FORE! The Challengers Series
FORE! Teddy Lynn and Mark Himmelsbach from Episode 4 who run the production behind the Charles Schwab Challengers series!
It's one of my favorite ongoing creative series in golf. From a brand standpoint, it's a major investment in the game and well-founded trust in great storytelling.
The series highlights people in the game—architects, influencers, game changers—through in-depth stories that showcase folks doing exceptional things. It's about the minds and visions shaping the game.
For me, it's not only something to watch, it's something to study and soak in. The detail and depth and sheer joy that exudes from this work keeps me watching with a keen eye, humbly wondering how I can work on things like this and get to that level.
As a filmmaker, you'll be inspired to become a better storyteller. As a creative, it might inspire you to create more in golf and reach a new level. As a business owner, it might challenge you to solve new problems and grow something incredible.
On top of running Episode 4 as a production company, Teddy and Mark founded the golf brand, Heathlander. I had a chance to swing by the PGA Show booth and meet both Teddy and Mark—I'm genuinely inspired by their craft and storytelling. Heathlander notably features a stellar pair of award-winning golf shoes with a story embedded into their soles—the pattern on the bottom is a flower to match the name. That same thoughtfulness and attention to detail shows in everything they create.
To me, Schwab, Teddy, and Mark are setting a benchmark for how a brand can invest in golf content that actually adds value—highlighting the most interesting people in the game in a way that feels authentic and well earned. It's advertising, but it's stuff I actually care to learn about and learn from.
Teddy and Mark also deserve their own Challengers series feature... OK, enough professional flattery for now…it's getting a little thick. But if you're not persuaded to turn your attention to it yet, I'll repeat it's definitely worth a rabbit-hole watch and your sustained attention for who they'll feature next.
https://content.schwab.com/web/retail/public/corporatesponsorships/challengers.html
https://heathlander.com/
FORE! is a weekly series from From The Fringe highlighting the people and organizations shaping golf. From The Fringe also creates premium video content for golf courses, resorts, and brands. Interested in a feature or working together? Connect at johnny@fromthefringe.golf
