Biography
Professional Golfer:
Australian born Ian Baker-Finch is best known for capturing the victory at the 1991 Open Championship. Turning pro in 1979, he won the first of 16 tournaments at the New Zealand Open in Auckland. He also represented Australia in the World Cup and 4Tours Championships.
Ian has won tournaments on all four major tours, and holds 16 titles worldwide. He also served as Presidents Cup Co-Captain with Peter Thomson in1996, and three times as Captain’s Assistant to Gary Player for the International Team in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Career: PRO TOUR Highlights:
• Winner of 16 tournaments worldwide
• Winner on all four Major Tours
• 1985 World Cup
• 1985 – 1991 World 4-Tours Team Member
• 1983 New Zealand Open
• 1985 Scandinavian Open
• 1987 Australian Match Play Championship
• 1988 Australian Masters
• 1989 Colonial Invitational
• 1991 British Open Championship
• 1992 Vines Heineken Classic
• 1993 Australian PGA Championship
• 1996, 2003, 2005 President’s Cup Team Assistant Captain
Golf Course Designer:
With a love for the game of golf, Ian fuels this passion for this great sport into golf course design. To every project he brings his knowledge of shot making, and feel for blending holes to create a design strategy that yields a challenging and memorable golf experience. Since the early 1990’s, Baker Finch Design has been developing courses with traditional values and modern designs. Design will be sympathetic to the natural environment, enhance and blend into the landscape with a sense of belonging – a hallmark of all great courses.
Recently designed courses include Kennedy Bay in Australia, Arabian Ranches Golf Club in Dubai, and courses in Ireland and the beautiful island of St. Croix. More recently Ian has joined up with Gary Player Design – taking two international golf greats, and executing exceptional design concepts for golf courses worldwide. With both sportsmen having played the world’s top rated courses, this duo makes for a fine and talented design team.
Golf Analyst & Talent:
A well recognized TV personality, Ian provides golf commentary for CBS Sports on the PGA Tour, and for TNT at The Open Championship and has previously worked with both ESPN and ABC Sports. Tune into your CBS Sports station on the weekends for Ian’s perspective on each of the current competitors on the Tour – including coverage of The Masters and PGA Championship.
Ian’s integrity, intensity and excellence - the qualities that wrote him into the annals of golf history - have also made him a sought-after talent for corporate events. Prestigious companies such as Accenture, American Express, Merrill Lynch and FPL have Ian Host their golf days and gala dinners.
Family Man & Philanthropist:
Apart from golf, Ian loves spending time with his wife Jennie and their two daughters. He is a devoted husband and father. The Baker-Finch family resides in North Palm Beach, and travel back to their homeland of Australia several times a year. Ian is also involved in a select number of charitable events in both the US and Australia. He has helped to raise over a million dollars for organizations and causes which he is personally committed to.
