That was why he joined dozens of others to sing and strum western tunes at the three-day Gold'N'Notes Hoedown at Cromwell Racecourse at the weekend.
The event, in its 29th year, attracted more than 800 people. Mr Sugrue performed original songs, including one he wrote 30 years ago called Mixing Drinks.
''It's about a guy who pops into a bar to lick his wounds.
''My songs are about growing up, and they seem to age well.''
He loved country music for its simplicity.
''All you need is three chords and you can play 1000 tunes.
''You can create a picture in someone's mind with a few words.''
Mr Sugrue had a neck problem which worked its way down his arm, making it difficult to grip with his forefinger.
''I have to superglue the pick on to my thumb. It gets a bit messy to peel off afterwards.''
He was given his first guitar, a Vox acoustic, at the age of 4.
''It was a lousy wee thing; the strings were made from cheap wire.''
Growing up in Waimate, his mother would take him and his brother Bernie to the country clubs in Oamaru and Pareora.
His gave his first live performance when he was 12, at a country music competition in Oamaru.
The brothers, as a duet, sang Willie Nelson's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and made it into the final.
Even the meeting of his parents in the 1950s revolved around a guitar.
''Dad asked her if he could tune her guitar for her. She said `no, I'm quite capable of doing it myself thankyou'.''
Mr Sugrue and wife Imogene own Cromwell's Victoria Arms Hotel and live on a section by the Kawarau River outside the town with their daughter Tralee and son Troy.
