Saujana Golf & Country Club recently made a contribution to the family of the club’s late ambassador and teaching pro V. Nellan.
The cash contribution comprised collections from the club’s members, board of directors and staff. An icon of Malaysian golf, the well-loved Nellan passed away on May 16 due to heart complications. He had been attached to Saujana for close to three decades.
“We left a donation box at the main lobby for members to contribute cash and supplemented that with contributions from the board and our staff, all of whom were very fond of Nellan,” said Saujana general manager SA Nathan.
“Additionally, our golf chairman KM Lee organised a separate collection from the golf committee members, while one of our members William Chan also handed us his personal contribution to pass on to Nellan’s family.”
Nathan added that many club members had asked him for the family’s bank account number so they could contribute directly. “I also received many phone calls from KGNS (Kelab Golf Negara Subang) members asking how they could contribute, so we gave them the bank account number of Nellan’s daughter, Shanti.”
Nathan noted that they will be starting a campaign soon to promote Nellan’s biography, aptly titled The Legend. “We will organise a launch and book-signing sessions with the authors Bob Holmes and PC Shivadas at the club on selected weekends. The dates are still being confirmed but it will be soon.”
The eldest of 10 siblings who grew up around Royal Selangor Golf Club, Nellan started out in golf as a caddie in his early teens. He turned professional in 1969 and enjoyed a storied playing career, although local tournaments were sparse during his heyday.
Nellan won two professional titles, the 1985 Tasek Cement Matchplay and the 1987 Malaysian PGA Championship, and represented Malaysia in two World Cups of Golf including the 1977 edition in Manila where he and Bobby Lim finished 11th.
As his playing career wound down, Nellan turned successfully to teaching and had stints at KGNS, Tasik Utara Golf Club (now known as Johor Golf Club) and Seremban International Golf Club before joining Saujana. While fulfilling his ambassadorial duties for Saujana, Nellan spent a lot of his time over the last few years travelling all over the country and to other parts of Asia to teach the game he loved to beginners and juniors.
Nellan is survived by wife Letchimi, sons Surendran and Tharvindren, daughter Shanti, son-in-law Mogana Krishnan, daughters-in-law Chan Mee Cheng and Lai Siew Shing, and three grandchildren.
Note: To help cover the publishing and distribution costs of V. Nellan’s biography, The Legend, make a contribution via the Simply Giving crowd-funding portal by clicking here. All excess funds will be channeled to the family.
