(1912 - 1986)
Born: Norristown, Pennsylvania
Died: Jupiter, Florida, at age 75
George Fazio had an outstanding playing career on the PGA TOUR. He competed against the best players of that era including multiple title holders Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson. Fazio played in 14 U.S. Opens, 14 PGA championships and 7 masters tournaments, he won two tour events and finished second seven times. In 1950, he tied with Ben Hogan and Lloyd Mangrum for the U.S. Open title at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa, finishing third to Hogan after an 18-hole playoff.
Fazio's change of careers, from playing professional to golf course architect, happened by chance. With no prior experience in golf course design, he was recruited to help complete the designing of the Atlantis Country Club in Tuckerton, New Jersey, after the original architect abandoned the job. Then in 1955, Cobbs Creek Golf Course in Philadelphia, PA., was scheduled to host The Daily News Open, and Fazio was again petitioned to ready the course for the PGA tour event. These two opportunities provoked him to pursue a new career in golf course renovations and design. His legacy lives on today in the courses he designed and carried forward by his nephews, the renown golf course architects, Jim and Tom Fazio.
