In Memoriam - It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of 64-year PGA member Gary Parkinson.

Gary was a passionate, much respected and much-loved PGA member who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
On behalf of all of our members, the PGA sends our sincere condolences to all of his family and friends at this most difficult time.


Gary James Parkinson
Born: 15th July 1958 in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Named ‘Gary’ after Gary Player.

Gary started his apprenticeship under his father Jim at Penninsula GC in 1974. On finishing his apprenticeship, he played tournaments in Fiji and then spent some time playing in Sweden. Gary also played for many years on the New Zealand circuit and most of the Pro-Am events with some success.


On his return and realising that tournament golf wasn’t for him he became a sales rep for MacGregor Golf, a golf company that had reinvented itself from earlier years. Gary was a very successful salesman and certainly helped put MacGregor on the map here in New Zealand.

After a few years with MacGregor, he went to work for Spaldings, another worldwide golf company. Gary was very well known and respected by all his customers, most of them being PGA members.

With the takeover of Spaldings by Callaway, Gary moved on to his other passion, coaching. He worked at North Shore GC, then split his time between Huapai and Muriwai in 2007 before becoming full-time at Muriwai GC a few years ago.

Gary had a good following at all the clubs he coached at but really excelled with his Junior coaching. Come rain hail or shine he had good numbers of Juniors out there on the practice fairway most Sunday mornings for a couple of hours. His commitment to all clubs was second to none and he will be missed by all of his pupils.

In between golf, selling and coaching Gary found time to get out on the water and go fishing. Like everything else he gave it 100% and got his fair share of snapper!
Gary is survived by his lovely wife Andrea, daughter Emma, son Matthew, sisters Colleen and Linda and his Mum Eleanor.


Note from Andrew Jackson, GM, Muriwai Golf Club:
Gary was a teaching Professional at Muriwai (and Huapai) for many years and had been running the Muriwai Junior coaching clinics for 20 years. He did in fact teach both my daughters Caitlin and Emma. They, like the rest of the Juniors, will really miss Gary. He had so much patience with them all.

Emma was almost two years old when Gary allowed her to join the clinics. I think she was his favourite calling her Miss Emma.
As well as actual golf coaching he also taught the kids etiquette. Where to stand, how to mark the ball, no talking, and care for the course.

Over the last three years, we worked together with our “SheLovesGolf” campaigns. Again he was so patient with the ladies. We introduced golf to 190 of these women. They all enjoyed Gary’s company. And compassion.

Gary was a great family man and so proud of his two kids Emma and Matt. He was also regarded as part of our team at Muriwai, and we will all miss him.