Contributed By Ron Gillinder
A mention of the surname ‘Baker-Finch’ leads most to think of the game of golf and the career of Queenslander, Ian Baker-Finch.
Ian’s dad, Lawrence Anthony (Tony) Baker-Finch (1922–2001), settled in Peachester after World War II following his discharge from the RAAF. He was an electrician and served in Malaya.
Tony and his bride Joan (née Richards) were married in Brisbane in March 1946 before taking up the Peachester property to farm pineapples, poultry and avocados. Tony also continued as the local electrician for many years.
The youngest of six children, son Ian was born on October 24, 1960. Their street in Peachester is named ‘Baker-Finch Ave’.
Tony was a member of the Beerwah Peachester R.S.L. and attended a meeting in October 1967 to support a motion to investigate the formation of a Golf Club. A working group carried out a ten-month feasibility study, leading to a public meeting in the R.S.L. Hall in August 1968. The meeting endorsed the formation of a Club. Up to 40 acres of land behind the Hall was leased from the Forestry Department. The land was cleared and drained by mostly volunteers to accommodate a 9-hole course, which was completed by 1969.
The Club was named ‘Beerwah & District Memorial Golf Club’. Mike Ahern MLA was elected as Patron and Tony Baker-Finch the first President. Tony remained as President until 1972 when Jack Gowen took over.
With both parents involved in the game of golf, it was inevitable that young Ian would be drawn to the game.
Ian was enrolled at Peachester State School in 1966 and was given his first set of golf clubs at the age of 12. By 1975, at age 15, Ian had won his first Beerwah Club Championship. He won it again the following year.
Ian turned professional in 1979. He credits Jack Nicklaus as his greatest influence, saying that he based his game on Nicklaus’ book Golf My Way. His professional playing career commenced on the PGA Tour of Australasia and he won his first professional tournament, the New Zealand Open, in 1983.
From 1983 to 1993, Ian won 17 titles worldwide, with his greatest achievement being his victory at the Open Championship in 1991 at Royal Birkdale.
In the USA, Ian has been a member of the CBS Sports golf team as an analyst for the network’s golf coverage since 2007. Prior to CBS, Baker-Finch worked for more than a decade as a golf analyst for all the major tours throughout the world on Australian television, as well as ABC and ESPN in the United States. He also worked for TNT as an analyst for its golf coverage.
Since 2000, he has lived in the Palm Beach Gardens area in Florida with his wife, Jennie. They have two daughters, Hayley and Laura. Apart from his media commitments, Ian has been involved part-time in course design both in Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
At their former Beerwah & District Memorial Golf Club, both Ian and his father Tony were honoured with Life Membership. Tony passed away in 2001.
Ian has written a new book, To Hell and Back, set to be published in June 2025.