Letter dated 12/30/91 from Tom Riley to Joe Clabby regarding potential Classic hiatus:

Mr. Joseph S. Clabby
President and Chairman of  the Board
The Clabby Classic, Inc.
140 Lewis Lane
Fair Haven, NJ

Dear Mr. Clabby:

I am writhing to you on the chance that you may be able to address and, it is hoped, squelch some very ugly rumors now making their way through the community via various media.

It seems the Clabby Classic is in danger of extinction. Can this be?

*     Weekly World News, in their December 7 issue, claimed that Old Orchard Country Club has been uncovered as an alien nesting ground and electromagnetic nightmare; all future tournament play has been cancelled. (Since no other self-respecting establishment will have us, our fate seems sealed, eh?  By the way, this is not to imply that Old Orchard is in any way connected with the notion of respect.)

*      The Wall Street Journal, reporting on the alleged financial impropriety of several Classic board members, noted that any settlements or judicial rulings, regardless of monetary magnitude, will have an extremely deleterious effect on the health of the Clabby Classic, Inc., its subsidiaries (domestic and international) and all future operations.  Doesn't look good.

*      ABC-TV's PrimeTime Live and CBS-TV's 60 Minutes are both planning feature pieces on the latest trends in fraud and small-time rip offs, focusing mostly on ostensibly social gatherings like golf outings, family reunions, and corporate sponsored-athons.  I know that besides myself, 14 other Classic participants have been contacted by Mike Wallace's office and representatives of Diane Sawyer.  Would you like us to clear any public statements with your office before speaking to any of these people?  Should we contact an attorney?

As you can see, things are not going well.  My broker told me that since this kind of news hit "the Street", stock in various golf equipment companies (Titlest, Acushnet, Spalding, etc.) has plummeted.  These corporations know that if there is no Classic, it's gonna be a bad year for them.  Looks like they're hedging already.

Before I give any credence to this insidious scuttlebutt and do further damage by repeating it to unsuspecting ears, would you do me the favor and offer your comments, civil or otherwise, on the future of the Clabby Clacssic, Inc., and more importantly, its flagship event.

With gratitude and awe,

Thomas R. Riley

Recipient of the Mr. Classic, Clabbaway, and Most Improved Awards

Husband of the reigning Susan B. Anthony Champion

Very un-official assistant scorer  (archivist's note:  very very un-official)

p.s. My best to your long-suffering wife.