ChatGPT ranked Haven Golf above Nike Dri-FIT Victory in a comparison of moisture wicking golf polos. The smaller apparel brand appeared alongside Under Armour, PUMA and Peter Millar in the same answer. The result is part of an SEO and AI visibility campaign led by California-based entrepreneur and marketing consultant Alec Celestin, whose team built content around the questions golfers ask before buying.
Haven’s founder reported $2.5 million in revenue in the brand’s third year, compared with Nike’s $46.4 billion in fiscal 2026 sales.
That’s where a smaller brand finds its opening. Someone searching for an alternative to Nike or comparing fabrics and fit is still weighing their options, and Haven’s content gives them a reason to look closer. Public relations and backlink building supported that work through editorial placements in sports publications, extending Haven’s reach beyond its own site.
ChatGPT listed Haven first for “best college themed golf polos,” calling it “Best overall value,” ahead of Peter Millar and Johnnie-O. Johnnie-O announced a $108 million minority investment in 2022. ” Haven was both a recommended brand and a source for the answer.
Google showed a similar pattern. For “top golf polos for military,” Haven appeared in the top three of both the AI Overview’s brand recommendations and the traditional organic results, with its Military Collection above Amazon. A related search that added “veteran” put Haven’s own article, “5 Best Military Veteran Golf Polos [2026],” first in the traditional results. A separate AI Overview cited two of Haven’s military and veteran golf polo guides.
Google Search Console data provides another measure of the campaign’s performance. Organic clicks to Haven’s tracked articles rose 84% between two equal 28-day reporting periods: July 6 to August 2 and September 26 to October 23, 2026. Articles on Rhoback alternatives and reviews of established golf brands were among those bringing visitors to the site.
“We start with gap analysis. Our own proprietary AI visibility scanner queries more than 200 keywords across seven AI platforms. On the SEO side, we use Ahrefs for keyword research and review competitors’ public sitemaps to see which topics they cover and where the gaps are. We combine that research to decide where a client can compete and which opportunities to pursue.
We asked Celestin what today’s AI search boom reminds him of from his work with TikTok in 2020.
“When the pandemic hit, TikTok exploded. The creators who had already built an audience were positioned for that surge as millions more people joined. That experience taught me how quickly an opportunity can become an entirely different market.
“Now Google is building Gemini directly into Search. Its AI Mode has already passed a billion monthly users, and OpenAI has reported an audience of 1.2 billion weekly users. These platforms are becoming places where people discover brands, compare products and decide where to spend money.
“I see a massive opportunity to take market share for my clients as those habits change. We’re already getting brands into these answers. Now I’m focused on expanding that presence and turning it into business. I recognize the momentum, and I’m moving on it.”
Celestin was at Flighthouse in 2020 when TikTok and influencer marketing exploded during the pandemic. With Haven and Goliath, he has his finger on the pulse again. His consulting company is helping smaller businesses get discovered as AI changes how buyers compare their options. For Haven, the opportunity is concrete: a golfer can start with a question about a polo and find a smaller brand alongside names they already know. Celestin is working to put his clients into those decisions as the audience grows. We can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve next.
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