He got his foot in the door as a volunteer and then was offered an apprenticeship.
His hard work was recognised as he graduated to become the second-youngest superintendent of a golf course in the country.
“I was given the opportunity to run one of the top links courses in the country,” he said.
“I was backed by Eric Gordon, Cam Taylor and Bruce More. They gave me a chance and I took it.”
Walker works with two other full-time greenkeepers at Poverty Bay Golf Club, making sure the course is in immaculate playing condition.
“I've been very fortunate to work with some great colleagues, like William Brown and Hamish Douglas.”
Walker is taking time off after a successful New Zealand amateur championship held on Awapuni Links last week.
It is the most prestigious event the course has held in his tenure as superintendent.
“Planning for a national event occurs months, sometimes years, before,” he said.
“It takes a lot to come together for it all to be a success. That's the most satisfying part of the job.”
Walker said he treated the course as if it were his baby, as had seen it develop and grow in his time there.
Close to a million dollars had been invested in the course over his years in charge, primarily with upgrades to machinery and irrigation.
As a former Poverty Bay-East Coast representative, Walker knows a thing or two about playing golf, too, but said he had not been playing as much as he used to.
He is looking forward to the challenge of his role at Jack's Point.
“Everything is on a bigger scale,” he said. “There are nine or 10 guys on the maintenance crew.”
He's excited about the move to Queenstown, having holidayed there for the past few years and fallen in love with the region.
