Dan Baker got his start in the golf industry thanks to former PGA Tour winner and close friend Ken Green in 1987. Baker took it from there.
Baker accepted Green’s offer to leave a PGA professional’s job at Ridgewood Country Club in Green’s hometown of Danbury, Connecticut, and move to West Palm Beach to run the CalGreen Foundation. He parlayed that opportunity into a wonderfully successful four-decade career that was cut short on Dec. 13 when he died in a car accident on Alligator Alley.
Baker, a Palm Beach Gardens resident, was 58.
“My hope was it would lead to something good for Dan, but I had no idea how amazing it would turn out for him” Green said of his offer to Baker to move to South Florida. “He had a wonderful career in golf.”
Few have had as diversified a career as Baker, who at 6-foot-6 literally towered over most of his peers. He soon started managing high-profile events such as a pair of Ryder Cups, including the 1999 classic, and two Walker Cups before moving on to become tournament director of the Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour’s annual stop in Hartford, from 1999-2005.
Baker took a job at the PGA of America in 2007 and worked there for 17 years, running the annual PGA Show in addition to many other positions (he played a role in helping fund the building of The Park in West Palm Beach).
After leaving the PGA earlier this year, Baker had been working with the “Happy Gilmore 2” movie to make sure the golf scenes were authentic. What a career. What a life.
“Dan’s background as a club professional made him the perfect ambassador for golf in every role in his career,” said former PGA CEO Joe Steranka. “His affable nature, attention to detail and golf skills were an impressive combination.”
Says Green: “Dan was open and honest, which unfortunately isn’t found very often these days. When you’re open and honest, you become likable. You would never hear anyone say anything bad about Dan.
“It just stinks when you lose someone so early.”
Former British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia – the Cal in the CalGreen – echoed that last sentiment.
“I’m still having a hard time wrapping my arms around the fact he’s gone,” Calcavecchia said. “I go to bed and wake up and think about him, knowing I’ll never see him again. I’ll miss everything about him … his personality, his energy and his love of golf.”
Baker had other interests, as well. He was one of Bruce Springsteen’s biggest fans, attending hundreds of The Boss’ shows (thanks to becoming friends with one of the singer’s security managers). Baker also would make his own musical CD he would give to his close buddies during the holidays.
“Dan took Brenda and I to see Bruce about 10 years ago in Fort Lauderdale, and he buffed us up really good,” Calcavecchia said. “I kept telling him recently that we’ve got to see Bruce one more time.”
Baker had a chameleon-like quality in that he could get along with everybody in any situation. After just a few hours together, you felt like you’ve known him forever.
“There was something about his personality that everybody enjoyed,” Calcavecchia said. “He joined Tequesta Country Club a year ago, and when you join a club, it usually takes a while to get to know everyone. Not Dan. He fit in with everyone right away.”
About the only thing Baker didn’t do in golf was play competitively. He got an early dose of where his game stood against the best when he tried to walk on at Wake Forest.
“That was like trying to walk on to the number one-ranked University of Connecticut men’s basketball team today,” he told Global Golf Post earlier this year. “It wasn’t going to happen.”
Baker’s penchant for hitting low, snap-hooks earned him the nickname of “Snipe” by Green that stuck with Baker throughout life.
“I’m going to miss watching that snipe,” Green said. “It was scary ugly.”
Baker rarely had a bad day on the golf course, even when he was playing poorly. It wasn’t his nature. He wasn’t having fun unless everyone else in his group was having fun.
“We had a chance to play famous golf courses with a host of sponsors and influential people in the sports industry, but Dan never changed,” Steranka said. “He kept his attention on the other people in his foursome making sure they were having a good time and enjoying the moment. It was never about Dan. That’s why he will be so missed.”
Steranka and Ken Kennerly, who now runs the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Boca Raton, had lunch with Baker last week to discuss his next career move with the “Happy Gilmore 2” movie wrapping up. Baker then traveled to the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples to caddie for a friend. He died driving home Friday night when he struck a truck.
A celebration of life will be held Jan. 25 at Tequesta Country Club at 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dan Baker, ‘perfect ambassador for golf,’ dead at 58 in auto accident
