Texarkanian Chuck Gardner is the top super senior amateur golfer in Texas!
(from a story originally published in Four States Living Magazine –
Apr 1, 2024)
Texarkana native and 1973 Texas High graduate Chuck Gardner has been an athletic standout from childhood, but his prowess as a golfer wasn’t a pursuit of his until mid-life. In 2022, he won his first individual state championship playing with the Texas Golf Association. And last year, he was named the Texas Super Senior Amateur Player of the Year.
Chuck grew up in Wake Village, Texas, dreaming of playing Major League Baseball like many other youngsters in Texarkana. Chuck was a gifted athlete, courted by colleges for his ball-handling skills on both the baseball field and the basketball court, but opting to pursue baseball with a scholarship to John Brown University. After an unsuccessful stint making his mark in professional baseball, Chuck tried his hand at several other professions, eventually relocating to Austin for his position as a sales rep for Cooper Tire. It was there that he began his pursuit of golf through the Texas Amateur Golf Association.
“It took me a year or so, but playing golf came natural for me because of my hand-eye coordination,” said Chuck. “I was the Texas Amateur of the Year in 2002, having won the mid-amateur match play.” That same year, he placed second in the mid-amateur stroke play and fourth in the Texas State Amateur. Over two decades later, Chuck is still a strong competitor.
Chuck now lives in Texarkana and hopes to qualify later this year for the U.S Senior Amateur.
Congratulations to Chuck and here’s to another Texarkana Superlative to Celebrate!