Cody Laskey - Tough As Nails

Cody and his twin sister Roxanne were born in Busselton Hospital, WA on January 6, 1989.

His mother Sue was told that Cody has the developmental birth defect, Spina Bifida. They were flown to Perth by The Royal Flying Doctors Service to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), where the family spent three weeks while Cody underwent two surgeries, the first to repair his back, and 10 days later, the second surgery on his brain.

The family were told that Cody most likely would not walk, and that he may be mentally challenged. It was a devastating time for the family. What the doctors and specialists did not take into account was the fighting spirit in the little kid that would prove their expectations wrong.

Over the years, Cody had many visits to PMH to monitor his progress, and for a number of various surgeries. Many of those surgeries were on his legs, hips and feet, to improve his chances of not being wheelchair bound.

As he grew from infant to baby to toddler, he slowly began standing up on his own, and then started walking with a walking frame with wheels. He then progressed to crutches, which improved his mobility tenfold. He would run on his crutches downhill at times, and you would wonder how he didn't topple over.

With every visit to PMH, the specialists were much more than pleased with his progress, and worked hard to keep his mobility progress moving forward. Cody also had his twin sister Roxy, who was a very active little girl, to keep up with. And the fact that Cody did want to keep up with her, and his peers, did push him more to keep active.

Growing up Cody had a good lifestyle. As he grew up in the country and by the beach, he loved being outside, exploring, getting dirty. He learnt to swim in the ocean, where he spent many warm days. He had an interest in insects and wildlife at an early age. His mother, Sue recalls “When he wanted to try something new or what I thought could be dangerous for him, I usually said yes (reluctantly). I didn't want him to miss out on being a kid because of his disability. I never wrapped him in cotton wool”.

He almost drowned a few times in the ocean when he was young, and a few times while knee boarding, but then again a lot of young children have narrow escapes. Cody was no different.

He started to learn Karate at age 7, and trained at the Margaret River Karate Club for years. At age 13, while visiting family in the U.S., he trained privately and very intensively with his sister under a Karate master, (who was also disabled) and who had won national championships in the U.S.

But, then he discovered golf.

He began taking lessons at the Margaret River golf course weekly, where Graham "Bone" Farrell (who soon became Cody's mentor), was giving weekly golf lessons to the local youngsters. He joined the club as a junior member, and after some years, he started competing in the club's competitions.

Some of the adults were sceptical of his playing ability, but as usual Cody proved people wrong. He wins competitions playing against able-bodied players, and is never short of a playing partner. Members of the club actually seek him out to have him as a partner and he has become somewhat of an institution at Margaret River Golf Club.

Cody attended school in Margaret River and his school and close friends to this day include Kristie Smith, the rising star of woman’s professional golf, her brother Ryan, a handy 1 handicapper and star WAFL footy player, and Kerrod Grey who represented Australia in the 2008 World Junior Golf Championships in China.

His love of animals and wanting to work with them, has led him to study at a veterinary nursing school in Perth. He will graduate at the end of 2010, as a qualified veterinary nurse.

Cody has been an inspiration to many people. Life has not been an easy sail for him, but he conducts it like it has been. He lives life with a gentle, laid-back attitude, but with a barrier free determination. He is well known and respected in the community, and has inspired many people in a positive way.

Cody still relies on callipers and crutches to get around, although he tries to minimise the use of crutches to help build strength and co-ordination.

Golfing Highlights

• His first club competition with an official handicap of 36 at Margaret River Golf Club in 2003
• His first club competition victory in in 2004 with 42 stableford points as a 30 handicapper (Cody has won many more club competitions since then)
• His first Club Championship win in 2006 when he and partner Henri Liebenberg won the 36 hole Margaret River 4BBB annual Club Championship at the 2nd play-off hole
• In 2006 Cody was invited to attend and watch the Australian Masters Golf Tournament at Huntingdale and to play 18 holes with Stuart Appleby at the Capital Golf Club the day after the Masters. Appleby was so impressed that he had Cody fitted for a set of golf clubs and presented Cody with a full set of Bridgestone woods, irons and bag
• In 2007, playing in the Western Australian State Disabled Golf Open, Cody not only won the junior category, but came second in the Open event
• One of his most remarkable achievements came during the 72 hole Margaret River Golf Club Championships in 2009 when he came second in the overall Nett division to miss out on the Paddy Barret Trophy by one shot.
• A surreal and unlikely second 4BBB Club Championship win at Margaret River Golf Club in 2010 with partner Henri Liebenberg, who had a below knee amputation six months prior to the event, capped an amazing string of achievements. To the best of our knowledge, two physically disabled golfers have never won a major 4BBB Club Championship against able bodied golfers anywhere in the world

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