Butch Baird
Encyclopedia
Fred "Butch" Baird is an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
and the Senior PGA Tour (now known as the Champions Tour
).
Baird was born in Chicago. He learned the game at the age of 14 from his father. He turned pro in 1959 after working in the Texas
oil fields for a few years after high school.
Baird won two official PGA Tour events during his career: the 1961 Waco Turner Open
and the 1976 San Antonio Texas Open. The San Antonio victory came 15 years, 5 months and 10 days after the Waco win, and was the record for longest time span between victories in PGA history until eclipsed by Robert Gamez in 2005. His career year came in 1976, when in addition to his San Antonio win, he finished 46th on the money list with $58,192. Also in 1976, came his best finish in a major championship
— a T-4 at the U.S. Open
.
Baird now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona
as do many other professional golfers. He has a golf-memorabilia marketing business, BBJM Golf Enterprises, with partner Jack Mishler. His son, Briny
, is also a professional golfer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the Senior PGA Tour (now known as the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
).
Baird was born in Chicago. He learned the game at the age of 14 from his father. He turned pro in 1959 after working in the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
oil fields for a few years after high school.
Baird won two official PGA Tour events during his career: the 1961 Waco Turner Open
Waco Turner Open
The Waco Turner Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in Burneyville, Oklahoma in the early 1960s.The founder of the tournament, Waco Turner, was a millionaire Oklahoma oilman with a passion for golf...
and the 1976 San Antonio Texas Open. The San Antonio victory came 15 years, 5 months and 10 days after the Waco win, and was the record for longest time span between victories in PGA history until eclipsed by Robert Gamez in 2005. His career year came in 1976, when in addition to his San Antonio win, he finished 46th on the money list with $58,192. Also in 1976, came his best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
— a T-4 at the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
Baird now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
as do many other professional golfers. He has a golf-memorabilia marketing business, BBJM Golf Enterprises, with partner Jack Mishler. His son, Briny
Briny Baird
Michael Jancey "Briny" Baird is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour.Baird was born in Miami Beach, Florida. He played varsity golf in the 7th grade at Miami Country Day...
, is also a professional golfer.
PGA Tour wins (2)
- 1961 Waco Turner OpenWaco Turner OpenThe Waco Turner Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in Burneyville, Oklahoma in the early 1960s.The founder of the tournament, Waco Turner, was a millionaire Oklahoma oilman with a passion for golf...
- 19761976 PGA TourThe 1976 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 7. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Ben Crenshaw and Hubert Green won the most tournaments, three, and there were eight first-time winners. Hubert Green's wins were in three consecutive weeks in March. Johnny Miller won...
San Antonio Texas Open
Other wins (10)
- 1965 PGA National Four-ball Championship (with Gay BrewerGay BrewerGay Robert Brewer, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and won the 1967 Masters Tournament....
) - 1967 Los Lagartos Open
- 1968 Texas PGA Championship, Panama OpenPanama OpenThe Panama Open was a golf tournament played from 1938 to 1982. The name was revived in 1996, when it was an unofficial event on the Canadian Tour...
- 1969 Panama OpenPanama OpenThe Panama Open was a golf tournament played from 1938 to 1982. The name was revived in 1996, when it was an unofficial event on the Canadian Tour...
, Maracaibo Open - 1974 Florida PGA Championship
- 1979 Panama OpenPanama OpenThe Panama Open was a golf tournament played from 1938 to 1982. The name was revived in 1996, when it was an unofficial event on the Canadian Tour...
(tie with Chi Chi Rodriguez) - 1967-1969 two other Caribbean Tour victories
Senior PGA Tour wins (2)
- 19861986 Senior PGA TourThe 1986 Senior PGA Tour was the seventh season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 28 official money events with purses totalling $6,450,000, including three majors. Bruce Crampton won the most tournaments, seven...
Cuyahoga Seniors International - 19891989 Senior PGA TourThe 1989 Senior PGA Tour was the 10th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 35 official money events with purses totalling $13,345,000 , including four majors. Bob Charles won the most tournaments, five...
Northville Long Island Classic
Other senior wins (1)
- 2007 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Bobby NicholsBobby NicholsRobert Herman Nichols is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1964 PGA Championship.Nichols was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville and later played golf at Texas A&M University were his team won the Southwest Conference Championship...
)