Player Profile
Player Profile
Lucky Pence
Lynnwood, WA
Lucky Pence is one of the longest active dart players around the great Pacific Northwest! He’s been a pivotal personality throughout the world of darts since it’s meager beginnings. Lucky’s list of accomplishments around the darting community are as long as his arm. He’s seen a lot and he’s done even more. This month we get a rare glimpse into the mind of a real pro. For those of you who can appreciate the “good ol’ days” of darts, join with us as we explore the dart scene from an old-school perspective through the eyes of an old-schooler himself.
Hey Lucky, so first tell us how you got your nickname? When I was born, I weighed under a pound! So the staff they named me “Lucky” and it stuck. Even my Mom and Dad called me Lucky. Not many people know my given name. “Charles Austin Pence Jr.”
What do you do for fun outside of darts? I love to watch TV and Movies. Go for a drive! Go over to friends and watch movies and have dinner. And I love to work! When the fairs come around I’ll be there! This year I’m going to do more fishing.
Where did young Charles Pence grow up anyway? Up to 9th grade, I stayed in the Skagit County! Alger, Burlington, Mt Vernon. Then we moved down into Lynnwood. Pretty much been in this area ever since.
When did you pick up your first set of darts? I picked up my first set in 1985. In fact, when I started, I had over 17 sets at first! It took me over three months to find the set that was right. I ended up giving away all the sets of darts to new players.
Who was your original mentor in the game back then? There were a few, back then we were friends playing against each other all the time. Chuck O’Heron, Tracy Ryan, Bobby Whalen, Tom Houston, Players that were so much better than I was. By playing them it made me such a better player. They showed me how to practice!
Were you instantly hooked or did it take time to settle in? From day one!
Did you know that decision would affect the course of your life for decades to follow? I had no idea! That this game would pretty much be a huge part of my life for the last 25 years – I love this game!!!
What’s your most favorite vacation spot? That has to be Las Vegas! The City That Doesn’t Sleep! My vacation every year is Worlds. I get to do my two favorite things: Darts and play hard!
Who has been most influential in your development in the game? After 25 years, there are too many to mention, without forgetting someone. I wouldn’t be playing today if it weren’t for Michelle out of the Channel Marker. When my shoulder was bad off, and I didn’t want to play anymore, she made me play on an in-house team with her. And it worked! I just would like to thank you Michelle!
How do you feel about playing against lower-rated players? I’ll play against anybody, high-rated or low-rated. I don’t play the player, I play the board! As far as low players go, I don’t mind at all about playing low-rateds. In fact, in leagues and tournaments I’ll play with a low-rated player before I’ll play with a high-rated player.
What is your beverage of choice? Bud Light and Patron (But most of all, coffee with cream).
For those of us that weren’t there, what was it like playing darts back in the golden age? That’s when darts were darts! People played darts because it was a chance for friends to get together and chat and play a little darts. Players tried their best at being the best player they could be. I use to practice every day, so I could go out Friday night and try to beat a few players back then in a tournament or a money game.
Tournaments back in the day were only 100% added or if you were lucky, you would get a 150% added. It wasn’t the money. But I remember money games after hours downtown, big money games. Even at friends’ house’s we would play. We even had a group that would travel everywhere together called the Dog Pound. There were about 25 to 40 of us in that group. And when one of us would make it to the Pit, we’d howl for our players. Medalist had to make a rule that there would be no howling during a Pit match. I guess we were a little too loud.
We all had dog names. Mine was Luckydog. We would do meat shoots all the time! We would all save up the steaks we won and get together and have a big BBQ. Or we had dart card shoots where you won a set of darts. I’ll bet you at one time, I had 30 sets of cheap darts. I would just give them away. Back then we threw darts just to play darts, it didn’t matter what we were playing for. You could always find a game somewhere.
I remember when I made the Grand Master list… I was on top of the world. Nowadays it’s, how can you keep your rating just right so you can make money! That’s wrong. There is no incentive to get better. Nowadays. Back then, darts was a way of life, and now people try and make it a job, playing darts. And in most cases they need to keep their day Job. I played leagues five nights a week and three tournaments a weekend, for almost five years. I loved this game.
Any fun or exciting stories or experiences you can share? I remember one State where all five teams made it. I had one team where we only lost 20 games all season, and in a league match you played 21 games. Four-man teams. State was one big party… and that’s an understatement! All my teams that State went two and out, but one. We made it to State on that team by luck. I told myself that this team won’t go nowhere at State.
Well, we shot Sunday morning, my team found me in the hallway all messed up, been partying all night. They got me to my room to take a shower, and that didn’t help. When the bell rang that morning, my guys played the best darts I’ve ever seen, I couldn’t even see the dart board for the first two matches. And I was the Power on that team. They dragged me around all day long. We started at 10am and finished at 1am in the morning. I woke up just about the time we march for the Pit. We never lost a match. The out that won State was a 34, we all had two chances to take it out and on my 3rd chance and my last dart, I hit the double. That was a State to remember!
Are there any other players from back in the day that are still playing? There are maybe ten players that are still playing from back then, and every season one of us stops playing!
Who are your favorite partners for leagues and/or tournaments? There are a lot of players I like playing with. I only play with people that I’m going to have fun with. And aren’t poor-sports. Players have got to remember, win or lose, you play as a team. But in leagues they had Super A Doubles, and my partner was Ron Elwood. We played nine seasons together. Those were good times. We made it to State every time.
How many times have you been to the Pit either at State or Worlds over the years? In 25 years, I won State two times, and got a 2nd one time.
Whatever became of all the trophies you’ve accumulated over the years? I had about 50 trophies most of them got broken over the years. Or I used them in tournaments to give to new players.
How has the game changed over the years? One word: MONEY.
How can location owners, coordinators and players work more effectively to ensure a positive future for our sport? There’s only one way this sport going to grow. NEW BLOOD!
What would you change about the sport that would make it more fun and get more people playing? Take away the big money and bring back a little pride!
What is your current affiliation with Flight’s in Everett? I’m the Manager at Flights. Our goal there is to have a great dart program. Owner, Ty, supports his staff and dart players. We have Ray and Mary as our Dart Coordinators. They do a great job for Flights. Each season is getting better. We made the Top Ten in Medalist.
Are their any big events coming to Flights that we ought to plan for? We have our 500 GTD each month, we also have three great challenge cups that we host. Plus, August 14th is Hot August Nights, which will be real special this year.
Well Lucky, you’re truly a giant among us. Your time served is a blessing to us all. Thanks for taking some time to clear up some of these pressing questions, it’s nice to get to know our fellow players just a little bit better. We can learn so much from those that have gone before us. We look forward to your contributions as a player and your experience as a valued human being.
