Golf Digest (Warner Bros. Discovery)

Corporate Headquarters: New York, NY

Website: https://www.golfdigest.com/

Additional Website: https://www.wbd.com/

Category: Media and Technology

LEADERSHIP

David Zaslav, President and CEO, Warner Bros. Discovery

Gerhard Zeiler, Chairman, Warner Bros. Discovery International

Andrew Georgiou, President of Sports, Discovery

Jerry Tarde, Editor-in-Chief, Golf Digest and Head of Strategy and Content, Discovery Golf

Christopher Reynolds, SVP & General Manager, Golf Digest

Company Overview

Golf Digest, part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports division, is the worldwide authority on golf media, reaching almost 19 million people across all platforms, including eight million monthly unique web visitors and 3.6 million readers of its monthly print publication. The publication is an industry authority on how to play, what to play, and where to play.

The publication features some of the most prominent names in golf as playing editors, including chief playing editor Tiger Woods, along with Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, and Hideki Matsuyama. As an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR, Golf Digest has unique access to official rights and IP, ranging from historic and live Tour events to tournament trademarks, coverage, and content.

“Golf Digest’s aim is to enhance the enjoyment of all facets of the game — making its readers better players, smarter consumers and more discerning travelers, while offering informative and provocative stories that fuel the unending conversation that is golf,” says Jerry Tarde, who has led the publication as Editor-in-Chief since 1984.

Industry-Leading Rankings and Lists

Golf Digest’s course rankings and equipment reviews have become the gold standard in the golf industry, influencing player decisions and shaping the golf landscape worldwide. The publication’s Hot List, celebrating its 20th anniversary, stands as the most comprehensive and influential equipment review in golf. This annual guide combines:

• Scientific analysis from a dedicated team of technical advisors
• Real-world testing from a panel of 32 player evaluators
• Three critical evaluation criteria: Performance, Innovation, and Look/Sound/Feel

The publication’s course rankings have become the definitive guides for golf travelers and enthusiasts worldwide, including:

• World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses – Setting the global standard for course excellence
• America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses – The most respected national ranking in U.S. golf
• America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses – Essential guide for everyday golfers
• Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S. – Influential in real estate and golf community development
• Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. – Shaping golf tourism and vacation planning
• The Best Golf Courses in Every State – Comprehensive coverage of American golf
• International Rankings – Authoritative guides covering courses in Canada, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Japan, Iceland, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, and beyond

Key Offerings:

• Monthly print and digital publication
• Comprehensive equipment reviews through the annual Hot List
• Instructional content and videos
• Equipment advice and reviews
• Golf travel destinations and booking services
• Sports gambling content
• Podcasts and multimedia content

Innovation and Growth

In 2024, Golf Digest made a significant move into the tech space by partnering with Mustard to launch Mustard Golf, an AI-powered mobile app that revolutionizes golf instruction. The app combines sensorless motion-capture technology with AI-driven personalized assessment and training from top golf minds, including:

• Justin Rose, former World No. 1 golfer
• Mark Blackburn, Golf Digest’s top-ranked teacher
• Jason Goldsmith, renowned performance coach

Historical Background

Founded in 1950 by William H. Davis and his Northwestern University classmates, Golf Digest has undergone several ownership changes, including acquisition by the New York Times (1967) and Condé Nast (2001). In 2019, the publication was acquired by Discovery, which later merged with WarnerMedia to create Warner Bros. Discovery. Throughout these transitions, Golf Digest has maintained its position as the preeminent authority on how to play, what to play, and where to play.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Golf Digest continues to be the leading voice in golf media, successfully combining traditional print journalism with digital innovation. The publication’s Hot List and course rankings remain the industry’s most trusted resources for equipment and course evaluation, while its recent venture into AI-powered instruction through the Mustard Golf app demonstrates its commitment to evolving with technology. With its extensive reach across multiple platforms and unique position as a PGA TOUR Official Marketing Partner, Golf Digest remains one of the most influential and trusted brands in golf, shaping how millions of golfers worldwide approach and enjoy the game.