Alexandra golfer John Roche (81) was named in the hall of fame at the Central Otago Sports Awards recently.

John said it was an honour to receive the plaudit for the game of golf.

A group of mates said to join them for a round in Wānaka on Friday and to bring a shirt and tie along as they were heading out for dinner afterwards.

“I was more than very surprised to get the award,” he said. 

John’s life in golf began as a caddy for his dad at Dunedin’s Chisholm Park. 

At the age of eight or nine he would carry the clubs in the freezing wind for a hot pie and a glass of lemonade.

He had no idea that would lead him to a “very satisfying career” in Central’s “perfect climate for golf” as a professional.

At Kings High school he played cricket and rugby, and after his school years he took up golf.

Career highlights of his younger years are representing Otago for 10 years, winning the New Zealand University Championship in 1962 in Christchurch, and gaining selection into the Australasian University team.

“I was awarded a university blue which I was very proud of.”

The "blue" was a prestigious award for excellence in sport and recognised national excellence through to world champions. 

In 1971, in Central Otago he turned professional and was encouraged to do so by orchardist Jeff Taylor and accountant John Weaver.

“There were no other golf pros outside of Dunedin and Christchurch in the whole of the South Island.”

He used to organise popular golf tours in the 1970s, taking bus loads of golfers to Roxburgh, Alexandra, Cromwell, Wānaka and Queenstown.

Eight months of the year, every Monday he would travel to a different Central Otago location “Ranfurly, Roxburgh, Queenstown and all the places in between” and run coaching sessions.   

A stint away from Central took his family to Hamilton, where they bought and ran Westlands Golf Course.

Together with wife Dawn, he moved back to Central to retire in 2005.

He gave up his professional status in 2000 and “struck form” again, rekindling his passion for playing, after being on the business side of golf when he owned the course.

“I managed to get into the New Zealand senior team for over 50s, I was 65 at the time. 

“I went to Bangalore in India as part of a six-man team. We won the trophy for the 13th Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Golf Championships [in 2007].”  

John with the plate he won in Bangalore as an senior amateur. PHOTO: The Central App

Coaching has been another aspect of his golfing life he has found rewarding.

“Seeing the benefit you can make to people as they improve . . . it can help make the walk more pleasant. [Coaching] is a pleasure you can’t put money or time on.”

Until two years ago John was coaching for free on Sundays and he still runs a ‘swingers’ group for lady golfers of around 15 participants at a time.

He’s been recognised with a life membership of the Alexandra Golf Club, and been on the board of the New Zealand Golf Association while he was pro and contributed to Golf Otago, and the New Zealand Golf Council (the group for amateur golfers).

He’s left his mark on many tournaments in the region including the Central Otago Charity Golf Classic, the Sunshine Classic, the Golf Trilogy in Wānaka and Central Otago. 

“I’ve just resigned from the committee of the senior tournament, at 81, fairly pleased to hand it over.”

The Central App asked the grandfather of five if he’s still playing.

“Once or twice a week, I still play and I enjoy it . . . I try to do better, try to improve, otherwise you might as well not be there.

“As long as I can walk around a golf course I’ll keep playing.”

His advice for those still learning, “there’s nobody I’ve ever struck that can’t play golf . . . be prepared in golf not to panic and yes, you’ll have some bad days.”