Golf Chicago Magazine

What Golf Chicago Magazine does

GOLFChicago Magazine is a privately held regional golf publication serving the Chicagoland and broader Midwest market. Founded in 2008 and operating continuously since, the company produces a seasonal print magazine covering local golf courses, instruction, travel destinations, equipment reviews, apparel, and golf lifestyle content, alongside an extensive online archive of past issues. The core product is the quarterly print magazine, supplemented by digital editions distributed via FlippingBook and Issuu, a content-rich website at golfchicagomagazine.com with sections for course discovery, instruction, travel, apparel, equipment, events, and lifestyle products, and a companion television show (GOLFChicago TV) launched around 2020.

The underlying technology platform is straightforward: a PHP-based website with linked digital flipbook publications hosted on third-party platforms (FlippingBook, Issuu) and video content hosted on YouTube. The company does not operate a mobile application, does not disclose any proprietary technology, and does not employ APIs, SDKs, or AI-driven systems. Contact is managed through a personal email address ([email protected]) and a general inbox ([email protected]).

The business operates a direct-to-consumer subscription model with annual home delivery of the print magazine, supplemented by advertising revenue from regional golf courses, country clubs, resorts, equipment manufacturers, apparel brands, and lifestyle sponsors (including wine/spirits partners such as Winervana.com). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires a form-based inquiry. The company maintains a 'Friends in the Field' partnership network of approximately 25+ regional golf venues and destinations, which serves as both a content sourcing pipeline and an advertising channel. The operation is lean, with 11-50 employees and no disclosed outside funding, parent company, or institutional ownership.

Name

Golf Chicago Magazine

Legal name

GOLFChicago Magazine

Website

https://golfchicagomagazine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GOLFChicago Magazine is a privately held regional golf publication serving the Chicagoland and Midwest market with a seasonal print magazine, digital flipbook editions, a website, and a companion TV show, monetized through consumer subscriptions and regional golf advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Golf Magazine

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Recreation Magazines (MPAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Regional golf magazine
• Golf news publication
• Golf course reviews
• Golf travel content
• Golf instructional media

Headquarters

HQ city

Joliet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Golf Chicago Magazine generates revenue through paid magazine subscriptions delivered to consumers' homes, with various seasonal issues published throughout the year including Season Opener, Spring, Summer, and Fall editions.
2. Advertising: The magazine features advertising from golf courses, resorts, equipment manufacturers, apparel brands, wine and spirits companies, and golf-related products and services throughout its pages and website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Golf Chicago Magazine is a regional golf publication serving the Chicago-area and Midwest golf community. The magazine publishes periodic print issues covering local golf courses, instruction, travel destinations, equipment reviews, and apparel, distributed via paid home-delivery subscription, digital flipbook editions, an online website with an archive of issues dating back to 2012, an Email Newsletter, and an associated GOLFChicago TV show.

Product overview

GOLFChicago Magazine is a regional golf publication serving the Chicago and Midwest golf community. The magazine offers a print and digital publication combined with an extensive online platform. The core offering consists of the quarterly GOLFChicago Magazine publication, supported by a digital archive system, an online course finder directory, instructional video content, and themed content sections covering golf equipment, apparel, travel destinations, events, and lifestyle products including wine and spirits. The magazine partners with third-party platforms including Winervana.com for wine content and features reviews of third-party golf apps. Content is distributed through the magazine website, FlippingBook digital editions, and Issuu.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Golf Chicago Magazine (Print Subscription) A paid print home-delivery subscription to periodic issues of Golf Chicago Magazine, providing regional golf editorial coverage of local courses, instruction, travel, equipment and apparel for Chicago/Midwest golf enthusiasts.
• GOLFChicago TV A companion television show produced and distributed under the GOLFChicago brand, extending the magazine's regional golf editorial content into a video format for the same Chicago/Midwest audience.
• Email Newsletter An email newsletter distributing Golf Chicago Magazine editorial content and updates to opted-in readers as a separate engagement channel from the print subscription.
• Publication Archive (Digital Issues) An online archive of past Golf Chicago Magazine issues accessible via the website, with historical editions back through 2012, providing on-demand access to the magazine's regional golf editorial coverage.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Union Club Hotel (Purdue)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website, representing golf hospitality partnerships.
• Green Garden Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website, representing golf course partnerships.
• Hickory Hills Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• Shepherds CrookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• Belmont Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner and featured in video content on the GOLFChicago website.
• Sand ValleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner and featured in golf destination content.
• X Golf Orland ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner representing indoor golf/simulator facilities.
• Boyne GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured partner in GOLFChicago website banner advertising and 'Friends in the Field' listings.
• Island Resort GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• DuPage GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• Bowes Creek Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• Arrowhead Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• The Highlands of ElginminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• Heritage BluffsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner on the GOLFChicago website.
• Gaylord Golf MeccaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner and featured golf destination.
• Lake of the Ozarks Golf TrailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Friend in the Field' partner representing golf travel destinations.
• Turkish AirlinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOLFChicago featured Turkish Airlines as an international golf destination sponsor, highlighting Turkey's golf tourism industry and Turkish Airlines Open tournament.
• Turkish Tourism BoardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured destination partner in travel content promoting Turkey as a golf destination.
• Turkish Golf FederationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferenced in golf destination content related to Turkey's golf tourism development.
• Carya Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured golf resort in Turkey travel destination content.
• Gloria Golf ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured golf resort in Turkey travel destination content.
• Montgomerie Maxx RoyalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured golf resort in Turkey travel destination content.
• Antalya Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured golf resort in Turkey travel destination content.
• Cornelia Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured golf resort in Turkey travel destination content.
• Kemer Golf and Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured golf resort in Turkey travel destination content.
• KPMGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGOLFChicago covered the KPMG Women's PGA Championship event at Kemper Lakes Golf Club.
• KemperSportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGOLFChicago referenced Harborside International Golf Center and other KemperSports-managed facilities.
• Youth on CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOLFChicago promoted Youth on Course program providing affordable golf for juniors ($5/round) with 330+ participating courses.
• The First TeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth on Course program has partnered with The First Tee for junior golf development.
• We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Arizona golf destination in travel content.
• Trump National Doral MiamiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured resort in Rick Smith Performance Center opening announcement.
• Diamante Cabo San LucasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Mexico golf destination with Dunes Course and El Cardonal Tiger Woods design.
• Harbor ShoresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course community, home of Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Championship.
• Monarch Beach ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured California luxury golf resort with Robert Trent Jones-designed course.
• Quintero Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Scottsdale Arizona golf course, ranked #1 Public Course in Arizona by Golfweek.
• Embassy Suites ScottsdaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured stay and play golf package partner at McCormick Ranch Golf Club.
• Cantigny GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Chicagoland golf facility offering winter lessons, heated hitting bays, and golf instruction.
• Club ChampionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGOLFChicago covered Club Champion's partnership with David Leadbetter for club fitting promotion.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Golf Channel (NBC Sports): Golf Channel is the dominant golf television and digital video network under NBC Sports. It is comparable to GOLFChicago given the TV show launched in 2020 and represents the incumbent in golf video and broadcast content.
• Golf Digest: Golf Digest is the largest national golf magazine and digital media brand, publishing equipment reviews, course rankings, and instruction. It is comparable to GOLFChicago as the dominant incumbent in golf consumer publishing, though it operates at national scale rather than a regional focus.
• Golf Magazine: Golf Magazine is a major national golf publication covering instruction, equipment, travel, and tour news. It competes for the same golf enthusiast readership and advertiser relationships as GOLFChicago but with much broader reach.
• Golfweek: Golfweek provides national golf news, rankings, and tournament coverage under USA Today Sports. It overlaps directly with GOLFChicago's news and instruction content but serves a national audience.

Emerging players

• MyGolfSpy: MyGolfSpy is a digital-first golf media and equipment review platform with a strong testing methodology and community. It is comparable to GOLFChicago's equipment and apparel coverage but competes primarily online rather than through a regional print magazine.
• No Laying Up: No Laying Up is a digital golf media brand producing podcasts, video, and editorial content targeted at a younger golf audience. It addresses the same enthusiast reader as GOLFChicago but through entirely digital distribution.
• The Fried Egg: The Fried Egg is an independent golf media outlet focused on course architecture, design, and travel writing. It overlaps with GOLFChicago's destination and course-coverage content but operates as a digital-native publication.

Direct peers

• Links Magazine: Links Magazine is a print and digital publication focused on golf travel, course architecture, and lifestyle. It is a direct peer to GOLFChicago because it shares the niche consumer-golf magazine model with travel destination content as a core pillar.

Regional players

• Michigan Golf Magazine: Michigan Golf is a regional golf publication covering courses, travel, and instruction across Michigan. It is directly comparable to GOLFChicago as a regional golf consumer magazine, but serves an adjacent Midwest geography.
• Wisconsin Golfer Magazine: Wisconsin Golfer is a regional golf magazine covering Wisconsin courses, travel, and instruction. It mirrors GOLFChicago's regional magazine format, audience, and content mix in a neighboring Midwest market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GolfChiMag
• Facebookfacebook.com/GOLF-Chicago-Magazine-62262239567
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/golf-chicago-magazine

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 Chicago Magazine