North Shore Golf Club course superintendent Dane Hawker is shaken up after the discovery.

The man who found missing grandfather Bill Davies had made a toast to him three days before the discovery.

Davies, 74, was reported as missing from his rest home in Albany on Auckland's North Shore on September 9.

He suffers from PSP, a condition that affects his mobility, balance and ability to think clearly.

RACHAEL CLARKE/FAIRFAX NZ Bill Davies has been found at the North Shore Golf Club five days after he went missing.

Police search and rescue teams spent days searching in Albany and on Monday morning said the search would only resume if there was a public sighting.

But a short time later, at 10.20am, North Shore Golf Club course superintendent Dane Hawker discovered Davies alive and lying in swampy gorse next to the driving range.

"It was so scary. When I found him I honestly thought he was gone."

RACHAEL CLARKE/FAIRFAX NZ Hawker had to cut through this netting to get to the grandfather.

Hawker said it was Davies moving his eyes that alerted him to the fact that he was alive.

"He couldn't move. He didn't move once the whole time," the 36-year-old said.

The area where Davies was lying was completely netted off for the driving range and Hawker had to cut through it to get to him.

"I've got no idea how he got there. It doesn't make sense."

Davies lives on Bass Rd, on the other side of the Appleby Rd golf course.

"It's pretty unlikely that he's come across the golf course. There are two creeks that he would have to get through," Hawker said.

"He can't have done it during the day either. Anyone that walks across our golf course is reported – no public are allowed to walk on it."

Davies said it was pure luck that he chose to drive past the bush this morning.

"You wouldn't be able to see him from anywhere else."

Hawker had worked at the golf course for 12 years and was very shaken up.

He and a few of his workmates spent most of September 11 searching for Davies.

"We were going to knock off early but then the police and a search and rescue team turned up."

A helicopter was also at the course that day.

After no luck finding Davies, Hawker and his workmates shared a beer together that night for Davies.

Waitemata Police said Davies has been transported to hospital in a status two condition.

His sons were now with him.