"Golf For Women" Magazine Ceasing Publication

by Mulligan Stu on Jul 7, 2008 8:07 PM EDT

Speaking of golf magazines, Conde Nast announced today it will cease publication of Golf For Women magazine. The July/August issue is the final one.

That's too bad. Golf For Women was a good magazine. Lots of great stuff for women golfers and about women golfers - but also lots of good stuff for golfers of both genders (and probably for transgendered golfers, too).

But you know the old saying - "they can't even give it away!" I subscribed to Golf For Women because if you asked them, they'd send you the magazine for free. I've gotten it for years without ever paying for it. Which goes a long way toward illustrating the problems Conde Nast - publisher of the Golf Digest family of golf magazines - had with the business.

"We came to this decision because we feel the magazine will not support our long term business objectives," said Charles H. Townsend, President & CEO of Conde Nast Publications. "I would like to thank Susan Reed and Chris McLoughlin and the entire staff for their efforts throughout the years. Golf For Women attracted a loyal readership and we were proud to publish it."

And I would like add thanks to Stina Sternberg for always keeping things interesting in her columns and articles. And to Golf For Women for bringing several top golf bloggers into the magazine's Web site, including The Golf Girl and Golfchick.

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that's a real shame

I liked GFW even better than Golf or Golf Digest. The articles were generally better, and they didn’t fill issue after issue with innane cures for a slice.

Fairways and Greens is an independently published magazine, and they are hanging in there. Maybe GFW can find some sort of indie outlet in the future.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jul 7, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

I paid

I’m, seemingly, one of the few who has paid full price for the subscription and have been thrilled to do so. As a result of my subscription I’ve become involved with an organization that has given me opportunities to play more golf at more courses than I would have dreamed possible a few years ago. I’m sorry some women in the future won’t have the same opportunity I’ve had.

by dianemarie on Jul 7, 2008 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

We'll just have to fill the gap.

It is a shame that Golf for Women is closing after 20 years, it really was an excellent magazine for golfers of many persuasions, but lets face it, nowadays we get so much of our news …and information… and entertainment, on-line. Magazines have become something we read while waiting for our nails to dry or our hair to be cut. A magazine, in the traditional sense, is rarely a good business model. But on-line journalism is…or can be. It’s just taking a while for the advertising traditionalists to see this. But they will, then they’ll support on-line journalism and the on-line journalist will be able to do their jobs. There will certainly be a void left by the disparition of Golf for Women, but not one that can’t eventually be filled.

by golfgirl on Jul 7, 2008 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

Web site?

Hey Golf Girl, any word on whether the GFW Web site will also be closing up shop? No reason it automatically has to – with a good group of bloggers, and content from the other GD publications to post when it is specifically of interest to women, and Stina still on the payroll and available to write Web-only content … it’s doable. If Conde Nast wants to do it …

by Mulligan Stu on Jul 7, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

It's sad to see them go...

Here at tracey lynn golf we tried advertising in GFW but just didn’t get the response we needed from our target market – that being younger, fashion-conscious players. We eventually realized that pay-per-click and search optimization worked better for us. GFW also tried to raise their prices aggressively, and we were already rethinking renewing our contract with them. They had just told me that readership went up by 50,000 and was the reason prices had been raised. It was strange to hear the news of them shutting down after their readership went up that much. It’s so sad!

by traceylynngolf on Jul 17, 2008 2:31 PM EDT reply actions