David Cupit

News Obituary Article

DUNWOODY: David Cupit, 71, pro at local golf courses

By DERRICK HENRY

Golf was in David Cupit's genes.

He was one of five Cupit brothers --- the others were Buster, Jackie, Jerry and Bobby ---who played golf professionally. David Cupit later became a fixture as a golf pro at various Atlanta courses.

Unlike his brothers Jackie and Buster, Mr. Cupit's PGA career was brief. "My uncles had unorthodox swings but were fantastic at getting the ball in the hole," said his son, Christopher Cupit of Alpharetta, formerly one of Georgia's top junior golfers. "Dad had a beautiful swing, but his putting was not too good."

Mr. Cupit arrived in Atlanta in 1965 to work for golfer Davis Love at the newly opened Atlanta Country Club. He went on to become a golf pro at Ansley Golf Club and Dunwoody Country Club before helping found and run Rivermont Golf and Country Club in Alpharetta in 1974.

"He had the patience to be a good teacher and was so jovial in the way he went about it," said his friend Joe DeLany of Atlanta. "David taught me how to play golf when I was about 30, and I became a 3 handicap."

Mr. Cupit, 71, died of respiratory and kidney complications Monday at his Dunwoody residence. The funeral is 11 a.m. today at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill.

The Texas native starred in football, basketball and track at his high school in Longview. His football teammates called the halfback "Swivel Hips" for his running ability, said his wife, Lynda Cupit.

Hunting was a favorite pastime. In 1987, on the last weekend of deer hunting season, he slipped and fell while attempting to climb into a rotted deer stand. His head hit the ground, and he became a quadriplegic.

He was never able to feed or dress himself again, said his wife, but "his mind stayed greatly alert, and he remained active in the business."

"All major decisions still went through him," said Rivermont general manager Tommy Lyman of Alpharetta.

"Dad was a man's man," said his son, who helped run Rivermont. "He was a naturally gifted athlete who was at ease talking with the guys. He was a good storyteller and just a neat guy to hang out with."

His knowledge and easygoing nature earned him many friends, including daredevil Evel Knievel, an avid golfer who played at Mr. Cupit's club when he visited Atlanta.

Survivors include a daughter, Cara Cupit of Dunwoody; two sisters, Mary Kelso of Cumming and Bonnie Nichols of Dallas, Texas; four brothers, Bud Cupit of Tacoma, Wash.; Jackie Cupit of Jefferson, Texas, and Buster Cupit and Jerry Cupit, both of Longview, Texas.

© 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution