The Last Amateur: The Life of Charlie Coe

Amateur golfer Charles Robert "Charlie" Coe is recognized as one of the best golfers to ever play the game. Born in Ardmore, he won the Oklahoma State Championship during high school, three conference championships while attending the University of Oklahoma, and just one year after graduation his first U. S. Championship.             Known for his intense concentration, competitiveness, and ability to find the advantage in the most precarious situations, his career included 27 consecutive match-play victories, Trans-Mississippi and Western Amateur wins, strong finishes in the British Amateur, U. S. Open, and the Masters, six Walker Cup selections, and multiple amateur records—some still on the record books today.  He played alongside Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, both of whom have spoken openly about their respect for Coe not only as a golfer, but as a gentleman.             Coe’s awards and accolades are numerous, but the one that meant the most to him was the Bob Jones Award—golf’