| **Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (Tables)**   | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| **Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]**       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Composition Of Property, Plant And Equipment           | The composition of property, plant and equipment follows (in thousands):  April 30, 2016 July 31, 2015 April 30, 2015Land and land improvements $439,815 $431,854 $413,775Buildings and building improvements 1,028,408 1,006,821 957,594Machinery and equipment 878,730 815,946 777,011Furniture and fixtures 305,159 286,863 284,403Software 112,551 106,433 105,482Vehicles 62,166 61,036 59,708Construction in progress 28,019 53,158 20,245Gross property, plant and equipment 2,854,848 2,762,111 2,618,218Accumulated depreciation (1,484,474) (1,375,836) (1,359,125)Property, plant and equipment, net $1,370,374 $1,386,275 $1,259,093 |
| Components Of Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities | The composition of accounts payable and accrued liabilities follows (in thousands):   April 30, 2016 July 31, 2015 April 30, 2015Trade payables $47,144 $62,099 $52,371Deferred revenue 164,927 145,949 115,300Accrued salaries, wages and deferred compensation 34,403 33,461 38,594Accrued benefits 29,625 24,436 26,459Deposits 21,641 19,336 18,199Other accruals 40,349 46,018 42,133Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities $338,089 $331,299 $293,056                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Components Of Other Long-Term Liabilities              | The composition of other long-term liabilities follows (in thousands):  April 30, 2016 July 31, 2015 April 30, 2015Private club deferred initiation fee revenue  $123,341 $126,104 $128,295Unfavorable lease obligation, net 28,005 29,997 29,325Other long-term liabilities 97,952 99,815 78,312Total other long-term liabilities $249,298 $255,916 $235,932                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

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Schedule of Other Long-term Liabilities [Table Text Block]
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Tabular disclosure of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, balances by class of assets, depreciation and depletion expense and method used, including composite depreciation, and accumulated deprecation.
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph b -Article 5
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Tabular disclosure of the (a) carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business (accounts payable); (b) other payables; and (c) accrued liabilities. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). An alternative caption includes accrued expenses.
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