Golfers have to applaud—don't we?—when in contentious times the president, vice president and House speaker share a love for golf. President Barack Obama has been criticized (and defended) for playing more than 60 rounds of golf during the first half of his four-year term, yet VP Joe Biden and Speaker John Boehner probably play even more.
Obama (17-handicap) finds time for golf with friends while vacationing and with aides at the Army Navy Country Club courses in Arlington, Va. Boehner is more apt to be spotted with supporters of his Freedom Project PAC at venues such as Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Fla., and Bighorn in Palm Desert, Calif., both of which attracted bipartisan groups of lobbyists earlier this year to play with Boehner (7.9 Index) and other participating members of Congress.
It was at Tiburón that T-Mobile VP Tony Russo (plus-2.3), our No. 1 in Golf Digest's third ranking of the best and most avid golfers in Washington, D.C., played in a foursome that included No. 4 Alex Urrea (0.7), who lobbies in Washington from his home in Pittsburgh, where he's a board member at The Club at Nevillewood. Urrea says he beat our returning No. 1 that day, but Russo recalls a less-competitive round in which he was testing drivers. "I wasn't thinking of it as a match," Russo says.
Regardless, we relied first on USGA Handicap Indexes but also on estimates from reliable sources to compile this ranking of Washington's elected officials, White House staffers and senior-level lobbyists.
Russo plays frequently with Biden (6.3) and says he has never seen his former boss hit the ball better than he has this year. Perhaps he's been practicing in his back yard.
Although it's too early to discuss a match between 2012 presidential opponents, Obama would have a hard time taking down former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, a self-professed 12, on the golf course. Although Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour doesn't play, his son Reeves, a lobbyist with BGR Group (1.1), is the top newcomer to our list. The younger Barbour made two holes-in-one in a round during a 2009 Ryder Cup-format match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, his Gainesville, Va., home course. Barbour is also leading boss Ed Rogers (4.6), group chairman of BGR Group, in their regular indoor chipping and putting competition that uses office furniture as targets.
Only because he was frustrated by 6½-hour rounds at public courses did Barbour join a club, a decision many on our list have not made, thus accounting for their estimated handicaps. A few play at RTJ Golf Club (Rogers among them) and some, like Russo, belong to Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., or Boehner's D.C.-area course, Burning Tree. But most play at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md., and the old Lowes Island, now Trump National Golf Club, Washington, D.C., in Sterling, Va., the choice of FBI Director Bob Mueller (13.6).
Top-ranked among elected officials--after considering reports from multiple sources and a shortage of posted rounds by him or his closest contenders--is Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), a widely acknowledged 2-handicapper. (Udall was the leading proponent of the novel bipartisan seating arrangement at this year's State of the Union address.) He earns the honor over Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.). Yarmuth, the former publisher of Kentucky Golfer, has a +0.4 Index but says he's closer to a 3. Corker, who told us in 2008 he'd have a hard time playing to his then-4.7 Index, has improved to a 2.1—as noteworthy as Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) improving from a 14 in 2008 to a 7.5.
Although the U.S. Congress' freshman class of 2010 includes a wave of doctors, there are few golfers among them. The notable exception is ophthalmologist and Tea Party favorite Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has an 11.6 Index at his hometown Bowling Green Country Club. Best of the newbies is Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), a former federal prosecutor and circuit solicitor who previously played to a plus-1 but now says he's a 4.
As we've learned with many Golf Digest rankings, not all golfers are willing to share handicap information for public consumption. Even when golf is an admitted passion of the most visible politicians in Washington, some prefer to keep their games to themselves. — Lisa Furlong
Don't expect any of these Washington, D.C. elite to be playing in the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, but there's no question most of them will be on a Beltway golf course once or twice in June. After a careful look into the skills of the top power brokers in D.C., here's our ranking of the best and most avid golfers among members of Congress, federal officials and White House staffers. We've also included dozens of senior-level lobbyists who play the game.
NOTES: Handicaps were determined in a number of ways: the U.S. Golf Association's Golf Handicap and Information network, state associations, the politicians, lobbyists, friends and playing partners. Handicaps without a decimal point are estimates.
NAME
TITLE
INDEX
1. Tony Russo
VP, Federal Legislative Affairs, T-Mobile
Handicap: +2.3
2. Bob Okun
VP, NBC Universal, Washington
Handicap: +0.2
3. Fred Eames
Partner, Hunton & Williams
Handicap: 0.2
4. Alex Urrea
President, CSA Strategies
Handicap: 0.7
5. Chris Lamond
Partner, Thorn Run Partners
Handicap: 1.0
6. Reeves Barbour
VP, BGR Group
Handicap: 1.1
7. Linda Divall
Pres./CEO, American Viewpoint
Handicap: 1.2
8. Michael Williams
Senior Director, Greenberg Traurig
Handicap: 1.6
9. Arthur Mason
Executive VP, Cassidy & Associates
Handicap: 1.7
10. David Katz
Special Asst., Dept. of Energy
Handicap: 1.8
11. Mark Udall
Rep.-Colo. (D)
Handicap: 2
12. Bob Corker
Sen.-Tennessee (R)
Handicap: 2.1
13. Chris Cox
Senior Principal, Navigators Global
Handicap: 2.8
14. John Yarmuth
Rep.-Kentucky (D)
Handicap: 3
15. Eric Rizzo
AVP, Govt. Affairs, Farmers Insurance
Handicap: 3.2
16. Don Nickles
Chairman/CEO, The Nickles Group
Handicap: 3.4
17. Geoff Gonella
Pres., Cornerstone Govt. Affairs
Handicap: 3.6
18. Dan Tate Sr.
Founder, Dan Tate LLC
Handicap: 3.8
19. Trey Gowdy
Rep.-South Carolina (R)
Handicap: 4
20. Joe Baca
Rep.-California (D)
Handicap: 4.2
T-21. Brent Blackwelder
President Emeritus, Friends of the Earth
Handicap: 4.6
T-21. Ed Rogers
Group Chairman, BGR Group
Handicap: 4.6
T-23. Robert Dibblee
SVP, Govt. Relations, Natl. Assn. Real Estate Investment Trusts
Handicap: 5.3
T-23. John Haddow
Partner, Upstream Consulting
Handicap: 5.3
T-23. John Sununu
Senior Policy Advisor, Akin Gump
Handicap: 5.3
26. Evan Tracey
COO/Founder, Campaign Media Analysis Group
Handicap: 5.4
27. Christopher Chapel
VP, Govt. Relations, Nextera Energy
Handicap: 5.5
28. Kent Wells
VP, Federal Relations, AT&T
Handicap: 6.1
29. Joe Biden
Vice President (D)
Handicap: 6.3
30. Bryan Anderson
VP, Governmental Affairs, Southern Company
Handicap: 6.7
31. Stewart Verdery
Partner/Founder, Monument Policy Group
Handicap: 6.8
T-32. Robert Fisher
VP, Fed. Govt. Relations, Verizon
Handicap: 7.0
T-32. Ben Finkenbinder
Assoc. Director of Press Advance
Handicap: 7
34. Jim McCool
Dir., Fed. Legislative Affairs, Southern Company
Handicap: 7.1
T-35. Gary Lytle
Co-Founder, Clark Lytle & Geduldig
Handicap: 7.2
T-35. Steve Watson
VP, Govt. & External Affairs, Loews Corp.
Handicap: 7.2
37. Saxby Chambliss
Sen.-Georgia (R)
Handicap: 7.4
38. Richard Burr
Sen.-North Carolina (R)
Handicap: 7.5
T-39. Trey Hardin
Sr. VP, Vox Global
Handicap: 7.6
T-39. Jim Langdon Jr.
Sr. Exec. Partner, Akin Gump
Handicap: 7.6
T-39. Dave McCurdy
Pres./CEO, American Gas Assn.
Handicap: 7.6
T-39. Jim Renacci
Rep.-Ohio (R)
Handicap: 7.6
T-43. John Boehner
Rep.-Ohio, Speaker of the House (R)
Handicap: 7.9
T-43. Jean Statler
Co-Founder, Statler Nagle LLC
Handicap: 7.9
T-45. Marvin Nicholson
White House Trip Dir.
Handicap: 8
T-45. Mike Simpson
Rep.-Idaho (R)
Handicap: 8
47. Mike Oxley
Of Counsel, Baker Hostetler
Handicap: 8.2
48. Joe Stanton
Senior VP, Govt. Affairs, Natl. Assn. of Home Builders
Handicap: 8.4
49. Scott Pastrick
Pres./CEO, Prime Policy Group
Handicap: 8.5
50. John Tanner
Vice Chairman, Prime Policy Group
Handicap: 8.7
51. Barry Hutchison
Barry Hutchison Assistant VP, Fed. Relations, AT&T
Handicap: 8.8
52. Dan Tate Jr.
Partner, Capitol Solutions
Handicap: 8.9
T-53. John Breaux Jr.
Sr. Public Policy Advisor, Breaux Lott Leadership Group
Handicap: 9.0
T-53. Rick Goddard
Director, Federal Government Affairs, The Beer Institute
Handicap: 9.0
55. Ron Johnson
Sen.-Wisconsin (R)
Handicap: 9.4
56. Erskine Bowles
Co-Chairman, Natl. Committee on Fiscal Responsibility & Reform
Handicap: 9.5
57. Albio Sires
Rep.-New Jersey (D)
Handicap: 9.6
T-58. Manny Ortiz
Director, Quinn Gillespie
Handicap: 10.0
T-58. Tom Rooney
Rep.-Florida (R)
Handicap: 10
60. Bob Brooks
VP, Alpine Group
Handicap: 10.4
61. Pat Williams
Founding Partner, Cormac Group
Handicap: 10.9
T-62. Jim Clyburn
Rep.-South Carolina (D)
Handicap: 11.3
T-62. Charlie Stamp
VP, Public Affairs Worldwide, Deere & Co. (John Deere)
Handicap: 11.3
64. Rand Paul
Sen.-Kentucky (R)
Handicap: 11.6
T-65. Tom Coburn
Sen.-Oklahoma (R)
Handicap: 11.7
T-65. Charlie Shipp
Partner, SC Partners
Handicap: 11.7
67. Edward Fritts
Founder, The Fritts Group
Handicap: 11.9
T-68. Sam Adcock
Senior VP, Govt. Relations, EADS North America
Handicap: 12.0
T-68. Jeff Duncan
Rep.-South Carolina (R)
Handicap: 12
T-68. Eni Faleomavaega
Del.-American Samoa (D)
Handicap: 12
T-68. Harry Katrichis
Of Counsel, The Advocacy Group
Handicap: 12
T-68. Ron Kind
Rep.-Wisconsin (D)
Handicap: 12
T-68. Rick Santorum
Chairman, America's Foundation PAC
Handicap: 12
74. Joel Jankowsky
Sr. Executive Partner, Akin Gump
Handicap: 12.1
75. John J. Castellan
President/CEO, PhRMA
Handicap: 12.7
76. Erik Winborn
President, Winborn Solutions
Handicap: 12.9
77. Duncan Hunter
Rep.-California (R)
Handicap: 13
78. Charlie Black
Chairman, Prime Policy Group
Handicap: 13.4
79. Robert Mueller
Director, FBI
Handicap: 13.6
T-80. Larry Gage
Partner, Ropes & Gray; Pres. Natl. Assn. of Public Hospitals & Health Systems
Handicap: 13.7
T-80. Bruce Gates
Sr. VP, External Affairs, Altria Client Services
Handicap: 13.7
T-80. Brian Henneberry
VP, Fed. Affairs, Koch Companies
Handicap: 13.7
83. Printz Bolin
AVP, External Affairs, Union Pacific
Handicap: 13.9
T-84. Lindsey Graham
Sen.-S. Carolina (R)
Handicap: 14
T-84. Reid Ribble
Rep.-Wisconsin (R)
Handicap: 14
86. Tony Kavanagh
SVP, Govt. Affairs, American Electric Power
Handicap: 14.3
87. Dan Burton
Rep.-Indiana (R)
Handicap: 14.5
T-88. Kevin Fay
Pres., Alcalde & Fay; Exec. Dir., Intl. Climate Change Partnership
Handicap: 14.7
T-88. Vic Fazio
Sr. Advisor, Akin Gump
Handicap: 14.7
T-90. Chris Cox
Exec. Dir., NRA Inst. For Legislative Action
Handicap: 14.9
T-90. William Daley
White House Chief of Staff
Handicap: 14.9
T-90. Johnny Isakson
Sen.-Georgia (R)
Handicap: 14.9
T-93. Lou Barletta
Rep.-Pennsylvania (R)
Handicap: 15
T-93. Xavier Becerra
Rep.-California (D)
Handicap: 15
T-93. Mike Doyle
Rep.-Pennsylvania (D)
Handicap: 15
T-93. John Feehery
Pres., Quinn Gillespie Communications
Handicap: 15
T-93. John Hoeven
Sen.-North Dakota (R)
Handicap: 15
T-93. Cedric Richmond
Rep.-Louisiana (D)
Handicap: 15
99. Vernon Jordan
Senior Counsel, Akin Gump
Handicap: 15.3
T-100. Stephen Lynch
Rep.-Massachusetts (D)
Handicap: 16
T-100. Connie Mack
Rep.-Florida (R)
Handicap: 16
102. Pat Meehan
Rep.-Pennsylvania (R)
Handicap: 16.2
103. David Regan
VP, Legislative Affairs, NADA
Handicap: 16.4
104. Kenneth Cole
Senior VP, Govt. Relations, Pfizer
Handicap: 16.5
105. Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.
Pres./CEO, American Gaming Assn.
Handicap: 16.6
T-106. Shahira Knight
VP, Govt. Relations/Public Policy, Fidelity
Handicap: 16.7
T-106. Kathryn Rand
Senior Representative, Public/Govt. Affairs, Federal Express
Handicap: 16.7
T-108. Mo Brooks
Rep.-Alabama (R)
Handicap: 17
T-108. Barack Obama
President (D)
Handicap: 17
110. Nick Calio
President/CEO, Air Transport Assn.
Handicap: 17.1
111. Jeff Forbes
Founding Partner, Cauthen Forbes & Williams
Handicap: 17.2
T-112. James Coyne
Pres./CEO, National Air Transportation Assn.
Handicap: 17.8
T-112. John Raffaelli
Founding Partner, Capitol Counsel LLC
Handicap: 17.8
T-114. Sanford Bishop
Rep.-Georgia (D)
Handicap: 18
T-114. Doc Hastings
Rep.-Washington (R)
Handicap: 18
T-114. Bill Huizenga
Rep.-Michigan (R)
Handicap: 18
T-114. Ron Kirk
U.S. Trade Rep.
Handicap: 18
T-114. Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary, Dept. Of Health And Human Services
Handicap: 18
119. Chaka Fattah
Rep.-Pennsylvania (D)
Handicap: 19
120. Brenda Becker
SVP, Global Govt. Affairs, Boston Scientific
Handicap: 19.1
121. John Merrigan
Partner, Dla Piper
Handicap: 19.7
122. Jack Quinn
Co-Founder/Chairman, Quinn Gillespie
Handicap: 19.8
T-123. Melody Barnes
Director, Domestic Policy Council
Handicap: 20
T-123. Jason Chaffetz
Rep.-Utah (R)
Handicap: 20
T-123. Orrin Hatch
Sen.-Utah (R)
Handicap: 20
T-123. Marguerite W. Kondracke
Pres./CEO America's Promise Alliance
Handicap: 20
T-123. Tom Latham
Rep.-Iowa (R)
Handicap: 20
T-128. Luis Gutierrez
Rep.-Illinois (D)
Handicap: 22
T-128. Ray Lahood
Secretary, Dept. of Transportation
Handicap: 22
T-130. Thad Cochran
Sen.-Mississippi (R)
Handicap: 23
T-130. Tim Walberg
Rep.-Michigan (R)
Handicap: 23
132. Don Young
Rep.-Alaska (R)
Handicap: 24
133. Mary Bono Mack
Rep.-California (R)
Handicap: 24.8
T-134. Sam Geduldig
Partner, Clark Lytle & Geduldig
Handicap: 25
T-134. Howard (Buck) McKeon
Rep.-California (R)
Handicap: 25
T-134. Tom Nides
Deputy Secretary of State
Handicap: 25
T-134. Lynn Westmoreland
Rep.-Georgia (R)
Handicap: 25
138. Christine Ciccone
Sr. VP, External Relations, U.S. Enrichment Corp.
Handicap: 25.7
T-139. Frank Guinta
Rep.-New Hampshire (R)
Handicap: 26
T-139. Edolphus Towns
Rep.-New York (D)
Handicap: 26
141. Kathy Didawick
VP, Congressional Comm., Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Handicap: 26.6
142. Adam Kinzinger
Rep.-Illinois (R)
Handicap: 27
143. Sheila Tate
Vice Chairman, Powell Tate
Handicap: 27.4
144. Lisa Nelson
Head, Global Govt. Relations, Visa
Handicap: 28.5
T-145. Dan Boren
Rep.-Oklahoma (D)
Handicap: 30
T-145. Renee Ellmers
Rep.-North Carolina (R)
Handicap: 30
T-145. Phil Gingrey
Rep.-Georgia (R)
Handicap: 30
T-145. Anthony Kennedy
Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Handicap: 30
T-145. Kenneth Kies
Managing Dir., Federal Policy Group
Handicap: 30.0
150. Dennis Cardoza
Rep.-California (D)
Handicap: 36
