In this interview, Ascanio Pacelli reflects on how life's course often plays differently than intended. Like a perfectly struck ball that lands inches from its target, his dream of professional golf remained just out of reach.Yet this apparent mishit propelled him into an extraordinary career spanning television stardom, PGAI leadership and pioneering efforts to elevate golf's status in Italian sports. Through raw introspection, Pacelli reveals howhis "failure" in one arena unexpectedly opened doors to both personal fulfillment — finding love through "Grande Fratello" (Big Brother) — and a multifaceted career that allowed him to champion the very sport that once felt like a missed calling.
By GIOVANNA G. BONOMO
Photography ALESSANDRO CAMPONESCHI
February, 2025
TERRE DEI CONSOLI GOLF CLUB — Less than an hour north of Rome, one of Italy’s most prestigious clubs sprawls across the ancient Etruscan region of Tuscia, where world-renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterfully wove 18 championship holes through olive groves and cypress trees. Here, Renaissance villas and medieval towns dot the hillsides, creating a backdrop where two millennia of history meet mod- ern golf architecture. Standing in my winter coat, I find myself puzzled by the golfers in spring attire, their only concession to the February chill being single gloves and casual caps.
The stark contrast raises questions about the calorie burning of the sport and the mindset that allows players to seemingly defy weather while calculating shots down rolling hills.These thoughts occupy my mind as I await Ascanio Pacelli, President of PGA Italy, television star, and great-nephew of Pope Pius XII, one of the 20th century’s most beloved and controversial pontiffs. “Ci prendiamo un caffe?” Pacelli suggests as he approaches. When served water, he requests “Acqua da Vecchio” (room temperature water), gently correcting my preference for cold water with “ah, Acqua da giovane.” The distinction is rooted in science: room temperature water promotes optimal digestion by maintaining body temperature, reduces stress on internal organs, and allows for better absorption of nutrients. It also requires less energy for the body to process, making it particularly beneficial before coffee.
Soon, two golf carts pull up – a red super cart for Pacelli and me, and aregular blue one for my husband and photographer. What transpired openly and transparently was an unexpected impromptu interview across the sprawling course. I immediately ask about Pope Pius XII. “In our travels, people are shocked about my uncle being Pope,” Ascanio says. “In Italy, they care more about the reality show. When I was accepted into Big Brother I didn’t realize they wanted to use my lineage to manipulate me.” He explains, navigating the cart with practiced ease as he winds through a natural amphitheater of hills, with each hole offering strategic decisions influenced by the Mediterranean microclimate.
Inspired by the conversation, and eager to find out more, we arrive at the hole, the cart stops at a stunning vantage point over- looking Renaissance mansions. “As a general manager at Terre dei Consoli and a golf professional, I often observe players at the first hole to witness the devastating emotions before their first shot,” he reflects. “You can see those who approach like they’re bearing a cross, and others who haven’t yet discovered ‘la bellezza di questo sport’ (the beauty of this sport). In golf, you’re your own judge—you must respect the rules, which is especially valuable for kids. Golf helps you manage your demons, which come from your routine and daily life, not just from the game itself. And remember, in golf, you never hit the same shot twice in your life.”
Just as I was about to dig deeper, the moment is interrupted by a stark realization – we’ve lost the crew. After failed attempts at contact due to my limited cell reception while fighting embarrassment and fearing the worst, I imagined Tony and Alessandro pinned under the cart covered in mud.
Seeking a more balanced perspective I turned to Ascanio who was scanning the field incredulously, “What is the worst case scenario Ascanio, what could have possibly gone wrong?” Pacelli maintains his composure, scanning the vast course with a mix of amusement and perplexity, “They likely got lost, but how could they lose us, we are in golf carts?”
During our search for the lost crew, he shares stories about his time in Big Brother, meeting the love of his life, Katia, with whom no one would believe would last, and yet are the most longeve couple in reality television, his RV travels across North America, his love for Canada, and the TV series “Suits.” We eventually find Tony and Alessandro stuck in the rough, their cart immobilized by their unfamiliarity with its reverse function. A few laughs and back on the course, the photoshoot begins and a more formal interview transpires a few days later, giving me much food for thought on the power of golf from a human and well-being paradigm, longevity in terms of marriage and health, and much more...