Golf Magazine
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Short description|American monthly magazine}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Golf Magazine
| image_file = Golf Magazine May 2024 cover.webp
| image_caption = Cover of the May 2024 issue
| company = EB Golf Media (8AM Golf)
| paid_circulation =
| unpaid_circulation =
| total_circulation = 1,214,364{{cite web |url= https://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |title= eCirc for Consumer Magazines |date= December 31, 2024 |publisher= Audit Bureau of Circulations |access-date= March 30, 2025}}
| circulation_year = 2024
| frequency = Monthly
| language = English
| category = Golf
| editor =
| editor_title =
| firstdate = {{Start date and age|1959|4}}
| country = United States
| based = New York City
| website = {{URL|golf.com}}
| issn = 1056-5493
}}
Golf Magazine is a monthly golf magazine. One of the first "special interest" magazines of its kind, it was started in April 1959 by Arnold Abramson and Robert Abramson, the owners of Universal Publishing and Distributing Corporation, who sold it to Times Mirror in 1972.{{cite news|title=List of Top 10 Best Sports Magazines of All time|url=http://www.sportyghost.com/list-top-10-best-sports-magazines-time/|access-date=February 11, 2016|website=Sporty Ghost|date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216025011/http://www.sportyghost.com/list-top-10-best-sports-magazines-time/|url-status=dead}} Time Inc. acquired it in 2000. It was acquired by Howard Milstein in 2018.{{Cite web| last = Citi| title = GOLF magazine and GOLF.com have a new owner. Allow us to introduce you| work = Golf.com| access-date = May 28, 2018| url = http://www.golf.com/tours-news/2018/02/09/golf-magazine-and-golfcom-have-new-owner-allow-us-introduce-you}} It was the world's most widely read golf publication from August 2006 to January 2007. The magazine is for golfers of all skill levels. Some features it includes are instruction from the top 100 teachers in America, interviews with famous golfers, tips on the best values for golf courses to go to on vacation, and an annual club test.
Top 100 courses
Golf Magazine conducts an annual survey of experts to determine the best course in the United States and the world.
= Top 100 in the United States =
The best courses in the United States in 2020 were:
| class="wikitable" |
| Rank
! Name ! Location ! Designer, Year |
|---|
| 1
| George Crump/Harry Colt, 1918 |
| 2
| Alister MacKenzie, 1928 |
| 3
| William Flynn, 1931 |
| 4
| National Golf Links of America | Charles B. Macdonald, 1911 |
| 5
| Oakmont | Henry Fownes, 1903 |
| 6
| Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933 |
| 7
| Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1995 |
| 8
| Hugh Wilson, 1912 |
| 9
| Seth Raynor, 1926 |
| 10
| Jack Neville/Douglas Grant, 1919 |
= Top 100 in the world =
Here are the top ten courses in the world in 2019:
| class="wikitable"
! Rank ! Name ! Location ! Country ! Designer, Year |
| 1
| George Crump/Harry Colt, 1918 |
| 2
| Alister MacKenzie, 1928 |
| 3
| Scotland | Nature |
| 4
| William Flynn, 1931 |
| 5
| National Golf Links of America | C.B. MacDonald, 1911 |
| 6
| Tom Morris, 1889 |
| 7
| Alister MacKenzie, 1931 |
| 8
| Oakmont | Henry Fownes, 1903 |
| 9
| Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933 |
| 10
| Royal Dornoch (Championship) | Dornoch | Scotland | Old Tom Morris, 1886 |
Many countries had courses in the top one hundred, including:
| class="wikitable"
! Country ! Courses |
| United States
| align=center|49 |
| Scotland
| align=center|13 |
| England
| align=center|11 |
| Australia
| align=center|8 |
| Ireland
| align=center|4 |
| Canada
| align=center|3 |
| Japan
| align=center|2 |
| Netherlands
| align=center|2 |
| New Zealand
| align=center|2 |
| Northern Ireland
| align=center|2 |
| Dominican Republic
| align=center|1 |
| France
| align=center|1 |
| Mexico
| align=center|1 |
| South Korea
| align=center|1 |
Club Test 2007
{{update|section|over seven years out of date|date=February 2015}}
Golf Magazine also conducts an annual test of some of the finest golf products available so that the golfer will be armed with the knowledge of which club is the best value. Winners in each category were:
| class="wikitable"
! Club Type ! Name ! Manufacturer ! Percent rating 1 |
| Driver
| r7 Draw | 84 |
| Game-Improvement Iron 2
| 775.CB | Titleist | 83.3 |
| Hybrid
| Baffler DWS | Cobra | 85 |
| Maximum Game-Improvement Iron 3
| r7 Draw | 87.8 |
| Fairway Wood
| Big Bertha | Callaway | 85 |
| Better-Player Iron 4
| Carbon CB | Cobra | 87.8 |
| Wedge
| Vokey Spin Milled | Titleist | 89 |
| Putter
| Black Series #1 | Odyssey | 86.7 |
Notes
- 1 Percent rating was determined by dividing points earned by the most possible points the product could have earned
- 2 The game-improvement iron category was tested only by golfers with a 7 to 15 handicap.
- 3 The maximum game-improvement iron category was tested only by golfers with a 14 to 20 handicap.
- 4 The better-player iron category was tested only by golfers with handicaps 10 and under.
Top 100 Teachers in America
Golf Magazine also honours some of the best instructors in the business. On the emeritus list are:
| class="wikitable"
! Name ! Hometown |
| Jimmy Ballard |
| Peggy Kirk Bell |
| Chuck Cook |
| Manuel de la Torre |
| Michael Hebron |
| David Leadbetter
| Champions Gate, Florida |
| Eddie Merrins |
| Dave Pelz |
| Phil Ritson |
| Phil Rodgers |
| Craig Shankland |
| Dr. Jim Suttie |
| Bob Toski |
| Dr. Gary Wiren |
2011 player of the year selection
On November 1, 2011, Golf Magazine selected Rory McIlroy over Yani Tseng for its 2011 player of year. The magazine's editor, David Clarke wrote, “We are pleased to name Rory McIlroy as our inaugural Player of the Year.” Americans have embraced this young Northern Irishman, taking him into their hearts not just out of admiration for his amazing talent, but also for the grace he has shown in victory and defeat, his generosity of time with fans, and his commitments to causes beyond golf.”{{cite web| author= sigroup |url=http://insidesportsillustrated.com/2011/11/01/rory-mcilory-golf-magazines-2011-player-of-the-year/ |title=Rory McIlory: Golf Magazine's 2011 Player of the Year |publisher=Insidesportsillustrated.com |date=November 1, 2011 |access-date=June 27, 2013}}
The McIlroy selection was heavily criticized by golf bloggers.{{cite web|url=http://www.waggleroom.com/2011/11/1/2530872/yani-tseng-is-not-golf-magazines-player-of-the-year |title=Yani Tseng is NOT Golf Magazine's Player of the Year |publisher=Waggleroom.com |access-date=October 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205172453/http://www.waggleroom.com/2011/11/1/2530872/yani-tseng-is-not-golf-magazines-player-of-the-year |archive-date=December 5, 2011 }} The #1 male player in the world at the time, Luke Donald, tweeted, "So rude and disrespectful of Yani. Whoever had final decision just diminished your magazine."{{cite tweet|number=131433449377636353|user=LukeDonald|title=@EllingYelling @AlanShipnuck 96% of votes! So rude and disrespectful to Yani. Whoever had final decision just diminished your magazine|date=November 1, 2011}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}