Attending North Fort Myers High School, he was named to the All-State football team and to the second team All-State in baseball. "My major love was baseball," Duane said," and I was lucky to receive a college baseball scholarship."

But his dreams of excelling in that sport ended abruptly his first year when he had a major knee injury.

"That was when I turned to golf, even though I'd never even held a club," Duane explained, " and luckily it turned out that I was a natural at that sport. It's been my life ever since."

Although he didn't quite finish college, he feels that getting a PGA membership, which he has, is equal to four years of college in many ways.  "No, you don't just play golf," he laughed.  "We learned accounting, restaurant management, dealing with personnel (both staff and members) and many other aspects of the sport and business."

One bit of bad luck delayed his golf career when he tore all the tendons in his wrist during a major tournament. 

"I was in the middle of the fairway, nothing near me for 20 feet, but I hit a tree root and my wrist snapped.  That was not a good feeling", he explained.  While healing he worked at the Cape Coral Golf and Tennis Club, adding to his knowledge of scheduling and maintenance.

When his parents moved to North Carolina, Duane went to visit them, was offered a job at a local golf course and stayed there for three years. "The fishing was a lot better than here," he said, "but there wasn't enough golfing weather to suit me. I returned to Fort Myers, worked at Lochmoor for three years and at Pine Lakes Country Club for a year, meanwhile completing my PGA membership."

On the personal side,  Duane is father to a 5 year old daughter currently living in Texas. He plans to add to his family in a big way soon when he marries Chrissy, who has three young children.

"My door is always open," Duane informed, "and I'm available to give lessons, or listen to any comments or suggestions.  I'll be making a few changes, but I won't rush into anything."