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Interview: Christian Guynn from Tour Golf Blog

Interview: Christian Guynn from Tour Golf Blog

Written by  Paul Gibbons on Thursday, 03 February 2011

Christian Guynn talks to Leaderboard about being a Mickelson fan, getting down to scratch and what he thinks about the pros tweeting mid-round!

How did you get into golf?


My grandfather and dad played golf so it was inevitable that I would play one day as well. I was probably around 10 years old when I started tagging along when they played. Once I showed an interest in the game, they got me some lessons. I actually started playing golf right handed and switched to left handed when I was about 12 years old. I can still hit the ball pretty well right handed which comes in useful sometimes.
If you had to name one thing you love the most about golf, what would it be?

 I love trying to beat a game that can’t be beat. It’s that challenge that has had me obsessed with the game for a long time now. It’s what drives me to put in hours of practice and be the best player I can be.
 
What has been your favourite golfing moment personally?

 I have two moments that are equally special to me. The first would be when I qualified for the county individual championship matches in my senior year of high school. There were so many good players competing and trying to qualify, I just couldn’t believe that I made it into the finals. My second favourite golfing moment happened just a few weeks ago when I shot a personal best, one under par 71 at a local course I had never played before. That’s a pretty good feeling, especially since I had no knowledge of the course whatsoever.
What has been your favourite professional golfing moment?

 Oh it’s difficult to pick just one, as there have been so many shots and stories over the years. Being a left-handed player I’m a huge Mickelson fan and the shot he hit through the pine trees on the 13th hold of last year's Masters was one of the best pressure shots I’ve ever seen. And for him to go on and win that day was a really special - for him and his family. I’d rate that shot and his performance as one of my favourite professional-golf moments.
How did you get into blogging?


I just like talking about golf, so I started up Tour Golf Blog mainly as an outlet so I could write about golf topics that interested me. I honestly didn’t think anyone else would even read it, or care what I was writing about, but the blog gained a small following and has steadily grown over the past year..
Which other golf blogs or news sites do you read?


I usually get my golf news from The Golf Channel. They’re the authority golf site as far as I’m concerned.


What makes a good golf blog?


On my blog, I’m not afraid to express my opinion on any of the subjects I write about. I think my readers enjoy that. That’s what I look for on other golf blogs too. Anyone can just regurgitate golf news on their blogs, but to actually express your thoughts on a topic is what makes you unique and fun. I enjoy golf blogs that stir up commentary among the readers. Getting people involved in your blog is very important if you want it to continue to grow.
Do you follow any golfers / golf fanatics on Twitter?


Yeah, I think I follow just about every professional golfer with a Twitter account and most of the golf manufacturers as well. I don’t do a lot of tweeting these days, but we tweet out our new blog posts so people know when we’ve added content to the blog. I’m not sure how I feel about the pros tweeting while in the middle of a round. I like to read their tweets, but on the course might not be the best time.
Do you think the golfing industry is using social media well?


I think the social-media outlets are a great way for golf companies and touring pros to connect with their customers and fans. Between Facebook and Twitter they can reach millions of people instantly, and it’s basically free advertising. Anyone in the golf industry not taking advantage of the social sites is really missing a huge opportunity.
Do you think golf courses could benefit by using the internet and social media?


Golf courses can definitely benefit from social media and the internet. I rarely call a golf course anymore. If I need information or want to get a tee time, I do it all online and I’m sure lots of golfers are doing the same. I’m a huge fan of the online tee-time booking. Every course needs to get on board with that if they want to maximise their customer reach.
Do you buy golfing equipment online? What are some of your favourite places?


I still go to eBay first whenever I’m looking for golf gear. It’s hard to beat some of thedeals on there, but I do shop at golfsmith.com and thegolfwarehouse.com. I will still go to an actual golf store if I want to try out clubs, but if I know what I want, I’d rather buy it online and have it shipped. It’s just so much easier and usually cheaper.
Do you watch golf tutorials online? If so, where? What is great about them?

 I check out the video tutorials on golfchannel.com from time to time. They havesome really good instructors and the best part is you can find tutorials for all aspects of the game. It’s a great resource for all golfers because if you’re struggling with some part of your game, you’ll find specific instruction that will probably help fairly quickly. From fundamentals to putting, chipping and advanced lessons for better players, there’s definitely something for golfers of all abilities. Nothing replaces seeing a PGA professional but the tutorials can definitely help.
What are your golfing and blogging goals for 2011?


My golfing goals for 2011 would definitely include getting under par again. Now that I’ve done it once and I know I can get there, I’m excited to try and shoot in the 60s. My handicap is around a three right now, so getting that down to a one or scratch would also be a goal for 2011. As for blogging, I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing - writing about this crazy game we love. If the blog gets a few more regular readers, that’s great, but I’d keep writing even if no one was reading.
 


Christian writes for tourgolfblog.com which aims to provide uplifting and unique discussion on golf topics you won't find on other golf blogs.
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Paul Gibbons

Paul Gibbons

Paul Gibbons is responsible for the overall running and development of the company.

Paul originally started Leaderboard in the late 90s, after selling his share of the Auto Trader. He gradually added new sites to the roster and now Leaderboard are the proud owners of four courses and the Leaderboard Golf Centre.

Paul enjoys being the Chairman of Leaderboard Golf profoundly and finds his role highly engaging and rewarding. He particularly enjoys working with his great team and developing new and exciting ideas for the Leaderboard brand – for example Paul has been instrumental in Leaderboard's quest to become 'The Authority for Golf Online'.

Paul states that his work is made all the more enjoyable due to the support, creativity and vision that his wife Jennifer offers. She created the Oxfordshire Hotel, was responsible for the refurbishment of Dale Hill, the rebuild of Chart Hills and designed the new Hotel that is in planning at Sandford Springs.

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