On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Barrow Neurological Foundation will host the inaugural Barrow Open, presented by PXG with special support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
This inaugural golf tournament will take place at the iconic TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, home to “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the WM Phoenix Open. Thanks to support from the Committee Chair Laurie Carson and all the resolute committee members, sponsors, and donors, The Barrow Open is sure to be an unforgettable experience at one of the country’s most famous courses.
Proceeds from The Barrow Open will benefit the new Golf Neuroscience Research Laboratory at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. This state-of-the-art lab is dedicated to helping golfers with back pain or injury safely return to their game by establishing uniform, science-backed treatment guidelines.
Golfing and Back Pain
When it comes to back pain, the modern golf swing is no laughing matter: it is a contact sport that can cause serious physical injury. Just look at the numbers:
- More than 130,000 golf-related injuries are treated each year
- About 35% of amateur golfers experience sport-related back injuries
- Golfers are 2.5 times more likely to suffer a lumbar spine injury than non-golfers
- Nearly 80% of injuries occur in golfers who are 30 years or older
Despite these staggering statistics, little evidence-based research exists on the exact cause of golfers’ back pain, how to treat it best, and when it will be safe to return to the game. The Barrow Golf Lab is looking to change this paradigm.
The Golf Neuroscience Research Lab
Led by renowned neurosurgeon Randall Porter, MD, and leading interventional spine specialist and physiatrist Scott Kreiner, MD, the Barrow Golf Lab will develop uniform treatment guidelines for golfers through:
- Studying the biomechanics of the modern golf swing
- Conducting pre- and post-injury research on professional and amateur athletes
- Collecting data on golfers before and after spine surgery
The Barrow Golf Lab will use innovative analytic equipment that measures more than one thousand points on a golfer’s body to evaluate whether the biomechanics of their swing could contribute to back pain. The team will emphasize collaborating with golfers at all levels on this research and, over time, will develop a comprehensive database of healthy and potentially harmful golf swings for further investigation.
“We’re not here to teach you how to hit farther, but how to hit healthier.” – Randall Porter, MD
Barrow Neurological Institute
Led by President and CEO Michael T. Lawton, MD, Barrow Neurological Institute is an internationally recognized leader in the neurosciences. It treats patients with a wide range of conditions, including brain and spinal tumors, neuromuscular diseases, aneurysms, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injuries, and more.
Barrow Neurological Foundation
Barrow Neurological Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to provide Barrow Neurological Institute with the resources to conduct its mission of saving lives through groundbreaking research, innovative treatment, and world-class education and training for future leaders in neuroscience.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture, and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation’s giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education, and a safe place to call home.
PXG
Parsons Xtreme Golf was founded in 2013 by entrepreneur, philanthropist, and golf nut Bob Parsons, who wanted to prove he could get more out of his golf equipment. With revolutionary patented technology, the world’s finest materials, and zero cost or time restraints, PXG products are golf clubs without compromise.