Golf Inc. announced today that it will shift all editorial content to its growing website, ceasing publication of its print magazine in July.
“Since we launched the new website in November, the number of visitors has grown by more than 440 percent,” said Jack Crittenden, president and publisher. “We knew that demand would be strong. But it has exceeded all expectations. Our core readers — management company executives, developers, owners and other industry leaders — simply want breaking news in a timely manner.”
Golf Inc. will add its most popular magazine features to the website, to join weekly news updates on companies and courses, global development projects and golf course sales. The site has grown to an average of 7,500 unique visits per month.
Golf Inc.’s annual story on the Most Admired Operators will be available next week to readers on the website — www.GolfIncMagazine.com. Five new admired operators will be introduced every week over the course of May.
Print readers had been switching to the digital version of Golf Inc. for the past few years. With the relaunch of the website in November, readers made it clear that they prefer to read their news online as opposed to in the print format.
Golf Inc. has been a pioneer in the industry with digital media. Regular e-newsletters currently notify readers of the latest news and content on the website. The website will be dynamic, fresh and include the best of what Golf Inc. has done over the past 18 years.
The Golf Inc. Conference at World Golf Village, held March 30-April 1 in St. Augustine, Fla., was a big success, with 95 percent of attendees saying they will recommend it to a friend.
“It is disappointing to see the print magazine end after an 18-year run,” Crittenden said. “But this is a trend we are seeing in almost every industry and market. Live events and the web are grabbing the attention and marketing dollars.”
Golf Inc, will continue to identify the industry’s best and brightest through competitions such as the Development of the Year and features such as the Most Powerful People in Golf, that will now appear on the website.