Michigan Golf Journal May 2021

5 May 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com PGA Tour. When I signed that contract, I had no intentions of dropping golf. I will pursue golf for as long as I can. I’m a hockey player first, but when I’m not playing hockey, I go to the golf course and practice. I want to play as long as I can because I think they complement each other.” He added that after a pro hockey career ends, he wants to dedicate all his time to golf again and try that sport full-time as a golf pro. “Golf has been one of my loves since I was a little, tiny kid,” Codd said. “My dad taught me the game when I was about five and right when I picked up a club I fell in love with the game. He was able to go on golf trips with friends, to many parts of the world, and I got mad because I’m close to my dad and I wasn’t able to go with him,” he said as if still caught in the moment as a youngster. “So, he stuck a golf club in my hand before he left and told my mom to take me to the range across the street. I would just hammer golf balls and my mom would continue to re-tee them and I’d hit it again. I just loved it so much.” Codd – who said his dream golf foursome would be Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman and Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs – likes the way the two sports work in harmony. “My dad could see I kind of had a natural swing – which has also helped my hockey. With golf you’re out there alone, it’s a mental game and you have to stay in the shot – and if you don’t do that you can lose a tournament in one swing. I think that helps in hockey. In hockey, the slap shot compliments my golf swing. I’m able to hit the ball over 300 yards, and my hockey hands have helped my game around the green.” Codd hopes those long drives and hockey hands can lead to a high finish in the state tournament in June, ideally 6 places higher than 2019 and the top spot on the scoreboard. Not even out of high school yet and Codd’s future appears as bright as the red lamp celebrating a goal – just one of many goals in this young man’s striving to. MGJ