An Auckland cop has died just days after completing his 15-year goal of playing every 18-hole golf course in New Zealand.
Greg Holmes, 58, embarked on the major golfing milestone after a shock bowel cancer diagnosis in 2010. He was told earlier this month that he wouldn’t live to Christmas after it was found the cancer had grown into a bile duct and was “blocking everything”.
The former New Zealand Police national clan lab (clandestine drug laboratory) manager completed his final course – of which there is understood to be 288 across the country – last Wednesday.
“I never imagined I’d be feeling this bad a couple of months ago. It’s taken everything I own to get out of bed this morning. They put me on steroids for the day just to get me through the round,” he told the Herald at Marlborough Golf Club in Blenheim.
“This is my last game of golf and there’s probably going to be some tears.”
Holmes – known more commonly among friends and colleagues as Holmer – died on Monday night “surrounded by love”, his wife Carmen told the Herald.
“We can’t begin to describe the feelings we have right now. It still doesn’t feel real. We’re still waiting for you to walk through the door ... The only thing that feels real is the heavy ache in our hearts – a pain that feels immeasurable,” she said in a joint tribute with the pair’s two sons, Ben, 25, and Tom, 21.
“You were the best husband and father anyone could ever ask for. We have been truly, truly blessed. You reminded us never to take life too seriously, to live it fully, to never give up, and to never miss an opportunity to take the piss out of each other.
“We’ve had so many adventures together – memories we will hold on to forever. The strength you’ve shown over the last 15 years on this journey has left us in absolute awe. You set the bar high.
“You faced every challenge with courage and a bravery that only we fully witnessed. An endless battle, and still you got up every morning and kept going … still being our bravest.
“We love you, we miss you, and you’ll always be our hero.”
Paying tribute, Holmes’ closest friends said: “There are people who come into our lives, not by blood, but by the bond of the heart. That’s you and us Holmer. From the beginning you showed us love, kindness, respect. Over the years, you didn’t just become close to us, you became part of us.
“We have watched you grow, face challenges, celebrate victories ... so many fabulous memories, they will be etched in our mind forever with a tonne of love.
“Your strength, incredible and your sense of humour, simply the best.”
Detective Inspector Colin Parmenter, National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) crime manager, said the entire team across the group were deeply saddened by the loss of their colleague.
“Greg – or ‘Holmer’ as we called him – showed great strength and determination throughout his fight with cancer. He continued to work, play golf and spend quality time with his loved ones.
“He will be greatly missed by his colleagues across NOCG and the wider police whānau.
“It has been a great honour to serve alongside Holmer.
“I know current and former colleagues across the Criminal Investigation Branch and other workgroups will attest to the impact he has had throughout his service.”
“Our thoughts are with his wife, sons and wider family for their loss.”
Despite his limited timeline, he was able to still fully appreciate the scenery around the golf course last week.
“Look at this. How could you not love this? This is a beautiful part of the world ... It almost looks like one of those paintings looking out at those hills,” he said while driving down the 16th fairway – the third-to-last hole of golf he’d ever play.
Holmes played his final hole of golf with his family and was followed by an army of his closest friends – as more waited behind the green with a bottle of champagne.
And when he sank the final putt of his life at 4.47pm, there was not a dry eye at Marlborough Golf Club.
“I’ve had some wonderful life experiences ... Just doing stuff with your kids, that’s always a highlight,” he said.
“Even though I’m dying, I consider myself so lucky. My family, my friends. Not many guys have people like this around them the whole time ... [I’ve] lived it to the fullest.”
Holmes worked for the NZ Police for almost 32 years, focusing on drugs and organised crime. He took over as the national clan lab manager in 2018.
“I went into drugs and organised crime really early. I classify those people as the real criminals. They make it a living to destroy people’s lives and benefit from it,” he said.
“Organised crime in New Zealand is just getting out of hand.”
A former colleague told the Herald he arrived at the Otara Police Station in 1995 as a fresh-faced kid from Central Otago on his first posting out of Police College.
“I was partnered with Greg early on, and little did I know, he’d become one of my closest friends.
“Our families have stayed connected over the years, sharing countless catch-ups and some pretty significant milestones together. We’ve made amazing memories, and even though we’ve ended up living on different islands, we never lost touch.
“I’ve been on more than a few of the golf trips as the token South Islander, [and am] always impressed by how many different people Holmer managed to bring together.
“Adios, old guns. We’re imagining you teeing off for 18 with our mate Bob.”
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers sport and breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.