Class of 2019

John Baldwin

Raised: Port Washington, N.Y.

Residence: London/West Palm Beach, F.L.

John Baldwin was raised in Port Washington, a hamlet on the North Shore of Long Island.

His passion for the game grew during his early days caddying at Plandome Country Club in the 1950s. 

He attended the University of North Carolina, where he was a member of the golf team and the ACC individual champion during his junior year. After graduation, he continued his education at the University of Miami and earned a Masters in Business Administration.

At age 22, he captured the 1967 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship over fellow Long Islander Pete Bostwick, 3 and 1, in a scheduled 36-hole final at Nassau Country Club. He won two other highly regarded amateur events for downstate players in New York that summer, the Long Island Amateur, and the Met Amateur. His “Triple Crown” achievement has not been equaled since. 

Upon graduating from Chapel Hill, Baldwin went to PGA Tour Q-School in the fall of 1969 and earned playing privileges for the 1970 season. He also continued his education that fall, earning a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Miami. Baldwin played in 20 events during the 1970 campaign and made 8 cuts. 

After deciding that life on the PGA Tour wasn’t for him, he regained his amateur status and went to work in the municipal bond business, eventually rising to the position of national sales manager for municipal securities at First Boston.

Over the decades, Baldwin’s name has appeared on New York regional golf trophies multiple times and carved out one of the great playing careers in the Metropolitan Golf Association’s history. He won two other NYSGA Championships besides the Amateur in 1967, including the 1991 Men’s Mid-Amateur at Brookfield Country Club, and the 2001 Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Niagara Falls Country Club. He is one of only three players to have accomplished this feat.

Baldwin is also a four-time Long Island Amateur Champion, winning his first in 1965 and most recent in 1996. He’s also a past champion of the Travis Memorial at Garden City Golf Club, the Hochster Memorial at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, along with many others.
 
The downstate New York player has been heavily involved with the Metropolitan Golf Association both on and off the course. He is a two-time Met Amateur Champion, winning it in 1967 and 1990, 23 years apart (longest span between wins). He also won the 1986 MGA (IKE) Stroke Play Championship and the MGA Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991. He served as MGA President from 1993-1994 and played a key role in establishing the MGA Foundation.

Baldwin was also on the Executive Committee at the Long Island Golf Association, a Board Member on the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund and a Member of the USGA Mid-Amateur Committee.

Throughout his golf career, Baldwin has qualified for 23 USGA Championships including the 1969 U.S. Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston.
 
Internationally, he’s won five competitions including the 2002 British Senior Amateur Open, 2005 & 2006 Irish Senior Amateur Open, and the 2007 & 2010 Welsh Senior Amateur Open. 

His British Amateur victory, was potentially the biggest of his remarkable career, where he came from four shots behind to win with a 216 total at Wood Hall Spa. 
 
In 2004, Baldwin was honored with the prestigious Metropolitan Golf Association’s Distinguished Service Award.

Today, at 74 years old, Baldwin is still competitive in senior and super senior events and along with his wife Nancy, they split their time between London and West Palm Beach, Florida.


John Baldwin’s Career Highlights

  • Player Highlights
    • 1967 NYS Men’s Amateur Champion
    • 1991 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion
    • 2001 NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Champion
    • 2x MGA Amateur Champion (1967 and 1990 - 23 years apart)
    • 1986 MGA (IKE) Stroke Play Champion
    • 2x MGA Player of the Year
    • 4x Long Island Amateur Champion (first 1965 - last 1996)
    • 2002 British Senior Amateur Open Champion
    • 2007, 2010 Welsh Senior Amateur Open Champion
    • 2005, 2006 Irish Senior Amateur Open Champion
    • Qualified for 23 USGA Championships
  • Contributor Highlights
    • MGA President 1993-1994
    • Played key role in establishing the MGA Foundation
    • Executive Committee Member, LIGA
    • Board Member, Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund
    • Member, USGA Mid-Amateur Committee
  • Honors
    • MGA Distinguished Service Award 2004 
« Back to Listing