Clambake Café ™

Press Release: Mr Business Golf Show Returns to the ClamBake Cafe!

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MBG Show Header 2008 Flat Yes, that is right, the Mr Business Golf Show podcast is returning to the ClamBake Cafe.

Press Release:

Addison, Texas: May 21, 2011

Innovative Business Golf Solutions is excited to announce the return of the Mr Business Golf Show which will be posted as a podcast on the ClamBake Cafe web-site and other related/affiliated blogs and web-sites.  The first show will be posted June 1, 2011 on the ClamBake Cafe www.clambakecafe.com and Mr Business Golf blog www.mrbusinessgolf.com.

Background:

The Mr Business Golf Show, originally launched in 2007, revamped in 2009 and produced in Video format in 2010, features a talk show format where information on Golf, Business and Business Golf is passed on to listeners.  The weekly program will be in a Podcast format.  Video casting is being developed for the show and plans are to launch the MBG Vlog in the 3rd or 4th quarter 2011. The MBG Show is based out of Addison, Texas. The show will be recorded both in the IBGS Bagroom Studios in Addison, TX and at remote locations around the Dallas, Texas area. 

The Mr Business Golf Show features discussions related to the business of golf as well as reports on events, tournaments and other related  subjects.

“We will be offering our listeners information on All Things Golf.  Our mission is to bring to our listeners information about golf in hopes it will bring more people to playing golf. ”, said Scot Duke, CEO of Innovative Business Golf Solutions. 

New Face

Mr Business Golf Straight Small Face  Scot Duke, aka Mr Business Golf, will again be the host of the weekly podcast.  Mr. Duke has been blogging on the subject of business golf since 2005.

Krista Joining Scot as co-host of the New Business Golf Show will be Krista Kramer Hartman of She Kan Golf!.  Krista is a business performance coach and owner of She Kan Company.  Ms. Hartman is also active in the Executive Women’s Golf Association and is very passionate about the game of golf. Krista will bring her views of golf, women businesses and business golf to the show.  You can find out more about Krista at www.shekangolf.com or www.shekancompany.com

"I’m committed to giving back to golf, and committed to keeping golf and business connected by providing and finding neat opportunities to talk about golf or simply play golf with friends of golf, clients, potential clients, synergetic business partners, and people in the golf business.” ,said Krista Kramer Hartman, Owner of She Kan! Kompany.

The revised Mr Business Golf Show will be a weekly podcast using an informational talk show format to highlight the advantages and productive aspects golf can offer business people.  Krista and Scot will discuss between themselves the things ‘happening in golf and business’ as well as having interviews with guests who will be on the show from time to time.

Vision:

IBGS’s mission is to help the golf industry find solutions to the challenges facing its success.  IBGS does this through services and strategic partnerships with luminaries both in the golf and non-golf business world.  The Mr Business Golf Show, ClamBake Cafe, Business Golf Country Club, Mr Business Golf Blog, and the Business Golf Advisory Group all are part of the Innovative Business Golf Solutions, LLC, effort to help business people improve their business operations.

The purpose of the Mr Business Golf Show’s is to offer its listeners viable information and thought provoking ideas on solutions to the many issues facing the Golf Industry’s as well as offer insight into why Golf is more than a ‘frilly’ recreational activity. 

“It has been my personal and professional mission for over 8 years to do what I can to get more people playing golf. The more people who play golf the better the golf industry will become.  I hope I can get more people to understand what golf is all about so they will take up playing golf. ”, said Scot Duke

The Mr Business Golf Show podcast will be posted on the following sites:

  • ClamBake Cafe
  • Mr Business Golf Blog
  • Business Golf Country Club
  • Biz Golf Guru Blog
  • She Kan Golf! Blog
  • Mr Business Golf Facebook Page (Under Construction)

More information can be obtained by contacting: Scot Duke Email: Mrbusinessgolf @ gmail (dot) Com or 214 549-0306

Information on sponsorships and advertising space is available by contacting: Scot Duke Email: Mrbusinessgolf @ gmail (dot) Com or 214 549-0306

When The Gates Close at Country Clubs: Golf Industry Suffers

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Closed It is hard to image what $195 Billion really looks like, but four years ago that was the impact the Golf Industry had on America’s economy.  I am sure it has gone up since.  If you look at the economy as a whole, the Golf Industry impacts is more than the Motion Picture Industry.  That probably is surprising to many people who go to the movies,  but how does Golf impact you and your local economy?

Country Club

The local golf economy is driven mostly by golf facilities..i.e. golf courses, driving ranges.  The places where golfers play golf drive the spending on golf equipment to the retail level.  However, have you ever thought of all the non-golf related industries golfers touch when they go to play golf?

The businesses that facilitate the playing of golf sit in the mainstream of the local golf economy. However, Country Club’s, especially private golf clubs, impact more than just the golf economy.

Country Clubs as a facility also develop into social centers for the communities they reside.  Sometimes this is by design and naturally would have a internal social aspect its members bring to the club.  Fortunately, there is more going on at a private golf clubs and Country Clubs than just people playing golf.  Each day at a Country Club anywhere in the nation there are business meetings, local civic group gatherings and family weddings being conducted.  Sometimes the Country Club’s clubhouse is the only meeting place within the community.  All of these functions generate huge amounts of revenue.

Also, these non-golf external services employee hundreds of people from the community who spend their wages in the community.  The outside events held at country clubs are supported by vendors who employee many people of within a community.  This makes theses non-golf events’ financial impact on the local economy tremendous.

So, when you take the fact country clubs employee hundreds of people and support hundreds of vendors combined with the non-golf functions the country club manage, the impact to the local economy is very significant.

When a Country Club Closes

What happens when a Country Club closes for business?  The local economy will feel the blow first.  In places where the Country Club is a major employer the impact to the community will be devastating.  The trickle down of the unemployment of the club’s staff will add to the already troubled national economy.  Generally the people let go by a country club will be forced into moving to another region which will add burden to that community’s unemployment.

The impact on the vendors of a country club is also great.  Sometimes the country club is some vendor’s main account and when the doors to the country club close so does the vendors.  As a result even more people are placed on the unemployment role.

Millions of economic dollars are lost when a county club closes.  It is estimated a private country club that employees 150 or more employees generates over $1 million in sales taxes and another $1m in income taxes to the federal level.  Taking that there are thousands of private country clubs across the nation this quickly adds up to billions of dollars of economic impact.  Since reports are showing that nearly 10% of these clubs will be forced to close due to economic issues the impact would result in hundreds of millions of dollars lost forever from local sales.

Naturally there are going to be country clubs that fail due to bad management and other non-economic related issue.  However, many country clubs running in the red have ways of avoiding the worst case scenarios.  What causes most golf facilities to fail has to do with their resisting change or trying to adapt to something new using old methods.

Since the golf industry will be one of the last industries to improve when the economy improves they need to move quickly to solving their financial issues.  Some of the solutions to country club’s problems will result in major changes needing to be made and old ways of thinking done away with.  This does not necessarily mean country clubs should run out and hire a young staff to manage their club, but a younger mindset of the current management will be needed to make the changes coming in the economy’s recover.

The Golf Industry should be strapped in tightly since the economy still has a lot more jerky adjustments to make to find its new center.  Having a new way of seeing things will help country clubs survive and keep from closing their gates forever.

Let me know how I can help.

George Strait Buys Golf Course: May Put a ClamBake Cafe on in Texas

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Straight off (pardon the pun) the news wire today…

Country superstar George Strait is taking a swing at another passion besides music.

Strait and partner Tom Cucisk have purchased the Tapatio Springs Golf Resort and Conference Center in Boerne, about 25 miles northwest of San Antonio.

Strait and Cusick, who lives in the Texas Hill Country community, finalized the deal April 1. Terms were not released Friday when the purchase announced.

The seller was Textron Financial Corp., which last June bought the resort for $4.5 million during a foreclosure auction.

Strait, who’s an avid golfer, says he’s lived near Boerne and played the resort’s courses, always believing the complex "could be a real jewel."

The resort, founded in 1981, has three nine-hole courses and more than 100 hotel rooms.

Copyright Associated Press

I may have to round up a posse from the Business Golf Country Club, Business Golf Advisory Group, She Kan Golf and the Biz Golf Guru to go down there and put on a ClamBake Cafe Business Golf School.  Maybe George will play us a tune.

7 Reasons Golf Businesses Fail at Social Media

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If you are in a golf business and are using social media, maybe knowing how others are failing at their attempt of using social media will give you a better understand of how to use social media effectively.

The following are some reasons why businesses fail in social media.

1. Fail to be social

The reason people are popular in social media is due to them being social. They discuss, interact, make noise, learn and have fun. It is because other people like having them in their circle of friends is why they are accepted in their social space. Therefore, when golf businesses fail to get social, they do themselves, and the entire golf industry, a great disservice.

2. Talk only about the product

Some golf businesses get into Twitter thinking they can make noise about their products and get people’s attention. That does not work and now is turning people away from those who just take for granted Twitter and Facebook are just billboards for product/service ads.  Even the major icons of the golf industry, like PGA, LPGA or Titleist ,have had to move away from the billboard method of marketing and hire people to reach out to the few golfers in the social spaces to have conversations.  People, especially golfers, are less tolerant to the steady stream of promotions. If you are a golf business person, you have to have conversation with others until you become an authority and posting just Links to redundant news items does not make you an authority.

3. Don’t answer responses

Golfers are human and have human reactions to things. Most of the time their reaction to posts from golf businesses comes in the form of asking questions and even make a constructive comment. What they are looking for is answers. When a golf business does not respond in any way, people will quickly remove them from their list of ‘trusted friends’ so their irresponsive posts do not clog up their timeline feed from golf businesses and golfers who add value to their social space.  It is important to respond in some form to every type of response..if the spammers should get a response like hitting the Block Button.

4. Fail to understand people

Golf businesses exist only because of people who play golf. Online that is a very, very small market. When golf businesses, large and small, don’t understand people, they fail on a grand scale. To gain market share of the few golfers online a golf business person needs to understand people.  For the many golf businesses who find it difficult to understand golfers the key is to just be yourself..a person. When a golf business does not appear to be human they generate distance between the golfers and the business.

5. Fail to give value to followers

Being a good quality business is only half of the work. The other half is giving value to the people who chose to follow the business. Offering exclusive product review or an exclusive discount is good only of it is presented in a social manor. The key is to reward and give value to your followers by giving them a feeling you sincerely care.

6. They are not fun

Many golf businesses are wary of getting social but still want to have an impact in social media. In an attempt to keep things under control, many golf businesses will have rules for everything. This takes the FUN out of the social space.  If you appear to have no sense of humor you are not looked at seriously by the people in the social space.  What golf businesses fail to understand is the rules in social media are set by the consumer, not companies. To succeed a golf business needs to be a fun person in the social space.

7. They have poor products

If a golf business has a bad product, they cannot expect any magic to happen in social media.  Many of the golf businesses in the social space need to rebuild their product rather than pushing a bad, or yet unwanted, product to people. 

Make the Change-PLEASE!

There are many, many (too many) golf businesses who take it upon themselves to launch out into the social space with their own ideas of what social media is all about.  As a result they fail and fail miserably.  Their failure reflects badly on the other golf businesses who have a better grasp on how to use social media.

Social media is simple and a very productive tool for golf businesses to use if they will keep the social part before the marketing part.  Most golf businesses would also benefit more if they set up shop as a person in a social space that offers more of an opportunity for real conversations…like Facebook.  Then once they get a support group of fans, and a feel of how powerful social media really is, then venture off into Twitter.  Doing it the other way around is a huge time suck and will again result in a golf business person becoming frustrated with social media.

I was told that once a person knows which end of a hammer to use to drive a nail they can build anything.  Let me know how I can help.

Business Golf Country Club is Going to Sedona

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Can you believe we are almost 90 days into the New Year.?  I think it is time for a break. Naturally, when I think of taking a break I am thinking of loading up the golf clubs and heading to Arizona or Southern California…if not both.  Why don’t you join me?

I am going to meet up with my friend and business partner, Dave Bisbee, out in Sedona, AZ for a three day weekend outing.  Those who join us will be treated to some very special pricing and an opportunity to either play a couple of rounds of golf or have Dave take you through is Two Day Complete Golf School.

Opportunities Galore

Maybe you are one of the many business focused peopled who need to find out within the first three sentences of a Blog on ‘What’s In It For Me’ and need a ‘Solid Purpose’ more than Golf to attend.  Hey, we totally understand and we have you covered.

For those who are looking for a business reason to attend a golf outing, Dave and I will offer you the Business Golf Camp. The BGC is delivered in a two half day session on the essentials of business and golf.   Dave and I are introducing the Business Golf Camp at this gathering for those who would like to attend.  The BGC is a separate function of the Clambake Cafe and advance registration to this session is required since there are a few prerequisites to the sessions.

The two sessions are set in a business seminar environment and covers a variety of subjects related to increasing productive in the workforce, professional awareness, business operations style of social media and, of course, new ideas on how to make your business more profitable.  Plus a few other surprises thrown in for good measure.  We will guarantee for those who attend the Camp you will leave Sedona with more than a relaxed attitude and a better golf game.

If you are interested in attended the camp, send me an email through this site with the Subject: Camp, and I will send you the details.

Golf Heaven

But, lets not forget what you are Really going to the golf outing to do…getaway.  If you have been to Sedona then you know I am not exaggerating any when I say playing golf in Sedona is like being in Golf Heaven. If you have not been to Sedona, well, you have got to go.  Sedona Golf Resort is rolling out the red carpet and really set to show you the best of the Sedona area.

We have two choices for your golf outing interest:

  1. Two rounds of Golf at Sedona Golf Resort, including Breakfast, or
  2. A Two Half-Day Sessions Complete Golf School conducted by Dave Bisbee, Breakfast and Lunch, along with Two rounds of golf on the Sedona Golf Resort Course.

There are a number of things that are of non-golf interest available to explore in Sedona everyone has an opportunity to enjoy if they choose.  Dave and I are just hosting this opportunity and offering the experience to you at below costs so you can get away, golf, learn and have fun.  Everything has been discounted so there is no excuse to not attend.  And Hey..guess what…we will doing another Clambake Cafe but you have to come to Golf Heaven to find out when and where.

Plus, for those of my close friends who know me well, there will be something going on each day after the golf has been played that generally turns into a party.  So, come join in the fun.  Space is very limited..so do not delay in signing up.  Let me know how I can help.

New Mr Business Golf Site: Putting Business Back on Course

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February 14, 2011- Addison, Tx. Innovative Business Golf Solutions announces the launch of the New Mr Business Golf site at the url http://www.mrbusinessgolf.com. 

Now there is a place for golfers, business people, business golfers, golf instructors and golf faculties…along with anyone else in the golf industry..to learn more about what really is going on around the world of Business Golf.

Business Golf has been around since Golf started.  It is no surprise to golfers how impacting a round of Golf can be to building business relationships.  Unfortunately, about every 50 years or so, the economy moves people to feel Golf is a frivolous endeavor and has no business applications.  This attitude results in a down turn in the interest of playing Golf by business people who stand to benefit from golf the most.

The new Mr BG site will continue to publish the blogs written by the Mr Business Golf creator, Scot Duke .  The Mr Business Golf site will focus  improving the image of Golf by offering information on the advantages business golf presents to business.  Blogs, Vlogs and guest interviews, produced on the ClamBake Cafe site ,all will be featured on the Mr BG blog.

“Dave Bisbee and I are taking Business Golf to the next level”, said Scot Duke, CEO of Innovative Business Golf Solutions, and author of the Mr Business Golf blog.  He continues, “There has always been some a general misunderstanding amongst of business community of business golf being a term associated to a 6 hour sales pitch on the golf course.  The Mr BG site will be dedicated to changing that attitude and present to viewers exactly what business golf can do for business.”

A number of services will be offered viewers who are looking to learn golf, expand their business golf knowledge or are looking for effective ways to improve business while improving their golf game.

More than a Game

In order for golf to survive, the business world has to survive.  The Mr Business Golf site will from time to time feature articles on the latest in business trends and operationally sound processes developed to help businesses improve.  Several subjects will be featured on the Mr BG site including Social Media for Golf and Business Golf Essentials.  Announcements will be made on golf schools, seminars, conferences and other gathers of golfers.

As far as social media for the golf industry…well, buckle up your seat belt, the Mr Business Golf site will be offering insights to the REAL way to use social networking to improve business.

Mr Duke reports..” Separating the Mr Business Golf site from my personal blog will allow me to focus the site to better helping Golf.  The new site will be a place business people can come find real information on how to use golf as a business tool.”

All this and more will be on the New Mr Business Golf site.  For more information contact Scot Duke through this site.

Golf Marketing: What Works Best?

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Courtesy of Mr Business Golf

Business Golf Ball with club From time to time I get involved with reviewing the marketing plan for a golf course, golf business or a Golfer.  To say the challenges they have are many would be a gross understatement in light of the economy golf faces.  The golf industry will have to rely heavily on marketing to survive.  Promoting what Golf offers to the consumers has to be done.  How it is done is what is at issue in the golf industry today.

I see all kinds of attempts by golf businesses trying to market Golf, or their golf products, using methods that make no sense.   I also see a number of golf businesses doing nothing as far as making any attempt to market their business outside the narrow golf channels.   It is no wonder so many non-golfers do not see golf as something of interest to them.

It seems the marketing of Golf outside of traditional Golf media sources, like the internet, is not of interest to may old school golf businesses.  A few are starting to stick their toe in the vastness of the social networking arena but usually pull back quickly due to the uncertainties of this new way of marketing. 

Most golf businesses, golf clubs and golf professionals will take one of three directions toward doing any marketing online.  They either attempt to do their own internet marketing, move to hiring large marketing firm who are proven in traditional marketing methods but have little experience in the Golf arena, or sit on their hands and wonder why they are not developing any new business.  Any of these directions lead to dissatisfaction, hard feelings towards the internet and a lot of wasted money.

Social Media for Golf

There are effective ways of using social media in the golf industry.  What it takes is someone who knows what the golf consumer’s wants and needs are…someone who plays golf and someone with more than a passion for selling something.  I will agree it takes more than knowing what end of the golf club to swing and how to develop a slick web-site to accomplish anything using social media.

To face off the challenges of today’s weak golf economy a newer, faster and more social way of marketing has to be put in place.  A business needs to put as much dedication to overseeing their social media as they do their operations.  Sometimes the smart thing is to hire a Social Media Director to make sure the business is focused in its social networking.

How a golf business goes about marketing its services or products is very important.  In today’s economy social media is working best.  So use it.  Let me know how I can help.