For Brandon Barrows, golf has always been more than just a game — it’s been a way of life. Growing up on his grandfather’s golf course in Lake Orion, Michigan, Barrows developed a love for the sport at an early age, eventually turning pro and competing around the state. He competed in GOLFZON Tour Season 1 last year and finished runner-up as a member of Tee Times.
Now, as a father to a newly born daughter and assistant golf pro at Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Barrows is juggling diapers and tee times while gearing up for a shot at redemption in GOLFZON Tour Season 2.
GOLFZON caught up with him to talk about how he started golf, what motivates him today, and why this season feels more important than ever. Barrows currently leads the July individual qualifying field with a score of -17, meaning if the qualifying ended today, he would take home $10,000.
Take a look at the player feature here and read the full interview below. Responses have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Tell us about yourself and how you started playing golf.
I’m an assistant golf pro at Indianwood Golf and Country Club, so I’m around golf every day. I’ve been playing since I was three years old. My grandfather owned Bald Mountain Golf Course in Lake Orion for about 30 years, and my family was lucky enough to live on the course.
Growing up, every day after school, my two brothers, seven cousins, and I would skip homework and head straight to the course. My grandfather was an incredible teacher who pushed me to be better and helped shape who I am today. I’m incredibly grateful to my family and everyone who supported me and gave me the opportunity to play as much golf as I did.
Golf has always been a huge passion of mine, and now, as a new dad to a nine-month-old daughter, life looks a little different. It’s been a big adjustment, but I’m doing everything I can to be the best dad I can be — while still chasing my dreams on the course.
How has life been as a father?
Fatherhood has definitely changed my life and made me a better person. It’s stressful – those first couple of months are just as rough as they say, but it’s getting better. My wife and I are slowly getting a couple more hours of sleep each night.
My daughter was born in September last year. I want nothing more than to win that prize money this season. It would definitely help us in the long run, and it’d be great to help lower some of my wife’s stress. She’s been working so hard as a stay-at-home mom. Being able to compete in something like the GOLFZON Tour — and knowing there’s $300,000 at the finish line — definitely makes me want to work harder and reach that goal.
What made you decide to golf competitively?
Some of my earliest golf memories are of competing in tournaments at a young age. I always played with older kids for more of a challenge. I really started getting into it in middle school. I was about 13, competing with 17-year-olds. In high school, I made the varsity team as a freshman. That’s when I really started to see my potential, and I thought, ‘I can really do something with this.’
I’ve pursued it ever since. All my friends and family knew I had a special talent for golf. You’re going to have good days and bad days, but the bad days push you to grind harder. There are days where your driver and irons are working, but your putter isn’t. It just makes you want to work more. And the fact that you can play this game into your 80s — that’s something I love.
I played one year of college golf at Mott Community College, and after that, I turned pro. These days, I try to play two to three times a week, practice as much as I can, and compete in about three tournaments a year. My main goal is to play in tournaments and turn that into a full-time living. Being a pro is great, but it’s a huge bonus knowing the tournaments you’re playing in have serious cash prizes.
I love the rush of it. Competing against other top pros and amateurs across the state is fun. And now, seeing kids who are 16 or 17 qualifying, it makes me want to stay sharp and prove that I can still hang with the best.
How would you describe your career as a pro?
It’s definitely expensive. Anyone who’s tried to make a career out of golf will tell you — it’s the hotels, the travel, the fees. And if you come up short in a tournament, you’re down $1,000 or more for the week. That’s the hard part.
You can travel and play as much as you want, but at the end of the day, everyone’s just trying to make the cut and get in the money. If you don’t, you’re down a lot. It’s tough missing a cut after putting in so much time and money. But even with the costs, it’s worth it to me, and I plan to keep doing it for a long time.
The biggest prize I’ve won so far is around $2,500. Nothing huge—I’ve played in a few opens and scrambles for money. But I enjoy them. They keep my game sharp, and I love the competition. And it’s why I’m back competing on the GOLFZON Tour.
How’d you hear about the GOLFZON Tour?
My friend Doug had heard about it last year for Season 1 and made the team. He messaged me and encouraged me to try out. Simulator golf is a great option in the winter, especially in Michigan, so I decided to give it a shot. I ended up qualifying, and Doug and I both competed for Tee Times. It was great. I love the facility, and all the guys here are awesome. We made it to the finals last year but didn’t quite get the job done.
Is there extra motivation knowing you made it so close last year?
Absolutely. We definitely want to redeem ourselves this season. We had a great team last year, but Golf Envy took us down in the finals. Shout out to them—they played really well. But I know we want that first place this year.
Coming in second wasn’t a good feeling, but my teammates and I had a great time in Orlando. For a lot of us, it was our first time at the PGA Show, and just experiencing that was amazing.
All of us still talk—we made friends we didn’t even know existed. There’s a real bond between us. I love those guys.
Being that close to the title stung. That’s a huge motivator for me to qualify again and get back on the team — whether it’s the same guys or new ones. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get us there. I’m excited to see what happens this year and who ends up on the roster.
As a GOLFZON Tour participant, how does Season 2 compare to Season 1?
I really like the changes this year. Splitting up the qualifiers over two months gives more people a chance to compete. And obviously, that $10,000 top qualifier prize is something that definitely motivates me. I want to qualify, but if I win first place, I’d be very happy with that too.