David Hunter

David Hunter
BEng Computing and Electronics Engineering (2005)
CEO Shot Scope

It's ironic, but the only person who hasn't improved their golf with the innovative new technology Shot Scope is its inventor David Hunter.

Shot Scope Performance Tracking System, worn unobtrusively on the wrist, identifies players' strengths and weaknesses providing the kind of detailed insights and technique analysis previously only available to top tour professionals. Its effectiveness does, however, depend on actually playing and since the launch of Shot Scope, David's game time has been severely limited. “I was a golf addict,” he readily admits, “I was in love with the game and, playing regularly, got my handicap down to five. But since founding Shot Scope, I've only had time to play three rounds of golf in a year, and two of those were business!”

David's own golf may have suffered due to the long hours, dedication and passion demanded of a start-up CEO but the product itself is proving highly successful. Launched in September 2016, Shot Scope – designed, manufactured and assembled in Scotland – has already been sold to 30 countries world-wide including 28 states in the USA. The potential of the business in the multi-million pound golf market has not gone unnoticed. Scottish Enterprise has backed the venture with £1 million in grants to date. The business has received investment from Scottish Angel Investors, Old College Capital and Scottish Investment Bank. Building a high-tech economy is good for the country, David believes:

“Scottish industry is changing in a big way and if the Scottish Government keeps backing electronic software, we'll do well.”

David is determined to help put Scotland on the map as a country that leads the way in technology. After leaving school with few qualifications, David made the most of the Scottish education system, going first to college and then onto university. “I did an HND in Mechatronics at West Lothian College and that was a nice first step into computer electronics engineering.

“I chose Heriot-Watt next because all the facilities were located on the one campus. It's almost like an American college campus. The first time I went there it was a nice summer's day and there was just something about the place that you couldn't put your finger on. Of course, I was aware of the University's rich history for engineering – I don't think there is anywhere better in the UK with regards to that subject. I was looking to do engineering but also to discover what I wanted to do in life and Heriot-Watt was my uni. I did four years there, graduating with honours in computing and electronics, and that was key. That was when I fell in love with technology.

“The projects were really good - interesting real world projects, you could relate to. There was plenty theory too! It was quite maths heavy which put me in a good position when I left. Maths applies to all varieties of engineering and gives you a great advantage when you go out to work in the industry. The environment at Heriot-Watt was great for engineers. We worked together as a group and helped each other with projects that crossed over to different engineering faculties. You could always ask for help and advice from other engineers because they were friends and you knew them on a first-name basis.”  

David's healthy work ethic was instilled by his father: “I had a working class upbringing. My father has his own garage and I used to go with him on jobs, and help out. At 10 years old I was washing and helping to repair cars to earn my pocket money. My dad didn't believe in higher education. He was an apprentice who worked his way up and built a business, so saw no reason for me to return to education after school. From age 12 onwards, inspired by my pocket money earning, I had an ambition to start my own business. It started buying produce from the local greengrocer and sold fruit and veg door-to-door for a couple of years. From 16, I bought and sold second-hand cars and sold second-hand golf equipment on eBay throughout my time at university. I've had to do it the hard way. But when you look back and reflect, it's been really quite good experience for me.”

Post-graduation, David worked as an electronics design engineer for six years before retraining as a design and technology teacher. It was with this accumulated theoretical and practical engineering experience, coupled with well-honed communications skills that led to his career breakthrough:

“I was working full-time as a teacher when I pitched one of the ideas from my ideas book at the 2013 Digital Innovation Awards in London and won £25,000. That was the tipping point for me to say, right, I'm going to leave everything else and do this full-time."

“Through that award of £25,000, we developed a relationship with Loughborough University – it was quite significant as that opened a lot of doors within the golf industry. The Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough is where the Adidas world cup football is designed, the Spalding basketball and the Callaway Big Bertha driver so it's an exciting place to be in the industry. We got access to the golf team at Loughborough and it provided a place to go every month to test prototypes. Through our involvement with Loughborough we built relationships with St Andrew's Links Golf Academy, The R&A and numerous golf university teams which have proven invaluable when growing the business.

“I left teaching in December 2013 when my wife, Claire, was four months pregnant with our first child. I'd left a good career in engineering and committed to teaching. However. winning £25,000 18 months later provided me with the opportunity to follow my dream and start my own business.” David has always appreciated the unwavering support from his family as he committed to pursuing his passion in Shot Scope but was mindful of the risks: “Starting a business is a huge undertaking: out of 50,000 business ideas, 5,000 go anywhere, 500 may get funding, only 50 make it to the end and maybe as few as five are really special.” 

However, with comprehensive experience of the electronics design and manufacturing process, David was well-placed to beat the odds: “When I worked in industry I met with clients, produced a design spec, built the product and set up the manufacturing. I grew a network of electronics suppliers and manufacturers in Scotland and the UK. This network enabled Shot Scope to set up manufacturing here in the UK and allowed us to build a commercial product, in volume, which is sold globally.”

With professional golfers on the European Tour, Ladies Tour, Ryder Cup and Walker Cup, to name but a few, as well as amateur golfers on countless local courses, already using this innovative Scottish product worldwide, it's Heriot-Watt alumnus David Hunter who links Scotland's golfing heritage with its high-tech future.