The Committee nominated John for this prestigious honour for his extraordinary contribution to the maintenance of the Urunga Golf course over the past decade.

There are very few days go by when John is not on the course undertaking tasks from the most menial, like raking up pine cones to the most labour intensive, like removing dead tree stumps and limbs by axe, pick and shovel.

Over the years, the number of voluntary hours contributed is staggering.

Through every one of those hours, John has been unstinting in his commitment to the club. He has maintained the most cooperative of attitudes towards golfers, been helpful in advice to greenkeepers and staff without seeking to impose opinion and has never been phased by the challenges of this region’s fickle weather.

One could do little but marvel at the man during the flood events of the past few years when you would see him with wheelbarrow and shovel removing silt from fairways square metre by square metre, chipping introduced weeds one by one and then runner-by-runner planting out bare patches.

Then to have to start again because another flood has occurred... simply fantastic.

Long-standing members of the men’s golf recognise that the course is in as good a condition as ever. This is in no small part due the patronage of the C.ex group but the contribution of John McKenzie needs to also be factored in.