Paul Colleran, one of the leading superintendents in the Northwest and the only superintendent in the history of Aldarra Golf Club in Sammamish, Wash., died Oct. 8 after a nearly yearlong battle with brain cancer. He was 54.
After achieving tremendous results for 10 years as the superintendent at Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Colleran was brought in during the development stages of the Tom Fazio-designed Aldarra course in 1999.
"He carried an attitude that Aldarra was a special place," said his assistant, Sean Reehoorn. "It was important that we as staff understood how special it was and to treat each and every task with that in mind."
In a letter to the membership at Aldarra, the Board of Directors wrote, "Paul loved Aldarra, and was proud of the many projects he led, as well as the superb condition of the course. He made it clear that coming to work was a joy to him, all the way to the end."
Colleran was born Jan. 20, 1960, the fourth of five boys to Tom and Mireille Colleran in Seattle. He attended Bellevue's Interlake High School and played two years on the University of Oregon golf team. He took a year off school to work on the greens crew at Seattle's Broadmoor Golf Club, and once he realized he wanted to be a golf course superintendent, he transferred to Oregon State University where he earned a turfgrass management degree.
He is survived by his wife Joan, a PGA professional and the tournament assistant for the Western Washington Chapter of the PGA. They have two sons, Troy and Bryce.
The family asks that donations be made to the Joan Colleran 529 College Savings Account, a scholarship fund for Troy and Bryce.
The donations can be mailed to:
Morgan Stanley
Attn: Matt Bridge
500 -- 108th Ave NE, Suite 1900
Bellevue, WA 98004
