IAN BAKER FINCH

Ian grew up in a small farming area on the Sunshine Coast, 50 miles north of Brisbane, Australia.  The youngest of 6 children, Ian played all sports, like most young Australians, but fell in love with golf at an early age.   By the age of 15 Ian had won many junior titles, including the Gary Player Classic and the Queensland School Boys title twice and decided to pursue a career in professional golf.   At 18 years of age, after a 3 year apprenticeship with the Australian PGA program, Ian joined the Australian Tour.  

Ian won his first Australasian Tour event in 1983; the New Zealand Open and the following year lead the field for 3 rounds of the 1984 British Open at St Andrews.  Multiple victories in Australia in 1984 and 1985 and victories on all four major tours followed, including the Colonial Invitational in 1989 and The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1991.   Ian represented Australia in the World Cup in 1985, the World Tours Championships 1985-1991, and the Dunhill Cup in both1989 and 1992. 

Ian would serve as Peter Thomson’s Vice Captain for the International President's Cup Team in 1996.  In 2003 Gary Player appointed Ian as assistant captain for his International team played at The Links at Fancourt in South Africa.   In 2005 and 2007 Ian had the honor to serve with Gary Player and the Internationals when they played the US Team.

Since retiring from full-time PGA Tour competition in 1997, Ian has worked for the ABC and ESPN TV networks around the world, and is currently with the CBS Sports Golf Team as a golf analyst and commentator.  After nearly a decade working in sports television, Ian is highly regarded as a successful announcer with an easy going manner and a love for golf.

Ian continues to travel extensively, not only fulfilling his passion to play the world’s top rated golf courses, both classic and modern, but  also enhancing his image as an up and coming golf course designer.   Baker Finch Design has been involved in the design of golf courses around the world for the last decade including the recently completed “Desert Course” at Arabian Ranches, Dubai, UAE.   Ian looks forward to working on his latest project, which is about to start in Navan near Dublin, Ireland.

Along with his course design business and television work, Ian has become one of the more popular corporate presenters, hosting many golf days for charities and corporations. 

Ian now lives with his wife Jennie and family in North Palm Beach, Florida, USA and together they are involved in many local charities and all enjoy the laid back lifestyle that Florida provides.

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