Peter Barrow didn’t grow up with a country club membership or a private swing coach. He fell in love with golf the way a lot of us do—by chance.
“I was a kid in Barbados, flipping through channels, and I caught Tiger and Sergio going head-to-head,” he says. “They were shaping shots around trees, chasing after the ball, and I just remember thinking—this looks fun. I wanted in.”
A week later, his family signed him up for lessons.
Fast forward 25 years, and Peter is now the Head Golf Pro at Altadena Golf Course in California. He’s helping players fine-tune their game and shaping the next generation of golfers.
But his journey from young fan to PGA coach wasn’t a straight line. It started with a 5:00 a.m. wakeup call and a stack of golf carts.
From Pro Shop to PGA
When Peter moved to the U.S. 12 years ago, he gave himself six months to find a job. He ended up at Altadena Golf Course—his first position was in the pro shop.
“I was the guy checking in golfers, pulling carts before sunrise, making sure everything was ready,” he says. “You learn quickly—golfers get up early.”
That’s where he met Kevin Erdman, the PGA pro at the course, who changed his trajectory.
“Kevin said, "If you love golf this much, you should really look into becoming a PGA member.” So I did.”
Peter joined the PGA of America, earned his certification, and started building a career in coaching—one early lesson at a time.
Coaching the Next Generation
Today, Peter leads a successful PGA Junior League program for kids aged 7 to 13. It’s one of his greatest passions. To him the wins are more than trophies.
“One of my students told me after a round, Coach, I stayed patient today. I focused on one shot at a time.That’s the good stuff. That’s when I know they’re learning the right way.”
But coaching is more than swing mechanics. Sometimes it’s about what players are wearing—and how that affects their ability to move, focus, and enjoy the game.
The Wrong Shoes Can End a Round
Peter shared one story that stuck with him—a reminder of just how overlooked footwear is in golf, especially for young players.
“I had a kid in my junior program come up to me mid-round saying his foot hurt. He thought it was a bee sting.”
“We checked it out—it wasn’t a sting. It was his shoes. His old golf shoes were pinching his little toe so bad, he couldn’t walk right. I had to pull him out.”
It wasn’t a one-off situation. It’s a pattern Peter sees often—shoes that look the part but don’t perform.
“The form factor we’ve accepted in golf shoes for decades just doesn’t make sense. Why are we still designing shoes that squeeze our feet after three hours?”
That’s part of why Peter now wears SQAIRZ VELO™-LTX.
The Right Fit = Real Results
Peter’s feet naturally splay outward, which made traditional golf shoes a constant battle.
“Most shoes pinch. That means I’m not pushing from the ground the right way—I’m just thinking about how bad my pinky toe hurts.”
“The roomier toe box gives me the room to settle in. I feel grounded. I feel stable. I don’t have to think about my feet anymore.”
That grounded feeling translated into measurable gains.
“I started making easier swings, and suddenly my ball was going 15–20 yards farther than usual. I didn’t change anything else. Same clubs, same conditions.”
“I can only assume I’m using the ground more efficiently. And in golf, if I can use less energy and get more out of it—that’s a win.”
For a +1 handicap, those kinds of distance gains are rare. At that level, most players are already maximizing their swing—but better ground connection gave Peter even more to work with.
Still Competing—With His Eyes on Alaska
Peter is still competing—and he's currently prepping for a U.S. Open Qualifier in Alaska.
“I’ve never been. I’m checking the weather daily. Looks like high 30s in the morning, maybe 40s and 50s midday.”
“But I’m bringing my layers—and I’ll definitely have my VELOs with me. They’re waterproof and stable. That’s what I need.”
Simple Design. Serious Impact.
Peter summed it up best:
“The thing is, most shoes aren’t shaped like real feet. That’s the whole problem. SQAIRZ are. And that’s why I haven’t gone back to my old shoes since.”
He’s right—and it’s something too many golfers don’t realize until it’s too late. The wrong shape means discomfort and instability. Poor connection. Compromised power.
Your feet are your foundation. And when your shoes finally support them the way they’re meant to move, everything gets better—your swing, your control, your comfort, and your confidence.
Want to experience what Peter’s talking about?
Try the VELO™ LT-X—built for performance, comfort, and the kind of real-world stability that players (and coaches) actually need.
