Latest Review
July 12, 2022 
We recently had the chance to catch up with one of our good friends, Andrew Haynes. Andrew is creative, a golfer, a gear enthusiast and big fan of G-SHOCKs. We spent the day with him at Marine Park Golf Course in NYC to learn a bit about him, his love of the sport, and his distinctive take on having the right gear out on the green.
Hey Andrew, thanks so much for chatting with us. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, I’m Andrew Haynes. I live in New York City and I’m a VP and Executive Creative Director at a new startup called Fairgame, where I’m working with a very passionate team of golf enthusiasts to help make the game a more seamless, effortless, and inclusive experience. But simply put, I’m a creative, a golfer, and most importantly, a husband and father.
We definitely want to dig more into all that. But first, when did you actually pick up golf?
Sure. About 10 years ago, I was at a corporate event that was on a course. So I got interested in giving it a try and I went to hit a few balls. I had extremely bad form then, but I found I could hit really long. It felt good and I got hooked. I’ve been playing ever since.
When we reached out to do this piece you instantly recommended that we meet you at Marine Park Golf Course here in Brooklyn, NY. What’s up with that?
Well, If you’ve ever played golf in NYC, you’ll know the city does a great job in providing public courses across the 5 boroughs. There are quite a few to choose from, but Marine Park is my favorite. I like the links style of the course as well as the fact that there isn’t too much water in play (except for the teeshot on 9). The driving range and pitching green don’t hurt either. I was also born in Brooklyn, right up the street, so I’ve always thought of it as my home course.
A lot of the joy of golf is in finding all the gear. What makes having the right gear out on the links a more rewarding experience?
There’s a lot of stuff out there that claims to help your game. But it’s not about having all the stuff, it’s about having the right stuff. For me, I’m always after multipurpose items. I want the apparel I wear on the course to also be comfortable in off the course.
So, you’re a golfer. You’re a gear guy. But you’re also a watch guy. What was it that got you interested in watches?
A lot of thought and attention goes into making a good watch and I appreciate those thoughtful details that go into making things. As a Creative Director, I believe that good design can add an immense amount of value and connection to products we use everyday.
And let’s face it, golf is a time intensive sport. You always need to hit your tee time, not to mention, be home in time to hang with the fam.
Can you tell us a bit about your love of G-SHOCKS?
I’ve always been into the style and vibe of G-SHOCKS. I definitely had a couple as a kid. But I was reintroduced to my love of G-SHOCK when I picked up the off-white Limited Edition DW6900-PT80 by John Mayer and HODINKEE. It’s since become my favorite day-to-day and has totally rekindled my childhood passion for the brand.
You’re a creative, you’re a father, you’re an athlete. How do G-SHOCKS fit into your daily lifestyle?
Everything I buy has to fit three criteria. It needs multipurpose functionality, thoughtful design with a nice aesthetic, and it needs to be durable. Whether it’s on the course, in the gym where I practice jiu jitsu, or just keeping up with my son, I want products that last. And G-SHOCKS are a perfect fit.
For example, this newest model of the GAB2100 in yellow checks all my boxes. When you’re golfing, you don’t want to wear a watch you can feel on your arm. This is a watch with a great wrist presence, but I was shocked at how light-weight it felt by comparison. My wardrobe is simple, I’m a New Yorker, I wear a lot of black. So I like having that contemporary-feeling pop of color on my wrist.
And again, it’s that multi-faceted piece of kit that’s just as functional on the course, as it is stylish off the course. This particular model also syncs with my phone via Bluetooth and is solar powered. So it’s a true set it and forget it situation, which is just what you need in order to focus on your game.
So you’re the Executive Creative director for Fairgame Golf. Can you give us a quick overview?
Sure. We’re working on building a new kind of app—golf’s first digital clubhouse. Fairgame will be a place for people at every skill level to connect with like-minded golfers across the country. It will also be a tool that helps introduce new ways to play to keep the game fun. And I get to work with great people like Adam Scott, Ben Clymer, and Eric Mayville.
Sounds so intriguing! Finally what advice would you give to someone who’d like to give golf a try?
First things first, hit the driving range with a bucket of balls and just have some fun. From there I’d suggest playing 9 holes at a Par 3 course—it’s not too many holes and the distance will be much more forgiving.
From there you can start to sharpen your game. Adam Scott, Fairgame’s resident pro golfer (and Masters Champion), is a big advocate for dialing in the short game. Hitting good shots 100 yards and in can have a big impact on the scorecard.
When you’re ready to play 18, start with twilight rounds. There will be less people on the course so you can tinker, which I’ve always appreciated.
Product Specifications: Shock Resistant, 200M Water Resistant, Tough Solar Power, Smartphone Link, Hand Shift Feature, World Time (38 Cities), 1/100 Second Stopwatch, Countdown Timer, 5 Daily Alarms, Double LED Light (Super Illuminator)
