Frankie Rabain has earned a reputation for being an exemplary Golf Professional, some will regard Frankie as a Golf Professionals Golf Professional.
When Rabain came to Port Royal in 1976 he had some big shoes to fill - that was certainly the impression from we homegrown Southampton players who had been cultivated under Walter King - but a thirty-four (34) year tenure, answers any reservations which were initially felt.
Rabain ran a good operation at Ocean View Golf Club and established a formidable junior golf program. In fact, the Frank Weinstein Junior Championship was a prestigious Match-play tournament.
Kim Swan recalls, “I remember winning the Frank Weinstein Junior Championship in a televised final against then Junior Champion Aaron Spencer Jr, shown on ZFB TV at Ocean View Golf Course in 1974. What an awesome experience at that time Frankie Rabain and Frank Weinstein would provide.”
In the late 1960s, Rabain was among the top amateur golfers emerging out of Ocean View, but in the late 1960s, Rabain turned Pro and quickly earned a good reputation as a golf teacher. Bermudian golf professionals had to work two and three jobs to make ends meet to feed their families. Rabain was no different - he was both a musician and tradesman (tiler). As an accomplished musician, Frankie played with legendary Lance Hayward and did stints in Montego Bay, Jamaica with the band, and later with Brian Butterfield’s ‘Island Revue’.
During Rabain’s tenure at Ocean View, many juniors were being produced and Frankie’s style of teaching was evident. Legend has it that Frankie was initially taught golf by his future wife Alora (Simons) Rabain - while folklore- it certainly makes a romantic storyline. Talk about a man with a plan! While socially Rabain was gregarious with an ‘award-winning smile’ his wife Alora was the life of any party and a golf trailblazer in her own right.
Rabain made history by becoming the first Bermudian to qualify for a Major Championship - the 1971 British Open at Royal Birkdale. Former Bermuda Open Champion Keith Smith shared, “One of the highlights of my golf career was being with Rabain when he qualified and played in the British Open at Royal Birkdale. It was an awesome experience and I was proud to have been there to witness.”
Rabain was a 2-time winner of the Bermuda Open and also qualified for the British & US Senior Open Championships.
As a Bermuda PGA President and Captain, Rabain gave back to the game of golf in many ways. Many young people worked at Port Royal for Golf Pro. Government Golf Course Trustee Accountant Lamel Burch shared, “I fondly remember working at Port Royal for Frankie after school, weekends, and summers - what a great way to get introduced to the game of golf.“
Rabain believed in education and often traveled overseas to participate in certification courses to upgrade his skills as a Golf Professional.
Frankie’s passing left a void, he was forever young at heart, and in our hearts, he will always remain.
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