Chess, as
everyone knows is a cerebral game, yet a large part of Boris Spassky's
preparation for his 1972 World Chess “Match of the Century” against Bobby Fischer took place each day in the gym. The
gym! Few people realize how much physical strain chess inflicts on even the
greatest of players and the gentlemanly Russian Spassky reigned as world
champion for three years.
Many of
the games we "enjoy" impose challenges that those who don't play
could scarcely imagine. The mental tests that are a part of sports - the pressure, the
stress, the sheer terror - are hard to imagine. It has been said, for example,
that Bill Russell, the greatest winner in basketball history -- 11 NBA
championships, two NCAA titles and an Olympic gold medal -- used to throw up
before every playoff game.
Yet golf,
the epitome of country club relaxation, is the sport that regularly induces the
most psychological devastation of all. It ain't all hand-eye coordination,
although as we'll see in the recounting of the 2013 Arbuckle Cup Invitational
Golf Tournament (ACGIT), hand-eye does indeed play a significant role. Mental strength and, indeed, strength of character, are often the deciding
factors.
This
year's event, played over the course of a week in late July/early August in
Western and Central Massachusetts was won by Stanley Pesick in record setting
fashion. Pesick buried the competition with two sterling rounds, including a
final round 82 (net 68); the lowest score in Arbuckle history. In a Tiger Woods-like
front-running performance, Pesick closed out the tournament with a 39 on the back
nine at the Donald Ross designed Wachusett Country Club outside of Worcester,
MA, a feat made all the more notable by the fact that none of the competitors
had ever played the course prior to that day's round.
What made
the win so astonishing was not just Mr. Pesick's outstanding play. The real
story was his personal victory over the most devastating problem in golf -- the yips.
The yips
have afflicted even the greatest of all golfers. Ben Hogan, undoubtedly a
member of golf's Mt. Rushmore (alongside
Jones, Nicklaus and Woods, ed.), became so afflicted with yips, that in his later years, he
refused to play with anyone who forced him to merely roll the ball toward the
hole; all his matches were tee-to-green affairs; no putting
allowed. And yet Ben Hogan's affliction was minor compared to that of Stanley Pesick.
Hogan just had trouble pulling the trigger on his putts -- Pesick had a severe
case of the ever-so-rare swing yips; an inability to take the club back in a
smooth fashion - for close to three years.
So, it
was with great pride upon the conclusion of the tournament that the 2013
champion announced, with true humility, that the win paled in comparison with
the fact that at this year's event he could once again play sans yips. Overcoming his affliction was the
product of incredibly hard work; dedication, and belief in oneself.
Arbuckle
2013 was witness to other memorable performances; chief among them were the
extreme highs and lows experienced by Peter Straus. On the first round,
Wednesday at the Orchards, another great Ross-designed track, Straus recorded
one of the worst rounds in tournament history, a 111; a round so execrable it had his fellow competitors averting their eyes. Yet Straus had one of the
great excuses in tournament history – on the prior day, he had lost
one of his contact lenses so was forced to play with bifocals. “I never realized how much vision could affect the hitting
of the ball" he lamented after the round. “I
mean the damn ball just sits there; the clubs are the same length, the swing
theoretically is the same and yet I couldn't hit it to save my life." Hand-eye coordination indeed.
By
Friday's final round, new lens fedexed to the rescue, Straus had recovered his
game to such an extent that on the twisting dogleg 488 yard par 5 15th hole,
following a sharply struck second shot to within 75 yards of the hole, he
recorded the first eagle in Arbuckle history. Straus finished his round with an
88 (net 71) that while still falling short of Pesick’s blistering pace was still one of the best ACGIT rounds
ever.
Ron Braun
also played a fine tournament. His final round 93 (net 76) was the kind of score that in
past years has been enough to win the Cup; though this year it was obviously
not. Yet Braun, too, had his moments. He solidified his reputation as
Arbuckle’s Boss of the Moss by rolling
in two long putts in Thursday’s doubles (on 17 and 18 no
less) to clinch the points for his team. He followed that feat up with even
more clutch putting during Saturday’s team action sinking four
key do-or-die putts on the back nine alone to win the match with Straus 1 up. Furthermore
Braun added length to his game off the tee and over the course of the week was
clearly the second best driver of the ball --
after Pesick -- a huge improvement over past years.
A lasting
memory of Rick Last’s Arbuckle was his sinking to
his knees on the 90th and ultimate hole when his seemingly
impossible 60 foot uphill putt to prolong the final match -- on the final hole of
the final day -- actually tracked into the cup; popped up in the air as if to drop
back in again; and then rolled out. So close. Last’s game continues to improve. His Friday score of 101 (net 74) would have
been enough to win in some years. But any discussion of the Little Cat’s golf game pales in comparison to his yeoman-like performance
as the 2013 host. All five courses were superb. The food and accommodations at
his home in Amherst were top-notch and then there was the trip to New England’s finest barbeque establishment – Bub’s. Mere words don’t
do Bub’s justice – just go there.
 |
| It's hard work being the champion. |
Finally,
a special thanks to Carol Horowitz (Mrs. Little Cat) whose graciousness,
hospitality and, above all, patience helped make the 2013 Arbuckle event a week
to remember.
