Bernstein Brothers Legacy

In its wake, he found the only physical activity he could still perform regularly was playing golf. It became a constant in his life, and a method of bonding with his twin sons, Zach and Elliot. But that tradition ended when Paul Bernstein died last year, leaving his children without their playing partner and first golf coach.

“That’s what we always did together,” Elliot recalled recently, standing outside the front entrance of the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, where he is a junior.

It started nine years ago, when the two Bernstein brothers were little more than tykes on the golf course. Their father lived in Florida, but they played with him during the summer and every school holiday. When they were back home in New York, they continued honing their game at local courses.

“We were always competitive, though we may not have been so serious when we were 8 or 9,” Zach said. “I mean we couldn’t hit the ball more than 100 yards back then.”

Elliot offered a quick rejoinder: “I always took it seriously.”

And that, besides golf, is the other obvious commonality between them: an affinity for friendly, sometimes ceaseless brotherly bickering and disagreement. The subjects of dispute during a brief interview included the sites of various golf tournaments, their respective records the previous year, the format of competition for different events they have played and the skill of some of their teammates.

On the course, though, all is harmonious.

The duo definitely benefited from playing against comparatively weaker competition as freshmen and sophomores. They always had older teammates who played in the top three spots in the lineup. This year, though, they expect to move up to nos. 1 and 2, though neither is sure who will get the higher ranking.

Horace Mann’s fortunes for the season ahead are also uncertain. The Lions finished second in the New York States Association of Independent Schools championship last spring. Zach was seventh overall with a score of 75, while Elliot finished three shots behind. However, the graduation of those older teammates makes it hard to predict Horace Mann’s strength this season.

Standing amid the aftermath of a recent snowfall, the brothers were also unsure when they would get a chance to start practicing. And Zach has no idea how his form will hold up after recovering from two broken wrists he suffered in a bicycle mishap last summer.

“I was playing really well at that point, though, so I’d say I’ll be very good if I can get back to that,” he said.

For the first time, though, the Bernsteins will not have the guidance of their father. But his influence remains, every time Zach and Elliot tee off.