Golf Industry Central Winter 2012 | Page 10

Industry News Inside Golf named Australia’s most read golf magazine for the third time A recent independent survey by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) has revealed that Inside Golf has retained its spot as the most regularly read golf magazine in Australia, beating the popular newsstand and subscription magazines for the third straight year. SMS’ February/March 2012 Golf Consumer Survey asked 2000 random golfers at courses across Australia to name the magazine they most regularly read or subscribed to. Inside Golf was the top answer, beating all of the other golf publications, hands down. These results represent a backto-back win for Inside Golf, which had earned top honours in the SMS August/September 2011 survey. In addition, an independent 2010 survey by Golf Research Australia, the consumer-facing research arm of Jeff Blunden Advisory Services, also named the magazine as the most regularly read in Australia. “Once again, we’re thrilled to be named Australia’s Most Read Golf Magazine,” said Sam Arthur, Publisher of Outdoor Sports Publishing (OSP), the publisher of Inside Golf. “The survey results over the last three years reflect our passion and dedication to bring the best golf magazine to Australian golfers,” he added. While the print magazine is kicking goals across the country, the online initiatives by OSP are also turning heads. Inside Golf now has the largest Facebook following of any Australian golf magazine, as well as the first fully-integrated iPad/ iPhone Digital Magazine app, representing enormous reach and brand recognition for advertisers and partners. Inside Golf is also Australia’s highest-circulating audited national golf publication, with a total average circulation of 42,416 copies per month (CAB Audited from October 2011 to March 2012). “Being CAB Audited is extremely important,” explains Arthur. “We are the ONLY golf magazine in Australia to choose to be CAB audited each and every period because it gives our advertisers 100 per cent certainty that our circulation numbers are correct and transparent.” Free at Australian golf courses, driving ranges and golf retailers across Australia, Inside Golf has shown significant growth in advertising, publication size and staff numbers over the last four years. The magazine has grown from a modest 48 pages in 2008 to a massive 96 pages in the recent May issue, highlighting the publication’s insightful, high-quality content which is written by some of Australia’s most recognized writers and awardwinning photojournalists. Inside Golf was also the first Australian golf publication to adopt Social Media, the first to launch a digital page-turning version, the first to have a completely integrated online/offline/iPad offering, and they continue to break ground through their exten