PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (October 19, 2007) — Native Australian Ian Baker-Finch, who has served as Gary Player’s Captain’s Assistant for the last three President’s Cup matches, has joined Black Knight International as an international ambassador for the organization, with a focus on new business ventures.
Baker-Finch, winner of 15 professional titles including the British Open Championship in 1991, joins the company with a number of years experience in the golf course design business, and as a result, he brings tremendous value and expertise to Gary Player Design’s expanding global portfolio.
Gary Player Group CEO Marc Player said, "We are thrilled that someone of Ian’s international stature in golf has joined us as a Gary Player brand ambassador, and I know he shares equally my father’s love for the game."
Aside from developing a strong friendship and working relationship since the Player-Nicklaus Presidents Cup series began in 2003, Baker-Finch and Player share a tremendous passion for promoting the game around the world and have a common philosophy as to how it should be played and respected – both from a personal and business perspective.
Ian Baker-Finch said, "I am both honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as an international ambassador for the Gary Player Group, and to work alongside Gary, one of my idols and golfing greats. I look forward to working closely with Marc and his team on all of the Group’s projects, and I am especially thrilled at the future potential for golf course design ventures both in the U.S. and internationally."
In his capacity as a worldwide representative for The Player Group, Baker-Finch’s objectives will be geared towards golf course design opportunities – potentially including co-designed projects with Gary Player, which would create a unique marketing story around their consecutive terms as Presidents Cup captains.
Additionally, Baker-Finch plans to provide marketing support for existing Gary Player Group projects and client relationships. This would include attending golf course grand openings and collaborative corporate outings and charitable initiatives.
Since retiring from competitive golf in 1997, Baker-Finch has worked as a television golf commentator for ESPN and ABC before joining the CBS Sports golf team in 2007 as analyst for all the network’s PGA TOUR events.
Marc Player believes that Baker-Finch’s travels with the PGA Tour and abroad will open the door for exciting new opportunities for the company, particularly in the region of Australasia – a new territory for the Gary Player Group.
"We look forward to working with Ian in promoting our golf course design business, and especially to the markets of Australia and New Zealand. Ian is a golf course designer in his own right and we hope to collaborate with him on future projects," Marc Player concluded.
Black Knight International welcomes Ian Baker-Finch, his wife Jennie and his two daughters, who currently reside in North Palm Beach, Florida.
www.garyplayer.com
Contact:
Gida Aden
Media Director
Black Knight International
+1 561 624 0300
gida@garyplayer.com
