Mizuno Play Famously Experience (CH3 on page 3, Luke Donald on page 4, Jonathan Byrd + Stacy Lewis o

[WVP]

[quote name='jyamat' timestamp='1365264770' post='6774071']
I passed over this thread on multiple occasions not sure why but just did. Today I am sitting around as my four sons are playing Minecraft so I decided to jump in....wow!!! congrats!!!! I had goosebumps the entire time reading this thread.

I am sure the golf Gods are smiling over you winning. Cheers on a great season this year!

JY
[/quote]

Thanks man! About to write up day 3!

[WVP]

Wednesday was the last day of filming. We checked out of Doral at the crack of dawn and packed everyone into a van. We were heading to the Old Palm Course in Palm Beach to do more filming. Old Palm is a pretty exclusive private community, pros like Westwood, Schwartzel, and Oosthuizen live in the community and Darren Clarke is a course member. Stacey Lewis also lives nearby, which is the main reason the course was chosen for filming. We were on the 3 hole practice course which was actually nicer than anywhere I’ve ever played. Not sure if that’s a reflection on me or Old Palm, probably both!

After settling in, Jonathan Byrd arrives. I was again nervous as heck but Jonathan is very down to earth and we hit it off almost instantly. Very much like talking to one of my buddies, he didn’t have a hint of pretentiousness. Jonathan also was all-in for the Mizuno video ideas and really did a great job in our “acting” scenes. That made it a lot more fun for me as well, as again, I’m incredibly far from being comfortable in front of a camera.

I think everyone will enjoy these videos; again the idea is to prep me on “Playing Famously” and being on staff with Mizuno. In one clip Jonathan shows me the proper way to tip my hat to thank a crowd. And maybe my favorite one is where he shows me how to give a canned, generic media interview after a round. Really funny.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLz2CEnkHs[/media]


We filmed an interview and Jonathan left to go practice on the range. He was still working back into things after his wrist surgery. And actually he was planning to be at Tampa the following week but changed his first start to the Shell Houston at the end of March. There’s a funny story about his hiatus – I told him that I had recently read an article talking about how he’s the Fantasy Golf steal of the year, how everyone will forget to pick him due to his injury and he’ll sneak up on everyone during this season. So he says that he gets asked about fantasy golf almost daily, and that one time he came home to a voicemail on his home phone from a total stranger asking him for fantasy golf advice and to call him back. Wow…anyways another guy that I’ll be rooting from here out and really I felt like Jonathan was a friend at this point.

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[WVP]

We went over to the par 3 practice hole to meet Stacy Lewis. There was a WAY back tee that no one without a tour card should be playing from, thankfully (as I was going to be hitting balls for this take) we moved to the next tee box which was about 160 yards out. Still, the green was fully surrounded by water in the front and on the right and the wind was absolutely ripping at this point. A tough hole for sure. I can’t imagine playing it from whatever distance it was from the back tees. Here's my look of dread eyeing up the shot:

[attachment=1620749:Mizuno-Brand AMP Old Palm Shoot 033613049.JPG]

Stacy shows up and she’s incredibly friendly. She had just returned from winning the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore. The film team explained the shoot to us, and we kind of changed it around so she’d be giving me some tips for playing in a strong wind since it was such a presence at that point. She stretches out a bit and said she hadn’t hit a ball since Sunday (as if to lower our expectations). I laugh and reply that I hadn’t played since last October! So she hit a few warm up shots and basically my jaw is on the floor. She is just ripping 5 irons on a rope to the flag. The first one almost holes out (no joke) and each shot was on top of the flag. It was really incredible to watch. Her swing is perfect, just so powerful and 100% efficient. A smoother version of an Iron Byron is what came to mind. I was getting jealous at that point, I told her “I want that swing” and she was cracking up. FYI she’s using the JPX 825 Pros with Fujikura Orochi Red shafts.

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So for the video she gave me a few good tips for adjusting to the wind and then she striped another at the flag, and told me to take a few shots using those tips. Again, the hole with these conditions would be tough if I was on the course by myself, let alone with Stacy freaking Lewis watching and cameras rolling and a bunch of people watching. I told her beforehand, if I hit a good first shot, we stop! So I hit my shot pretty damn well for the situation, just off the green to the left but even with the flag. She looks at me and nods to hit another! So I try to repeat it and completely duff it into the water! Everyone is cracking up at this point so we have to do the take again. Luckily I hit the green on the first try on the second take and she let me stop.

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We did an interview and then she had to run off to other commitments. Of course Stacy is becoming an ever bigger star right now, as she won her second in a row a week later at the LPGA Founders to become #1 in the world. She might be there for a while - after seeing that swing I can’t imagine her losing many tournaments ever, jeez…

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[WVP]

Also here's the video with introductions and interview clips...not sure if I posted it here:

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws-aTF98A7A[/media]

[DavePelz4]

Great videos and the experience of a lifetime. Thank you for all your efforts to share this with us and I'm still incredibly jealous!

[youngwaldo]

[i]That was great. We need more.[/i]

[i]Wk[/i]

[freddyottawa]

Great updates Lee, i've really enjoyed the writeups and pictures.

[JrMistMaker]

Saw this on FB wanted to post it here. Very cool, any updates on what is going on?

 

[Imp]

Saw that in this months Golf Digest too.

--kC

[swanry30]

this is by far the best OEM campaign i have ever seen! pretty sure this is the second time i have posted this - but i have enjoying following your journey. great work!

[OrangeCrush]

Question any other of the finalists who got the stage where they won the free wedge get their order screwed up too? I got the 50 degree when I ordered the 52 so I am thinking I got someone else's. My point of contact has not been very reliable so I am curious if anyone else had an issue as well?

[WVP]

[quote name='JrMistMaker' timestamp='1368796122' post='7052760']
Saw this on FB wanted to post it here. Very cool, any updates on what is going on?
...
[/quote]

That ad is just plain crazy. Such a weird feeling to flip through a magazine and seeing your face...

They picked 7 more team members so far and the last 4 will be announced on June 7th. From there we all play in a tournament this September in Atlanta.

Here's the video with Stacy Lewis:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU7kMCcyUW8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU7kMCcyUW8[/url]

[kekoa]

Wow. i'm blown away.

two points:

Either Luke is tiny are you are huuuuuge.

you and stacy make a good couple. lol

congrats again.!

[CheckJV]

GolfWRX prize win thread of the year!

[ahbot]

I just spent part of my workday reading this forum and realized that my job sucks!!!!

This is by far the BEST marketing campaign by any OEM company. Great stuff from Mizuno.

[WVP]

[quote name='kekoa' timestamp='1368814176' post='7054772']
Wow. i'm blown away.

two points:

Either Luke is tiny are you are huuuuuge.

you and stacy make a good couple. lol

congrats again.!
[/quote]

Dude - I am 6'0 195. I'd like to drop a few lbs but if I get a free hour it's to the driving range, not the gym!

CHIII, Jonathan Byrd and Luke were all about 5'9" 160 and personal trainer-trim with tailored clothing. I felt huge!

[TheMoneyShot]

Congrats!!!

[DavePelz4]

Sadly, I appear to have dropped in the world ranking.

[yedi015]

Dude that is freaking awesome!!!! Congrats. One question though. I didn't think the world rankings went that low. Lol. Nice job to you, golfwrx and mizuno

[Woodridge]

Amazing thread. Class on everyone's account....the OP, Mizuno and their tour players. A must read for OEM's doing contests and giveaways.

[kekoa]

[quote name='WVP' timestamp='1368818471' post='7055244']
[quote name='kekoa' timestamp='1368814176' post='7054772']
Wow. i'm blown away.

two points:

Either Luke is tiny are you are huuuuuge.

you and stacy make a good couple. lol

congrats again.!
[/quote]

Dude - I am 6'0 195. I'd like to drop a few lbs but if I get a free hour it's to the driving range, not the gym!

CHIII, Jonathan Byrd and Luke were all about 5'9" 160 and personal trainer-trim with tailored clothing. I felt huge!
[/quote]

I hope you didn't take my comment in the wrong way. By no means was I inferring that you were fat. Just a big guy compared to Luke.

[TimothyLYork1979]

Amazing!!!!!!!!

[WVP]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1368824643' post='7055840']
Sadly, I appear to have dropped in the world ranking.
[/quote]

I think they were being generous with my ranking, haha...

[WVP]

[quote name='Woodridge' timestamp='1368832054' post='7056400']
Amazing thread. Class on everyone's account....the OP, Mizuno and their tour players. A must read for OEM's doing contests and giveaways.
[/quote]

Thanks for the kind words...

[Johnny T]

[quote name='OrangeCrush' timestamp='1368805976' post='7053772']
Question any other of the finalists who got the stage where they won the free wedge get their order screwed up too? I got the 50 degree when I ordered the 52 so I am thinking I got someone else's. My point of contact has not been very reliable so I am curious if anyone else had an issue as well?
[/quote]




No mess up with mine - I asked for a 50* and received it.

[OrangeCrush]

[quote name='Johnny T' timestamp='1368924487' post='7061450']
[quote name='OrangeCrush' timestamp='1368805976' post='7053772']
Question any other of the finalists who got the stage where they won the free wedge get their order screwed up too? I got the 50 degree when I ordered the 52 so I am thinking I got someone else's. My point of contact has not been very reliable so I am curious if anyone else had an issue as well?
[/quote]




No mess up with mine - I asked for a 50* and received it.
[/quote]

Ok thanks. I might say screw it and have it bent to 52 since I will still get the 52.08 I wanted.

Thanks again!

[WVP]

[quote name='OrangeCrush' timestamp='1368926911' post='7061600']
[quote name='Johnny T' timestamp='1368924487' post='7061450']
[quote name='OrangeCrush' timestamp='1368805976' post='7053772']
Question any other of the finalists who got the stage where they won the free wedge get their order screwed up too? I got the 50 degree when I ordered the 52 so I am thinking I got someone else's. My point of contact has not been very reliable so I am curious if anyone else had an issue as well?
[/quote]




No mess up with mine - I asked for a 50* and received it.
[/quote]

Ok thanks. I might say screw it and have it bent to 52 since I will still get the 52.08 I wanted.

Thanks again!
[/quote]

Was it stock or custom spec? If stock you can probably swap it at Golf Galaxy or somewhere else that carries the wedge.

[Nolesbl]

Congrats on the win sure sounds fun. How has your golf game been since the weather has gotten nice? are there any tour activities that Mizuno has you slated for until your sept. tournament? do they send you new clothes or just the ones they outfitted you for in your photo shoots? thanks in advance.

[scomac2002]

[quote name='swanry30' timestamp='1368803633' post='7053546']
this is by far the best OEM campaign i have ever seen! i have enjoying following your journey. great work!
[/quote]

+1 My congrats to the OP as well!

What a novel approach; combining state-of-the-art kit with some practical instruction and then creating a marketing package from it. It's the most real world approach to marketing golf equipment I've seen in some time!

[HipCheck]

Saw this on FB wanted to post it here. Very cool, any updates on what is going on?

 

 

That is simply brilliant.