Allan’s a ‘Parkie’ for life

‘It blew me away’ was how Allan Nairne described a surprise presentation of life membership to him at the Electrinet Park course on Sunday. A large contingent of family was at the club to support Allan, who joins five other existing life members. Picture supplied

Allan Nairne is rarely lost for words.

But when Electrinet Park bestowed life membership on him on Sunday in what had been a carefully planned, almost covert operation, he was gobsmacked.

“It blew me away. I had no idea,” said Allan, who joins five other existing life members — Shirley Paku, Evan Parkin, Barry Cox, Kath Papuni and Ray Grace.

A large contingent of Allan’s  family were at the Park clubhouse for the surprise presentation, including son Pere, who travelled from Cambridge with daughter Olivia.

Grandson Brad took the unaware Allan out for some holes — his first golf in about two years — before heading into the clubhouse where Park president Wayne Carpendale presented the membership.

“It was a great day,” said Allan, who admitted having “a bit of a sob” and being left almost speechless. Almost.

Nairne “followed my mates” to Gisborne Park around 1971 after shifting to Gisborne in 1965 and joining Pirates cricket and rugby clubs. He is a life member of Pirates Cricket Club and was a long-serving player and official for the rugby club.

He estimates he stopped his  Park membership around 1975, then rejoined in 1983 and was an active  member up to a couple of years ago when hand problems brought him to the decision to end his golf.

Over those years, Allan was what he described as “a gopher” for the club, putting his fitter-turner-welder skills to great use. He was a committee member and executive committee member during some tough financial times.

He was also president for two years.

On the course, Allan didn’t light up the fairways individually, but he had a fine record in one of the club’s most sought-after men’s trophies — the Te Kanawa Cup pairs.

Nairne won it four times with good mate the late Dick Carr and once with grandson Brad (2015) — the “absolute highlight” of his golfing career.

While snooker and family handyman have been his main recreations in recent times, Allan plans to return to the golf course.

He sold his golfing scooter but has “an old scooter sitting under the tarp” he intends to fix up.

Meanwhile, he says he won’t forget Sunday’s event.

“It was one of those special days.”