Ben Ward
Oceanography student, Naval Academy
Ben Ward has been paired for rounds of golf with admirals, captains and commanders.
The former Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe student has enjoyed down time at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club with officers who outrank him and gentlemen who have more years of service than he’s been alive.
But on the course, rank doesn’t matter.
“If you don’t make yourself look stupid, you’ll be OK,” Ward said. “They don’t judge you too much on how well you play, so as long as you don’t make a fool out of yourself, you’re OK.”
Ward batted around a bucket of balls at Moccasin Bend earlier this month to warm up for a round with two folks who can give him orders — his father and his fiancee.
He gets a little more than one month every summer to return home and enjoy some leave time with family and friends.
“I love the game, so this won’t be the only day I’ll spend on a golf course,” Ward said. “I’m on my month of leave right now, and pretty much the rest of the summer is training.”
Ward is studying oceanography in Annapolis, yet his future goals have more to do with the air than the water.
“I’d love to get into flight school,” Ward said. “Your major doesn’t play a big part in what you do after you graduate. As long as you’re prepared and you can do it, then you’re good.”