VANCOUVER, BC — Golf Industry Guru (GIG), the premier membership-based online learning platform for golf course owners and operators, today announced an exclusive Q&A call featuring Chef Duane Keller, Director of Culinary Operations at Belle Meade Country Club and James Beard Foundation Certificate recipient. The interactive session, scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM Pacific / 2:00 PM Eastern, will focus on transforming golf club food and beverage operations from cost centers into profitable revenue drivers through proven culinary strategies and cost management techniques.
While these GIG Member Q&A Calls are typically exclusive to GIG Members, this session will be made available to the entire golf industry. Golf industry professionals can tune in live at: https://www.youtube.com/live/3UM026ABiaA?si=Ekd4WNr-PCOJQZWv and on LinkedIn Live. Those interested in learning more about Golf Industry Guru membership and accessing over 250 hours of exclusive golf business content can visit golfindustryguru.com.
Chef Keller brings over 25 years of fine dining expertise from prestigious establishments across the United States and Canada, including his pioneering work in farm-to-table dining that began in 1990 at The Ashby Inn. His impressive career includes leadership roles at elite venues and recognition as one of Washington D.C.’s top chefs by Washingtonian Magazine multiple times, along with prestigious accolades including the DiRona Award, Gold Spoon Award, and Wine Spectator Award.
“Golf club operators consistently struggle with the challenge of delivering exceptional dining experiences while maintaining profitability,” said James Cronk, Co-Founder of Golf Industry Guru. “Chef Keller’s unique expertise in both fine dining and practical cost management offers our members strategies they can implement immediately to transform their F&B operations. His farm-to-table approach and seasonal menu optimization techniques have proven that quality and profitability can absolutely coexist.”
This exclusive session adds to Golf Industry Guru’s extensive library of over 250 hours of golf business-specific training content, featuring collaboration with industry experts including Gregg Patterson, Melissa Hansen, Chef Matthew Gilbert, Three & Jackie Carpenter, Robert Sereci, Colin A. Burns, and many more.
The comprehensive session will explore critical F&B operational insights through Chef Keller’s extensive experience, addressing key areas including:
- Farm-to-Table Implementation on a Budget: Practical strategies for sourcing local ingredients within 50 miles to reduce costs while enhancing menu quality and member appeal, based on Chef Keller’s pioneering work since 1990.
- Seasonal Menu Optimization: Specific techniques for creating four distinct seasonal menus that maximize ingredient freshness, minimize waste, and boost profitability using Chef Keller’s systematic approach.
- Signature Dish Development: The proven process for creating memorable menu items (like Chef Keller’s famous smoked salmon cheesecake) that become member favorites and drive repeat business.
- Strategic Cost Management: Actionable methods for controlling food costs while maintaining the high-end dining experience members demand, drawn from 25+ years in fine dining environments.
- Vendor Relationship Management: Expert guidance on building local sourcing relationships and evaluating suppliers for maximum cost savings and quality.
- Menu Engineering for Golf Clubs: Specialized approaches to analyzing and optimizing menu items for profitability in private club environments versus traditional restaurant operations.
- Staff Training and Development: Techniques for training kitchen teams on farm-to-table principles and seasonal cooking while maintaining consistency and quality standards.
- Member Communication Strategies: Proven methods for introducing menu changes and farm-to-table concepts in ways that generate member excitement rather than resistance.
Chef Keller’s philosophy of “letting the food speak for itself” while adding creative touches has made him a sought-after culinary expert. His remarkable career highlights include cooking for Julia Child’s 90th birthday celebration and providing meals for Pentagon officials during 9/11 relief efforts, demonstrating his ability to deliver exceptional cuisine under any circumstances.
The interactive format will allow participants to ask direct questions about their specific F&B challenges, making this a unique opportunity for golf course owners and operators to gain personalized insights from one of the industry’s most accomplished culinary professionals with specific experience in transforming club operations.
Golf industry professionals can access the live session via the links provided above. The call will also be recorded and made available for later viewing, though Golf Industry Guru encourages live participation to take advantage of the interactive Q&A opportunity and direct access to Chef Keller’s expertise.
About Golf Industry Guru (GIG)
or just a few dollars per day, Golf Industry Guru is a membership-based website that’s constantly updated for online learning to help golf course owners, operators, and their team members achieve greater success. Currently featuring over 250 hours of golf business-specific training content, GIG provides various resources and expert advice from numerous industry leaders on all aspects of golf club management. The platform benefits every team member at a club by providing tools and knowledge to improve skills and performance in their roles.
The platform also features ChatGURU, the industry’s first ChatGPT style chatbot tailored specifically for the golf business, providing accurate responses using GIG’s extensive training content while ensuring a secure, privacy-first experience.
For more information, visit golfindustryguru.com.
About Chef Duane Keller:
Chef Duane Keller is Director of Culinary Operations at Belle Meade Country Club and a James Beard Foundation Certificate recipient with over 25 years of fine dining expertise. He pioneered farm-to-table dining in 1990 and has been recognized multiple times as one of Washington D.C.’s top chefs by Washingtonian Magazine. His prestigious accolades include the DiRona Award, Gold Spoon Award, and Wine Spectator Award. Chef Keller is known for his philosophy of letting food “speak for itself” while adding creative touches, and his proven ability to balance exceptional culinary experiences with operational profitability.
Media Contact: James Cronk
- Email: james@golfindustryguru.com
- Phone: 604-889-4707
- Website: golfindustryguru.com
Event Details: Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM Pacific / 2:00 PM Eastern
- Platform: YouTube Live Stream – https://www.youtube.com/live/3UM026ABiaA?si=Ekd4WNr-PCOJQZWv
- Registration: Not required. Open to all industry professionals
- Learn more about GIG membership: golfindustryguru.com
