Anthony Duran

CEO/Founder

As a former athlete in multiple sports, Anthony (Tony) Duran developed a long-term career which combined his passion and his expertise into a thriving business. Tony’s combined passion of Sports, Golf and Technology created a pathway to work to build a leading Marketing and Sales Firm at the age of 29 years old.

Over the past three decades, Tony Duran has worked in 35 USA states and worldwide markets, building companies as a leading consultant and business adviser. Tony’s “hands on” approach to building strong marketing and sales departments, along with creative strategies to grow consumer/trade awareness and demand, has been a winning formula for growth. This approach has developed new categories in Golf and Sports, including the following companies/clients with Tony’s expertise:

• Plastic Spikes: Tony’s educational strategy of convincing golf courses to ban metal golf spikes shifted the market from 90% metal spikes to over 98% plastic spikes, building Softspikes into a market leader prior to the acquisition by a larger company (PrideSports).

• Hybrid Golf Clubs: Knowing the challenges of golfers hitting their long irons, Tony was an integral part of the first two hybrid golf manufacturers (Adams Golf and Perfect Club) which achieved success with golf retailers. Hybrid golf clubs are standard replacements for long irons in many golf club sets now, making the game easier for amateur golfers. Adams Golf grew into the #1 company in hybrid golf clubs prior to the acquisition by TaylorMade Golf in 2012.

• Distance Measuring Devices: Tony Duran led the growth of SkyGolf / SkyCaddie as the first hand-held GPS devices in Golf. Tony personally battled the USGA to allow distance measuring devices (DMDs) to be used by amateur golfers in competition, and the Rules of Golf changed in 2006 allowing golfers to use DMDs in tournaments under a local ruling.

• Robotics/ AI: The first robots used on the PGA and Champions Tours created large fairway and driving range logos created by GrassAds robotics under the guidance of Duran’s Team. In addition to logo work in the golf industry, large robotic logos were executed for NASCAR, Formula One and the Rose Bowl.

• Micromobility / Single-Rider Golf Carts: Alternative transportation on and off the golf course is creating major growth of low-speed electric vehicles, and the shift to single-rider golf cart in gaining momentum in the golf course segment. Tony Duran is leading this change in Golf, in addition to transitioning communities to more eco-friendly micro-mobility solutions.
 
Tony resides in Huntington Beach, California with his wife of 38 years, Anna Duran.