Respected golf industry veteran Dan Baker, who spent nearly 17 years with the PGA of America, died on Friday in a car accident in Jupiter, Florida. He was 58 years old.
“He was more than just a colleague. He was a friend, true professional and leader who touched the lives of everyone he worked with,” said PGA of America CMO Jeff Price. “His dedication, passion, and kindness were evident in everything he did.”
Baker had attended the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, Florida, and was headed home when he was involved in an accident.
Two logos for our friend, Dan Baker. A PGA of America veteran, he was a member of Mountain Lake and for years ran the Travelers Championship. He was tragically killed in a car crash this weekend. Dan was a great guy and leaves behind an army of friends who will miss him. RIP pic.twitter.com/jP2pLrPtTw
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) December 15, 2024
Baker grew up in Newtown, Connecticut, and began caddying at Rock Ridge Country Club at age 10. Baker studied economics at Wake Forest University, where he tried to walk on to the golf team.
“That was like trying to walk on to the No. 1-ranked University of Connecticut men’s basketball team today,” he told Global Golf Post earlier this year. “It wasn’t going to happen.”
He graduated in 1988 and after a short stint playing mini tours, Baker served as an assistant professional at Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury, Connecticut, and Boca Grove Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida.
He would go on to manage high profile events such as the 1997 Walker Cup at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, and supervised on-site activities, logistics and operations as the tournament director for the 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. His success in those roles led to a stint as tournament director of the Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour’s annual stop in Hartford form 1999-2005.
Baker did a stint in player representation and event management before enjoying nearly 17 years at the PGA as director of business development, including overseeing the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. His final show last January was the best attended in 20 years, completing a remarkable comeback from the limited years of the pandemic.
“He poured his heart and soul into it and truly cherished the Show as if it was his ‘baby.’ The 2024 PGA Show, his last and one of the best ever, was a true testament to his efforts,” said Marc Simon, vice president of PGA Golf Exhibitions. “We have so many great memories made while working together. He was a dynamic storyteller who brought warmth, fun and humor to every encounter. He loved the PGA, the PGA Show, and truly all things golf. We will hold closely the shared memories of Dan. His impact on the Show and our entire team is unending and we are so grateful for his profound impact on all of us in his far too short life.”
Baker left the PGA in April and started his own consultancy. For the past several months, he helped ensure the making of Happy Gilmore 2 had a certain authenticity among golfers. Baker, who was a hardcore Bruce Springsteen fan, had the reputation of being a friend to all.
“If you ask his many friends in the industry, they will always remember Dan’s infectious optimism, sense of humor and sarcastic wit,” Price said.
A celebration of life for Baker is still being planned.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golf industry veteran Dan Baker dead at 58 after car crash
