George Peper, who served as editor-in-chief of GOLF magazine for 25 years and is the author of a dozen books on golf, has been named editor of LINKS Magazine, it was announced by Publisher Jack Purcell.
“I’ve never been very good at resting and relaxing, and this should be a fun challenge,” said Peper who thanks to the digital world will be able to do most of the work from his homes in St Andrews and Rhode Island. “LINKS has survived an economic downturn that forced its competitor (T&L Golf) to fold and now seems poised for a bright future. I look forward to playing a part in it.”
Under Peper’s leadership, GOLF Magazine became the most widely read publication in the game and was a four-time National Magazine Awards nominee.
Although Peper has contributed to LINKS as editor-at-large since 2003, he said, “I feel a bit like a long-idle pitcher suddenly summoned from the bullpen, wondering whether there’s any hop left on his fastball.”
“”We’re thrilled to have George leading the editorial team at LINKS,” said Nancy Purcell, editorial director. “He’s been with us nearly 10 years as editor-at-large, and I’m very pleased he is now with LINKS on a full-time basis.”
Among Peper’s more prominent works are the bestselling “Golf Courses of the PGA Tour, Shark Attack,” in collaboration with Greg Norman, and “Cinderella Story,” written with actor Bill Murray. He received the 2008 Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects for his contributions to golf and golf architecture and the 2009 Lincoln Werden Award for career achievement in golf journalism.
For 20 years Peper wrote and produced the Masters Annual, the official chronicle of the Masters. He has also written the scripts for more than a dozen golf videos and TV specials, including the 1999 script for “The Story of Golf,” a two-hour documentary for PBS which earned him an Emmy nomination.
Among his contributions to the game are “Pace Ratings,” which establish playing times for golf courses, and “The Need System,” which was adopted by the USGA as the recommended method for allocating handicap strokes across 18 holes.
LINKS is recognized as the most sophisticated, engaging and innovative publication in the industry, one that helps readers fuel their passion for the game and enjoy the golf lifestyle in new and stimulating ways.
Peper earned a B.A. from Princeton and studied toward a Ph.D. in comparative literature at Yale before joining GOLF Magazine. Playing to a 6-handicap, he is a member of Ballybunion and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
908/963-6013
