Paulina Gretzky makes Golf Digest cover because she looks really good in lycra.Is this bad for golf?

[The Straight Story]

THERE’S a major debate raging in the golfing world this week and it’s got nothing to do with who’s going to win the Masters which starts on Thursday.

It’s all about Paulina Gretzky, the glamorous daughter of ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky, who has appeared on the cover of US golf magazine Golf Digest for no other apparent reason than she looks good in white lycra and is engaged to world number 10 golfer Dustin Johnson.

Here she is in all her glory. There’s even a bogus editorial tie-in called “6 Moves to Lower Scores”, in which Gretzky presumably gives all the priceless tips she’s accumulated in her four months or so as an amateur golfer.

...


Mike Whan, commissioner of America’s Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), teed off at the magazine, saying “Obviously we’re disappointed and frustrated by the editorial direction (and timing) Golf Digest has chosen with the announcement of its most recent magazine cover,”

“If a magazine called Golf Digest is interested in showcasing females in the game, yet consistently steers away from the true superstars who’ve made history over the last few years, something is clearly wrong

http://www.news.com.au/sport/golf/paulina-gretzky-makes-golf-digest-cover-because-she-looks-really-good-in-lycra-so-is-this-bad-for-golf/story-fndkztro-1226877177541

[cthulu2016]

1. It's almost as if Golf Digest's primary interest is sales of Golf Digest

[Desert805]

105. Heh.

[n2doc]

2. They are interested in magazine sales, nothing more

Just like SI does with its "swimsuit issue". Lots of magazines do this.

[treestar]

3. Appears they are not to be taken seriously about reporting golf

Looking like a gossip magazine.

[The Straight Story]

5. Mama always said, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" (nt)

[hlthe2b]

12. Honestly... You want to defend this? Really? Nice slap to all the female pros who have earned

a place on the cover.

So, in this case, I'd say the cover very clearly signifies the book.

[The Straight Story]

16. What is it you think I am defending?

You made the remark that basically judged a book by it's cover which is what I was replying to.

I don't read the magazine. I get why they did it (increase sales, get a story out, etc) but that doesn't mean if I was a golfer I would like the idea (I like Chess, and if a chess magazine had a cover like that it wouldn't make me want to buy it but it wouldn't stop me either if I had been reading it for some time and enjoyed the coverage - I wouldn't let the cover change my perception of the magazine's contents).

Either they will increase sales or not (and by not that means less or same amount of sales). Everyone involved exercised free choice.

Personally, as noted, I don't see it's allure but that does not mean I wouldn't get it if I liked golfing.

[hlthe2b]

18. I'd say ^^this^^ reply makes it quite self-evident.

Uggh.

[Desert805]

107. That answer is ridiculous!

Because it's entirely too reasonable.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

57. And your post seems little more than slut-shaming with baseless accusations of sluttiness.

Why does the fact a woman embraces her sexiness suddenly disqualify her from participation? How about letting her define herself. If you don't like sexy women don't look. She gets to decide who she wants to be and you get to decide who you want to be. That's the fairest exchange.

[hlthe2b]

60. It has nothing to do with the woman portrayed and everything to do with the fact they chose

a woman who is NOT a golf pro, but merely engaged to a pro--when they haven't had a women representative of the sport on the cover since 2006.

I did not "slut-shame'. That is totally missing the issue (and f I had to guess, INTENTIONALLY). SHame on YOU, if so.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

68. Is there, like, a checklist of all the covers they must publish before they're allowed to

publish one with a sexy woman? Near as I can tell no such checklist exists. I can't even imagine how ridiculous such a scenario would be.

Editor 1: Who should be on our upcoming cover?

Editor 2: How about Gretzky's fiancé?

Editor 1: No! We can't do that! She's totally hot! No hot chicks until we first get some others who aren't hot.

*presses intercom*

Editor 1: Sheila, get me a list of all the unattractive female golfers.

Sheila: Bite me, you jackass.

I did not "slut-shame'.

So you say but here you are telling Ms. Gretzky she must hide her succubus form from the eyes of wanting men who may be tempted by her thus propagating sexism in society. Please tell me how that is even remotely different from some magistrate asking why a woman dressed "that way" if she didn't want to be sexually objectified.

She gets to define who she is. If some cretin out there in the far away land where they read golf magazines is a misogynist sexist bag of ass it is HIS fault, not hers. All your complaint is doing is shifting his guilt on to her and she deserves none of it.

Heck, the part of the story that got me scratching my head and blinking with incredulity is the fact the commissioner of LPGA is a man.

[hlthe2b]

81. Your comment is not even worth the time... It is YOU who brought up the term

and the concept of "slut-shaming" which NO ONE here is doing. No one has even hinted at any issue other than her not being representative of the same caliber of woman golfer as is the norm for ALL of the cover features for the men.

Thus, YOUR agenda is all too clear--and UGLY.

Again, SHAME ON YOU for such ugly agenda and tangents.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

83. I feel remarkably unashamed.

Thus, YOUR agenda is all too clear--and UGLY.

What, pray tell, is my agenda supposed to be other than the plainly stated argument that her attractiveness is not cause for keeping her from public view by whatever venue she is willing to indulge.

[hlthe2b]

84. Your agenda is to apply straw-man arguments where they don't exist to flame bait

No one--repeat NO ONE hs made her attractiveness the specific issue, except YOU. The woman on the cover is not representative of the same caliber of woman's golfer (e.g., PRO) as those male golfers that merit every title in the intervening months and years since the last woman appeared in 2006. That a PGA woman player was not chosen, but instead a spouse of a male pro is the issue. Clearly that choice WAS NOT made because she was the best woman golfer of the current time. THAT is sexist and wrong. Unless male models are going to replace the current best male golfers on the covers, this is SEXIST and wrong.

And, yes, YOUR agenda is quite transparent.

[maddezmom]

85. The last woman appeared last year for the same Fit issue in May

Perhaps your 2006 refers to the last time a woman pro-golfer was on ther cover?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

88. "No one--repeat NO ONE hs made her attractiveness the specific issue, except YOU"

Uh -- the thread title itself is about how Ms. Gretzky looks really good in lycra and your posts, including this one, is a complaint that she got the cover when other female golfers didn't.

Tell me: WHY did Ms. Gretzky get the cover?

[The Straight Story]

90. I dunno, but the same company (Conde Nast) owns a few other mags that may shed some light

Fashion and lifestyle

Vogue
W
Glamour
Allure
Self
Teen Vogue
GQ
Details
Lucky

Home

Architectural Digest

Bridal

Brides

Golf

Golf Digest
Golf World

Food

Bon Appétit
Epicurious
ZipList

Travel

Condé Nast Traveler

Technology

Wired
Ars Technica
Reddit

Culture

Vanity Fair
The New Yorker

FFM

WWD
Style.com

Guessing a cover like this is nothing new to them

[Nuclear Unicorn]

92. From your list let's see what other magazines Ms. Gretzky might qualify for --

Vogue/W/Glamour/Allure - fashion magazines for women, she is a fashionable woman
Self - she has a self
Teen Vogue - she was once a teenager
GQ - this is a gimme
Lucky - Well, yeah, she is
Architectural Digest - she lives in a home
Brides - she is, in fact, engaged to be married

Bon Appétit - Probably not. I'm pretty sure she's bulimic
Epicurious - Why not, it sounds vaguely pronographic
ZipList - Um...next

Condé Nast Traveler - she has traveled

Wired - she knows how to use a TV remote
Ars Technica - she has surfed the internet
Reddit - maybe not that much, but she has surfed the internet

Vanity Fair - she knows big words too
The New Yorker - just like all other Americans, she just doesn't get the cartoons

[Desert805]

106. Defend what?

Is the magazine cover reserved for professionals?

No.


Jesus, this is gonna be another 4 weeks of magazine cover "debate."

*eyeroll*

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. The purpose of the magazine is to sell golf clubs.

We can argue that the cover is effective or ineffective at selling shit, but its ridiculous to say that it somehow undermines the seriousness of the publication.

[hfojvt]

9. and what could be more serious than golf anyway?

But now the controversy over the cover is getting more publicity, right?

[upaloopa]

6. That picture appeals to more men than just golfers.

My guess it is an attempt to get more men to open the magazine than would otherwise
Thus more men are going to see the ads inside.
It is called marketing.
If it doesn't appeal to you leave it in the rack.

The very fact that this OP exists is a tribute to the effectiveness of the strategy.
Most likely none of us would even know the cover picture existed without this OP

[seaglass]

8. It's been on the TV news because some women golfers felt disrespected by the cover. I don't blame

them. Paulina's association with golf is that she's engaged to a professional golfer. Haven't had a women golfer on the cover since 2008.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/paulina-gretzky-golf-digest-cover-fire-article-1.1746710

The fact that this OP exists is a testament to what the person who wrote the OP is interested in.

[upaloopa]

22. And?

People have an agenda on either side of the issue. People take sides.

[seaglass]

25. You said we wouldn't know about it without this OP and I said the story has been on the news - is

there something confusing about that?

[mulsh]

24. No woman on the cover since 2008? Now that's important info. It brings this cover into perspective

I sure wish the public discussion started at that point rather than ourrage at a photogenic young woman on the cover.

[Lizzie Poppet]

32. They will have done extensive demographic surveying.

Like any competent media organization these days, I have no doubt that the people running Golf Digest know quite a bit about their readership. They'll know a lot about their current readership, and they'll have obtained considerable insight into their best prospects for new readers. The recreational publication market (both digital and "dead tree&quot is ridiculously competitive, and extensive demographic research is a business essential, not an option.

The obvious conclusion is that the market they target is really, really responsive to pictures of pretty women in lycra (quelle surprise!). This overwhelmingly male market segment doesn't follow women's golf all that closely...so LPGA players seldom make the cover and there are a lot more stories on male pros (and instructional stuff, the other big reason people buy GD).

The thinking behind the cover of any major publication is absolutely simple to reverse engineer from what's on that cover.

[seaglass]

40. Well as far as I know it did start with LPGAers speaking out about the cover. Do you consider

speaking out to be outrage? Golf has a long history of disrespecting those who are not while male.

Both of my parents were golfers. I remember when I was growing up especially how shitty women golfers were treated because my mom was on the board for her golf club and I remember the rules restricting women and her battles with her club and other clubs.

And of course most people know the history of people being excluded from golf clubs based on race and religion.

[hlthe2b]

14. You would if you read any number of other news sources on the web.

Seems some who deny the blatant sexism that is frequently pervasive in this country don't want examples pointed out.

[seaglass]

19. We probably fit into upaloopa's category of men haters who think old white men are the cause

of all the world's problems - so there probably won't be a response.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4781305

[upaloopa]

26. I thought no one read my posts.

Men haters are obvious. They usually start threads not respond to them. So no you don't fall into my list of men haters.

[seaglass]

37. Why would you think no one reads your posts? I don't know any men haters so I can't say they

are obvious to me. In any case I remembered what you said in the ignore thread because I thought it was mean and odd and it made me think that you have issues with women.

[upaloopa]

39. No I don't have issues with women.

I've had many meaningful relationships with women in my 68 years. I've been married for 28 years we met 30 years age.
You and your opinion do not represent "women". That is where I see you have a problem.

[upaloopa]

23. Gee we just invented sexism!

Like I said both sides have their agenda.

[hlthe2b]

27. ...

You equate women wanting to be respected as an agenda to be derided? Yeah, right....

[upaloopa]

30. I said agenda you added the rest

I think you look for things to get upset about.
In your world there is your opinion and everyone else is the enemy.

[hlthe2b]

31. From the post of yours that another posted upstream, many would see your comment as projection.

Very obvious projection...

[upaloopa]

35. So what is it that makes what you say so

meaningful?
You don't know a thing about me.
Like I said you go looking for your enemies. I fit the bill. Yea for me.
See you feel you are morally superior to me because of the opinion you hold. In the world and universe and in my life that doesn't count for squat.

[hlthe2b]

41. More projection. It is YOUR post that accused

women of DU advocating for equality and respect as "hating men". YOUR POST-- YOUR OWN WORDS, as linked upstream.

So, please, show even more projection of your feelings. We all await.

[upaloopa]

42. You just made all that up in your mind.

You do not speek for all women. You speak for you!
You need me to be what you think I am. You need an enemy.
That's why I put them on ignore. People who come to this board with their preset agenda and start pissing contests deserve to be ignored!

[hlthe2b]

43. Once again and here is the link previously provided of YOUR OWN WORDS

So as much as you wish to project your own antagonism on others, these are YOUR OWN words for all to see:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4781305

OWN THEM.

[upaloopa]

45. Man you really need everyone here to see me as you do.

I am not that important. You make me into what you want that's fine by me. I am not hurt or feel abused of anything. Your opinion of me is just that, your opinion. Baed on your interpretation of what I post. On edit: if someone wants to come here with an agenda and do OP after OP about it I will ignore it. That in my opinion is not what this board is for. I think it is abusing the other people here to bring your agenda and selfishly go on and on about it.
I come here to learn from people wiser than me not to take part in the kind of thing we are doing here.

[hlthe2b]

47. Can't stand by your own words by which others will judge you?

Hmmm. It is not me who made you accuse DU women of "hating men"... Your own words did so.

[upaloopa]

52. Do and say what you need to I don't care

[hlthe2b]

53. That is quite obvious (and sad)

[oldhippie]

50. And absolutely nowhere in that post does he do what you said ....

"... accused women of DU advocating for equality and respect as "hating men".

Nope, he didn't. You made that up. It's plain for all to see. You are just looking for a fight.

[hlthe2b]

51. He most certainly did accuse some Du women of "hating men" You are being disingenuous

The words are there for you and all to see (as linked previously):

"I have all the men haters, and old white men are the problem folks on ignore".
.

[The Straight Story]

54. Do you think 'some' men on DU hate women (misogyny)? (nt)

[upaloopa]

63. I have no opinion on that.

Those discussions don't interest me.

[The Straight Story]

65. They must interest you some, you brought up the topic via a previous post

Do you feel the same way the poster does that 'some' people here don't like some others based on gender? If you weren't interested why make a point of pointing out someone else on that issue?

[upaloopa]

66. Why do you need this to go on and on?

We don't know each other. We aren't friends or really enemies.
What about this is so important?
Here is what I think.
I don't know any men who hate women as a whole. I do know that many men mistreat women. It makes me feel bad when I see it because I am of the same gender as they are. I think those guys are immature and don't have a very well developed set of social skills.
I've seen the hurt in women's eyes when they have been disrespected. That also makes me feel sad. I am not a saint in this respect but I do pride myself in trying to see women as they would want me to. I don't want to be someone who hurt them or made their life more uncomfortable than it should be.
My wife is very independent and I am glad for it. We don't try to manipulate each other or tell each other what to think or how to act.
My mother-in-law was very active in NOW and my sister-in-law is gay. I have good relationships with the women I know.
Before I was married I had a number good romantic relationships. Most of the time it was the woman who approached me first.
So I am happy with myself and my opinion and my respect for women.
What is said on this board about me is not really relevant to me because I know who I am.

[oldhippie]

55. Moving the goalposts again, are we?

"... some DU women ..." is a lot different than " ...accused [all] women of DU advocating for equality and respect ...".

At least it was when I learned English. The use of the term *women* implies ALL, unless further qualified. That is different than *some*.

I also know many here don't care about the proper use of the language. They wish to warp the language to make things up and continue to fight.

[hlthe2b]

58. His words speak for themselves.

Sadly, so too does your reinterpretation of them

[oldhippie]

59. I rest my case .......

Bye.

[hlthe2b]

61. Given, he too admits his words were "poorly chosen", you missed making your case.

[upaloopa]

56. Those were sure not the best choice of words by me.

I should have been more descriptive as I did in another post here.
There are people who come to this board. They have a personal agenda. They use this board to sound off in an OP and look for an adversary. They know from past OPs that they've done, what the result will be. I call them pissing contests. I got tired of these kinds of OPs and when I see one I put the person on ignore. That way they don't show up for me.
That doesn't make me anything. Not an abuser of women or someone who oppresses minorities with my privileges or an angry old white man.

[Orrex]

28. Nonsense.

I'm sure that they feature cover-pictures of female golfers' fiances all the time.

[hlthe2b]

29. Yeah... (and undoubtedly the less model-like appearance, the more they appear) n/t

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2014, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

[Capt. Obvious]

7. What's her handicap?

[Dr. Strange]

13. She's pretty slow on faceoffs.

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. I heard she has trouble with the change-up. n/t

[Nuclear Unicorn]

62. Her breasts, apparently.

She can't possibly be a real golfer with nice breasts. She's promulgating sexism and probably caused our crops to fail.

[kcr]

87. You are aware she's not a golfer?

It might explain your posts, although I suspect it wouldn't matter.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

89. "You are aware she's not a golfer?"

And the commissioner of the Ladies Pro Golf Association isn't a lady. If the LPGA can decide to have a non-lady as its commissioner then why can't the golf magazine have a non-golfer on its cover?

[kcr]

93. What does the LPGA have to do with it? Are they affiliated with the magazine?

Why can't golf magazine half a non-golfer on its cover? No reason. Why can't they feature more women golfers?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

97. The LPGA figures prominently in the article cited in the OP.

Why can't they feature more women golfers?

So tell them what you want to see or cancel your subscription.

[kcr]

100. They still don't have anything to do with who is featured on the cover of a magazine.

There's no affiliation. You seem to think it does, which is why I asked.

[maddezmom]

99. The LPGA is the association mentioned in the article

And the commissioner is a guy.

[kcr]

101. So?

There's no affiliation. What does any of that have to do with who is featured on Golf Magazine? There are women Pro golfers, correct? Is there a good reason Golf chooses not to regularly feature them? What does LGPA have to do with it?

[maddezmom]

102. It is predominately a men's magazine so I guess featuring women golfers

Won't sell mags.

[kcr]

110. I didn't realize golf was a men's sport

seeing as women play.

[woolldog]

111. Women's golf just isn't close to as popular as men's golf....

which is probably why LPGA players hardly ever make the cover. Women golf stars dont drive increased traffic, eyeballs, and revenue

[kcr]

114. That tired explanation

is the same one that has always used to explain discrimination. No one cares or wants to see *insert minority here* There is no demand for that! No demand for women's sports, so no need to promote it. That is certainly some circular logic there. It's certainly a lame excuse to replace athletic women with models instead.

[woolldog]

115. There's a demand for some women's sports....

just not women's golf. Doesn't matter how much it's promoted, it's not going to be as interesting as the men's game. And frankly the men's game isn't all that interesting either.

[kcr]

119. There just isn't that much demand for golf as a sports event, period.

It isn't as if there's this huge deficit in interest between the two (ETA spectator sport, that's the word I was trying to think of). Golf isn't about watching it on TV, going to the games, and rooting for the team. Golf is 99% participation as far as interest is concerned. And plenty of women participate.

[woolldog]

121. I thought the question/issue was why don't we see LPGA golfers on the cover?

The reason is that no one cares about women's pro golf. It's pretty simple.

[maddezmom]

113. Of course it isn't just a for men, I play myself.

But the circulation of golf Digest is 80% men is all I was saying. They aren't marketing to middle aged females they are marketing to middle aged men, hence the cover.

[kcr]

116. Well, that would be my whole point.

Golf isn't just a sport for men despite this magazine's focus. I don't play regularly, but the few times I have I noticed plenty of women who do and I know quite a few that play.

Personally I think the other responses in this thread just want to apologize for an outdated view of women in sports. I think it's likely Golf magazine is struggling and maybe even dying. This is their pathetic, cheesy attempt at survival. Most magazines are struggling now.

[maddezmom]

118. Not sure if it is struggling but I do know it is the #1 golf magazine

I am not apologizing for anything, just speaking to facts as I know them. I grew up in a golfing family, my dad was on the board of our CC and my mom is a full member in her own right after many years of working the system. I get the golfing community and a lot of it isn't pleasant. There is discrimination based on sex, race and loads of other things depending on the club.

[riqster]

10. It says that golf is no more (or less)sexist than the rest of the sporting world.

Which is pretty damned sexist.

[rrneck]

11. Celebrity endorsement...

[Nye Bevan]

15. Not bad for golf. But could well be bad for Golf Digest.

If they want to be treated as a serious golf magazine, that is.

[Capt. Obvious]

21. I'll have you know

I read Golf Digest strictly for the articles.

[LittleBlue]

20. First time I've ever seen Golf Digest in the news

Looks like mission accomplished.

[MineralMan]

33. Golf Digest's Goal is to Sell Stuff.

That's why it's in business. The bulk of its readers are men, so they pander to men with things like this cover illustration.

Is it sexist? Of course it is. Is it misogynistic? That, too.

Why is anyone surprised at this? A magazine targeting male golfers puts a photo of a "sexy" woman on its cover. Of course it's bogus and offensive. There are many women who are highly successful professional golfers and who could, no doubt, provide useful tips to the readers of this magazine. That the magazine used a photo of a skinny woman in lycra is just one more indication of the devaluation of women in professional sports.

Color me unsurprised.

[AngryAmish]

34. A year ago they had Holly Sonders on the cover

Holly Sonders is more qualified than Ms. Great One (college golfer, host of "Morning Drive" on golf channel) but this is an exercise issue and clearly they are going for some swimsuit issue eyeballs.

(BTW,Holly Sonders is very nice. She mc s for a charity tournament I'm involved in every year and she does it for free. And having her does get a lot of dudes to pay $1,000 for a round of golf and some rubber chicken.)

[whistler162]

36. Well if it raises the subscription ratet from

10 to 20 it might be good!

[jmowreader]

67. You'd be shocked at the circulation figures for this magazine

http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/international

US circulation: 1.75 million copies per month

Total international circulation: 1.65 million copies per month

[Tom Ripley]

38. Golf? She's a fucking right-winger and bad for humanity.

[dionysus]

46. she is? what did she say?

[Tom Ripley]

70. Paulina Gretzky tweets anti-Obama photo

https://ca.celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/north-stars/paulina-gretzky-tweets-anti-obama-photo-154951985.html

Paulina Gretzky/Instagram

Paulina Gretzky thinks voting is "sexy" -- as long as you didn't vote for Obama.

In the wake of the U.S. president's re-election on Tuesday night, the 23-year-old daughter of Wayne Gretzky posted a photo of herself flashing the bird at a puppet version of Barack Obama.

"Ya I Went There," the caption read.

The image has since been deleted. Gretzky's last tweet is now a photo of her baby cousin and the message, "Even my little cousin Ford knows what's up 'voting is sexy!' GO VOTE!"

See also: Celebrities who voted in the U.S. election (PHOTOS)

Though we didn't know that Gretzky supported Mitt Romney, the Huffington Post notes that, in October, she did watch "2016: Obama's America," which the site describes as an anti-Obama documentary.

"Just watched Obama 2016. Wow, frightening," she tweeted after seeing it.

The blond beauty is known for exposing herself, having just recently tweeted a risqué photo of herself in a barely there Halloween costume.

See also: Michelle Obama's winning style

Though her famous dad has not responded to his daughter's political tweet, Wayne appears to have gotten over her sexy Twitter antics.

"She's 24 years old," he told TMZ last week. "She's a good girl."

What do you think of Paulina Gretzky's anti-Obama photo? Was it an example of free speech in action, or was it out of line?

[dionysus]

71. ugh. what a twit.

[KamaAina]

78. Take off to the Great White North, hoser

and take Bieber with you.

[MO_Moderate]

44. Have to admit that I bought this issue

saved me more than a few strokes.

[woolldog]

112. ...

[Munificence]

120. Helped me with my "handi-cap" also.

[seveneyes]

48. Looking to add a few Strokes to the game?

Par for the course I guess.

[maddezmom]

49. Marketing sells magazines

Right or wrong just like the SI swimsuit cover....

[spanone]

64. very few of the LPGA golfers appear on their cover, even when they win majors..hence the controversy

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2014, 04:04 PM - Edit history (1)

[BeyondGeography]

69. Golf is fading, particularly among young people

The cover puts golf in the news, gins up sales and is a roundabout way of addressing an actual business problem, imo:

According to the National Golf Foundation, only 14 new courses (in 18-hole equivalents) were built in 2014 in the United States and another 157.5 closed their doors, for a net loss of 143.5 courses. Declining interest of the current magnitude once was nearly inconceivable in a business marked for decades of slow, steady growth. However, last year marked the eighth straight year that more courses closed than opened, a trend that has become so common it now is known around the industry as "market correction."

But the need for a market correction goes much deeper than real estate golf gone wild. It is the result of a complex relationship of supply and demand and how the game is perceived across gender, age and racial lines at a time in which adults in their prime earning years are more willing to devote time on weekends to getting their children to travel league sporting events than their own R&R. And this correction is taking far too long to occur, said Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corp., during the annual state of the industry address he conducts each year with Stuart Lindsay of Edgehill Golf Advisors during the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

According to NGF statistics cited by Koppenhaver, a total of 3.7 million people took up golf in 2013, however, 4.1 million golfers left the game, for a net loss of 400,000 players. A net gain of almost 260,000 women golfers was offset and more by a net loss of nearly 650,000 men. The biggest losses were in the 18-34 age group, where nearly 200,000 people found something else to do with their spare time and their disposable income.

http://www.turfnet.com/page/news.html/_/construction-play-number-of-golfers-decline-in-2013-r249

Not my kind of publishing, but this is how publishers keep their jobs.

[dionysus]

73. well, more open tee times for me then!

[yellowcanine]

72. It's good for golf....Digest.

Sorry, could not resist.

[KamaAina]

74. The commissioner of the LPGA is named "Mike"?

[maddezmom]

76. I believe they have all been male with the exception of Carolyn Bevins

is right.

And she was forced to step down
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/sports/golf/11golf.html?_r=0

[NickB79]

75. That's what "looking good" is these days? She needs a sandwich or ten

What can I say, I'm more of a Serena Williams kind of guy

[KamaAina]

77. Or perhaps some Timbits

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

79. Well, it's better than this other sportswoman.

[NickB79]

80. Jesus Christ, put up a disclaimer first!

[RiffRandell]

94. No kidding!

WARNING!!! Although I ordered a new bathing suit today and that makes me feel much better.

[pintobean]

96. It's fake. Here's the original.

http://www.examiner.com/article/fake-sarah-palin-photo-and-needless-mischief

[caraher]

117. Are people really fooled by the fake Palin?

I'm all for setting the record straight... the Palin fake was good for a giggle the first time, but I find it a bit stale now. I do wonder whether people on DU think that was a genuine photo of Palin. I suppose a few might...

[KittyWampus]

82. Her pose is intentionally provocative (ass in the air). She/they could have done something way less

sexual and way more tasteful.

But they didn't.

It can be expected of the magazine editors.

If it were me, I'd do a shot way less overtly sexual. I think it cheapens her golf persona. But she does look great.

Just googling "women golfers" and got "sexiest women golfers" at golf.com and there are a great many photos of women golfers.

Some action, some posed. Some more tame and others way more sexy.

There are some really beautiful photos at the link:


http://www.golf.com/photos/sexiest-women-golfers/belen-mozo-sexiest-women-golfers-0#279403

[Hassin Bin Sober]

86. She's a handsome woman. Definitely looks like her dad.

[Wabbajack_]

91. A pretty girl on a magazine cover?

When will the horror end?

[RiffRandell]

95. Never, so people need to focus on more important things. nt.

[pintobean]

103. Jury results

On Mon Apr 7, 2014, 06:46 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

A pretty girl on a magazine cover?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4792558

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Not that posts mocking feminist issues are rare here (see various examples above) but this one goes the extra mile and refers to the woman pictured as a "girl"

I wonder when the first porn related post will show up. I'm assuming the ones referring to "strokes" don't count.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Apr 7, 2014, 06:59 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Silly alert.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Calling young women "girls" is common vernacular. I don't like it, but it's not sexist for an individual to use the term. Not anywhere close to alert-worthy.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I don't agree with the cover. Yet I am sorry, I just don't see this a a hide-able offense.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: You've got to be kidding me. I see men referred to as boys in hof, and when it happens in the big forums, no one says shit. Hof's good buddy use to have a sig line that referred to the Mens Group as the little boys club. Here's a news flash - women refer to other women as girls. Deal with it.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[RiffRandell]

104. Looks like the alerter got a break due to an error.

I hate to be another armchair psychologist since DU has enough already, but could it be the alerter wants a porn related post brought up since they are wondering about it? It's not the medical term, but wishful thinking comes to mind. Odd.

Go Huskies!

[pintobean]

108. Who the hell thinks of porn

at the mention of a good looking woman on a golf magazine cover? That was just a really weird alert. I can't imagine who the alerter might be.

[RiffRandell]

98. It also looks like she's wearing yoga pants.

Didn't know they made golf yoga pants. Quite versatile apparel.

[alp227]

109. If not for her dad no one would care about Paulina.

Print media will pull any stunt for attention. Paulina who never earned any attention single handedly took back women's sports 50+ years with the standard she is following. Not everything is appropriate for sexuality.

[zabet]

122. This cover has as much to do with golf as

does the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition has to do with sports. Both magazines direct their marketing towards men in accordance to the old adage 'sex sells'.
I don't buy or read either one and it says a lot about the mindset of a certain percentage of the purchasers of said magazines. I personally know men who even though they do not read Sports Illustrated on a regular basis, they will indeed buy the swimsuit edition.
Using a woman as a sex object to garner attention and boost sales.

Paulina does not look very happy in the photo on the front of the Golf magazine.

JMHO.....YMMV