R4, HOLE 8: Nicole Peterson (Experimental Marketing & National Partnerships Manager - Lexus), Don Merkin (Buckets Club) & The Larry O'Brien Trophy

Speaker A
Witness insurmountable deficits turn into unforgettable victories at the Travelers Championship, the northeast one and only PGA Tour signature event. See Scotty Scheffler, Roy McElroy, Victor Hovland, Patrick Kentley, returning champion Keegan Bradley and other PGA Tour stars in all four days of competition at close by TPC River Highlands. The excitement tees off June 19 through the 23rd. For tickets and information, visit travelerschampions.com. the Travelers championship there's only one part three podcast.

Let's fucking go.

Speaker B
Stephen. Marvin, oh my goodness. Let's get right into it.

Speaker A
Put us down for the birdie dog.

Somebody give me your fucking putter.

Speaker B
Poured the putty.

Speaker A
I had to make it.

What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to the part three podcast. I am one of your host, Jr Smith. We are here in Alpine, New Jersey. You know Stephen, doing another great event. Kevin Lyles 300 group. Got a couple of great guests coming on. Stay tuned and we'll see you soon.

Speaker C
Whether you're a world class athlete or a podcaster, we all understand the importance of mental and physical well being and proper recovery for top notch performance. That's why we are excited that Unified Healing is sponsoring this episode of the par three podcast. What is the EE system? Unified Healing is a new and super innovative global network of wellness centers by energy Enhancement System, or EE system. If you haven't heard of the EE system yet, you'll want to listen up. This technology promotes wellness, deep relaxation, purification, and rejuvenation. Whether you're in California or hundreds of other locations across the globe, access to a center is easy and affordable. Interested in experiencing the EE system technology for yourself? Go to unifiedhealing.com par to learn more and find a center near you that's unifealing.com par.

No material or testimonials on the unified healing website are intended to be viewed as medical advice or the substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regime, including the EE system.

Speaker B
And just like that, we are back with Nicole Peterson, one of our partners, Alexis executive, doing great things for the game of golf, and we're going to learn all about it now. Welcome to the podcast. Nicole.

Nicole Peterson
Hello. Thank you for having me.

Speaker A
Welcome, welcome.

Speaker B
So Lexus does a lot in goth historically and since as long back as I can remember, I remember seeing pro golfers with Lexus hats or bags, Lexus bags, etcetera. But over the last couple years, I think not only me, but everyone has noticed that it is going through kind of a change, just like golf is in general. Right. It's all changing a bit, but I think it's cool to see what Lexus is doing. You know, obviously, we're both friends with Amari, Amari Avery, and you guys signing her. I was so excited for that. But what's happening at Lexus?

Nicole Peterson
Yeah, we're going through a bit of a brand shift in perception. We have new product coming out that you're very aware of.

So we have this awesome product, and we have never had the platform. So we've been investing in these new partnerships that are reaching a younger, more affluent, more diverse demographic and bringing our product to different communities. And you guys are certainly one of those partnerships that's helping with that. But, you know, we were investing in a lot of young golfers. We hadn't had any young talent that was actually on either tour for 510 years, maybe.

So we've got five new golfers that are on our roster, all playing on tour, and we've got will Lowry, one of our ambassadors, who's also a friendly of yours.

We just signed your partnership recently, so we're going to be doing that brand collab and collection, and then we have our PGA of America sponsorship.

And then we renegotiated the USGA partnership this year to add in additional content assets. So it's reaching these different communities that are outside of traditional golf.

Speaker A
See, I work with everybody but me.

Speaker B
It sounds like y'all need one more.

Nicole Peterson
After this.

Circle back 30 minutes and we might have an update.

Speaker A
I'm around, you know, actually drives. Right?

Speaker B
Like you like vehicles.

Speaker A
Right. Golf. I love Lexus, you know what I'm saying?

Speaker B
USGA. What's the partnership with USGA?

Nicole Peterson
So, USGa only has seven top partners.

They're very exclusive about who they partner with because it's the national governing body. Our partnership with them is year round. We sponsor every single tournament we activate at the three majors. So men's, women's, seniors, and then obviously the junior championships. We provide vehicle fleets for everybody. And then we have a massive. I'm actually going there straight from here to pioneers, a massive consumer activation, a couple club in hand experiences. We got a swing simulator that emails you all of your data.

We have coaches in there, and then we have a huge hospitality space down in Pinehurst. We do that for men's and women's.

Speaker B
And then you do. You guys just re upped with the PGA of America. So that's the PGA Championship.

Nicole Peterson
Yeah, men's PGA Championship. We were at a couple weeks ago. Next week, I go to KPMG women's. I'm speaking on their leadership summit as well. And then we have seniors as well. Actually, that was two weeks ago.

Speaker B
So, growing up in DC, would you ever have thought you would be on a golf tour?

Nicole Peterson
You know what's funny? I actually grew up on a golf course. So my dad's a big golfer, and I golfed as a kid, and then I didn't swing a club for about 15 years, and I'm paying for it now.

Speaker A
That's the meat and potatoes. What I wanted to ask, I was like, I get you the brains of the operation. I get your, you know, I get you doing all of that. But do you play? Then you just tell me that you grew up playing, you stopped playing for 15 years, and now you back.

Nicole Peterson
Yeah, well, this brought me back. This brought me back being around it. I'm so competitive.

I played every sport under the sun. I played professional tackle football, so got out of that three years ago pandemic. And that's what I love about golf. It's for everybody. You can play for everyone. And it really unites our fan base, too. We're not alienating our existing customers, our older fan base, but we're bringing in all these new buyers that are golf fans and, you know, through our partnership. So for me, I kept going to these tournaments, and I'm like, I can do that better than them.

Speaker A
That's real, though.

Nicole Peterson
And then I swung in club, and I was like, ooh, maybe I can't do it better than them. But no, I've been playing a lot lately, lately, because I want to be better, because I'm on courses all the time, and I have awesome access to Pebble beach, you know, and Pinehurst. And so to be able to play on these awesome courses and not be good at it kind of sucks.

So I've been putting some time in. I've been putting some time in the hard part about golf, it's so inconsistent. And I think all athletes are very controlling, right. We want to be good at everything. So that's so hard for me, to not be good at something.

Speaker A
My lady calls it a fool's errand.

Nicole Peterson
I'll hit one great shot and then four terrible shots, but I'll hold on to that one great one.

Speaker B
That's all you remember?

Nicole Peterson
That's all I post.

Speaker B
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

Nicole Peterson
People see, but they don't see me throwing the clubs in the woods and.

Speaker A
Stuff, you know, so your dad got you into the.

Nicole Peterson
My dad got me into it, yeah. And he's coming to the US Open next week to meet me for Father's Day. But. And he's never been to one of my work events. I've been with Toyota and Lexus for eight years, so I'm excited to show him, you know, this is all. This is what I do. I put all this together.

Speaker A
So that's awesome. I'm sure he's very proud.

That's a hell of a father's day gift, let me tell. He is.

Nicole Peterson
He's a big Jason day fan, actually.

Speaker B
Aren't we all?

Nicole Peterson
I know.

Speaker B
And Jason was on Lexus. Yes, he was early when he was on Adidas. He had Lexus on his shirt before he went to Nike.

Nicole Peterson
Yes. He's a little expensive now. Rightfully so.

Speaker B
I know all about it.

Nicole Peterson
I'm sure you more than anyone.

Speaker B
He got a lot of bang for his buck, though, this year with Jay.

Nicole Peterson
Oh, for sure. Everybody.

Speaker A
He earned it. His keep.

Speaker B
For sure.

Nicole Peterson
Everyone's talking about it. Hey, no press is bad press, right?

Speaker A
So what's the next stop for you or after Pinehurst? You said you go to Pinehurst after this? I'm pretty sure you're a busy woman. Like, what is your. What is a day in the life of a busy woman like you?

Nicole Peterson
What's awesome is my days are never the same. So I like that because it's not monotonous. I get bored easily, and every day is different. I go from Pinehurst to Seattle for KPMG women's, and then I go to Newport for us open seniors, and then I go to check out. So we have a lot of other things under our portfolio other than golf. We do health and wellness. We have hotel partners all across the country.

We do culinary events. So I have to go to DC to check out a potential new hotel partner and have some meetings there. And then I go to Charleston for a food and wine event. So I'm kind of everywhere any given day.

Speaker A
That's amazing.

Speaker B
She travels with her puppy.

Don Merkin
She got to the dog.

Nicole Peterson
I don't know if she should have.

Speaker A
Yeah.

Nicole Peterson
Why?

Speaker B
She made a cameo.

Speaker A
Definitely should have made a cameo.

Nicole Peterson
We're dog lovers up here.

Speaker A
We are dog lovers at par three.

Nicole Peterson
This is Chloe.

Speaker A
Hi, Chloe.

Nicole Peterson
She is the Lexus mascot, and she travels to a lot of the events with us. She's a golf girly.

Loves golf. Loves golf. Big golf fan. Big golf girl.

Don Merkin
You want to say something, Chloe?

Nicole Peterson
Very nice. Yes. Yes. How are you enjoying your day?

Yeah, same, same. It's lovely.

Speaker A
I have five dogs, too.

Nicole Peterson
You do?

Speaker A
Yeah.

Nicole Peterson
What kind?

Speaker A
Oh, Jesus, let's not talk about it. I have three frenchies.

We have a malty pool and a belgian shepherd.

Nicole Peterson
She's a Yorkie, but she looks like a maltese, so, yeah, she's chill.

Speaker A
Yeah, they are. My dogs are nuts. They're nuts. It's amazing.

From the kids to the dogs, it's just like, thinking about it. Like, I literally live my life just like, the way people see my life. That's exactly where it is at home. It's nuts. It's chaos everywhere.

Nicole Peterson
How do you find time for golf?

Speaker A
It's escape. I got a great. I got a great, great girlfriend.

Nicole Peterson
That's awesome.

Speaker A
You know, she lets me play golf. She take care of the dogs, you.

Nicole Peterson
Know, I love that for you.

Speaker A
Kids are great with her, so I'm like, I'm in heaven, you know? I could. If I died and came back as me, it would be a blessing.

Nicole Peterson
I love that for you. Does she play golf at all?

Speaker A
No, no? No. I'm getting into it, though. Slowly but surely. Again. She's like, it's a fool's errand. It's like. It's so inconsistent. How is it that one day you can go out there and be even par, and then the next day you want to kill yourself and shoot? 81, I was like, well, that's just. That's golf. She's like, yeah, I never want to do that.

Speaker B
Why would I want to do that?

Nicole Peterson
It is, but it's so social, and that's why I like the social part of it. And even though it's extremely frustrating at times, it's one of those things you can play forever. So it is a good. I don't know. It's something that more recently I've been getting into because my entire friend base, whether they're from work or college or home, everyone plays golf now. And, I mean, I'm probably at that age where that's starting to happen, but.

Speaker A
I think we all are, honestly. Don't feel bad. Don't feel bad.

Nicole Peterson
But it's been nice to get back into it.

I say I'm a social golfer because I like the socializing aspect of it, and, like, I will play. I always ask when people to ask me to play in a scramble. Do you want to win, or do you want to have fun? Cause I can only provide one of those things, for sure.

Speaker A
I got a friend named Pecos like that. He only plays. We'll play 18. He only plays six holes. Everything else is socializing. He's in a cart, he's on the phone, he's DJ, takes holes off. He's over here telling Joe, right? He's like, bro, you gonna finish the holes? He's like, no, no, y'all go ahead.

Don't you worry about it.

Nicole Peterson
I provide a handful of shots, you know, in a scramble, but I'm not all 18. No, that's not for me.

I'm providing the vibes.

Speaker B
Who are the five? Did you say tour players?

Nicole Peterson
Yeah. This week, Will Zalatoris and Wyndham Clark. You can watch. At the US Open. We have Justin TSA as well. He unfortunately didn't qualify, but he's a young guy. This is only his second year on tour.

He made US Open last year as a rookie, but unfortunately just missed the cut this year. And then we have Amari, who just turned pro two weeks ago, as you guys all know. And then we have a japanese golfer, Hinako Shibuno, who's on the LPGA Tour.

Speaker B
She's good.

Nicole Peterson
She's very good. She got second last week at the.

Speaker B
Women'S, and that comes from the japanese leadership, her.

Nicole Peterson
So she technically is with the United States team because she plays on the LPGA Tour in America, but she is of japanese descent.

She speaks Japanese, so. So they, like, she lives there in the off season. Yeah, but she's here for the LPGA season.

Speaker B
And how much does Lexus share in the, like, golf stuff globally? Is it, like, Wyndham will get, like, promotional materials for Japan, too?

Nicole Peterson
Not really.

We have. We have global rights for all of our golfers, but we call them regions. The countries don't have rights to his nil. So, like, name, image, likeness. So we would obviously donate appearances and whatnot if they wanted to use them, but we end up leveraging all the assets with their players, so. And then you guys see, like, you'll see other japanese players with Lexus logos. They're from Japan. Like, Japan manages those. Yeah.

Speaker B
So those deals are done over there?

Nicole Peterson
Mm hmm.

Speaker A
Very cool.

Nicole Peterson
Yeah, it's a wide web.

Speaker B
So we first started working with you guys at the Miami event, Art Basel, when we were doing the pod there. She was actually there, and she came through, and so I was like, damn, I should have got you guys. And we had the car in the background, you know. So we're definitely working in our. In the right direction, junior.

Speaker A
Love that.

Nicole Peterson
We got some cool stuff coming up with them. We're doing a customized, brand new GX that we're gonna launch, and then we're doing a custom collab merchandise.

Don Merkin
Collab.

Speaker A
So love that.

Nicole Peterson
Yeah, we'll make sure I get you something.

Not the GX, I mean.

Speaker A
I'll take it. Listen, I beggers ain't gonna be choosing.

Nicole Peterson
We'll get you some merchandise, though.

Speaker A
I appreciate it.

Nicole Peterson
It's gonna be a dope collection.

Speaker B
What about the Pebble beach relationship? How does that work?

Nicole Peterson
Yeah, we've had a relationship with Pebble beach for 18 years. So we're their official auto, and we activate at and t pro am. As you know, Pebble Beach Concorde's a huge, massive car event. It showcases old school cars that you can't get anymore. And then there's a bunch of concept vehicles that come through the lawn on Sunday, and then we activate there throughout the year at different events. And we have shuttle services to and from the airport hotel. All now cars in the airport. Cars in the airport. We have 17 miles drive. You can get a LC convertible for the day and take it out for a stroll, play some golf. It's a pretty awesome partnership.

Speaker B
Yeah. And I see. And you're always. When you're there, she's got her dog, and she's at the spanish bay with the. With the window open, looking at the ocean, not him.

Nicole Peterson
With all my business.

Speaker B
Number one, you know, she's on the sweet in the suite.

Good life.

Nicole Peterson
Perks of the job.

Speaker B
You've done well. You've done well.

Nicole Peterson
I'm like him. If I had to come back, I always said if I won the lottery, I would still have this job because it's extremely fulfilling. It's like, I work seven days a week, but it doesn't feel like work because I love what I do.

Speaker B
Yeah, it beats work.

Nicole Peterson
It beats work.

Speaker B
That's right. That's what we say.

We've been asking one question today, so here it goes.

Nicole Peterson
Oh, Lord.

Speaker B
Why do you golf?

Nicole Peterson
I mean, I kind of answered that earlier, but I think cause of the social aspect of it, it brings everybody together. I can golf with my grandfather, and I can golf with my niece. You know, it's something. It's for everybody, and it's a unifying sport. So I like that about it, because you can reach every different community, whether it's personally or professionally, through golf, and there's not a lot of activities out there that you can say that.

Speaker B
Keep it up. We're big fans. Thank you for what you do for golf, and thanks for all of the help with everything we do.

Nicole Peterson
This is one of my favorite partnerships, so appreciate you.

Speaker B
Let's go. We need one more over there.

On these couches.

Speaker A
Subtle plug, so dark over the side. There's a dark cloud covering me. What's going on?

Speaker B
And soon we'll have another guest. Hang in there.

Madison dawn with Lexus. We are partners with Malvin Golf, an amazing partnership.

Here we are on hole 16 at Alpine Country Club, offering a beautiful hole in one vehicle.

Speaker A
Malbin and Lexus partnership coming to life on the 16th hole. Hole in one with this beautiful car. What kind of car is it, Nicole?

Nicole Peterson
LC convertible.

Speaker A
LC convertible. 501 lucky hole in one.

Winner will get this beautiful car.

Speaker B
Been a long day. Perfect. Long day for a long drink. The finished long drink. Great for any summer day.

Cheers.

Speaker A
What's going on, everybody? This is part three podcast. I am here representing prize picks. Major's coming up us. Open the open.

Come on down. Come see us. We got some picks for you. You know, depending on putts, drives from all your favorite golfers.

Use promo code part three and come check us out.

Speaker B
Still a beautiful day here in New Jersey. Alpines finest. We got dj fat fingers on the turntables behind us. And one of Oregon's favorite golf guys, Mister Don Merkin.

Don Merkin
Thank you.

Speaker A
Welcome to the show.

Don Merkin
Welcome to the show.

Speaker A
Thank you.

Don Merkin
Thank you, James.

Speaker A
That's our first tee car.

Don Merkin
Thank you. Thank you.

Speaker B
We had him up at the preserve doing little golf lessons with Ron Del Barrio on the record and all that.

Speaker A
How did that go?

Don Merkin
Man, my life has changed. My swing has changed. My body's hurting because I gotta swing different now. You know, I got that arm hinged in there a little bit and I'm trying to figure out what's happening just to figure out what's going on, you know?

Speaker A
Yeah, for sure. He got you turning already?

Don Merkin
Yeah, he got me turning already and trying to use my body more. I was kind of just using all my arms. So he's trying to get me to actually be athletic and, you know, working on this not looking at the ball thing is a whole nother deal, you know, but I'm not there yet, but I'm working on a little face control.

Speaker B
Getting my body switch as a dad. Merkin hit me and was like, yo, my game is kind of whatever. And my daughter, his daughter plays well. She's playing really good golf, et cetera. So he is actually focused, training, practicing, going through swing changes, et cetera. Because of his daughter? Pretty much. No.

Don Merkin
Yes, sir.

Speaker B
You're trying to keep up with her and sick of her clowning. You.

Don Merkin
She beat me by a stroke last Monday.

Speaker A
Really?

Don Merkin
Yeah. She shot 34.

Speaker B
You shot 35?

Don Merkin
Yes, sir.

Speaker B
How many holes you play.

Don Merkin
It's a par 30.

Speaker B
I'm like, damn, 35. We play six holes.

Don Merkin
I saved that for the end, you know?

Speaker A
I hear that. Damn, that's dope, man.

Don Merkin
No, she's good, though. She's been playing since she was six. My friend, he coaches. He's got an indoor training facility that they partner with. Cause we have such bad weather in the winter, so they train indoors. She's been training since she was six, and she's got a real nice swing.

Speaker A
And how old does she know? I'm sorry.

Don Merkin
1313.

Speaker A
Okay. Yeah. I got 215 year olds, and they don't. I try to get them into it, but they're like, ah. Like, I'm just like, ah.

Don Merkin
She likes going out with me. She likes playing, but she doesn't like to compete right now. She's not trying to play rounds, like, competitively. She just wants to go out with me and the calamari guys.

Speaker B
What could be better than that?

Don Merkin
Yes. It's the best. She's like, dad, can we just go? You and me?

Speaker A
That's awesome.

Don Merkin
That's all I want to hear. And, like, just seeing her smile and she drained this 30 foot putt the other day after she stole my putter from me.

Speaker B
It's her putter now.

Don Merkin
That's her putter.

Speaker A
That was your putter.

Don Merkin
When you could beat me, when you could beat me, you could have it back.

Speaker A
You can beat me. You can have it back.

Don Merkin
When the roles reverse, it's a long walk home.

Speaker B
So, Portland, Oregon. We're far away from Portland, and so historically, I've been friends with the Jones guys are up there. Seamus akbar calamari.

You're working as a greenskeeper at what course?

Don Merkin
I'm now at Pumpkin Ridge.

Speaker B
Pumpkin Ridge?

Don Merkin
Yes, sir.

Speaker B
And where were you before?

Don Merkin
Wildwood golf course.

Speaker B
And where were you before?

Don Merkin
Meriwether national.

Speaker B
You were on a tour?

Don Merkin
Yeah.

Speaker B
You cut every green out there moving up as a greenscale.

Don Merkin
They say I'm the best at grass.

Speaker A
I had the same thing. That's. What is the same thing about Swiss?

That's hilarious. What kind of grass y'all use up there?

Don Merkin
Oh, which. For what?

Speaker A
For the greens?

Don Merkin
Yeah. Well, we play a lot of poa up there. Yeah.

Speaker B
Poa means what?

Don Merkin
What's that?

Speaker B
What's poa mean? What's the full name of poa? Just poa?

Don Merkin
Yeah. I mean, I don't ever ask. I just say that they got poa and poa. They say, cut it shorter, don't burn the green up.

Speaker A
I go from north I go from, like, the northern northeast to Florida. And it's like you go from, like, bent to Bermuda and Zoyga and all of that, like.

Don Merkin
So you guys play down abandoned, though, right? You've been abandoned. So it's kind of basically that. But just. We just. Where I'm at is 6 hours from there up in Portland. I mean, we have that event, buckets event, Columbia Edgewater coming up October 7. So you come check out. We got some real good greens up there.

Speaker A
Nice.

Don Merkin
All kinds.

Speaker A
I love it.

Speaker B
And the community there is bigger and bigger. The Muni kids, they do that.

Tell us about the Muni kids and the urban golf. Urban golf experience. Yeah, listen to this one. Swish.

Don Merkin
So my friends, the muni kids. Shout out, drew and Max.

They created urban golf. So we meet up every Thursday night from six to nine. And it's the produce district in Portland. We play. We have.

Speaker B
It's like the warehouse district.

Don Merkin
Yeah, warehouse. We have like a nine hole course. We have an old hubcap from a golf cart that we have a little pin on. And then you have to hit the. We play with phone balls. We have real clubs. And we got like a gang of people. It's like 25, 30 people. We playing music.

Speaker A
Oh, that's dope.

Don Merkin
And then we, you know, if you fly it into the cup, you get less of a stroke. But basically, you just have to hit the pin.

You hit the pin.

Speaker B
That concedes the whole.

Don Merkin
That means you. You're in, you're done. But it's hard to hit it. Right.

Speaker B
But you get your putting on concrete.

Don Merkin
Correct.

Speaker B
Chipping on concrete.

Don Merkin
And then if it's within a club's length, it's still a stroke. But, you know, that way you don't have. But we'll put it up on a curb that the pin is always moving. Might be up on a trash can, whatever this, that. Oh, it's a lot of fun. I'll send you a link about it. It's great.

Speaker B
Yeah. And they do it in Portland, and it's amazing. These dudes just. It's like big crowds and people come and follow and watch. And they got music and food and beer and smoking heavy out there playing right now.

Speaker A
My boy k love. So he's from out there. I gotta get him in that. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure he let her play.

Don Merkin
Oh, yeah, yeah, he went to Ll. Yeah, he's a legend. Like my swig, right?

Speaker A
Yeah, yeah, that's my guy.

Don Merkin
Yeah. We were bummed when he left. Went to UCLA. We thought we were gonna stay in state. But no, go to Oregon.

That outlet pass, he is the best at that, right?

Speaker A
By far. Yeah, by far. Best ever.

Speaker B
What's the outlet pass?

Speaker A
So you get the rebound, you look up court, and you throw it up court, and a guy just catches it, and then they'll lays it up.

Don Merkin
He got in his like a bomb.

Speaker A
A bomb. Well, I tell you, he was literally like Tom Brady. That shit in NBA, bro.

Don Merkin
There's a clip of him when he was with Minnesota. It's on an inbounds, and he hits the guy on, and it's like they make a bucket. Boom. Outlet right there.

Speaker A
Yeah.

Don Merkin
Before the defense could even get back 100%. He's so strong. And just say, you late.

Speaker A
Let's say you guys, the other team scores, he would take the ball out and look and just throw it up, and somebody out of nowhere would just catch it and lay the ball up. Oh.

Speaker B
Break the opponent's heart.

Speaker A
Oh, my God. You did all that to try and score, and he just takes it out and outlets it and just go, he's.

Don Merkin
Still in the league.

Speaker A
So crazy. Yeah, he was with Miami.

Don Merkin
Yeah, still.

Speaker B
And you played with him at pebble?

Speaker A
Well, I was in a group behind him.

Speaker B
How was he?

Speaker A
Ironically, I was with Clay Thompson.

Speaker B
How was that?

Speaker A
It was great. I thought it was going to be really weird. Cause, you know, competing against each other, like, never really having a real relationship, and it was like, almost like looking in the mirror, but, like, five years younger. I think it's like five years younger than me. It was just like, damn, bro, you not so bad. Like, you all right.

Speaker B
How's this game?

Speaker A
His game is good. It needs a little bit of polishing, but he's not. He's not far off. Yeah, by no means. We play with Courtney league as well.

Speaker B
He's better than Courtney.

Speaker A
Courtney's better than him right now.

Speaker B
Really?

Speaker A
Yeah. It's not. It's not far, but he's. You can tell he's got. He's got it in him. Cause he grew up playing as well. He just. He doesn't have the reps. He's always on the damn boat.

Speaker B
Mm hmm.

Speaker A
Always on the boat. Which I like. I like. You know, they got great trees in San Francisco, so boat life is not so bad. Yeah, it's beautiful.

Speaker B
So Don is now helping on all the buckets club tournaments. So he flies in a couple days early. He does all the setup. He helps out Nick and the gang. We just were together down in Kentucky, where we went and did one at the PGA champ, and he's been out here. And this is your first trip to New York?

Don Merkin
Yes.

Speaker B
And so what do you think? Is it good? As you heard, it was like I.

Don Merkin
Was living a movie. I came across on the. From Hoboken on a ferry, seeing the city for the first time that way. Walked the high line down into Soho, took the subway up to Central park.

Speaker A
Oh, you. Whoever gave you the torque map, you did it, right? Yeah. See, I'm gonna tell you right now.

Don Merkin
And I was. I put in 24,000 steps. I was like, what is happening right now?

Speaker A
I'll tell you. I've been here my whole life. I ain't never did none of that.

I did the ferry. That was it. Oh.

Don Merkin
And then I finished up by riding the e bikes all the way back down to the Hudson.

Speaker A
Oh, that's.

Don Merkin
I was ripping through Manhattan on an e bike, and I was just like.

Speaker A
Now, that's a night.

Don Merkin
And I love architecture. So it just. This stimuli overwhelmed. It was unbelievable.

Speaker A
And what about golf?

Speaker B
You played golf?

Don Merkin
I got to get out. So far, only got nine holes in at. In Jersey at Shaq Skyline. I want to play Shaq on Tuesday, I think tomorrow.

Speaker B
And what do you think about alpine?

Don Merkin
It's beautiful. It reminds this, actually like what? Pumpkin looks a lot like this. Maybe not as much elevation change, but very wooded, enclosed like this. Beautiful. But this place is breathtaking.

Speaker A
I gotta get y'all to come play my spot, man. We got the best practice range in the state next to Pine Valley. It's called meteorcont national. It's an amazing spot. Down a little south from here. South Jersey, central Jersey, like seven.

Exit seven a, but called metita con. I gotta get y'all to come out. If y'all can. If you got time. 100% lexuses.

Speaker B
We got a couple Lexus loners. We can make it.

Speaker A
I got tea times.

Don Merkin
Don't even push that flight back right now.

Speaker A
I'm pumpkin.

Don Merkin
I might be late.

Speaker A
The members are watching. Just so you know.

You're gonna be good.

Don Merkin
They'll be happy to hear that. They're on podcast, you know?

Speaker A
Yeah.

Speaker B
You're plugging them. This is the real word, pumpkin Ridge. Famous now.

Donnie digital, they call him Donnie Digest. Cause he did that one page added. And we did a story in golf digest, and we got him in there, and he's in there flexing on him. They call him Donnie Digest now.

Called digest.

Speaker A
I like that. It's funny cause I keep hearing about pumpkin Ridge. I was playing with Gentry. Gentry from. With Jordan brand, and he always tells me about that spot and another friend of mine who lives out there in Oregon, but I've never been out there enough to play it. I gotta get, I gotta get out to Oregon.

Don Merkin
I mean, we got Nike out there, too. I mean, there's more reasons of golf to come out there. You come out and do a bunch of stuff, right? 100%, you know, and right now is a good time or this is the best time to be out there. August is probably the end of the season. October is really stretching it, you know.

Speaker A
But I hear you could play golf damn near, like 09:00 at night.

The sun is, like, up forever out there.

Speaker B
I just played in Vancouver, and I finished 18 at 1005 at night. We teed off at. They were supposed to have some gala party we were supposed to go to. We went out on a boat. All the wives started drinking on the boat. So after I saw them getting tipsy, I'm like, it's over. They're not gonna make us go to the party. It's over. So we start, all the dad, all the husbands start, and we're getting tee times and shit. Like, we can chew off at 07:00 we can do that. We got out at seven, played mad fast, finished 18. Almost dark.

It's like, it gets almost dark at like eight, and then it stays almost dark until ten.

Speaker A
I love it.

Speaker B
It's not like the sun goes down at ten. The sun goes down at eight, but then it's like, just stays good enough.

Don Merkin
Yeah. Cause it doesn't quite go away. So you get, I don't know if it's like a reflection or a ricochet, but it stays light, like he's saying. So, like, I'll get home, spend time with the family, have dinner, and then I can go out and play nine holes.

And it's not like I had to, like, skip dinner or miss family time, whatever it's gotta be. You know, it's really nice. But other side of that is the winter gets dark real early. Really, it's much different.

Speaker B
But what time?

Speaker A
Five?

Don Merkin
Yeah, 54, 34, 35.

Speaker A
It's tough, really.

School is dark, dark coming home.

Don Merkin
However, if you work at the golf course and get off it like one, you know, you're fine.

Speaker A
Yeah, yeah, you're right there.

Don Merkin
I don't got to go anywhere.

Speaker A
What time does the sun come up then?

Don Merkin
Right now we're about 04:00 a.m. wait, what?

Speaker A
Really?

Don Merkin
Yeah, it comes up early. 430. Yeah. Come.

Speaker A
Don't go down to around ten.

Don Merkin
It's, it's up.

Speaker A
I'm moving. Oregon.

Speaker B
It's up.

Don Merkin
Just for the spring.

Speaker A
I'm. Yeah, I'm moving on. Just for the spring. That's what.

Don Merkin
I'll build a little shack in the back. You hang out.

Speaker A
I appreciate it, man.

Speaker B
Little man caving we've been asking all.

Don Merkin
Of our trees, baby.

Speaker B
We've been asking our guests today just one simple question before we let you go.

Don Merkin
Yes.

Speaker B
Why do you go off?

Don Merkin
Well, I think we touched on it earlier. It's a connection with my daughter and my family, and it's made me a better person as a result. Hold me accountable. The etiquette of golf and everything. I mean, grew up learning the game from my father and being around it, but I think now it's just a. It's a drive to be a better person and show my daughter who I could, you know, what I could do. So, yeah, I think. I think it's just about being a better person. Golf makes me a better person all around.

Speaker A
Love that.

Speaker B
Amen.

Speaker A
Amen to that.

Speaker B
See you in a second.

Donnie Merkin.

Speaker A
Witness insurmountable deficits turn into unforgettable victories at the Travelers Championship, the Northeast one and only PGA Tour signature event. See Scotty Scheffler, Rory McElroy, Victor Hovland, Patrick Kentley, returning champion Keegan Bradley and other PGA Tour stars in all four days of competition at close by TPC River Highlands, the excitement tees off June 19 through the 23rd. For tickets and information, visit travelerschampionship.com. the Travelers Championship, there's only one.

Speaker B
The part three podcast is brought to you by Topgolf. Perfect for family, friends, and fun. Enjoy a topgolf around you this summer.

Peace.

Nicole Peterson
I asked before, but what does the trophy make you think of when you first see it?

Speaker A
When I first see it, 3131 I ain't gonna lie. That's the first thing I think of.

God.

First things first.

Trophy. Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Goldie.

I'm gonna call you Goldie. That's what it is. So, Goldie, first of all, when was the last time we was together?

I know. The bubble was crazy. The bubble was nuts. Did you have a good time? Cause I don't know, man. Some of that, it was all right, but some of the food was going crazy. Some of the. Some of the situations was rough.

I don't know how you sat in that box that whole time waiting for us. I. Phew. I couldn't do it. We was in hotel rooms sitting there listening to Rondo coach me, man. I'm trying to be Dwight over here in my ear ad going cr what you say?

Brian is nice. I know, I know. Crazy.

You say to go.

I think he. Him and Mike. Him and Mike for sure.

I don't know, man. Boston up to. All right, now.

Boston is up to. Oh, I had him, but I had him pick, but I don't know, this might be.

They might get him up out of there early.

I know it's been a minute since you've been in Boston, huh? Since what? KG?

That was a minute ago.

You've been there a lot, though.

It's been a minute, but you've been there a lot. How many years it's been?

It's a lot of chips. That is a lot of chips. Goodness gracious.

Y'all more than anybody.

Yeah. Bill Russell was called, super called.

But yeah, man, you know, I think. I think y'all got it. I think Boston's got his chance. You gotta think Boston's had a chance.

Dallas was looking good, Kai Luka, but it's still 20. They got a chance to come back, right? I mean, it's only two o, trust me.

Yeah, I know. Three one. I know. I know. It's been a while. Ain't nobody ever did it before, but, you know, we will see.

They got a chance. They got a chance. I think JK is good. JK gotta.

If anybody gonna do it, JK gonna do it.

Jalen Brown has been incredible. I know you think he's better than Tatum, though.

I'm not trying to break nobody up. Ain't nobody trying to break nobody up. I'm just asking a question, a simple question.

I told you. I thought. I thought so, too. I thought so, too. For real.

But. Oh, yeah. I'm gonna let you go, man. Appreciate you coming on part three.

It's been a while. It's been a while. I love you, too. I'll see you later. All right.

Let me.

I don't want him to see you again, so I'm just.

I'ma holla at you, man.

Thanks for joining another episode of part three.

This is Junior Smith and my good friend Larry O'Brien Trophy.

This is our, you know, third encounter. The first two times, you know, I didn't have a shirt, so, you know, I figure this time this would be a proper setting. It's good to see you, though. Appreciate you.

Nicole Peterson
That was awesome.

Speaker B
And that's another episode of the part three podcast. I'd like to thank. Long drink. I'd like to thank Lexus, Topgolf, unified healing prize picks, and Alpine Country Club. You guys are all the best.

Thank you all for following along, and we'll see you next week.

R4, HOLE 8: Nicole Peterson (Experimental Marketing & National Partnerships Manager - Lexus), Don Merkin (Buckets Club) & The Larry O'Brien Trophy

Primary Topic

Episode Summary

Main Takeaways

Episode Chapters

1. Introduction

2. Lexus’s Role in Golf

3. Personal Golf Stories

4. Business Strategies and Partnerships

5. Closing Remarks

Actionable Advice

About This Episode

People

Companies

Books

Guest Name(s):

Content Warnings:

Transcript