Golf Digest’s Tarde to Receive PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism

JERRY TARDE, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of Golf Digest, is the winner of the 2011 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. Tarde, who will pick up the award at the Golf Writers Association of America annual dinner in Augusta during Masters week, is the first editor to receive the honor.

“We are long overdue to raise a toast to editors, those individuals who have toiled for generations to make writers look that much better,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski.

Tarde has been a fixture at Golf Digest since an internship that began in 1977, or 33 years and seven months, according to his Linkedin profile. He told the PGA of America that he decided he wanted to be the editor of Golf Digest at the age of 16. In 1984, at the youthful age of 28, Tarde achieved his goal and has been a working editor ever since.

“I’m just an editor,” he said, “one of the guys back in the office who screws up good copy and sticks headlines on stories that writers have to apologize for. Occasionally we get it right.”

Tarde is the 22nd recipient of the award and the fifth connected to Golf Digest, which has a circulation of 1.65 million readers.

−The Armchair Golfer

Golf Digest’s 75 Best Rivalries

GOLF DIGEST HAS PUBLISHED “Best Rivalries in Golf,” the magazine’s top 75 ranking of the game’s most intense and enduring grudge matches. I can’t argue with Nicklaus vs. Palmer at No. 1 on the list. There was a nine-year stretch from 1958 to 1966 during which Arnold and Jack captured seven Masters. Actually, Nicklaus appears in at least five of the rivalries. Besides Arnie, Jack’s other listed rivals include Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Lee Trevino and Tom Weiskopf.

Sam Snead vs. Ben Hogan is a solid pick, as is Bobby Jones vs. Walter Hagen. I’m not buying Mickelson vs. Woods at No. 4. Tiger has had no true rival to this point. (Tiger vs. Field?) That’s bound to change. And perhaps soon.

The rankings are an interesting walk through golf history and include non-player rivalries that have impacted the game. Courses, issues, architects, countries, grasses, continents, swing coaches, college programs, magazines, baseball players, equipment and even years (1953 vs. 2000) are pitted against each other.

Take a look here.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Keith Allison/Flickr)