If you’re a fan of online golf influencers, chances are you’ve heard of Chaz Bowker, also known as “Chazzy Golf.”
Bowker, who is 4-foot-4 and regularly plays in adaptive golf tournaments, took part in last year’s viral Online invitation — a made-for-YouTube tournament that pitted 48 golf personalities against each other for a million-dollar prize, and where every moment was filmed and later released in six 16-hour parts that garnered millions of views — and won a legion of new fans with his clutch play.
On this week’s episode of Subpar, Bowker said hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz the story of how he went from working as a chef in a high-end restaurant to an Internet golf star.
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Bowker said his golf life began when he was a child, hitting shots with a cut club. By the time he was in high school, Bowker realized his size didn’t hinder his game and he could compete with — and beat — “normal-sized” players. Bowker made his varsity golf team as a freshman and then went to a culinary arts school in Italy after graduating high school.
After his time in Italy, Bowker worked as a chef for 12 years, playing golf all the while. But it wasn’t until he connected with artist and YouTube personality Josh Kelley that his career path took a turn.
“(Kelley) went on Instagram Live and told me to go out and play Atlantic City Country Club” Bowker explained. “It came out and played, and it was like a hit. Like we’ve known each other for three, four years and since then it’s been history.”
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How Callaway Has Helped Adaptive Player Chaz Bowker | Fully equipped
Jack Hirsch
At the time of his first round with Kelley, Bowker said he only had about 4,000 followers on Instagram, but he quickly realized that life as an online personality might be possible and decided to give it a go.
“I was already playing the adaptive tournament and I went to my boss,” Bowker said. “I said, chef, I don’t think I can cook anymore. He goes, why? I go, I’m going to go play golf. He goes, I’ve been waiting for you to say that because I, I believe in you. And he just said, if you ever need another job, whatever, golf doesn’t work, come right back and put the apron on.”
Based on his success since then, it doesn’t look like Bowker will be returning to the restaurant business anytime soon. He now has more than 168,000 followers on Instagram and 30,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel.
To hear more from Bowker, including details of his Internet Invitational experience, watch the full episode of Subpar below.
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