Home/Golf

via Imago

via Imago

A late boomer. That’s the story of Frank Bensel Jr. Having been around in the golf world for over two and a half decades now, Bensel has made quite an impression. But at the age of 56, Bensel achieved global glory as he registered his name in the books of USGA history by making two back-to-back aces and four back-to-back bogeys at the 2024 US Seniors Open.
Achieving a feat many thought impossible, Bensel’s life’s profile is one of longing and perseverance. From being a longtime club pro golfer to being an incredible golf coach, Bensel Jr.’s life story has multiple layers that deserve extrapolation. So who really is Frank Bensel Jr.?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Diving deeper into the life story of Frank Bensel Jr.

The 56-year-old plays from Jupiter, Florida. Born on March 4, 1968, Bensel has been a PGA member since 1996. This Floridan has been associated with the Century Country Club in Purchase, New York, since 2001. Turning the pages of history would reveal that this golf world maestro graduated from the University of Maryland and started his career as a club pro at Winged Foot Golf Club almost 3 decades ago, in 1997.
Through his long years of experience, the Winged Foot West GC has captured a place in his heart swing by swing, and he deems it his favorite golf course. His professional golf mantra? “Turn, turn, turn.” Bensel likes to keep it simple on the golf course and enjoys munching on a banana to boost his energy levels. Tiger Woods’s supreme skills and 82 PGA Tour wins make him his favorite professional golfer. In his dreams, he envisions himself playing a power-packed foursome with Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and Ben Hogan. A smart choice that perfectly fits this smart golf star.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Frank bensel (@fb3468)

Talking about his professional life on the PGA Tour and beyond, Bensel has made starts in a total of six PGA Tour events since 1998, including the 2009 U.S. Open at Oakmont, and the 2024 PGA Championship. The latter being his recent-most start as an area PGA Professional, where he failed to make the cut. He has not been able to make the cut on the PGA Tour till now.
Talking about the Seniors Tour, the 2024 US Seniors Open is his third appearance on the over-50 PGA Tour Champions. The PGA of America member is a golf coach who claims to be a strong short-game teacher and helps his students “play great golf through improved ball flight, efficiency of swing, and speed.” He has over 300 students.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Bonus Fact: He has previously collaborated with TaylorMade Golf, and most likely will continue to!

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

But what makes the back-to-back aces he shot at Rhode Island’s Newport Country Club a standalone shoutout-worthy achievement?

Bensel crafts his name in history at 56 in Rhode Island

One in 67 million. Sounds impossible, right? Well, that’s how rare this 56-year-old golfer’s back-to-back aces in a professional event truly are, making his feat the only one recorded in any TOUR-sanctioned event on record, according to PGA TOUR Champions.

The only other possible counterpart to this USGA hero is John Hudson back in 1971 at the European Tour’s Martini International, where he shot back-to-back aces on a par 3 and followed it up with another on a par 4, becoming the only other player to ever achieve this feat on any major professional Tour.

Bensel’s case at the second round of the US Senio Open in Newport Country Club saw him carding a hole-in-one on par-3 fourth from a distance of 184 yards and following it up on par-3 fifth with another hole-in-one from a distance of 203 yards. Quite a feat, right? But what’s his take on the matter of playoffs?

Frank Bensel Jr.’s experienced advice when dealing with a playoff

Having played and won several playoffs in his time with golf, post his win at the PGA Assistants Tour Summer Major in 2015 after a playoff alongside Colin Amaral, Bensel was asked his secret to ace-ing playoffs. His tip? There is no secret. It’s actually a more nuanced combination of sticking to one’s routine and staying focused.

Bensel’s exact words were, “There’s no secret. Everyone’s a little bit more amped up and you just stick to your routines and stay focused well. I mean we’re all nervous and want to do well so you know it’s a different animal.”

It seems this discipline-centered approach has been working well for Bensel Jr. so far. Call it luck or the award of his long-going perseverance, it seems there’s only an upward hill for this hard-working area professional golfer! Don’t you think so?