Howard Ward, Golf Writer

The quality of Howard Ward's writing and his longevity as a golf reporter for newspapers and golf publications put him in elite company in the Carolinas.

Ward's honest appraisal of the game and the people who play it has greatly benefited the sport. When circumstances called, he has shown the toughness required of a good reporter, but he was never one to take cheap shots for the sake of spicing up stories. He continues to cover golf with integrity that all reporters should emulate.

Ward worked for the Fayetteville Observer for 41 years, the last 27 years as sports editor, retiring in 1997. He has worked since 1998 as lead golf writer for The Pilot newspaper in Southern Pines/Pinehurst, and has freelanced for Golfweek, Golf World and Golf Magazine, as well as for newspapers in Great Britain and Canada. He was editor of the Golf Record of the Carolinas for eight years, has been a CGRA member since 1970, served as vice-president in 1979 and president in 1980, during which the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame was organized, and served on the Hall of Fame selection committee through 2008.

He's covered 22 Masters, seven U.S. Men's Opens, three PGA Championships, three U.S. Women's Opens, two U.S. Amateur Championships, two PGA Tour Championships and one LPGA Championship,. In addition, he has covered scores of other PGA and LPGA events as well as Carolinas Golf Association, CPGA Section events and numerous local events.

Ward penned what might've been the first national article on Michelle Wie for Golfweek when she competed in the 2000 WAPL Championship at Legacy Golf Links as a 10-year-old. He's won numerous North Carolina Press Association and CGRA awards, and has been recognized by the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association for continued reporting of members' activities.