Important to plan way to judge private clubs (9)
I believe the answer is:
strategic
'important' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'way to judge private clubs' is the wordplay.
'way' becomes 'st' (short for street).
'to judge' becomes 'rate' (rating is a kind of judging).
'private' becomes 'GI' (GI can informally mean a US soldier).
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation in card games).
'st'+'rate'+'gi'+'c'='STRATEGIC'
'to plan' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for strategic that I've seen before include "Forming part of a long-term plan" , "Relating to long-term plans" , "Tactical" , "Of long-term planning" , "To do with a carefully workedout plan of action" .)