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Meet the Hot List Judges & Panelists
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Scientist: JOHN MCPHEE, PH.D.
- McPhee, 44, is a professor of systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. He has served as associate editor for many scholarly publications, including the ASME Journal of Nonlinear and Computational Dynamics.
"The data from robot testing was very enlightening, especially in regard to gear-effect of the drivers."
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Scientist: GEORGE SPRINGER, PH.D.
- Springer, 73, is a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University. An author of 12 books and more than 200 technical papers, he is also an 18-handicapper who plays three times a week.
"It's impressive how the shapes and sizes of the drivers are optimized to achieve the highest MOI and best CG positioning within the confines of the rules."
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Scientist: FRANK THOMAS
- Thomas, 68, Technical Advisor to Golf Digest, served as technical director of the U.S. Golf Association for 26 years, overseeing the performance testing of new equipment. Thomas is also credited with developing the first graphite shaft.
"The performance differences among the best clubs are small, so designing the proper aesthetics and sound is the challenge."
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Teacher: MIKE DAVIS
- A PGA master professional and director of instruction for the Walters Golf Academy in Las Vegas, Davis, 61, is the second-ranked teacher in Nevada, as ranked by his peers in Golf Digest. He has been named teacher of the year for either a PGA chapter or section 14 times.
"These were by far the best-performing products that I have seen as a Hot List panelist."
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Teacher: DON HURTER
- Hurter, 47, the head pro at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colo., is ranked by his peers among America's 50 Greatest Teachers in Golf Digest. He was the 1978 U.S. Junior Amateur champion.
"The evaluations were very close, and it was hard to choose a winner in each category. Actually, the consumer is the winner because there are more options. Especially in golf balls."
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Teacher: TODD KERSTING
- Kersting, 42, is director of golf at Puerto del Sol Golf Course in Albuquerque. He is the 2007 PGA Sun Country Section Professional of the Year and the No. 1 teacher in New Mexico, as ranked by his peers in Golf Digest.
"Each year I'm impressed at how companies strive to innovate and make the game more enjoyable for everyone." He jokes, "Lessons might be a thing of the past by 2012."
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Teacher: MICHAEL MARION
- Marion, 49, is director of golf at the Pronghorn Club in Bend, Ore. Marion, a PGA Master Professional, was ranked as the top instructor in Utah by Golf Digest before moving to Oregon this year.
"It seems that equipment companies are trending away from gimmicks that they know will not appeal to a more well-informed golfing population."
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Player: JOHN-PAUL BOUFFARD
- Bouffard, 43, a neuropathologist, lives in Green Brook, N.J. His Handicap Index is 12.3, and he plays about once a week.
"Clubs with very different appearances tended to have the same overall performance. Shafts affect feel more than anything."
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Player: RYAN BURKE
- Burke, 38, is a builder residing in Westport, Conn. His Index is plus-1.2. His career-best score is a 61 at his home course, Longshore Golf Club.
"I was shocked at how much good stuff there is. Everyone except Tiger should play super game-improvement irons. They're just so easy to hit."
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