Carl Paul

Carl Paul, a pioneer in the golf club component industry that led to the golf retail chain Golfsmith, died last week in Austin Texas, home since 1973. He was 83. Paul, who graduated from what now is known as Texas A&M, was an engineer by trade. In 1970, Carl and Barbara sent out their first mailer offering the parts necessary to make golf clubs. Golfsmith International, Inc. It eventually had 1,200 employees, 35 retail stores and a catalogue. In 2002, Golfsmith was sold to First Atlantic Capital. In 2016, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and later that year Dick’s Sporting Goods purchased it. Paul is survived by his wife Barbara and daughter Beth and husband Barry Rinke, daughter Kelly and husband Scott Redding and daughter Marnie as well as seven grandchildren.