Chuck Wideman, Golf Course Superintendent | Team Member Highlight Story

Meet Chuck, Golf Course Superintendent | Team Member Highlight

We have decided to change things up a little bit this month. This month, it is my honor to shine a light on Chuck Wideman, one of our team members who has been at Grand Harbor for six years! This month is actually Chuck’s four-year anniversary as the Superintendent of Grand Harbor. Chuck started his career at Grand Harbor as a Mechanic/Assistant Superintendent, and he did that job very well for two years before moving into his current position as Superintendent. Now, I know you may not see him as much, mainly because he is a busy man who works behind the curtain to maintain the grounds of all three subdivisions, as well as do all the important jobs that come with his title. He and his team of men in the maintenance department have recently been hard at work getting all of the pools up and ready so they can be enjoyed before Memorial Day weekend. So, with all of that in mind let’s get into the interview with our favorite superintendent and certified pool operator!

A Little History
Chuck is originally from Greenwood, SC and he is a Gamecock fan! He has travelled to various destinations across the United States, including Illinois and the West Coast. He did a short stint in the Navy, where he worked as an electronics technician. After that, he started his golf career at a golf course in Waterloo, SC. Originally, at the age of twenty-one, he worked as an Assistant Golf Pro. He preferred the outdoors over working inside, so he shifted career gears. Over the course of his golf career, he has worked as an Assistant Pro, maintenance crew member, mechanic, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. Chuck has worked as a superintendent for a total of seven and half years at golf courses including Grand Harbor and Newberry Country Club.

The Move to Grand Harbor
While working as the Superintendent at Newberry Country Club, Chuck had the opportunity to come to Grand Harbor. This was a big plus as he welcomed the much shorter commute and the opportunity to work at a larger golf course.

Family
Chuck has been married to his wife Amber for fifteen years. She is a first-grade teacher at Pinecrest Elementary in Greenwood. They have four children. Savannah is twenty-seven and lives in South Korea where she teaches English as a second language. Grady recently turned fourteen (Happy Late Birthday!) and will be attending Ninety-Six High School next year, where he plans to play football, soccer, and basketball. Amelia is eight and attends Ninety-Six Elementary. The youngest, Grayson, is three and gets to spend his days entertaining his Mema and Papa! Chuck considers himself extremely fortunate to be surrounded by family, many of which are in or close to Ninety-Six. When Chuck is not working, he can usually be found with the kids at a practice field or game!

Growth and Work at Grand Harbor
Chuck would love to see Grand Harbor continue to grow as a community because he loves meeting all the new members! His favorite part of working at Grand Harbor is being close to his family and meeting new people. He really enjoys the work he does for this community, and he hopes that Grand Harbor will keep him around long enough to eventually retire (not any time soon though!).

Random Facts
Chuck played soccer in high school and played for the first Toros travel soccer team in Greenwood, the same soccer club that his son Grady plays for now. What originally brought him into the golf industry was a moment he shared with his dad when he was nineteen. He did not know what to get his dad for Father’s Day, so he took him out to play golf and he fell in love with the game and the golfing industry. He told his dad then that he knew he wanted a career in golf!