In its 66-year history, Golf Digest has only had 24 women on its cover. Nine of those covers were shared with men. And best of all, ladies, four covers were given to non-golf pros: Holly Sonders, Paulina Gretzky, Kate Upton and Paige Spiranac.
In other words: 64 years worth of men. Two years worth of women. And what may be even worse than the lack of inclusion is the way women are portrayed when they are included by the smut hounds at the Conde Nast subsidiary.
Look, I get it, Jerry Tarde and the boys know that men’s golf is more popular and widely watched than women’s, and of course, sell, sell, sell. But for things to be sooooo lopsided and so Gretzky/Upton/Spiranac-y is just…gross.
As LPGA legend Juli Inkster said when Paige Spiranac inexplicably appeared on Golf Digest’s cover…
“I know that stuff sells, and they are in the business of selling magazines, but I think people could learn more in an article about Lydia. It’s kind of where our society is right now. I don’t agree with it, but it’s their magazine and they can do what they want.”
Since we unfortunately don’t have sleeved and dusted copies of the entire Golf Digest catalogue, from the Trump issue back to the famed magazine’s inception, lining the shelves of the CLICKON offices, we’ll have to pull from this handy/did they really “Golf Digest cover girls” bit the horn dogs published (Alex Myers is surely behind this) last year.
Remember, this is not a joke, and these are real, actual covers of the most esteemed golf magazine in the world.
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bob-bradley
Bob Bradley is excitement personified. Source: Twitter
May 1977: Jane Blalock
Ugh. Even when there isn’t a problem at first blush, there’s a problem... “How women can be tougher competitors.” Right, because those huntin’ men are naturally tougher competitors and we women folk are just here gatherin’ berries!
February 1979: Nancy Lopez and Tom Watson
No massive problems. OBVIOUSLY we couldn’t give Nancy her own cover though.
October 1992: Juli Inkster
You just can’t make this stuff up... “In this "test cover" of which about 50,000 copies were sent to newsstands, Juli Inkster exhibits textbook form through impact with a fairway wood. The golfer on the rest of the some 1.5 million copies of this issue? U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin, striking exactly the same pose.”
January 2007: Annika Sorenstam
Sweet baby Jesus! It only took 57 years to get it right.
March 2013: Holly Sonders
OR NOT. The first woman on the cover of Golf Digest in nearly five years, ladies and gentleman. Here’s GD’s wriggling rationalization: “Holly Sonders might have been an unlikely selection for our cover when you consider she hasn't played a single round on the LPGA Tour."
October 2014: Michelle Wie
Adhering to Golf Digest’s new “You can only appear on our cover as a woman with midriff exposed” policy… Also, no offense, but I’m not sure Michelle Wie was the “greatest” LPGA-er in 2014. But hey, selling magazines.
May 2015: Lexi Thompson
I know we all need to pitch in to #growthegame. But what the hell, Lexi Thompson? Penthouse has more conservative covers. Big WTF to everyone involved with “The Towel Issue.”
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