'divine' Hole-in-one For Jean Giuliano, 91, Of Fairmount

By Rebecca Gaona, P.J. Boatright intern

There is a saying, “everything happens for a reason.”

After playing golf for more than 50 years, Jean Giuliano, 91, made her first hole-in-one - just one day after her eldest son, Dr. Thomas Giuliano, passed away.

The eighth hole at Flanders Valley Golf Course is a short par 3, about 118 yards on the blue course. Mrs. Giuliano played with two sons, Peter and John, on Sunday, July 5, the day after one of her eight children lost his tough battle to cancer.

The Giuliano family likes to spend special time together on the golf course. Giuliano has been an avid golfer and plays once or twice a week, and believe it or not, at age 91 would rather walk then ride a cart.

The mother of eight has taught her children how to golf, spending years on and off the course teaching them different lessons through golf. A member at Fairmount for decades, Jean has led her family to a life that revolved around golf.

In a sense, her eldest son may have provided motivation toward her hole in one. Mark Giuliano, the head professional at Fairmount Country Club had the pleasure of playing and learning from her mother through his lifetime. Mark had a feeling there was a mystical factor going on at that eighth hole.

“I think it brought some good to the situation, divine intervention it could have been,” he said. "I have six other siblings, Mary, John, Peter, Paul, Maggie and Mike and my mother taught all of us to play."

The Fairmount pro describes his mother as a remarkable lady that has taught his family a lot. As a 20 handicap, the odds of a hole-in-one are slim, but Jean had something other than luck on her side that day.

Jean and her two sons erupted in excitement once they realized her ball was sent into the hole. The course rangers even came over to congratulate and celebrate Jean’s triumph and at the end of the day, although Jean Giuliano had lost a son, that hole-in-one that will always remain extra special to her.