A consumer’s guide to the best and worst of sports media and merchandise. Ground rules: If it can be read, played, heard, observed, worn, viewed, dialed or downloaded, it’s in play here.

What: Junior Golf magazine

Where: Subscription only, $3.95 monthly. Address: P.O. Box 2210, Palm Springs 92263.

What you get is exactly what the title indicates--for juniors only. Even the advertisements are aimed at juniors, such as one with the headline “Start Your Little Tigers Off Right,” aimed at selling clubs for young children.

Not surprisingly, the original Tiger, only four years removed from junior golf himself, offers tips to teenagers on what it’s like to be a winner and how to become one.

Prominent in each issue are comprehensive lists of junior golf camps and schools, tournaments and results, plus the usual lessons--all aimed at younger players. But it’s not all about lessons. As the editors remind the readers, everyone is not going to become a tour player, so there are articles explaining how career opportunities are available in related jobs such as caddying, making and repairing clubs, managing courses, teaching, etc.

The average age of readers is 14.8 years--77% boys and 23% girls--and they average 15 tournaments a year, mostly in the summer. Almost all (99.6%) say they intend to enter college. Toward that end, each issue has a profile of a college coach, revealing what to expect in the way of coaching and competition at his school. And how to get a scholarship.

Publisher Fred Marik, whose son Rick won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1982 as a member of Yorba Linda Country Club, is offering a free trial subscription issue to anyone interested: Call toll-free (888) 323-8777.

The subtitle of the magazine tells it all: “Not Your Father’s Magazine.”