Golf Inc's 2014 List Of The Most Powerful People In Golf

Sam Weinman does a nice job summarizing Golf Inc. magazine's annual ranking of "The Most Powerful People In Golf", which leans heavily on those in the course management and ownership business.

Topping the list is Eric Affeldt, CEO of ClubCorp whose company is defying conventional wisdom by selling memberships and attracting investors along with a 30% rise in the company stock, which began public trading in 2013.

Commissioner Wraparound lands at No. 5, after Donald Trump, Dana Garmany of Troon Golf and Jack Nicklaus, and ahead of Billy Casper Golf CEO Peter Hill, USGA Executive Director Mike Davis and developer Mike Keiser.

Weinman writes about the list's fluctuation between course operations folk and those tied to professional golf:

There's only person representing the golf media on the list (Golf Channel President Mike McCarley is 16th), one architect (Olympic course designer Gil Hanse, 20th), and just two active players: Rory McIlroy is 19th, and Tiger Woods, who was 17th a year ago, has dropped to 29th.

In addition to Finchem, other key figures in golf's governing bodies are also represented on the list: the USGA's Mike Davis (seventh), the R&A's Peter Dawson (13th), outgoing PGA of America President Ted Bishop (22nd) and European Tour CEO George O'Grady (23rd).