In an encouraging sign for the game, Golf Digest's 2007 ranking of the Top 100 Golfers in Hollywood reflects growing interest in golf among actors from all generations. "High School Musical" star Zac Efron, 20, and Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman, 70, have been sharpening their swings this year. So have Jessica Alba, 26, and two-time Oscar winner Sally Field, 61.
Our list features 30 new names from our inaugural ranking two years ago. Two of them, Lucas Black ("Sling Blade," "All the Pretty Horses," "Jarhead") and Billy Crudup ("Almost Famous," "The Good Shepherd") are longtime golfers who have been happy to play under the radar. They're Nos. 2 and 3, just below our new No. 1: six-time Bel-Air Country Club champion and soap-opera icon Jack Wagner. Veteran actor and former "Coach" star Craig T. Nelson moved up four spots to No. 4 after lowering his handicap to 4.7 from 6.9 in our last ranking.
Because our 2007 Hollywood ranking includes only golfers whose primary job is acting -- whether on television or in films -- stand-up comic Tom Dreesen, a 4.1 and T-3 in 2005, isn't on the list this time. Dreesen has guest-hosted "The Late Show with David Letterman" and would have been joined by other TV host/golfers, including Maury Povich (1.0), Matt Lauer (5.6) and Carson Daly (7.8).
Wagner can play to his handicap of plus-0.3, and he's unquestionably the best actor/golfer in Hollywood. Even Dennis Quaid, who was our No. 1 last time (he's No. 9 this year), gets three a side when playing against his Bel-Air buddy.
Wagner was 11th on our list in 2005 (when he joked he was playing to a 10), and he says he used the ranking as motivation. "It actually inspired me to win the next Lake Tahoe event," he says.
Though some actors on our list would have a difficult time playing to their handicaps (we used U.S. Golf Association handicap indexes for some, and estimates from the actors or from people with knowledge of their games for others), Wagner's take is that many Hollywood golfers are social players used to gimmes and not counting every stroke. He never used the term "vanity handicapper," but other observers suggest that ego prevents some celebrities from admitting they aren't good at everything. This, presumably, explains why some actors who we know play golf aren't willing to talk about where they'd fit on our ranking. Truth is, our Hollywood 100 reflects interest more than excellence.
As for who isn't telling the truth, we can only guess. It all comes down to entertainment.
NOTES: Handicaps were determined in a number of ways: the U.S. Golf Association's golf handicap and information network, state associations, the actors, publicists, friends and playing partners. Handicaps without a decimal point are unofficial estimates. Handicaps assigned are based on the USGA recommended maximum of 36.4 (40.4 for women).