WHEN Roberto Bernardini was a caddie at the Rome Golf Club in the late 1950s, his most regular client was Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who grew up in Killarney and became a hero during World War II for helping thousands of Jews to flee from the German occupied city.
The young Italian went on to pursue career as a professional golfer, turning professional in 1961 and becoming Italy’s first high-profile golfer.
In the 1960s and 70s he represented Italy nine times at the Golf World Cup and achieved two top 20 finishes in the British Open, 17th in 1970 and 13th in 1972.
During a recent tour to Rome undertaken by the Killarney-based O’Flaherty Historical Society, the group met with Bernardini at the Rome Golf Club where, at the age of 72, he continues to coach at the academy.
To mark his long association with Hugh O’Flaherty, the society members presented him with one of the monsignor’s recently re-discovered and restored golf clubs – a Burke Punchiron No 8, dating back to the mid-1930s.
Michael O’Donoghue, managing director of O’Donoghue-Ring Hotels, kindly funded the restoration of the monsignor’s golf clubs to ensure they were preserved for horistical purposes.
The club was mounted on a backboard with photographs showing the monsignor playing in Rome with three times British Open Champion Henry Cotton.
Memorial Society spokesman, Jerry O’Grady, remarked: “As soon as we stepped off the coach and Roberto saw the large photo of the monsignor with his unique grip, he smiled broadly and referred in Italian to his memory of that very unusual golf grip”.
“He was very appreciative of the presentation and said he would treasure it always,” Jerry added.
Bernardini recalled that throughout his professional career, he has never witnessed anyone who could drive a No 1 iron as straight and as long as the monsignor could.
KillarneyToday.com
