Arbuckle Cup History

Arbuckle in the D

Into each life, some rain must fall
Too much is falling in mine
Into each heart, some tears must fall
Someday the sun will shine

Thus sang Ella Fitzgerald and the Inkspots in 1944. The song’s lyrics were based on a 19th-century Wordsworth poem and have resonated through the years right up to July 19, 2024 when a crazy worldwide computer glitch shut down great swaths of the internet including Delta Airlines. So it was that the four Arbuckleans awoke that morning to learn that return trips for at least two players had been scrambled. Schedules were upended and chaos could have ensued; instead the sun did shine on what became a most memorable stretch of time henceforth to be known as the great Arbuckle in the D day.

Specifically, the Cat’s flight that day was canceled. After a bit of consternation; it was decided to spend the morning in Ann Arbor and then sojourn into the Motor City for a day of discovery and celebration. Highlights included:

Breakfast at Ann Arbor’s venerable Fleetwood Diner
A couple of hours at the Ann Arbor Art Fair
A visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts including much time spent at the Rivera Court and gazing at DIA’s six Van Goghs.
A musical side trip to the Detroit Historical Museum for a live musical act and movie at the Concert of Colors and a performance at Roosevelt Park. A brief tour of the newly reopened Michigan Central
And last but not least, the celebratory dinner of Buddy’s pizza and Boston Coolers at the home of Walter Shapero and Kathleen Straus.

As seen at the DIA

As for the golf, Peter Straus repeated as champion. After a close front nine on Day 1 at Leslie Park, where Straus and Badman Ron Braun were tied at the turn, with Stanley Pesick and the aforementioned (Little) Cat, Rick Last lurking; Straus pulled away on the back nine (actually holes 1-9 as the course had been reversed for the day) and left with a commanding lead. Throughout each day of the tourney, the players all had their moments, but Straus was consistent throughout and a birdie at the signature fifth hole at the UM Stadium Course on the second day pretty much sealed the deal.

Franklin Hills

One last golf note: day one was a practice day at Franklin Hills Country Club. The course was in magnificent shape; Straus and Pesick got to share a caddie, which was great fun, and all had a fine time. Great thanks go to Walter Shapero for hosting us.

But this year’s event was dominated by the unlikely foursome of Diego Rivera, Vincent Van Gogh, Bill Ford and Don Was. It was Arbuckle in the D; appreciating all that America’s comeback city has to offer