COMMENTARY, Feb. 22 -- In my many years covering golf, if there was one person I met who was truly passionate about the game in the purest sense, it was J. Rathakrishnan. The former Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) general manager loved golf for what it was and what it could do, not for what it could bring him, and that remained true until his death on Saturday, February 20 at age 75.

Born in Sungai Petani but domiciled in Ipoh for much of his golden years, Ratha - as he is fondly known in golfing circles and to friends - enjoyed a distinguished teaching career which included a spell in Kuala Terengganu at the teacher's training college in Pasir Panjang. Apres teaching having retired as senior assistant at ACS Ipoh, and following a few y...