JUST CALL ME "PIN-HIGH"
September 04 Monday 2006

With a name like mine, nicknames are hard to come by, and if any, are usually just variations of my actual name, like: Marky, Nammy, Spark, Sparky, etc. But for some reason, I’ve also picked up a couple of nicknames related to my favourite sport, that being golf.

I was less than one day old when my father took a box of cigars into his golf-club to celebrate, and I got christened “Pin-High” by his mates, (Pin-High is when you judge a shot perfectly for distance but a couple of inches left or right of the flag).

The other nickname I've picked up is "Woosie", from my days in primary school and as a tribute to the great Welsh golfer and current Ryder Cup captain, "Ian Woosenam", (I also used to sport a tartan bobble cap like him, thinking it made me desirable to the opposite sex).

I still may not be anywhere near to playing like Ian Woosenam (or dressing like him anymore), but I'm pleased to report that not only have I nailed some shots Pin-High this week, but I've chipped in twice, once from 50 yards and the other from 125 yards... beautiful. As things stand, my father and I are level on games - this next one is going to be a cracker.