Faces behind the rankings: A look at 11 of our 800-plus panelists

Golf Digest, May, 2001 by Topsy Siderowf

These folks are smiling because they get to play the nation's top courses. The detailed ratings of courses by these Golf Digest panelists are collected in our databank and combined with the evaluations of more than 800 other panelists to determine the rankings.

Jack Marin, a former NBA All-Star and now a lawyer and former head of the Celebrity Players Tour, says being a panelist is a challenge. "It takes some study," he says. "You have to look at the nuances to determine what makes a weak hole or a strong hole."

David Eger, ranked by Golf Digest as the country's No. 1 amateur last year, counts Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Seminole, Garden City and Pinehurst No. 2 as favorites. "The best part of golf is the opportunity to see so many fine courses," he says.

Bill Dickey, founder of the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association, enjoys the new venues--being a panelist involves ranking the Best New Courses. He's partial to desert courses in Arizona, but admits he hasn't found a course he doesn't like.

Clark and Jean Mowry are one of several husband/wife teams on the panel. Their careers as school teachers have allowed them summers to travel. However, it wasn't until their five foster children graduated from high school that they felt free to do so. Jean, a 3-handicapper, is the better golfer. (Clark has the better voice--he has sung tenor in the church choir for the past 29 years.) She has qualified for three U.S. Amateurs and is the Iowa Senior Women's champion. Both have been high school golf coaches whose teams qualified for state championships.

Judy Rankin has been to her share of courses as an LPGA player and commentator for ABC-TV. "Some courses live up to their billing and others surprise me that they are so well thought of," she says. "Shinnecock fits the land. It's natural and timeless."

Bob Ford divides his year as head professional between two 100 Greatest Courses. Each moved up two spots in the ranking--Oakmont is now No. 5, and Seminole is No. 12. Ford, a top teacher and player, still finds time for course evaluations.

Ed Farmer, former all-star pitcher and currently an announcer for the Chicago White Sox, says Sand Ridge, new to the list at No. 55, is the best course in Ohio, better than Muirfield Village. Pine Valley is his favorite, but Cog Hill, where he plays most, is "solid."

Grant Liu, M.D., a neurologist/neuro-ophthalmologist at the University of Pennsylvania, says many people assume rating courses is his full-time job. "When I tell them I'm a doctor," Grant says, "they're no longer jealous."

Lynne Cowan, reigning California Women's Amateur champion, played six rounds for $50 at Pebble Beach during the state competition in 1985. A single round is now $350. "It's hard to play there," she says. "The holes on the ocean are distracting."

John Percival Jr., a PGA professional, designed the par 5 that won Golf Digest's Armchair Architect award in 1991. He says you can walk a great course without playing it and still enjoy it. Two personal favorites are Riviera and TPC at Sawgrass.