NW superintendent leader Paul Backman passes away

The golf community lost a good friend with the untimely death of Paul Backman in April. He was 41.

A native of the Northwest, Paul was the Executive Director of the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association and Northwest Turfgrass Association for the past 12 years.

Paul was a longtime member of the NWGMA, and was instrumental in bringing several golf course superintendents in as members. He recognized the value of the sharing of information and communication among media and golf industry professionals.

Backman spearheaded efforts with the WWGCSA in coordinating the efforts of the PNGA, WSGA, Club Managers Association and Pacific Northwest Section PGA to develop a golf lobbyist position in Olympia, Wash., and was instrumental in compiling information for the Economic Impact Study for golf in Washington recently completed by the World Golf Foundation and Stanford Research Institute.