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Golf Magazine

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Golf Magazine
Cover of the May 2024 issue
CategoriesGolf
FrequencyMonthly
Total circulation
(2024)
1,214,364[1]
First issueApril 1959; 66 years ago (1959-04)
CompanyEB Golf Media (8AM Golf)
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
LanguageEnglish
Websitegolf.com
ISSN1056-5493

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.[2] Time Inc. acquired it in 2000. It was acquired by Howard Milstein in 2018.[3] 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

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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

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The best courses in the United States in 2024-25 were:

Rank Name Location Designer, Year
1 Pine Valley Pine Valley, New Jersey George Crump/Harry Colt, 1918
2 Cypress Point Pebble Beach, California Alister MacKenzie, 1928
3 Shinnecock Hills Southampton, New York William Flynn, 1931
4 National Golf Links of America Southampton, New York Charles B. Macdonald, 1911
5 Oakmont Oakmont, Pennsylvania Henry Fownes, 1903
6 Augusta National Augusta, Georgia Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933
7 Sand Hills Mullen, Nebraska Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1995
8 Merion (East) Ardmore, Pennsylvania Hugh Wilson, 1912
9 Pebble Beach Pebble Beach, California Jack Neville/Douglas Grant, 1919
10 Los Angeles (North) Los Angeles, California George C. Thomas Jr., 1927

Top 100 in the world

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Here are the top ten courses in the world in 2023-24:

Rank Name Location Country Designer, Year
1 Pine Valley Pine Valley, New Jersey United States George Crump/Harry Colt, 1918
2 Cypress Point Pebble Beach, California United States Alister MacKenzie, 1928
3 St Andrews (Old Course) St Andrews Scotland Nature
4 Shinnecock Hills Southampton, New York United States William Flynn, 1931
5 National Golf Links of America Southampton, New York United States C.B. MacDonald, 1911
6 Royal County Down Newcastle, County Down Northern Ireland Tom Morris, 1889
7 Royal Melbourne (West) Black Rock, Victoria Australia Alister MacKenzie, 1931
8 Oakmont Oakmont, Pennsylvania United States Henry Fownes, 1903
9 Augusta National Augusta, Georgia United States Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933
10 Royal Dornoch (Championship) Dornoch Scotland Old Tom Morris, 1886

Annual Club Test

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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. As of 2025, the Magazine no longer provides a "rating" nor does it rank each club. Golf Magazine thoroughly reviews all the newest club models on the market with the help of player testers.[4] In the end, it groups the best clubs for 2025 into categories to make your purchasing choice easier.[4] The below table summarizes the type of clubs as well as the categories for each tested for each:[4]

Type of Golf Club Categories Assessed
Driver Forgiveness, Speed, Shot Correction, Slower Swinger Speeds, Low Spin Drivers.[5]
Irons Game Improvement, Better Player, Players Distance, Super Game Improvement Elite Irons.[6]
Fairway Woods Speed, Forgiveness, Slower Swing Speeds, Low Spin.
Hybrids Forgiveness, Playability, Shot Correction, Slower Swing Speeds.[7]

Top 100 Teachers in America

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Golf Magazine also honours some of the best instructors in the business. On the emeritus list are:

Name Hometown
Jimmy Ballard Key Largo, Florida
Peggy Kirk Bell Southern Pines, North Carolina
Chuck Cook Austin, Texas
Manuel de la Torre River Hills, Wisconsin
Michael Hebron Smithtown, New York
David Leadbetter Champions Gate, Florida
Eddie Merrins Los Angeles, California
Dave Pelz Austin, Texas
Phil Ritson Winter Garden, Florida
Phil Rodgers La Jolla, California
Craig Shankland Daytona Beach, Florida
Dr. Jim Suttie Naples, Florida
Bob Toski Coconut Creek, Florida
Dr. Gary Wiren West Palm Beach, Florida

2011 player of the year selection

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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.”[8]

The McIlroy selection was heavily criticized by golf bloggers.[9] 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."[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Audit Bureau of Circulations. December 31, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  2. ^ "List of Top 10 Best Sports Magazines of All time". Sporty Ghost. March 3, 2015. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  3. ^ Citi. "GOLF magazine and GOLF.com have a new owner. Allow us to introduce you". Golf.com. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "ClubTest". Golf. February 6, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "Best drivers | ClubTest 2025". Golf. February 6, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  6. ^ "Best irons | ClubTest 2025". Golf. February 6, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "Best hybrids | ClubTest 2025". Golf. February 6, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  8. ^ sigroup (November 1, 2011). "Rory McIlory: Golf Magazine's 2011 Player of the Year". Insidesportsillustrated.com. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  9. ^ "Yani Tseng is NOT Golf Magazine's Player of the Year". Waggleroom.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  10. ^ @LukeDonald (November 1, 2011). "@EllingYelling @AlanShipnuck 96% of votes! So rude and disrespectful to Yani. Whoever had final decision just diminished your magazine" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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