Golf Inc. names Jack Nicklaus
"Most Powerful In Golf"
for second year in a row

For a celebrated second year in a row, the name at the top of Golf Inc.'s prestigious list of "The Most Powerful People in Golf" is Jack Nicklaus. Fueled by his impact on golf course design and development, and the licensing of golf equipment and apparel, as well as being "one of the industry's most respected voices," the magazine again put the Golden Bear atop their list of 25 individuals who have had the greatest influence on the business of golf.

Nicklaus' focus has shifted from "being" the golf experience to creating it, from dismantling golf courses around the world with his game to designing the world's finest places to play the game. While Nicklaus' days as a competitive golfer are now behind him, the Golden Bear enjoyed a stellar year off the course, so to speak, by enhancing his business profile and continuing to shape the present and future of the industry through course design and development, and the branding of equipment, apparel and instruction.

Nicklaus has now been involved in the design of 242 golf courses around the world and Nicklaus Design, as a company, has designed 290 courses open for play in 28 countries and 37 states. Nicklaus Design remains the industry leader with 54 courses under construction in 21 different countries, and 80 projects either signed, under design or under development. The firm has signed a record number of contracts in each of the last two years and is expected to set another record in 2005.

For the past seven years, the Golf Inc. list has reflected just how much the golf industry has changed. Those 25 who made the final cut by Golf Inc. editors influence the development and building of golf courses; the operations, the financing and the revenue streams of golf courses; as well as hold prominent positions in influential golf organizations around the nation.

Ranking behind the Golden Bear, in order: Troon Golf CEO Dana Garmany; ClubCorp CEO John Beckert; KemperSports Management CEO Steve Lesnik; and Tiger Woods, who fell to No. 5 after a No. 2 ranking in 2004.