George Fazio

George Fazio was born near Philadelphia in 1912 and first became an accomplished tournament professional. He won the Canadian Open and narrowly missed a major title when he lost the 1950 U.S. Open playoff to Ben Hogan. He also served as resident professional at several clubs, including Pine Valley, where he could study one of the world’s most sophisticated courses every day. His transition to architecture began when he helped a friend route a course, and the success of that experience led to a design practice. His work is characterised by tests exigeants pour bons joueurs; longs par 4, bunkers puissants et greens bien défendus; architecture musculaire fondée sur l’expérience du tour. Principal associations include Jupiter Hills; Butler National; National Golf Club of Canada; Edgewood Tahoe; Turtle Bay; Hershey East; travaux à Pine Valley. Attribution nevertheless requires care: courses of this period were frequently products of firms, site associates and successive alteration. His significance lies as much in routing decisions as in detailed greens, bunkers, drainage and maintenance conditions. Influence also travelled through people he trained, regions he helped open to golf and professional methods he transmitted. In the broader history of architecture, his career helps explain the transition from a largely craft-based occupation to an organised international industry connected with property, tourism and public golf. The finest courses should not be judged only in their present condition, because many have been lengthened, renovated or altered by vegetation. Serious interpretation compares original plans, photographs, club archives and later work.