SPH expands golf focus with Pacom Media acquisition

Pacom Media, a Singapore-based media company with a niche focus on golf, has joined Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) to become SPH Pacom.

With the acquisition, SPH Pacom now owns the Golf Vacations magazine - a local luxury lifestyle golf magazine - and franchises the magazine in other countries including China, Malaysia and Thailand.

The company is also one of the leading golf events organisers in Singapore.

Rolex, Jaguar, CIMB Preferred Bank, ANZ Bank, Macallan and Tag Heuer are among the major brands for which it organises events.

Also acquired is the recently introduced golf/WOMEN - a golf magazine that covers fashion, travel and the latest digital gadgets for women - as well as media representation rights to titles such as The Nikkei.

Ms Karen Chan, who has helmed Pacom Media since 1999, is now SPH Pacom's managing director.

MILESTONE

She said: "We are very excited to be part of the SPH family. It's a milestone for Golf Vacations after 29 years in publication, and with this acquisition, Golf Vacations will strengthen its position even further as the market leader in golf publishing, events as well as digital offering.

"We are also looking at expanding the current list of media represented titles, which includes the highly reputable Nikkei newspaper."

The acquisition will complement SPH Golf, a unit under SPH which produces Swing, the monthly golf special.

Swing, which is distributed with The Straits Times, The Business Times and The New Paper, carries content from Golf Digest, the world's leading golf magazine as well as write-ups by some of Singapore's best known golf writers and commentators.

Other than Swing, SPH Golf also runs golf events such as the SPH World Amateur Golfers Championship and The Business Times' Corporate Golf League.

SPH Golf's general manager S Murali said: "The acquisition of Pacom Media, which has a leadership position in the areas of golf events and publications, offers us a springboard into golf business adjacencies such as travel, handicapping services and tee-time booking, and will give us a foothold to expand our revenue streams in the local golf market.

"Synergising both business profiles, we are well-positioned to grow SPH Golf not just in Singapore but also in the region beyond."