John Fischer

John Fischer

Fischer is a retired lawyer in Cincinnati and an avid golf historian who writes on some of golf’s greats from the past, including those remembered and those forgotten. He also notes how today’s golf problems were dealt with in the past. Fischer is a past president of the Golf Heritage Society and a long-standing member of the USGA Museum and Library Committee. Having played golf since 1955, Fischer still enjoys the game, albeit from the forward tees.

Ted Ray Was Golf's Original Long Driver and a True Original
Golf

Ted Ray Was Golf's Original Long Driver and a True Original

Long before Jack Nicklaus, John Daly and Bryson DeChambeau, the pipe-smoking Englishman gripped it, ripped it and won both the 1920 U.S. Open and the 1912 Open Championship.

John Fischer
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How England's Henry Cotton Captivated a Country, Captured the 1934 British Open
Golf

How England's Henry Cotton Captivated a Country, Captured the 1934 British Open

Eleven years had passed since the British Open had a home-grown champion. A confident and charismatic Cotton delivered in record-breaking fashion.

John Fischer
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As good as Bobby Jones? Yes, she was, and then some
Golf

As good as Bobby Jones? Yes, she was, and then some

Joyce Wethered, an English star in the 1920s, ‘outclassed’ Jones in an exhibition just days before he started on his 1930 Grand Slam

John Fischer
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Hail to the chief golfer: Woodrow Wilson
Golf

Hail to the chief golfer: Woodrow Wilson

On Election Day, Americans can celebrate the 28th president, who took his doctor’s advice to head outside and exercise by taking up golf at age 56, ultimately making the game a daily ritual and playing more rounds than any occupant of the Oval Office

John Fischer
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Meet the man who competed in a World Series and the Masters
Golf

Meet the man who competed in a World Series and the Masters

Sammy Byrd, who played with the Babe Ruth-era Yankees in the Fall Classic, also excelled in golf, nearly winning 2 Masters titles

John Fischer
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The mystery of 2-time U.S. Open champion Ralph Guldahl
Golf

The mystery of 2-time U.S. Open champion Ralph Guldahl

In the late 1930s, Guldahl, a quiet Texan, seemed to be the heir apparent to Bobby Jones, winning 3 consecutive Western Opens and a Masters to go with back-to-back U.S. Opens, but then everything changed

John Fischer
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The 12-foot putt at the U.S. Open that changed the course of golf history for Bobby Jones and the Grand Slam
Golf

The 12-foot putt at the U.S. Open that changed the course of golf history for Bobby Jones and the Grand Slam

Legendary Bobby Jones faced a slippery 12-footer on the 72nd hole of the 1929 U.S. Open at Winged Foot to force a playoff. Had he missed it and not won the Open, he likely would have retired, and the 1930 Grand Slam would not have happened. Will Winged Fo

John Fischer
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Let’s see PGA Tour top this caper at Olympia Fields
Golf

Let’s see PGA Tour top this caper at Olympia Fields

'Machine Gun’ Jack McGurn, a reputed hitman in Al Capone’s Chicago mob and a competitive golfer, missed the cut in the 1933 Western Open at Olympia Fields, site of this week's BMW Championship, but that was the least of his problems

John Fischer
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Golf News: Billy Joel Patton creates a stir at ’54 Masters
Golf

Golf News: Billy Joel Patton creates a stir at ’54 Masters

John Fischer
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In match play, it’s anybody’s game as Paul Runyan stuns Sam Snead
Golf

In match play, it’s anybody’s game as Paul Runyan stuns Sam Snead

John Fischer
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In golf, President Taft finds a national treasure
Golf

In golf, President Taft finds a national treasure

John Fischer
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Only at Pebble: ‘Arnold Palmer on rocks’
Golf

Only at Pebble: ‘Arnold Palmer on rocks’

John Fischer
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