Golf Revolution Overlooked by GM ? Bring on the Girls

[bigslice]

As for male readership having no general interest in ladies then I think there may be a load of publications which would go out of business if that were genrally the case.

So whilst I agree absolutely with the need for GM to concentrate on commercial reality my question is whether a male readership have no interest in ladies golf if and when there is something special going on. As someone who is only 5"9 and hits the ball only 250 yards I think I can learn a lot from the swing sequencing and mentality of ladies who aren't 6"3 and trying to burst a bicep and pump it 330 yards. I mean really the likes of Alvaro Quiros teach me very little from a nd golf perspective and I would be interested as a male to read interviews with these upcoming stars.

i totatlly agree, i was just pointing out the % of readers

 

[fundy]

Charley Hull finished tied 2nd, some pro debut!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Charley Hull is going to be some golfer. I know Laura Davies gets mocked for her size but she is the best female golfer we've ever had and I'm pretty sure Charley will eclipse even her feats

 

[MikeH]

Morning all

Always interesting to read your thoughts on the magazine...

With regards coverage of the women's game, from time to time we do publish major interviews with the top female players. In the past few years we have interviewed Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Annika Sorenstam, Catriona Matthew and Carly Booth.

We also regularly have previews of and reports from the top women’s events in the magazine and on our website and feature the achievements of female club golfers are regularly included in our 19th hole grass roots section.

We are looking at the potential of doing some future features on some of the younger emerging lady players however I have to caveat that with the fact that in the past when we have researched coverage of the women's game only a very small percentage ever ask for more than they get at the moment

It's a bit of a generalisation (but a true one) that in the main the interest in the women's game comes from other women golfers and Golf Monthly is a magazine where the vast majority of readers are male. The hard stats are that the percentage of female readers of the magazine has traditionally been around the 5 percent mark - the last reader survey we did in 2012 showed only 72 out of 2458 (just under 3%) respondents were women

In any market, content providers need to focus their content on your core audience and their core interests so for GM that's male golfers who's top three imterests are always gear, tips and big name interviews. In the market we are in (the most brutal I have seen in over 20 years as a journalist) I'd be even less likely to start introducing much more of what amounts to niche content but rather focusing on producing the very best content in the popular areas.

Another factor is that there are already two magazines devoted entirely to the women’s game, Lady Golfer and Women & Golf and neither sell even a fraction of GM. Golf International introduced a special women's section last year and their sales have not improved

And finally, if there really was a market for more coverage of women's golf then Sky - who's whole business model is driven by viewer numbers - would adjust their schedules accordingly. The reality is the viewing figures for LET and LPGA tournaments are modest to say the least and would rarely if ever match those for even the lowest ranking of men's events.

Hope the above gives you a bit of insight into how we assess what goes into the magazine

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I don't disagree with your points Mike but there must be a lot of shared readership by golfing 'partners/WAGS'.
For example my daughter reads her chaps GM after he has bought it then she nabs my Bunkered. Two mags for the price of zilch, I did bring her up well!

 

[dufferman]

A very interesting thread. Last year one of the women's events was near my (old) house at The Buckinhamshire - being so close I was hoping to go for a day or two. I've never been to a golf tourny so had no idea what it would be like, and thought that this event would be a great way to start.

I asked all my golfing buddies and not one wanted to go with me. I thought this was poor, but no one was interested. Says a lot I think!

 

[MikeH]

I don't disagree with your points Mike but there must be a lot of shared readership by golfing 'partners/WAGS'.
For example my daughter reads her chaps GM after he has bought it then she nabs my Bunkered. Two mags for the price of zilch, I did bring her up well!

This is a valid point and female readership figures would certainly be higher than purchasers but even if you double the figures (quite generous) that's still less than 10% and I have to go back to the fact that our primary focus has to be the people who hand over their cash for our content and that takes it back to the 97% male demographic

However I certainly agree with the OP and other posters that we have an exciting new generation of female golfers so I will certainly but the topic on the agenda for the next editorial meeting

 

[garyinderry]

i have to disagree with the point complaining about the re-hash of the tips etc.

its important for beginners and just as essential for more experianced golfers to cheak their fundamentals. somtimes they show a slighly different way of doing somthing and its like a lightbulb going on.


i agree though, a little more coverage of the women wont go amiss! i would much rather see the swing sequence of a top women player than some of the super human men. in reality both are going to be a lot moe flexible than myself. a look at a few amature scratch players would be mighty intresting! somthing we could all strive for!

 

[FairwayDodger]

Don't disagree with you Mike but I do wonder that perhaps "if you build it they will come".

My GM subscription is up at the moment and I don't think I'll renew; not specifically in relation to this but since I find it getting quite repetitive. I think this happens over time with all magazine subscriptions. I expect I'll still pick up the odd copy though.

Lady golfer isn't really an equivalent publication - more of a pamphlet in comparison to GM. I do read it and also follow them on twitter (bizarrely their twitter feed seems quite slanted towards males). Women and golf I've never heard of! I'll check out golf international following your recommendation.... Not sure that was your intent!

 

[FairwayDodger]

I don't disagree with your points Mike but there must be a lot of shared readership by golfing 'partners/WAGS'.
For example my daughter reads her chaps GM after he has bought it then she nabs my Bunkered. Two mags for the price of zilch, I did bring her up well!

Very true.

I read my father in law's for a couple of years before relenting and getting my own subscription....

 

[MikeH]

Don't disagree with you Mike but I do wonder that perhaps "if you build it they will come".

My GM subscription is up at the moment and I don't think I'll renew; not specifically in relation to this but since I find it getting quite repetitive. I think this happens over time with all magazine subscriptions. I expect I'll still pick up the odd copy though.

Lady golfer isn't really an equivalent publication - more of a pamphlet in comparison to GM. I do read it and also follow them on twitter (bizarrely their twitter feed seems quite slanted towards males). Women and golf I've never heard of! I'll check out golf international following your recommendation.... Not sure that was your intent!

some very interesting points....

I think if the market was booming then we might take more risks but the way it is now we have to focus resources on the core readers and topics.

agree its not completely like for like comparison (magazines vs TV) but Sky do show ladies golf and the viewing figures are as I said earlier pretty modest. So, in a sense, they have built it... but people havent come.

I do understand the issue of some content being repetitive - most notbaly the tips - but that is the nature of a specialist magazine. we are always looking for new ways to present core material whether its using new experts, illustrations rather than photos or introducing more and more video to back up the print content

the reason lady golfer's twitter feed sounds male.... is becuase most of the staff are male (they do national club golfer too!)

be interested to see what you think of GI and their women's section

 

[FairwayDodger]

some very interesting points....

I think if the market was booming then we might take more risks but the way it is now we have to focus resources on the core readers and topics.

agree its not completely like for like comparison (magazines vs TV) but Sky do show ladies golf and the viewing figures are as I said earlier pretty modest. So, in a sense, they have built it... but people havent come.

I do understand the issue of some content being repetitive - most notbaly the tips - but that is the nature of a specialist magazine. we are always looking for new ways to present core material whether its using new experts, illustrations rather than photos or introducing more and more video to back up the print content

the reason lady golfer's twitter feed sounds male.... is becuase most of the staff are male (they do national club golfer too!)

be interested to see what you think of GI and their women's section

Doesn't surprise me re lady golfer's staff but does explain the huge number of "national club golfer" links they tweet!

The sky coverage thing is interesting since even I don't tend to watch it much. Mainly because its not generally on live and I already know the outcome. I'll be watching this week when it's live (I believe). I watch most of the men's golf on sky... But not the highlights (even when I missed the live coverage).

Will try to post some thoughts on GI after I read it a bit (not sure how soon that will be).

 

[gdc]

Sorry a bit off topic but is there any reason why so many young lady brits are coming through?
Has there been a concerted effort to produce quality youngsters by the British golfing powers or is it just more of a coincidence that all the buses have come at once?

 

[woody69]

some very interesting points....

I think if the market was booming then we might take more risks but the way it is now we have to focus resources on the core readers and topics.

agree its not completely like for like comparison (magazines vs TV) but Sky do show ladies golf and the viewing figures are as I said earlier pretty modest. So, in a sense, they have built it... but people havent come.

I do understand the issue of some content being repetitive - most notbaly the tips - but that is the nature of a specialist magazine. we are always looking for new ways to present core material whether its using new experts, illustrations rather than photos or introducing more and more video to back up the print content

the reason lady golfer's twitter feed sounds male.... is becuase most of the staff are male (they do national club golfer too!)

be interested to see what you think of GI and their women's section

You could always go down the route of an interview and some pictures in their short skirts, but I guess that would be moving away from the original sentiment of the OP!

 

[chellie]

I'm female and a newbie to golf. Love the tips as does hubby who has returned to golf after a 30 year break. Didn't know there were any ladies golf magazines. It's me who first bought us GM although we've now subscribed. It's in hubbys name though as his credit card was handy lols

 

[Pin-seeker]

Before taking up golf, I would never have watched women's golf. Since the bug bit me though, I find it really enjoyable.

I will never be able to replicate a Tiger or Rory swing, but elite women golfers tend to have swings which good amateur males can replicate with practice.
I
Good post by the OP.

Agreed. Av a look on YouTube at Na Yeon choi's swing. Effortless

 

[cookelad]

Agreed. Av a look on YouTube at Na Yeon choi's swing. Effortless

Is the correct answer!

 

[mally]

As a specialist magazine there needs to be a championing of sorts to ensure that the content provided inspires people to play better, be that either male or female golfers. I believe that there has been a marked increase in females taking up the sport and that can only be for the best. As has been mentioned before, golf is becoming a far more fashionable sport and a sport that seems to be becoming ever more popular amongst young women. Lets not pigeon hole them as just female golfers, we need to get away from the old time view of golf.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I find most golf magazines so predictably boring.
Unknown golf pro telling you how to play out of a bunker/ latest driver from the I Saw You Coming golf company. Advertisers editorial for Spanish golf courses and so on and ooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
There must be a market for a golf magazine that deals with real golfers and not the ones that 'market research' say is the 'target group'.

Are the free golf papers still available down south?
Scotland has it's own free golf paper and it has so much more content and up to date results than the £4+ mags provide.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I believe that there has been a marked increase in females taking up the sport and that can only be for the best. As has been mentioned before, golf is becoming a far more fashionable sport and a sport that seems to be becoming ever more popular amongst young women.

I wish it was at the courses I go to. Unfortunately if I ever see a female under the age of 50 she is usually behind the bar.