PGA Establishes Dan Baker PGA Jr League Endowment
The late Dan Baker will serve as an inspiring reminder of what it means to dedicate oneself to a passion. For Baker, that passion was golf and it is in his memory the PGA has established a junior league in his name in West Palm Beach, Florida.
A Newtown native, Baker died in a car crash December 13 in Florida. He was 58 years old.
He worked for The PGA of America from 2007 until April 2024. His love for golf was lifelong, and included working as a caddie — occasionally alongside fellow Newtown native Joe LaCava — and as assistant professional at various golf clubs, managing charitable golf tournaments and PGA pro-ams, and serving as tournament director for The Ryder Cup in 1999, as well as The Greater Hartford Open from 2001 to 2004, before ultimately being picked up by the PGA 18 years ago.
His final stint with the PGA was as Senior Director, Industry Partnerships. Among his major duties in that role was overseeing the annual PGA Show in Orlando, the largest global gathering of the golf industry, with over 35,000 attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors. Baker also oversaw the $10 million annual PGA Golf Retirement Plus program.
After retiring from the PGA last year, he spent last autumn serving as an adviser for the film Happy Gilmore 2.
Baker’s impact on the PGA of America and the broader golf community “was profound and far-reaching, marked by his kindness and commitment to uplifting those around him. Dan didn’t just love the game; he devoted his life to ensuring it was accessible to everyone,” according to the website for PGA of America Reach Foundation.
To honor Baker and his life, The PGA of America Reach Foundation and The South Florida PGA Section have established a PGA Jr League Opportunity League endowed in his name at The Park in West Palm Beach.
The Park is a public golf course. It was formerly West Palm Beach Municipal Course, and prior to that West Palm Beach Country Club. Arnold Palmer won the 1959 West Palm Beach Open at the site.
Following years of insufficient funding and then the closure of the municipal course, The Park opened in April 2023 with a new design and mission. The Park is an all-inclusive operation with enhanced programs for juniors.
The Dan Baker PGA Jr League Opportunity League will ensure “that aspiring players facing financial challenges can experience the joy and invaluable life lessons the game provides,” according to pgareach.org.
The formal announcement of the new program was done during the annual PGA Show last month. Baker had overseen the annual winter industry gathering for the previous 17 years.
The creation of the endowment is a testament to Baker’s legacy in the golf industry, and stands as a beacon of hope for aspiring young golfers — assuring them that financial assistance need not stifle their dreams, according to the website.
“His spirit will live on in every swing, every putt and moment in between shared on the course and beyond,” the website further states.
Baker was the son of Richard and Louise Baker of Newtown. He was a member of Newtown High School’s Class of 1984. He also graduated from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
He is survived by his mother, his sister, and a niece.
He was predeceased by his father.
To learn more or make a donation to The PGA Jr League Opportunity League endowed in Dan Baker’s name visit pgareach.org/dan-baker-pga-jr-league.