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Interview: Scot Duke

Interview: Scot Duke

Written by  Paul Gibbons on Wednesday, 06 April 2011
Having worked for corporate America, Scot Duke knows a great deal about business. His personal blog is all about social media, golf and business - with his humour thrown in for good measure! 

Check out Scot's blog here: www.scotduke.com

How did you get into golf? 

 I did not pick up playing golf until I was in my early 20s. There were a group of guys in my office who always got called out by the bosses to go play golf.  They were not that good of golfers so I wondered why they were picked to take time off from work to play.  So I, and a few others, decided we would go and learn.  We joined a golf school that met twice a week for six weeks.  Afterwards we played golf nearly every weekend.  Eventually, we got asked to play golf with the bosses. That was the beginning of my golf.  Then the realities of raising kids set in and I put my golf game on the shelf until I was 40 years old when I started playing as much golf as I possibly could.

If you had to name one thing you love the most about golf, what would it be? 

 The feeling of solitude.  Even when playing in a group of golfers I feel relaxed.  In the hurry-up world we live in today…being able to get away for even just a few hours is good for one’s mental state. 
 
What has been your favourite golfing moment personally? 

 Playing PGA West in La Quinta, CA. with one of the original members of the club.  He was 84 years old and played like he was 50. He had some wonderful stories about the golf played there, the professionals who played and special happenings which took place at the club. I still enjoy those memories. 

What has been your favourite professional golfing moment? 

 Since I am not a professional golfer I have not experienced the pleasure those guys and gals feel from playing at that level of golf.

 
How did you get into blogging? 

 When I retired from corporate America I was asked by my friends in the PGA to write a book addressing the issues hampering golf’s economy. Being a operations manager they felt I could break down the issues to highlight the root causes golf as a business was having and provide them possible solutions. Once I got the book written I went to the internet to market it which started my long journey of blogging.

Which other golf blogs or news sites do you read?

 Golfweek does a good job of reporting golf. The others usually report what will get hits to their sites or what their sponsors want them to post.
 
What makes a good golf blog? 

 A well-rounded viewpoint on issues related to golf.  A real attitude towards the challenges facing golf.  Experiences in life and golf.  And dedication to helping golf.
 
Do you follow any golfers / golf fanatics on Twitter?

  I do not fanatically follow anyone on Twitter.  I am out to learn, and if a golfer on Twitter posts something I want to learn more about, then I pay attention to what that golfer has to say. I am, and thousands of others like me are, not into or interested in the personal antics posted on Twitter.

Do you think the golfing industry is using social media well?

 I do not feel the golf industry as a whole is using social media very well. There still is this attitude of self accomplishment many in the golf industry strive to achieve. There really are no social aspects to their approach to social networking. All seem to be out to sell something first and then saying thank you for the sell as being their form of social media.  A reversed attitude to how social media really works.

Do you think golf courses could benefit by using the internet and social media?

 Absolutely!  Again, the way golf courses use the internet has to change from having too static of an image to a more fluid, social approach to what the golf course is about. Those who do not approach social media in more sociable way will be overlooked online.

 Do you buy golfing equipment online? What are some of your favourite places?

 Yes, I have purchased golf equipment online, but not very often. Still like to read about the equipment online and then go to a brick and mortar store to check it out. I do not have a favourite place.
 
Do you watch golf tutorials online? If so, where? What is great about them? 

 No, I do not watch many tutorials online. It is hard to replace the three-dimensional aspects of a live lesson.

 What are your golfing and blogging goals for 2011?

 My blogging goals for 2011 is to continue highlighting the good and bad things going on in golf, in an effort to show those who do not play golf the advantages they will experience from playing, and provide those who play and are in the business of golf, with solutions to the challenges they face to keep golf going for all to enjoy.

Scot Duke's blog www.scotduke.com can be found here. 
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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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