You don't need pointer-to-pointers to replace the entire struct, you can just do this: http://play.golang.org/p/2ZUvuyCtwr

  func main() {
    u := &User{Name: "Leto"}
    println(u.Name)
    Modify(u)
    println(u.Name)
  }
  
  func Modify(u *User) {
    *u = User{Name: "Paul"}
  }