Washington's Top 200

Golf Digest Political Ranking

Compiled By Lisa Furlong
Illustration By Darren Thompson October 2005

The nation's capital has an abundance of powerful people who play golf, and some of them are pretty good. We searched the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and the White House. We even looked into handicaps of the top lobbyists in Washington. Here are the 200 best.

	Republican
	Democrat

Handicaps without decimal points are unofficial estimates.

Washington's Top 200
#	NAME	TITLE	INDEX
1.	Chris Lamond	VP, The Federalist Group	+ 0.7
T-2.	Chris Chocola	Rep.-Ind.	0.5
T-2.	Arthur Mason	EVP, Cassidy & Associates	0.5
4	Bob Okun	VP/lobbyist, NBC	1.1
5	Geoff Gonella	Pres., Cornerstone Government Affairs	1.5
6	Mark Udall	Rep.-Colo.	1.8
7	Fred Eames	Partner, Hunton & Williams	2
8	Linda DiVall	Pres./CEO, American Viewpoint	2.1
9	Joe Baca	Rep.-Calif.	2.2
10	Dan Tate Sr.	Consultant, Cassidy & Assoc.	2.3
11	Kerry Knott	VP, Federal Govt. Affairs, Comcast	2.4
12	Michael Williams	Director, Govt. Aff., Greenberg Taurig	2.6
T-13.	Jeff Becker	Pres., The Beer Institute	2.9
T-13.	Bo Chambliss	Assoc. Dir./Govt. Rel., Chicago Merc. Exch.	2.9
T-15.	John Haddow	VP, Parry, Romani, DeConcini & Symms	3.6
T-15.	Brett Hale	VP, Govt. Affairs, Amer. Gaming Assn.	3.6
17	Spence Pryor	Special Assistant, U.S. Attorney (D.C.)	4.0
18	Eric Rizzo	Dir. Fed. Affairs, Farmers Insurance	4.1
19	Mike Ferguson	Rep.-N.J.	4.3
T-20.	Don Nickles	Pres., Nickles Group	4.5
T-20.	Kent Wells	VP, Cingular Wireless	4.5
22	John Boehner	Rep.-Ohio	4.8
T-23.	Zach Wamp	Rep.-Tenn.	4.9
T-23.	Ed Rogers	Chairman, Barbour, Griffith & Rogers	4.9
25	Chris Cox	VP, Navigators	5.5
26	Dave Heil	Sr. Adviser, McKenna Long & Aldridg	6.2
T-27.	Steve Buyer	Rep.-Ind.	6.4
T-27.	Marty Russo	CEO, Cassidy & Assoc.	6.4
T-29.	John Ensign	Sen.-Nev.	6.5
T-29.	Jim McCool	Dir. Govt. Affairs, The Southern Cos	6.5
T-31.	Bill Shute	Vice Chancellor, Fed Rel., U. of Texas	6.6
T-31.	Evan Tracey	COO/founder,Media Intelligence TNS	6.6
33	Saxby Chambliss	Sen.-Ga.	6.8
34	Gary Lytle Sr.	VP, Policy & Law, Qwest	7.1
35	Joe Biden	Sen.-Del.	7.4
36	Chris John	Sr. Govt. Rel. Adviser, Arent Fox	7.5
37	Mike Oxley	Rep.-Ohio	7.9
T-38.	Dan Cohen	Lobbyist, Inamed	8.0
T-38.	David Hobbs	Ex-Bush deputy, Pres., David Hobbs Group	8.0
T-38.	Mike Simpson	Rep.-Idaho	8.0
T-41.	Gordon Smith	Sen.-Ore.	8.2
T-41.	Dan Tate Jr.	Partner, Capitol Solutions	8.3
43	Jim Johnson	V. Chair, Perseus LLC	8.5
44	Scott Pastrick	Pres., BKSH & Assoc.	8.6
45	Charlie Shipp	Shipp & Assoc.	9
T-46.	Chet Edwards	Rep.-Tex.	9
T-46.	Rick Goddard	Dir., Fed. Affairs, The Beer Institute	9.0
T-46.	Joel Jankowsky	Partner, Akin Gump	9.1
T-49.	Paris Fisher	Martin, Fisher, Thompson & Assoc.	9.1
T-49.	Mike Leavitt	Secretary of Health & Human Services	9.2
51	Tim Jenkins	Lawyer, O'Connor & Hannan	9.2
52	Dave McCurdy	Pres., Electric Industries Alliance	9.3
53	Barry Hutchison	Exec. Director, Public Affairs, SBC	9.7
T-54.	Ander Crenshaw	Rep.-Fla.	9.9
T-54.	John Tanner	Rep.-Tenn.	9.9
T-56.	Michael Brown	Managing Partner, Alcalde & Fay	10
T-56.	Ron Kind	Rep.-Wis.	10
T-58.	Edward Fritts	CEO, Pres., Natl. Assn. of Broadcasters	10.1
T-58.	Judd Gregg	Sen.-N.H.	10.1
T-58.	Bruce Talley	Dir. Govt. Affairs, ABB Corp	10.1
61	Ron Reeves	Ron Reeves & Assoc.	10.2
62	Al Hubbard	Director, National Economic Council	10.5
63	Ed Bethune	Bracewell & Giuliani	10.6
64	Mike Meece	Special Assistant to the president	10.8
65	Jean Statler	SVP, Harris Interactive	10.9
T-66.	Tom DeLay	Rep.-Tex.	11
T-66.	Randy Kuhl	Rep.-N.Y.	11
T-66.	Rick Santorum	Sen.-Pa.	11
69	Daniel J. McNamara	EVP, Cassidy & Assoc.	11.1
70	Steve Griles	Principal, Nethercutt & Lundquist, Griles	11.4
71	Buzz Miller	VP, Govt. Relations, Southern Company	11.5
72	Jim Clyburn	Rep.-S.C.	11.6
73	Jack Abramoff	Lobbyist	11.7
74	Dan Burton	Rep.-Ind.	11.8
T-75.	Dan Cunningham	Assoc., PMA Group	11.9
T-75.	John Snow	Sec. of the Treasury	11.9
T-77.	Roy Coffee	O’Connor & Hannan	12.0
T-77.	John Feehrey	EVP, External Affairs, Motion Picture Assn.	12.0
T-77.	John Goodwin	National Marine, Manufacturers Assn.	12
T-77.	Duncan Hunter	Rep.-Calif.	12
T-77.	Bill Klinefelter	Legis. & Political Dir., U.S. Steel Workers	12
T-77.	Pat Pizzella	Asst. Sec. of Labor	12
T-83.	Russ Carnahan	Rep.-Mo.	12.1
T-83.	Mary Mann	Washington rep, International Paper	12.1
T-83.	Luckie McClintock	Dir., Political & Legislative Affairs, Plumbers & Pipefitters Union	12.2
T-86.	Fred Graefe	Lawyer/lobbyist, Frederick H. Graefe	12.2
T-86.	Tony Rudy	Partner, Alexander Strategy Group	12.2
88	Dan Bartlett	Counselor to the president	12.3
89	Barclay Resler	VP, Govt. & Public Affairs, Coca-Cola	12.4
T-90.	Charlie Black	Chairman, BKSH & Assoc.	12.7
T-90.	Richard Burr	Sen.-N.C.	12.7
T-90.	Mark Foley	Rep.-Fla.	123.7
T-90.	Bill Lane	Manager, Govt. Affairs, Caterpillar	12.7
94	Sandra Day O'Connor	Supreme Court	12.8
95	John Boozman	Rep.-Ark.	12.9
T-96.	Lyndon Boozer	Fed Rel., Bell South	13.0
T-96.	Charlie Stamp	VP, Public Affairs, Deere & Co.	13.0
T-98.	Mike Doyle	Rep.-Pa.	13.1
T-98.	Larry Gage	Partner, Powell Goldstein LLP	13.1
T-98.	David Regan	COO, Legislative Affairs NADA	13.1
101	Rich Fruchterman	RLF3 Consulting	13.2
102	John Raffaelli	Principal, The Washington Group	13.7
103	Robert Mueller	Director of the FBI	13.9
104	John Roberts	Supreme Court nominee	14.5
105	Steve Ricchetti	Pres., Ricchetti Inc.	14.6
106	Sam Adcock	Lobbyist, European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company	14.8
107	James Coyne	Pres., National Air Transportation Assn.	14.9
T-108.	Xavier Becerra	Rep.-Calif.	15
T-108.	George W. Bush	President	15
T-108.	Rob Catron	Partner, Alcalde & Fay	15
T-108.	Lindsey Graham	Sen.-S.C.	15
T-108.	Doc Hastings	Rep.-Wash.	15
T-108.	Jay Inslee	Rep.-Wash.	15
T-108.	Clay Johnson	Deputy Dir., OMB	15
T-108.	Stephen Lynch	Rep.-Mass.	15
T-108.	Paul Rosenthal	Chairman, Collier, Shannon Scott	15
T-108.	Bart Stupak	Rep.-Mich.	15
T-118.	Vic Fazio	Co-Man. Partner, Clark & Weinstock	15.1
T-118.	Johnny Isakson	Sen.-Ga.	15.1
T-120.	Conrad Burns	Sen.-Mont.	15.2
T-120.	Kenneth Cole	VP, Govt. Rel., GM	15.2
T-122.	Jim Bunning	Sen.-Ky.	15.4
T-122.	Mike Hammer	Partner, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher	15.4
124	Jim McCrery	Rep.-La.	15.5
125	Jon Potter	Exec. Dir., Digital Media Association	15.6
T-126.	Chaka Fattah	Rep.-Pa.	16
T-126.	Alberto Gonzales	Attorney General	16
T-126.	Jim Ryun	Rep.-Kan.	16
T-126.	Don Young	Rep.-Alaska	16
130	James Free	Pres., The Smith-Free Group	16.3
131	John Sununu	Sen.-N.H.	16.5
132	Ben Dupuy	Fed. liaison, NRA	16.8
133	Ed Baxter	VP, Parry, Romani, DeConcini & Symms	16.9
134	Matt Kirk	Deputy Assistant to the president	17
135	Bob Moss	Bob Moss Assoc.	17.4
136	Alex Castellanos	Principal, National Media Inc.	17.6
137	Rae Evans	Pres., Evans Capitol Group	17.7
T-138.	Henry Brown	Rep.-S.C.	18
T-138.	Gil Gutknecht	Rep.-Minn.	18
T-138.	William Jenkins	Rep.-Tenn.	18
T-138.	John Murtha	Rep.-Pa.	18
T-138.	Hal Stratton	Consumer Product Safety Comm. 18	18
143	Chris Dodd	Sen.-Conn.	18.6
144	Steve Symms	Parry, Romani, DeConcini & Symms	18.8
145	Jim Healey	Black, Kelly, Scruggs & Healey	18.9
T-146.	Tom Coburn	Sen.-Okla.	19
T-146.	John Warner	Sen.-Va.	19
T-148.	Brenda Becker	Dir., Legislative Affairs, VP’s office	19.6
T-148.	Nick Calio	SVP, Global Govt.Affairs, Citigroup	19.6
T-150.	John Kerry	Sen.-Mass.	19.9
T-150.	John Sullivan	Rep.-Okla.	19.9
T-152.	Sanford Bishop Jr.	Rep.-Ga.	20
T-152.	Randy Cunningham	Rep.-Calif.	20
T-152.	John Duncan Jr.	Rep.-Tenn.	20
T-152.	Orrin Hatch	Sen.-Utah	20
T-152.	Pete Hoekstra	Rep.-Mich.	20
T-152.	Jim Nicholson	Sec., Veterans Affairs	20
T-152.	Butch Otter	Rep.-Idaho	20
T-152.	Martin Sabo	Rep.-Minn.	20
160	David Safavian	Admin., Office of Fed. Procurement	20.1
T-161.	Mike Conaway	Rep.-Tex.	20.7
T-161.	Kate Moss	Kate Moss Co.	20.7
T-163.	Louie Gohmert	Rep.-Tex.	21
T-163.	Joel Hefley	Rep.-Colo.	21
165	Mary McAuliffe	VP, External Affairs, Union Pacific	21
166	Mike Castle	Rep.-Del.	21.4
T-167.	Steny Hoyer	Rep.-Md.	21.9
T-167.	Ray LaHood	Rep.-Ill.	22
T-167.	Tom Latham	Rep.-Iowa	22
T-167.	Solomon Ortiz	Rep.-Tex.	22
T-167.	Lynn Westmoreland	Rep.-Ga.	22
T-172.	John Merrigan	Partner, Piper Rudnick	22.3
T-172.	Jack Quinn	Co-chair, Quinn, Gillespie & Assoc.	22.3
174	Daniel Akaka	Sen.-Hawaii	22.4
T-175.	Thad Cochran	Sen.-Miss.	23
T-175.	Russ Feingold	Sen.-Wis.	23
T-175.	Frank Lautenberg	Sen.-N.J.	23
178	Ed Pastor	Rep.-Ariz.	23.3
179	Eni Faleomavaega	Rep./Am. Samoa	24
180	Kenneth Kies	Managing Dir., Clark Consulting	24.6
181	Thomas Kean	Chairman, 9/11 Commission	24.7
182	Dutch Ruppersberger	Rep.-Md.	24.9
T-183.	Elton Gallegly	Rep.-Calif.	25
T-183.	Taylor Gross	Ex-White House spokesman	25
T-183.	Mark Kennedy	Rep.-Minn.	25
T-183.	Ron Lewis	Rep.-Ky.	25
T-183.	Buck McKeon	Rep.-Calif.	25
188	John Paul Stevens	Supreme Court	25.2
189	Sheila Tate	Vice Chairman, Powell Tate	25.3
T-190.	Bob Beauprez	Rep.-Colo.	26
T-190.	Silvestre Reyes	Rep.-Tex.	26
192	Mary Bono	Rep.-Calif.	26.8
193	Kathy Didawak	Congressional Rel., Blue Cross/Shield	27
194	Melissa Hart	Rep.-Pa.	28
T-195.	Dan Boren	Rep.-Okla.	30
T-195.	Edolphus Towns	Rep.-N.Y.	30
197	Lisa Nelson	Sr. VP, Visa USA	31.2
198	Bob Michel	Senior Adviser, Hogan & Hartson	31.9
199	Ann Wrobleski	VP, Intl. Forest & Paper Assn.	34
200	Newt Gingrich	Fmr. Speaker of the House	47