View source for Golf Digest

{{Short description|Golf magazine}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox magazine
|title = Golf Digest
|image_file = GolfDigestCover.jpg
|image_size = 
|image_caption = 
|editor = Jerry Tarde
|editor_title = Editor-in-Chief
|staff_writer = 
|frequency = Monthly
| total_circulation  = 1,652,356<ref>{{cite web |url= https://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |title= eCirc for Consumer Magazines |date= December 31, 2024 |publisher= [[Alliance for Audited Media]] |access-date= March 30, 2025}}</ref>	
| circulation_year   = 2024
|category = 
|company = [[TNT Sports (United States)|TNT Sports]]
|publisher = 
|founded = 1950 
| finaldate       = 
|country = United States
|based = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|language = English
|website = {{URL|http://www.golfdigest.com}}
|issn = 0017-176X
}}
'''''Golf Digest''''' is a monthly [[golf]] [[magazine]] published by [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] through its [[TNT Sports (United States)|TNT Sports]] unit. It is a [[generalist media|generalist]] golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. The magazine started by John F. Barnett in 1950 in Chicago,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/golf-digest-co-founder-barnett-dies-at-89/amp |title=Golf Digest co-founder Barnett dies at 89 |magazine=Golf Digest |first=Sam |last=Weinman |date=April 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 U.S. Magazines by Circulation |url=http://www.psaresearch.com/images/TOPMAGAZINES.pdf |work=PSA Research Center |access-date=February 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128021733/http://www.psaresearch.com/images/TOPMAGAZINES.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> moved to [[Connecticut]] in 1964 and was sold to [[The New York Times Company]] in 1969. The Times company sold their magazine division to [[Condé Nast]] in 2001. The headquarters of ''Golf Digest'' is in [[New York City]] relocated from Connecticut. On May 13, 2019, Discovery, Inc. acquired ''Golf Digest'' from Condé Nast, in order to integrate with [[GolfTV]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Golf Digest Sold to Discovery, Inc., joins GolfTV to create global editorial powerhouse |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/golf-digest-sold-to-discovery-inc |magazine=Golf Digest |date=May 13, 2019 |first=Sam |last=Weinman}}</ref>

==Course rankings==
''Golf Digest'' produces a biennial ranking of the world's best golf courses.<ref name="GD201617">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/worlds-100-greatest-golf-courses |title=World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses (2020 Ranking) |last=Whitten |first=Ron |magazine=Golf Digest |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>

Since 1965, ''Golf Digest'' has produced biennial rankings of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses". The courses are voted on by a panel of several hundred golf experts. The magazine also produces lists of the best new courses, the best golf resorts, the best courses in each U.S. state and best American golf courses for women. Before the "Greatest" rankings were introduced in 1985, ''Golf Digest'' produced lists called at different times ''America's 100 Most Testing Courses'' and ''America's 100 Greatest Tests of Golf''. Alongside the "100 Greatest Courses" ranking, and using the same methodology, ''Golf Digest'' publishes a list of "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses". In this context, "public" means a golf course that is open to play by the public, as opposed to a private club—not necessarily a course operated by a governmental entity. In addition to its national rankings, ''Golf Digest'' also ranks courses at a state level.

The magazine also compiles a list of the leading courses outside the United States. This is created using information from national golf associations, plus votes by the same panelists supplemented by some additional ones with international knowledge.

In 2010, ''Golf Digest'' produced its inaugural ranking of "America's Top 50 Courses for Women". In creating the ranking, the magazine used nominations and evaluations by its panel of over 100 female raters as well as the woman-friendly criteria established by the editors. Those criteria included: at least one tee less than 5,300 yards; at least two sets of tees with USGA slope and course ratings for women; run-up areas to most or all greens and minimal forced carries for those playing from the forward tees.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/golf_top_50_for_women |magazine=Golf Digest |title=America's Top 50 Courses for Women |date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>

==Recognition==
In 2009, ''Golf Digest'' was nominated for a [[National Magazine Awards]] by the [[American Society of Magazine Editors ]]in the Magazine Section in recognition of the excellence of a regular section of a magazine based on voice, originality and unified presentation.<ref>{{Cite web
  | last = Shea
  | first = Danny
  | title = National Magazine Awards 2009: New Yorker, GQ, New York Lead Nominations 
  | work = The Huffington Post
  | date = March 18, 2009
  | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/18/national-magazine-awards_n_176544.html
  | access-date = July 13, 2010}}</ref>

==Female representation==
In April 2014, ''Golf Digest'' was widely criticized when, after neglecting to picture a female golfer on their cover for six years, they chose to picture model Paulina Gretzky in a revealing outfit as their May 2014 cover. The move was "particularly frustrating" to [[LPGA]] golfers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paulina Gretzky's controversial Golf Digest cover |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/04/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest/ |work=CNN |date=April 4, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Paulina Gretzky's Golf Digest cover comes under fire from LPGA golfers |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-cover-fire-article-1.1746710 |newspaper=New York Daily News |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Crouse |first=Karen |title=Paulina Gretzky's Golf Digest cover generates criticism from LPGA pros |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-cover-fire-article-1.1746710 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Paulina Gretzky's Golf Digest Cover is Getting Slammed By The Women's Golf World |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-2014-4 |work=Business Insider |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stacey Lewis: Paulina Gretzky on GD cover is frustrating |url=http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central/lewis-paulina-gretzky-gd-cover-frustrating/ |work=Golf Channel |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Nate |title=Paulina Gretzky poses on the cover of Golf Digest |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/04/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-magazine/ |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Paulina Gretzky's Golf Digest Cover Spurs Controversy with LPGA Pros |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/04/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-controversy_n_5092747.html?just_reloaded=1 |work=Huffington Post |date = April 4, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Maine |first=D'Arcy |title=Buzz That Was: Paulina Gretzky Backlash |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/10727973/buzz-was-paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-cover-bums-check-fun-footage-college-dunk-contest-olympians-visiting-white-house |work=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref>{{overcite|date=June 2021}} LPGA Tour Commissioner [[Mike Whan]] issued a statement echoing the concerns expressed by LPGA players.<ref>{{cite web |last=Holmes |first=John |title=LPGA chief weighs in, Golf Digest responds to comments on Gretzky cover |url=http://www.pga.com/news/golf-buzz/lpga-chief-weighs-in-golf-digest-responds-comments-gretzky-cover |publisher=PGA of America |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref> In the October 2014 edition, U.S. Women's Open winner [[Michelle Wie]] appeared on the cover.{{cn|date=June 2021}}

In May 2016, the magazine again featured a female celebrity in the cover, [[Paige Spiranac]] (who was, at the time, a professional golfer), which was criticized by veteran golfer [[Juli Inkster]].<ref>[http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/spiranac-digest-cover-irks-some-within-lpga/ Spiranac on Golf Digest cover irks some within LPGA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927095213/http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/spiranac-digest-cover-irks-some-within-lpga/ |date=September 27, 2016 }} – Randall Mell, Golf Channel, 20 April 2016</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kingdom magazine|''Kingdom'' magazine]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.golfdigest.com/ Official site]
*[http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/americasgreatest/index.ssf?/courses/americasgreatest/americas_ybfliplc.html Composite of all U.S. courses ever ranked] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209041352/http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/americasgreatest/index.ssf?%2Fcourses%2Famericasgreatest%2Famericas_ybfliplc.html |date=December 9, 2006 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111020180507/http://www.golfdigestschool.com/ Official site for ''Golf Digest'' Golf Schools]

{{Warner Bros. Discovery}}
{{Advance Publications}}
{{Golf}}

[[Category:1950 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery brands]]
[[Category:Golf magazines|Digest]]
[[Category:Magazines formerly owned by Condé Nast]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1950]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Magazines published in New York City]]
[[Category:Sports magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:TNT Sports (United States)]]