESOP may be amended by ClubCorp pursuant to the
provisions of Article 15 of the CCESOP, and ClubCorp desires to amend the
CCESOP.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the CCESOP is amended as follows:

         1. Existing Section 4.04 of the CCESOP entitled "Pre-Tax
Contributions; Change of Election" is hereby amended effective as of January 1,
1995 by adding Subsection (c) to the existing Section 4.04(1) as follows:

                  "(c) Notwithstanding the preceding, in no event may a
         Participant defer an amount as a Pre-Tax Contribution which is in
         excess of the actual amount payable to such Participant from the
         Employer for such payroll period as is entered on the Participant's
         paycheck for such payroll period."



                                       1

   2

         2. Existing Section 11.01(1) of the CCESOP is deleted in its entirety,
and the following is substituted in its place effective as of January 1, 1999:

                     "11.01(1) Upon a Participant's: (i) retirement on or after
             his Normal Retirement Date; (ii) retirement due to disability;
             (iii) death; or (iv) termination of employment (subject to Section
             4.09), he or his Beneficiary shall be entitled to payment in an
             amount determined in accordance with the provisions of Article 7,
             8, 9, or 10. All distributions shall be either solely in cash or
             solely in whole shares of Company Stock (with the value of any
             fractional share paid in cash) to the extent such Participant's
             Account is invested in Company Stock, (but not both) as elected by
             the Participant or his Beneficiary. The amount to which a
             Participant is entitled shall be paid to him or his Beneficiary or
             to an Alternate Payee in: (i) a single lump sum distribution; or
             (ii) installments subject to the limitations set forth in
             Subsection 11.01(2)."


         3. Existing Section 13-10 of the CCESOP is deleted in its entirety and
the following is substituted in its place effective as of January 1. 1999:

                     "13.10 Designation of Named Fiduciaries and Allocation of
             Responsibility. ERISA requires that certain persons, who are deemed
             to be "fiduciaries," as defined in ERISA Section 3(21)(A), be
             designated as "Named Fiduciaries" in the Plan. The Company, the
             Plan Administrator, and the Trustees are hereby designated Named
             Fiduciaries. Each Named Fiduciary shall have only the powers,
             duties and responsibilities specifically allocated to such
             fiduciary pursuant to the terms of this Plan and the Trust. Each
             Named Fiduciary may, by written instrument, allocate some or all of
             its responsibilities to another fiduciary or designate another
             person to carry out some or all of its fiduciary responsibilities.
             Each fiduciary under the Plan (including fiduciaries to whom
             responsibilities are allocated by a Named Fiduciary) will be
             furnished a copy of the Plan, and their acceptance of such
             responsibility will be made by agreeing in writing to act in the
             capacity designated. No Named Fiduciary shall be liable for an act
             or omission of any person who is allocated a fiduciary
             responsibility or who is designated to carry out such
             responsibility by a Named Fiduciary, except to the extent that the
             Named Fiduciary did not act in accordance with the standards
             contained in SUBSECTION 13.11(2) with respect to the allocation or
             designation of a fiduciary duty. Any person or group of persons may
             serve in more than one(l) fiduciary capacity with respect to the
             Plan."




                                       2

   3




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ClubCorp, Inc., acting by through its duly
authorized officer, has executed this Fifth Amendment on this 15 day of
December, 2000.


                                            CLUBCORP, INC.

                                            By: /s/ KIM S. BESSE
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Title: Senior Vice President
                                                  ------------------------------





                                       3