Mr Dearden (57) was born with club feet and spent 53 years of his life in crippling pain before having the bottom half of his right leg amputated four years ago.
He said the procedure gave him a new lease on life.
His daughter described it as equating to a "personality transplant".
"I would recommend amputation to anyone with club feet. It is the best thing I've ever done.
"If my left leg gets as sore as the right one did, I will have it amputated without hesitation," he said.
Mr Dearden has organised this week's 2008 Amputee Golf Tournament at Cromwell, which will take place on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
He decided to host the tournament after participating in the last two annual events, held at Waiheke Island.
Mr Dearden said more than 20 amputees from throughout New Zealand and Australia will join him on the golf course, where 36 holes will be played.
Initially, about 50 signed up to participate, but some opted instead for the week-long Australian amputee golf tournament, starting on Monday in Adelaide.
"The good thing about golf for amputees is you can play on a level playing field, because we all have handicaps.
"Those who can't manage to walk the course will be supplied with golf buggies," he said.
Two players with both legs amputated will take to the course, as well as men and women with either an arm or leg missing.
Mr Dearden's prosthetic leg, made especially for playing golf, comes complete with shock absorbers and the flexibility to turn when he swings the club.
"Amputation has given me a far more active life.
"I get phantom pain sometimes but I can live with that," he said.
Life without amputation was miserable, he said.
"I've had pins through my feet and had them fused.
"Doctors didn't really know what to do with club feet when I was growing up in Christchurch in the 1950s, so they mucked around with them a lot," he said.
During the last few years leading up to his amputation, Mr Dearden had to use a cane to walk because the pain in his foot was so severe.
He had to stop working, although he said receiving a benefit was never his thing, and he did not qualify for ACC, as he was born with the problem.
"I've advised a lot of people with club feet to get amputation . . . I should have done it 30 years ago," he said.
