Johns gave $875 to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's guide dog services in return for the watch which has very special meaning for the 69-year-old man from Christchurch.
He signed up to become a caddy with the Shirley Golf Course in Christchurch when he was just 8 years old.
If he had been allowed to sign up earlier, he would have.
At 10, Johns caddied for Ray Blank, a prominent Canterbury golfer-turned golf course designer, on the first day of the 1950 New Zealand Open at Christchurch.
Following that tournament, Johns took possession of the number 8 pin flag which he held on to ever since until giving it to Doug Jacques, Michael Hill's son-in-law, three years ago.
On Thursday, he got it back, along with a 2010 New Zealand Open watch, number 230 of just 500 made.
Johns said yesterday it was just so exciting.
The pin flag was autographed by Hill last night and would be returned to Johns to keep until such time as he returned it at a future New Zealand Open to be re-auctioned.
The watch, however, was staying firmly fixed on Johns' wrist.
Unfortunately, Johns was not able to meet Sir Bob Charles, one of his boyhood heroes.
"I used to go straight from school to [the course] and I would play every day.
"[Sir] Bob Charles would always beat me there because he was a teller at National Bank in Christchurch. [He] would lay down a bag full of balls and hit them. He would hit every ball."
When asked about his first experience at The Hills, Johns paused before again beaming.
"It's been great. It's just great to be here.
"Just the atmosphere . . . by joves, things have changed since 1950."
