SCOREGolf

SCOREGolf is a Canadian golf media brand and publishing operation focused on golf journalism, course evaluation, rankings, features, and related digital content. The publication began in 1980 as the official program for the Canadian Open golf tournament. It was initially published by Canadian Controlled Media Communications (CCMC), an organization established as the official publisher for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club. The founders were Kim Locke and Charles Cipolla, with Locke serving as publisher. Lorne Rubenstein was the first editor, helping establish the publication’s editorial identity during its formative period. The magazine originally operated under the name SCORE, Canada’s Golf Magazine. In 2000, it adopted the name SCOREGolf, a change that reflected the expansion of its activities beyond a conventional print magazine. Over time, the brand developed a broad editorial scope covering professional golf, Canadian players, equipment, courses, travel, instruction, personalities, and the culture of the game. Its magazine became one of Canada’s longest-running publications and the country’s largest-circulation golf magazine, according to the brand’s reference description. A significant part of SCOREGolf’s identity is its evaluation of Canadian golf courses. Its biennial Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada ranking is assembled using a panel of experts and regular golfers, and is presented through both the website and the magazine. In years when the Top 100 ranking is not published, the brand has also produced a ranking of the Top 59 Public Golf Courses in Canada, emphasizing the quality and value of publicly accessible courses. These rankings give SCOREGolf an influence that extends beyond reporting: courses, destinations, and golfers use them as a reference point for national golf travel and course discovery. The brand has been shaped by a succession of editors, including Lorne Rubenstein, Lisa Leighton, John Gordon, Bob Weeks, and Jason Logan. Its editorial history includes long-form profiles, reported features, tournament coverage, opinion, and recurring assessments of the Canadian golf landscape. In 2020, SCOREGolf marked its fortieth anniversary with a special issue that ranked the forty most significant moments in Canadian golf over the preceding four decades. The list was assembled by four editors from the publication’s history—Rubenstein, Gordon, Weeks, and Logan—and placed Mike Weir’s victory at the 2003 Masters at the top. In 2021, SCOREGolf was acquired by Golf Town and Torstar. The transaction connected the media brand with a major Canadian golf retailer and a Canadian media company while preserving its editorial and digital presence. Following the acquisition, the magazine continued to appear four times per year, supported by daily publishing on its website and activity across social platforms. Its present model therefore combines a recurring print edition, online reporting and service content, social distribution, and proprietary course rankings. SCOREGolf’s positioning rests on Canadian golf expertise: it serves golfers who want news and features, while also functioning as a guide to courses, destinations, equipment, and the broader national golf community.

SCOREGolf launched in 1980 as the program for the Canadian Open golf tournament. Its first publisher was Canadian Controlled Media Communications, or CCMC, which had been founded as the official publisher for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club. Kim Locke and Charles Cipolla founded the publication, with Locke acting as publisher. Lorne Rubenstein served as its first editor, while Ron Bala was the initial art director. During its early years, the magazine developed a distinct Canadian golf voice through features, profiles, tournament coverage, and commentary. Rubenstein’s editorial tenure from 1981 to 1982 was followed by Lisa Leighton from 1983 to 1986, John Gordon from 1986 to 1991, Bob Weeks from 1992 to 2012, and Jason Logan from 2012 onward. Gord French is identified with the publication’s art direction. This succession gave the brand continuity while allowing its editorial approach to evolve across changing eras of Canadian golf and media. The publication was originally called SCORE, Canada’s Golf Magazine. In 2000, it became SCOREGolf, a rebranding associated with an expansion in the scope of its operations. The brand subsequently functioned as more than a traditional periodical, combining print journalism with online publishing and other forms of audience engagement. Its editorial output has included profiles of golfers and golf figures, reported features, course coverage, golf travel, and service-oriented material. SCOREGolf’s most recognizable editorial property is its Canadian course-ranking program. The Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada is published every two years and is based on assessments from a panel that includes experts and regular golfers. The ranking is counted down online and explored in greater depth in the magazine. In alternate years, the brand publishes a Top 59 Public Golf Courses in Canada list that considers both merit and value. These recurring rankings have made the publication a reference for golfers comparing courses and planning golf travel within Canada. In 2020, the brand celebrated its fortieth anniversary through a special issue devoted to the previous forty years of Canadian golf. One feature ranked forty significant Canadian golf moments, with contributions from four editors in the publication’s history: Lorne Rubenstein, John Gordon, Bob Weeks, and Jason Logan. The list placed Mike Weir’s 2003 Masters victory first, reflecting the event’s importance in Canadian golf history. In 2021, Golf Town and Torstar acquired SCOREGolf. The ownership change brought together a golf-focused retail business and a Canadian media company. The brand continued to publish a print magazine four times annually while maintaining daily online content and social-platform publishing. Its history therefore spans event-program publishing, established magazine journalism, specialist rankings, and a multi-platform digital model. SCOREGolf remains centered on Canadian golf coverage and on helping readers understand the country’s courses, players, destinations, and golf culture.

• 2021

  Acquisition by Golf Town and Torstar

  [2]Torstar partners with retailer Golf Town to acquire SCOREGolf magazinethestar.com

  Golf Town and Torstar acquire the golf-media brand, which continues its quarterly magazine and digital publishing activities.

• 2020

  Fortieth-anniversary issue

  [1]ScoreGolfen.wikipedia.org

  SCOREGolf publishes a special anniversary issue featuring a ranking of forty important Canadian golf moments from the preceding four decades.

• 2000

  The publication adopts the SCOREGolf name

  [1]ScoreGolfen.wikipedia.org

  The former SCORE, Canada’s Golf Magazine is renamed SCOREGolf as the operation expands beyond its earlier magazine identity.

• 1980

  SCOREGolf launches

  [1]ScoreGolfen.wikipedia.org

  The publication begins as the program for the Canadian Open golf tournament under Canadian Controlled Media Communications.

A Canadian specialist golf-media brand combining an established print magazine with digital journalism, social content, and influential national course rankings.

• Print golf magazine · 1980

  SCOREGolf magazine

  The brand’s core print publication, covering Canadian golf through features, profiles, tournament reporting, course coverage, opinions, and service material. The magazine is published four times per year and is described as the largest-circulation golf publication in Canada and one of the country’s longest-running magazines.

• Digital golf media

  SCOREGolf.com

  The brand’s website publishes daily golf content, extending its editorial presence beyond the quarterly print edition. Its digital scope includes golf news, features, course information, rankings, and other material for Canadian golfers.

• Golf-course ranking

  SCOREGolf Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada

  A biennial ranking of Canadian golf courses selected through input from a panel of experts and regular golfers. Results are presented online and covered in depth through the magazine, making the list a prominent reference for course comparison and golf travel.

• Golf-course ranking

  Top 59 Public Golf Courses in Canada

  A ranking published in years when the Top 100 program is not issued. It focuses on publicly accessible Canadian courses and evaluates them on merit and value.

• 2020SCOREGolf 40th-anniversary issue

  Canada

  SCOREGolf marked its fortieth year with a special issue looking back at four decades of Canadian golf. A central feature ranked forty significant moments, assembled by four editors from the publication’s history.

  Outcome. The anniversary issue reinforced the brand’s historical role in Canadian golf media and highlighted its editorial continuity.

  Source

• 2021

  Golf Town and Torstar acquire SCOREGolfM&A

  Background

  The long-running Canadian golf publication was acquired by a partnership between golf retailer Golf Town and media company Torstar.

  Action taken

  Golf Town and Torstar purchased the brand and continued its print and digital publishing model.

  Aftermath

  The magazine remained quarterly, while daily content continued on the website and social platforms.

  Source

• 2000

  Rebrand from SCORE to SCOREGolfStrategy

  Background

  The publication had expanded beyond its earlier identity as SCORE, Canada’s Golf Magazine.

  Action taken

  The brand adopted the SCOREGolf name to represent the broader scope of its operations.

  Aftermath

  SCOREGolf continued as a broader golf-media brand spanning magazine and later digital content.

  Source

1. 1ScoreGolfen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Torstar partners with retailer Golf Town to acquire SCOREGolf magazinethestar.com
3. 3SCOREGolfscoregolf.com