GOLF-CHAT: Graham Fabricius – fishing’s loss is golf’s gain
Golfer Graham Fabricius of St Mike's is a member of the Southern KwaZulu-Natal league team. He has also played for the KZN Country Districts team. Graham works in the pro shop at Port Shepstone Country Club. He could have fished for his country by now possibly, but chose golf instead.
Age? 26
Birthday? October 4.
Second name? None
Nickname? G-Fab.
ALSO READ: SPORTS-CHAT: Gavin Sole – captain of the KZN golf team
Who introduced you to golf? My father, Ivan.
Which clubs have you been a member at? Port Shepstone Country Club, starting out with Pro-Vision.
Which was the first golf course you ever played at? Port Shepstone Country Club.
What is your career highlight? Winning the 2016 KwaZulu-Natal Country Districts strokeplay championships, holding off Gavin Sole down the stretch.
Golf course you would love to play that you haven’t already and why? Augusta National. I love creativity on a course, especially around greens, and at Augusta you need a lot of that.
Provincial colours in any other sport? KZN colours for deep-sea fishing.
Schools you attended? Suid-Natal Primary and High School, FET College in Oslo Beach.
If you could have won any of the Majors, which one? The Masters.
Funniest thing you have ever experienced on the golf course? Seeing a visitor at Port Shepstone CC (not realising where he was going) driving his golf cart over the bank and into the water on the 17th. Fortunately he was okay and he also saw the funny side.
Holes in one (where)? 12th hole at Durban Country Club, 8th and 17th at Port Shepstone Country Club.
Albatross? Not yet.
Dream fourball amateur, dream fourball pro? Amateur – father Ivan, cousin Werner Oosterhuis and uncle Jannie Malan; pro – Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson.
Beef or chicken: Chicken.
World Cup final, T20 cricket or rugby? Rugby.
Countries you have been to? None.
Player you’d choose to hole a 6 foot putt to save your life – one pro and one amateur? Pro – Tommy Fleetwood; amateur – Gavin Sole.
Luckiest shot that mattered? Can’t think of one that mattered.
One shot or round or moment you’d like to take over? In last year’s club champs at Sheppie I made 9 in the first round and ended up losing by two shots. I should have hit a 9-iron from the tee instead of wedge.
Ever broken a club, what happened? Four times! Two driver shafts, both due to a sliced tee shot, on the 6th and 9th. Two lob wedges, duffed bunker shot on the 8th and a duffed chip on the 11th. All at Port Shepstone CC.
Ever felt like quitting? Yes, usually when the back is acting up.
Ever had an N/R? Yes, due to injury.
Which do you prefer, strokeplay or matchplay and why? Matchplay. The nerves don’t stop, each hole is a new hole, and the feeling of winning a one-on-one match is satisfying.
What irritates you most in golf? Slow greens.
Best and worst advice received? Worst – you lifted your head and you have to hit a divot. Best – Turn through onto your left side and don’t fall back
Historical figure (dead or alive) you would liked to have met? Tiger Woods, Paul Walker, Robin Williams.
Advice to anyone taking up the game? Never get cocky, play with integrity and never cheat.
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