Golf

What Golf does

Golf Inc. Magazine is a quarterly trade publication founded in 1991 and owned by Crittenden Research, Inc., a privately held media company headquartered in Ammon, Idaho. The publication is positioned as the only magazine dedicated specifically to golf course developers, owners, and management company executives, delivering editorial coverage across management/operations, sales, development, and technology. The magazine is distributed worldwide via paid print subscriptions priced at $36/year (reduced from $50), with complimentary digital subscriptions for qualifying developers and owners, complemented by a weekly-updated website and a free bi-monthly e-newsletter (Golf Inc. Scorecard).

The company's product portfolio extends beyond the print magazine into events and competitions. It hosts the annual Golf Inc. Strategies Summit — a three-day live conference at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa drawing approximately 500 industry operators and developers, with ticket pricing from $895 to $1,095 per attendee — and runs 2-3 virtual events per year. Editorial franchises include the Clubhouse of the Year, Development of the Year, Renovation of the Year, Amenity of the Year, and Golden Fork F&B awards, which generate recurring editorial content and sponsorship inventory. Distribution also includes an online store offering single issues, bulk special issues, and a downloadable Golf Management Guide.

Golf Inc. operates a diversified revenue model spanning recurring subscriptions, advertising on its website and newsletter, ticket sales for live and virtual events, sponsorship revenue from the Summit, and transactional retail. The GTM motion is sales-led, leveraging multi-channel distribution (print, digital, events, social) to reach a B2B audience of golf course operators, developers, and management company executives globally. No funding rounds, venture capital, or private equity involvement is disclosed in the source material, and the company appears to operate as a mature, self-sustaining trade media business.

Name

Golf

Legal name

Crittenden Research, Inc.

Website

https://golfincmagazine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Golf Inc. Magazine is a quarterly B2B trade publication and event business serving golf course developers, owners, and management company executives, operated by Crittenden Research, Inc. and complemented by an annual Summit, virtual events, and industry award competitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Idaho Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Quarterly print magazine subscriptions available for $36/year (reduced from $50), with complimentary digital subscriptions for developers and owners. Single print issues available for $9.00.
2. Golf Inc. Summit: Live annual conference hosting approximately 500 industry operators and developers for education and networking. Pricing ranges from $895 (pre-early bird) to $1,095 (standard).
3. Advertising: Digital advertising opportunities on the website which is updated weekly and attracts thousands of readers monthly, targeting golf course developers, owners, and management company executives.
4. Virtual Events: 2-3 virtual events per year complementing the annual live summit.
5. Store Products: Sale of special issues (Golf Design Special Issue – 100 copies for $195), downloadable management guides ($259), and single print issues ($9).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Golf Inc. is a B2B media company serving the golf industry through a quarterly print magazine, a weekly-updated industry news website, an annual live conference (Golf Inc. Strategies Summit) plus 2–3 virtual events, a bi-monthly e-newsletter, industry competitions and awards programs, and an online store for print issues and downloadable management guides. Its customers are golf course developers, owners, operators, and management-company executives who use the publication for operational benchmarking, development trend intelligence, and industry networking.

Product overview

Golf Inc. is a media and events company serving the golf industry with a portfolio of print, digital, and live offerings. The core product is Golf Inc. Magazine (quarterly publication), supported by the annual Golf Inc. Summit live conference and 2-3 virtual events, the Golf Inc. Scorecard newsletter, industry competitions (Clubhouse of the Year, Development of the Year, Renovation of the Year, Amenity of the Year, Golden Fork), and an online store for publications and subscriptions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Golf Inc. Strategies Summit: Annual live conference bringing together industry operators and developers for education and networking, held at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa in South Carolina
• Golf Inc. Scorecard

Products and services

• Golf Inc. Magazine Quarterly print and digital publication delivering success stories, profiles of industry leaders, development and operations trends, news updates, and features for golf course developers, owners, and management company executives worldwide.
• Golf Inc. Strategies Summit Annual three-day live conference for approximately 500 golf industry operators, owners, developers, and private club leaders, featuring keynotes, breakout education sessions, networking events, and a premier golf outing at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.
• Golf Inc. Virtual Events Two to three virtual events held annually that complement the live Summit, bringing together industry operators and developers for education and networking sessions.
• Golf Inc. Scorecard Newsletter Free bi-monthly e-newsletter delivering the latest news in operations, sales, and development for golf course owners, operators, and developers worldwide.
• Golf Inc. Industry Competitions Annual recognition programs including Clubhouse of the Year, Development of the Year, Renovation of the Year, Amenity of the Year, and Golden Fork Awards for food and beverage excellence, honoring the best new facilities, renovations, and F&B programs in the global golf industry.
• Golf Inc. Online Store Online retail store offering single print issues ($9.00), annual print subscriptions ($36/year), Golf Design Special Issues ($195 for 100 copies), and downloadable golf management guides ($259).

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of monthly website readers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Heritage Golf GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Heritage Golf Group is a sponsor of the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026. Heritage Golf Group is a leading golf management company that has grown from 6 to 59 courses since 2020 under KSL Capital Partners ownership.
• TroonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Troon is a sponsor of the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026. Troon is the world's largest golf management company with 532 18-hole-equivalent courses.
• NoteefyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Noteefy is a sponsor of the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026. Noteefy is an AI-powered demand and revenue management platform for golf courses.
• CourseRev AIminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026CourseRev AI is a sponsor of the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026. CourseRev AI provides golf course technology solutions.
• Bobby Jones LinksminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Bobby Jones Links is a sponsor of the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026. Bobby Jones Links is a golf management company recognized as one of the NGF Top 100 Businesses in Golf, managing 40 clubs across 12 states.
• Jay Karen (NGCOA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Jay Karen, CEO of NGCOA, is featured as an opening keynote speaker at the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026 with the topic 'Expanding the Game's Footprint'.
• Jim Hinckley (Century Golf Partners)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Jim Hinckley, Founder & CEO of Century Golf Partners, is featured as the State of the Industry keynote speaker at the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026.
• Greg Nathan (National Golf Foundation)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2026Greg Nathan, President & CEO of National Golf Foundation, is featured as the closing keynote speaker at the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2026 with the topic 'The 2027 Golf Consumer'.
• Noteefy and Metolius GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Noteefy acquired Metolius Golf, combining their technologies into a single platform serving more than 1,500 golf courses. Ross Liggett, founder of Metolius, joined Noteefy as VP of Data to lead data strategy and analytics.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Athletic Business: B2B media brand serving sports and recreation facility operators. Comparable to Golf Inc. in business model (print + digital + events serving facility operators/managers), with golf being one of many sports facility verticals covered.
• Club Management Magazine (CMAA): Official publication of the Club Managers Association of America covering private club and golf club operations. Directly comparable as a B2B trade publication targeting club GMs and management executives — Golf Inc.'s secondary audience segment.
• Golfdom: Long-running U.S. trade publication for golf course superintendents and turf-management professionals. Highly comparable to Golf Inc. as a B2B golf industry magazine with print, digital and event components serving the golf course operator ecosystem.
• Golf Course Industry: B2B trade media brand covering golf course construction, renovation, irrigation and maintenance. Comparable to Golf Inc. in audience (golf course operators and developers), content mix (operations, development, technology) and multi-channel delivery (print, digital, events).

Broad incumbents

• Golf Digest: Mainstream consumer-facing golf media brand with print, digital and video content. Overlaps with Golf Inc. in covering the golf industry but serves individual golfers rather than operators/developers — a broader incumbent in golf media.
• Golf Channel / NBC Sports Golf: Major incumbent golf media brand with television, digital and event properties. Overlaps with Golf Inc. in industry coverage but operates at consumer/instructional scale rather than B2B trade focus.

Regional players

• Golf Business News: UK-based B2B trade publication covering the golf industry (operations, development, management). Closely comparable to Golf Inc. in editorial scope and audience, but serves primarily European golf markets.
• Score Golf: Canadian golf media brand covering the golf industry and consumer market. Comparable editorial mix to Golf Inc. but serves the Canadian market specifically, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Others

• National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA): Industry trade association representing golf course owners with member benefits, research and education. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — Golf Inc. regularly features NGCOA's CEO as a summit speaker, indicating an ecosystem relationship.
• National Golf Foundation (NGF): Golf industry research organization publishing data and the Top 100 Businesses in Golf list. Adjacent to Golf Inc. as a primary source of industry intelligence that Golf Inc.'s editorial references; its president is a Golf Inc. Summit closing keynote speaker.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/golfinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/GolfInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/golf-inc.-magazine
• Instagraminstagram.com/golfincmagazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Golf