Lawsuit alleges mismanagement and illegal alcohol practices at Glenwild Golf Club

Photo: Glenwild Golf Club

PARK CITY, Utah – A lawsuit filed by Barry Baker, a multimillionaire and founding member of Glenwild Golf Club & Spa near Park City, accuses the exclusive community of mismanagement and illegal practices, including bootlegging rare wines and draining millions from its reserves. Baker seeks to dissolve the nonprofit corporation running Glenwild and appoint a receiver to oversee its operations.

The story, reported by The Salt Lake Tribune’s Kevin Reynolds, outlines Baker’s allegations against the Glenwild country club including illegally importing alcohol from Wyoming, bypassing Utah’s strict alcohol laws. Rare and expensive wines, including Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, were allegedly picked up in Evanston and brought to Glenwild for resale.

Glenwild also allegedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on building a “world-class” wine collection and other costly projects, shrinking reserves from $12 million in 2018 to $5 million by 2022.

Baker claims the board, comprised of members, has been operating with a lack of transparency and accountability. He describes the governance as “Soviet-style justice” and alleges retaliation after he raised concerns about finances and alcohol violations.

Glenwild, home to a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, is one of Utah’s most prestigious private communities. Membership includes high-profile individuals, with initiation fees of $200,000 and annual dues of $18,000. The club transitioned to a nonprofit in 2018, giving ownership to its 300 members.

Reynolds reported that Glenwild’s board has denied the allegations, arguing Baker bypassed required mediation and made “arbitrary and petulant threats” before filing the lawsuit. The club declined further comment.

The lawsuit is ongoing, with both sides presenting their cases in court.