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cfhale77 · 21 February 2019, 09:38 AM

Greeting All,

This is my first post and I thought it would be fitting to share my story. I graduated college in 2000 with a degree in Political Science. Things were a little different then but I quickly realized I held a degree in something I didn't want to devote a career towards. Soon I found myself working on a golf course maintenance crew for the ability to play free golf. I love golf but things changed.

A golf course construction company came to my town and started a project just down the road from where I worked. I was stopping by almost daily to watch the heavy equipment slowly and methodically carved the land into the Architects vision. I was mesmerized. Two things a young man can get into. Heavy equipment and Golf. I was hooked. It took about a year but I hired on with the same construction company and moved from the North East to Arizona where I started my career. Scottsdale is a high rent district and I found myself sleeping on the floor of a dining room in a two bedroom apartment. It was fine as I was too exhausted from working 60hrs a week in the Arizona summer heat to care. Time slowly passed and I started to work my way up the totem pole. My big break hit with a offer to go overseas and work on a project in Dubai. I immediately packed my things and was off to the Middle East. Sadly this was just before the Financial Crisis that was felt around the World. We finished Just 6 of 18 holes. Project shut down. I returned to my parents house as I only had a suitcase that held all my worldly possessions, but soon enough I was off to Hinan Island, China. That is where I first started working with Architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Yep, the Pro Golfer Ben Crenshaw, two time Masters Champion. It was the Rolex on his wrist that first made me take notice. I became infatuated. I spent two years living and working in China on that one project and I started honing on on the reference that I wanted. I still didn't have the money to buy anything of that magnitude. But I kept forging away. Many miles and years later I was reunited with Bill and Ben to start another project; however, this time was different. I was the project manager. Everything was up to me. From earthwork to drainage to irrigation, to feature construction (greens, tees, and bunker). It was up to me. Two years later the last of the grass went down and I had completed my first project at the helm. An incredible feeling.

Shortly after completion I received my bonus for the project. More important than the money was the timing of my first Rolex. I felt I was finally ready to own one. February of last year the wife and I made the trip to the local AD and I shared this story with him. The SR went into the safe and came back with a GMT Master II. 116710LN. He even covered the sales tax.

SemperFi · 21 February 2019, 10:08 AM

That’s a heck of an adventure Christian and great to hear of your success.
You earned that Rolex my friend. Congratulations!

Enjoy it for many years in the best of health.

1st amg · 21 February 2019, 10:13 AM

Wow great story. You certainly earned it! Congrats and welcome to TRF! You will learn a lot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

nick c · 21 February 2019, 10:31 AM

Well done! Welcome and congratulations!!

cfhale77 · 21 February 2019, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the welcome messages everyone. It’s good to be part of the family!!

austinp · 21 February 2019, 12:31 PM

Love the story and huge congratulations!

nikkstokes · 21 February 2019, 12:45 PM

Love the story! Thank you for sharing

crew · 21 February 2019, 01:00 PM

That was a great story. Now, how about a picture of the GMT?

Maxy · 21 February 2019, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfhale77

Shortly after completion I received my bonus for the project. More important than the money was the timing of my first Rolex. I felt I was finally ready to own one. February of last year the wife and I made the trip to the local AD and I shared this story with him. The SR went into the safe and came back with a GMT Master II. 116710LN. He even covered the sales tax.

Very happy for you and congrats!!

This was the story of every Rolex buyer till a decade back. Struggle hard and then earn money and enjoy his success by going to a AD and purchasing a Rolex. Now, even if you do the same steps and you land at a AD and ask for a Rolex, you'll be laughed at and saying.. wait years and list of line. Crazy times and happy for OP very much. Well deserved!

cfhale77 · 21 February 2019, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crew

That was a great story. Now, how about a picture of the GMT?

GMT Master II.jpg

GMT Master II (2).jpg

Here she is.

Engraved on back is name of the Golf Course, the Architects, and the year of completion.

East Bay Rider · 21 February 2019, 01:34 PM

Big congratulations.
You can't go wrong with a GMT.

whattimeyougot · 21 February 2019, 01:50 PM

Congrats! Great story.

Which course did you project manage? Bill & Ben are producing amazing work but I also know that doesn’t happen without an amazing team around them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

520Matt · 21 February 2019, 01:54 PM

Very cool. Amazing how it all started. How often do you golf? Whats your handicap?

whattimeyougot · 21 February 2019, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whattimeyougot

Congrats! Great story.

Which course did you project manage? Bill & Ben are producing amazing work but I also know that doesn’t happen without an amazing team around them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just now saw the photos and engraving.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

cfhale77 · 21 February 2019, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whattimeyougot

Just now saw the photos and engraving.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve been fortunate enough to be on four projects. We-ok-pa in Arizona, Shanqin Bay in China, Trinity Forest in Dallas, Ozarks National in Missouri and later this spring I’m headed to St. Lucia (doesn’t have a name yet) for my fifth project with them.

dtwer · 21 February 2019, 02:37 PM

Welcome and nice watch! I am sure it will accompany you through many prosperous years.

Alexwwjd · 21 February 2019, 02:40 PM

Congrats on the well deserved watch! What a story! Welcome to TRF!

Rogdogg · 21 February 2019, 02:42 PM

Welcome to TRF.
That is a great story. Thanks for sharing with us!

fishingbear · 21 February 2019, 02:46 PM

Outstanding story Christian, welcome to the forum.

Yoda_Eating_Pizza · 21 February 2019, 06:55 PM

Great big kudos to you!

BigBlue1 · 21 February 2019, 08:03 PM

Thanks for sharing your story. Pretty adventurous one at that. Cheers and enjoy in good health.

RW16610 · 21 February 2019, 10:32 PM

Congratulations! That's quite the story and easily my favourite watch!

chazadams · 21 February 2019, 10:39 PM

Outstanding read and congratulations!!

RichM · 21 February 2019, 11:21 PM

Great story and thank you for sharing it. Congratulations and welcome to TRF

Chester01 · 21 February 2019, 11:38 PM

Really enjoyed your post. I could not think of a better first Rolex than the gmt. Likely the most versatile piece in their entire catalogue.

G8RDPM · 22 February 2019, 01:03 AM

Great story and great watch!
Welcome to TRF!

antbkny · 22 February 2019, 01:05 AM

Congrats and wishing you many more to come!

encarter13 · 22 February 2019, 01:11 AM

Great story!

I also love Golf, Heavy Equipment, and Rolex watches

droptopman · 22 February 2019, 01:34 AM

Welcome to the forum.

Love these kinds of stories, thanks for sharing and BIG CONGRATS!

Fabrice M · 22 February 2019, 01:41 AM

This is a great story.

21 February 2019, 09:38 AM	#1
cfhale77 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Real Name: Christian Location: Texas Watch: 116710 Posts: 5	My First Post: How I Came To Be A Rolex Owner Greeting All, This is my first post and I thought it would be fitting to share my story. I graduated college in 2000 with a degree in Political Science. Things were a little different then but I quickly realized I held a degree in something I didn't want to devote a career towards. Soon I found myself working on a golf course maintenance crew for the ability to play free golf. I love golf but things changed. A golf course construction company came to my town and started a project just down the road from where I worked. I was stopping by almost daily to watch the heavy equipment slowly and methodically carved the land into the Architects vision. I was mesmerized. Two things a young man can get into. Heavy equipment and Golf. I was hooked. It took about a year but I hired on with the same construction company and moved from the North East to Arizona where I started my career. Scottsdale is a high rent district and I found myself sleeping on the floor of a dining room in a two bedroom apartment. It was fine as I was too exhausted from working 60hrs a week in the Arizona summer heat to care. Time slowly passed and I started to work my way up the totem pole. My big break hit with a offer to go overseas and work on a project in Dubai. I immediately packed my things and was off to the Middle East. Sadly this was just before the Financial Crisis that was felt around the World. We finished Just 6 of 18 holes. Project shut down. I returned to my parents house as I only had a suitcase that held all my worldly possessions, but soon enough I was off to Hinan Island, China. That is where I first started working with Architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Yep, the Pro Golfer Ben Crenshaw, two time Masters Champion. It was the Rolex on his wrist that first made me take notice. I became infatuated. I spent two years living and working in China on that one project and I started honing on on the reference that I wanted. I still didn't have the money to buy anything of that magnitude. But I kept forging away. Many miles and years later I was reunited with Bill and Ben to start another project; however, this time was different. I was the project manager. Everything was up to me. From earthwork to drainage to irrigation, to feature construction (greens, tees, and bunker). It was up to me. Two years later the last of the grass went down and I had completed my first project at the helm. An incredible feeling. Shortly after completion I received my bonus for the project. More important than the money was the timing of my first Rolex. I felt I was finally ready to own one. February of last year the wife and I made the trip to the local AD and I shared this story with him. The SR went into the safe and came back with a GMT Master II. 116710LN. He even covered the sales tax.

21 February 2019, 10:08 AM	#2
SemperFi "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Real Name: Angelo Location: Brooklyn, NY Watch: Rolex Submariner Posts: 42,164	That’s a heck of an adventure Christian and great to hear of your success. You earned that Rolex my friend. Congratulations! Enjoy it for many years in the best of health. __________________ Rolex Submariner Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Tudor Black Bay 58 Blue Tudor Ranger 79910 Nomos Club Datum 733 Nomos Metro 38 Stowa Flieger Classic 40 * Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons *

21 February 2019, 01:34 PM	#11
East Bay Rider "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Bill Location: East Bay RI Watch: GMT-II 16710LN Posts: 11,886	Big congratulations. You can't go wrong with a GMT. __________________ I bought a cheap watch from the crazy man Floating down canal It doesn't use numbers or moving hands It always just says "now" Now you may be thinking that I was had But this watch is never wrong And if I have trouble the warranty said Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On J. Buffett Instagram: eastbayrider46

21 February 2019, 01:54 PM	#13
520Matt "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Matt Location: Tucson, AZ Watch: SD, LV,GMT II Pep Posts: 2,782	Very cool. Amazing how it all started. How often do you golf? Whats your handicap? Last edited by 520Matt; 21 February 2019 at 01:58 PM.. Reason: Spelling

21 February 2019, 02:42 PM	#18
Rogdogg "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bangkok Posts: 6,117	Welcome to TRF. That is a great story. Thanks for sharing with us! __________________ Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

21 February 2019, 10:13 AM	#3
1st amg 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Real Name: nicholas Location: ottawa canada Watch: Rolex,AP,Panerai Posts: 9,476	Wow great story. You certainly earned it! Congrats and welcome to TRF! You will learn a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

21 February 2019, 10:31 AM	#4
nick c Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 26,846	Well done! Welcome and congratulations!!

21 February 2019, 11:57 AM	#5
cfhale77 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Real Name: Christian Location: Texas Watch: 116710 Posts: 5	Thanks for the welcome messages everyone. It’s good to be part of the family!!

21 February 2019, 12:31 PM	#6
austinp "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: us Posts: 3,267	Love the story and huge congratulations!

21 February 2019, 12:45 PM	#7
nikkstokes "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: PA Posts: 23	Love the story! Thank you for sharing

21 February 2019, 01:00 PM	#8
crew "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: John Location: Rochester/Naples Watch: Pepsi Posts: 18,228	That was a great story. Now, how about a picture of the GMT?

21 February 2019, 01:50 PM	#12
whattimeyougot "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: USA Posts: 965	Congrats! Great story. Which course did you project manage? Bill & Ben are producing amazing work but I also know that doesn’t happen without an amazing team around them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

21 February 2019, 02:37 PM	#16
dtwer "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: midwest Watch: DJ 41 Posts: 1,474	Welcome and nice watch! I am sure it will accompany you through many prosperous years.

21 February 2019, 02:40 PM	#17
Alexwwjd "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Alex Location: Texas Watch: Out!!! Posts: 2,352	Congrats on the well deserved watch! What a story! Welcome to TRF!

21 February 2019, 02:46 PM	#19
fishingbear 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: George Location: Alabama Watch: GMTsSubLVEx2SDDayt Posts: 4,389	Outstanding story Christian, welcome to the forum.

21 February 2019, 06:55 PM	#20
Yoda_Eating_Pizza 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Real Name: RJ Location: Hawaii Watch: Yes Posts: 1,229	Great big kudos to you!

21 February 2019, 08:03 PM	#21
BigBlue1 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Real Name: Webmaster Location: Space Watch: it pal ! Posts: 2,955	Thanks for sharing your story. Pretty adventurous one at that. Cheers and enjoy in good health. __________________ " Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford". Cindy Crawford Hypochondria is the only disease I haven't got RIP Mikey

21 February 2019, 10:32 PM	#22
RW16610 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Rommel Location: Toronto Canada Watch: 116710LN Posts: 8,970	Congratulations! That's quite the story and easily my favourite watch!

21 February 2019, 10:39 PM	#23
chazadams "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Beach Watch: Submariner / GMT Posts: 489	Outstanding read and congratulations!!

21 February 2019, 11:21 PM	#24
RichM 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Real Name: Richie Location: "Nowhere Man" Watch: out now,take care! Posts: 28,202	Great story and thank you for sharing it. Congratulations and welcome to TRF __________________ "I love to work at nothing all day" TRF #139960

21 February 2019, 11:38 PM	#25
Chester01 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: East Coast Watch: 16610 Posts: 4,933	Really enjoyed your post. I could not think of a better first Rolex than the gmt. Likely the most versatile piece in their entire catalogue.

22 February 2019, 01:03 AM	#26
G8RDPM 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,248	Great story and great watch! Welcome to TRF!

22 February 2019, 01:05 AM	#27
antbkny "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Real Name: Anthony Location: Brooklyn, NY Watch: Dblue Posts: 6,723	Congrats and wishing you many more to come!

22 February 2019, 01:11 AM	#28
encarter13 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Real Name: Nick Location: Georgia Posts: 2,613	Great story! I also love Golf, Heavy Equipment, and Rolex watches __________________ Instagram - watches_wine

22 February 2019, 01:34 AM	#29
droptopman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Mark Location: Washington State Watch: SUBS and GMT's! Posts: 9,664	Welcome to the forum. Love these kinds of stories, thanks for sharing and BIG CONGRATS! __________________ Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today? Ty: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score. Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers? Ty: By height.

22 February 2019, 01:41 AM	#30
Fabrice M 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Denver Watch: This and that... Posts: 1,640	This is a great story.

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