Back row, from left, Lewis Lightsey, Bill Koch, Sadie Hodge, Therman Hodge and Billy Pomeroy. Front row, from left, Michael Koch and April Koch. 

Bill Koch purchased his son, Michael Koch, a plastic set of golf clubs shortly after the toddler could walk. By the time he was 4 years old, the two were fixtures on their local golf course.

It wasn’t long until the pupil surpassed his teacher.

Bill Koch said the moment he knew his son had a special talent was when the elder Koch ended up on the losing end of a round for the first time.

“It was his 12th birthday,” Bill Koch said. “We had his birthday party at the golf course at NAS Meridian. We played a round on his birthday, and I think he shot an 87. I remember it very distinctly.”

Thursday afternoon, Michael Koch, flanked by family members, coach Lewis Lightsey and Northwood Country Club golf pro Billy Pomeroy, inked his commitment to play golf at Meridian Community College in a ceremony at Northeast Lauderdale’s library.

“I started playing when I was 4, and I picked it up,” Michael Koch said. “I’ve loved it ever since. I remember playing with people from church when I was little, and they would always come out, and we would just play and have fun.”

Michael Koch’s impact as a high school golfer was immediate. As a freshman, he won the district championship after shooting a 73 at Quitman Country Club in 2014.

“It kind of surprised everybody — I surprised myself,” Michael Koch said. “It was a high point. Once I played that good, I knew that I could play good enough to hopefully continue on and play competitive golf.”

 Since his 2014 district crown, the senior has led Northeast Lauderdale to a top-five finish in 2016, has medaled in six tournaments and has helped the Trojans earn six wins in eight matches this season. Like Bill Koch, Lightsey said Michael Koch’s talents were evident early. 

“He came to us as a ninth grader, and has kind of been the leader of our golf team for the last four years,” Lightsey said. “His impact was immediate. His dad and Michael were practicing before, and he would practice with us sometimes when he was going to his other school before he came here. And we kind of hit it off and liked each other. He comes from a great family, and he’s a great young man.”

While Thursday’s ceremony celebrated Michael Koch’s future, his thoughts were on the current golf season and returning to the state tournament.

“My first goal would be to make it to the state championship again for senior year,” he said. “If we get there, I think we have a really good shot at winning a state championship this year. Hopefully, we can win as a team, and (I can) place as an individual.”

Therman and Sadie Hodge beamed with pride as they stood near their only grandson Tuesday as he signed his paperwork. 

“He’s special because he’s our only grandson, but he’s special because he’s such a wonderful young man,” Therman Hodge said. “In his spiritual life, and in his practical life, and his school life, he’s well rounded and thoughtful and is just a great young man. We’re just proud of him. He’s decided to play golf, and that’s wonderful, because he does a lot of things well, and this is just one of them.”

Michael Koch is also the son of April Koch.