A few more shots from '05

Classic moments from the '05 Cup. Ron teeing off; the fellas high above a par three at Manistee National and Stanley Pesick doing a wonderful imitation of Jean Van de Velde -- hitting out of the water at 18 on Hemlock...and the shot's aftermath.

Course Layout

A number of fans have asked for more detail on Arbuckle IX, so here is an overview of the Hemlock Golf Course and a detailed drawing of the 12th hole where Straus melted down.

More Shots from Arbuckle IX

Rick, Ron, and Pete checking scores
after the first 18 holes.

Champ Retains Cup

September 10
Manistee, Michigan.

Steady, steady, steady. In a methodical display of championship golf, defending Cup-holder Ron Braun retained his title over two grueling days of golf in Northern Michigan. Braun finally reeled in first round leader Rick “The Little Cat” Last on the thirteenth hole on Manistee National and cruised home from there. A marvelous 20 foot par putt on the sixteenth hole all but wrapped up the title.

Throughout the weekend, Braun’s new two-ball putter was a wondrous tool in his hands. He sank a number of clutch four to six footers on the twisty slippery greens of both Manistee and the other venue, Hemlock Golf Club. Others commented on Braun’s clutch shot-making; an eight iron from 110 yards to within five feet on the fifth hole was but one of many brilliant moments for the eventual winner.

Last had seized the lead on the first round at Hemlock as he got hot on the back nine with the highlight being a 30 foot downhill putt for birdie two on the spectacular par 3 thirteenth hole. But the Little Cat was nursing an injured right hand and as gracious winner, Ron Braun stated, “We’ll never know how much the Cat’s paw was bothering him on the last day”. Last, though, stoically persevered and closed with a par and bogey on the tough 17^th and 18^th holes at Manistee.

Closing was not a problem for five-time champion Stanley Pesick who parred 17 and 18 on both courses, yet surprisingly Pesick never mounted one of his vaunted Palmeresque charges. A distressing tendency to pull his irons to the left and a balky putter betrayed the 14 handicapper; yet he stayed in the tournament until the end and his near hole-in-one on 17 on Saturday was the stuff of highlight reels. Like Jack Nicklaus before him, if he doesn’t win it then Pesick always seems to finish in second. This was his fourth second place finish in the annual competition.

There were, alas, no ESPN moments for 2003 winner Peter Straus whose tournament was marked by a rare Bogey Straight Flush. Over the space of six back-nine holes on Hemlock, he scored five bogies (single, double, triple, quadruple and, gulp, quintuple) to effectively shoot himself out of contention. Despite sterling play on Saturday (42 on the back nine) he was never in contention.

But he did have his moments, the traditional Saturday afternoon team competition featured first round leader Rick Last paired with Straus against Braun and Pesick. The Straus-Last combo took the match to dormie four (four holes up with four to play), and then withstood a furious comeback that included two long birdie putts by Ron Braun on fifteen and seventeen and a frankly unbelievable, 180 yard draw from the left rough around trees to the front of the green on sixteen by Pesick. Yet except for a couple of yipped putts on sixteen, the Straus-Last pairing never wilted and held on for the upset by matching the others stroke for stroke on the scary 18^th.

Of course, no description of an Arbuckle Invitational would be complete without mention of the host. This year’s event may have been the best ever. Great courses; wonderful accommodations at the Braun Cottage on Cartier Lake in Fountain, Michigan; and good eats.

A fine time was had by all.

Unknown Era

Ancient History.

Historic Shots

Straus and Braun at the tee-box, 2003

More history

Stanley Pesick teeing off, circa 2003

The Papster

Here's one of The Little Cat, also known as The Papster. I think it, too, is from 2003.

Photos from the files of Ron Braun

Here is a photo from Ron Braun's Library

Arbuckle 2003, The Competitors

L to R:
R. Last; S. Pesick; P. Straus; R. Braun
at Hudson Mills Golf Course, August, 2003

Historical Record

Arbuckle Cup Invitational Golf Tournament History

2004

Champion: Ron Braun. Runner-up, Stanley Pesick

Venues: Teal Bend, Sacramento CA, Rio la Paz East Nicolaus CA

Entrants: Ron Braun, Rick Last, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus

RB wins his second title highlighted by a beautiful birdie on the par 5 fifth hole at Rio La Paz on a brutally windy day at Rio La Paz.

2003

Champion: Peter Straus. Runner-up, Stanley Pesick

Venues: Hudson Mills, Dexter MI, Links at Whitmore Lake, Whitmore Lake, MI

Entrants: Ron Braun, Rick Last, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus

Straus sinks a twisting downhill 12 footer to save par on the penultimate hole to clinch his first title.

2002

Champion: Ron Braun. Runner-up, Stanley Pesick

Venues: Plumas Pines, Graeagle CA, Graeagle Meadows Golf Course, Graeagle CA

Entrants: Ron Braun, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus

Leading by 6 strokes going into the last hole, Braun withstood a lipped out birdie chip by Pesick to win the closest Arbuckle in history.

2001

Champion: Stanley Pesick. Runner-up, Peter Straus

Venues: Pittsfield MA, New Hampshire

Entrants: Ron Braun, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus, Rick Last

Highlight of the weekend was the only eagle ever recorded in tournament history. Pesick sinks a 6 iron from 150 yards for an eagle two in the afternoon best ball event. First tournament to use handicaps.

2000

Champion: Stanley Pesick. Runner-up, Peter Straus

Venue: Wilderness Valley, Gaylord Michigan

Entrants: Ron Braun, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus, Rick Last

Pesick romps to his third straight title.

1999

Champion: Stanley Pesick Runner-up,

Venues: Teal Bend, Sacramento CA , Arbuckle GC Arbuckle GC Arbuckle California

Entrants: Ron Braun, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus, Rick Last

A runaway win for Pesick. Initial tournament to include all four former Dovels, which meant that Rick “The Little Cat” Last teed it up for the first time.

1998

Champion: Stanley Pesick, Runner-up, Ron Braun

Venues: Arbuckle GC Arbuckle California, Southridge, Yuba City California

Entrants: Ron Braun, Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus

Runner up Ron “Badman” Braun in the infamous Jean Van de Velde like collapse on the “back nine” at Arbuckle. El Nino marred this weekend with high winds and rain; mid-round Bloody Marys at Southridge were another highlight. First of record four straight wins for Stanley Pesick.

1997

Co-Champions: Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus

Venues: Arbuckle GC Arbuckle California, Colusa Country Club, Colusa California

Entrants: Stanley Pesick, Peter Straus

The original event. Ceremonial co-champions declared as the first event was a very private bachelor’s party for soon-to-be wed Stanley Pesick.