You might be surprised to learn that one of Colorado’s top golf teaching professionals is located on the first floor of Vail Health Hospital, where he leads the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI) Golf Sports Medicine Program. Twice named Colorado PGA Teaching Professional of the Year and one of just a handful of PGA Master Professionals teaching in Colorado, Steve Atherton directs a cutting-edge golf program within SPRI’s state-of-the-art Biomotion Laboratory. This isn’t your typical golf simulator set-up — walking into the lab, you’re immersed in one of the most advanced motion research labs in the United States.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Atherton says. “We’re blending golf instruction and coaching with biomechanics technology and real, actionable data — this is a next-generation golf program.”
Designed to meet every golfer — and he means every golfer — at their current game, the unique program includes one-on-one coaching with access to biomotion analysis not available elsewhere in the Mountain West. From PGA Tour Professionals recovering from injury and looking to return safely to the Tour, to new learners and golf enthusiasts, Atherton welcomes them all in this one-of-a-kind program.
Tyler McCumber, a PGA Tour Player, worked with Atherton after undergoing surgery at The Steadman Clinic. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Steve after my surgeries. His knowledge of the swing and body as well as his organized practice routines helped me hone in distance control before getting back out on the PGA Tour,” McCumber shares.
The Golf Sports Medicine Program at SPRI offers lessons, club fitting, biomechanics analysis and for golfers who really want a bespoke golf experience, there is a half-day immersive program where participants complete a full biomechanics markup, golf lesson, club set analysis and collaborate with Titleist Performance Institute-Certified (TPI-C) Doctors of Physical Therapy at Howard Head Sports Medicine (HHSM), right across the hall. New in the lab, a markerless motion capture system (available alongside a golf lesson or on its own) provides a comprehensive functional movement screen in under 20 minutes. Clients receive a robust report with a clear indication of how well they move, mobility issues that may need to be addressed and even a unique “Motion Age” calculation. The reports offer a prescriptive view into ways they can work with a physician, therapist or trainer to improve their functional movement — in sports, or in their daily lives.
“We want this program to be really custom to what each individual is looking for,” Atherton says. “Some of my clients are healthy, and they’re really focused on getting more distance off the tee, or curing their tendency to slice. Other clients,” he continues, “are looking to prolong their golf game after joint replacement or treatment, and we focus on modifications that help them move safely and continue to enjoy the sport for as long as they can. We work with the doctors at Steadman and leverage our partnership with HHS to ensure safe movement patterns and address post-surgical or injury concerns with the healthcare team.”
Photo courtesy of Steadman Philippon Research Institute
The blend of clientele in the program is another differentiator for SPRI. Biomotion Labs like SPRI’s are often found in university settings, and aren’t available for public use. Moreover, golf programs in those laboratories are often focused on healthy, elite golfers exclusively, so the data is not translatable to all players. “At SPRI and The Steadman Clinic,” Atherton shares, “we truly are committed to keeping people active. That’s for everyone, not just the pros. Golf is a lifelong sport and we’re proving that with the work we do in this unique program.”
The simulator itself includes the Foresight GC Quad Launch Monitor, one of the best-rated monitors available, and popular with Tour players. The camera-based system provides precise club and ball flight data in real-time, which can then be complemented with the research-grade Qualisys cameras, motion capture and force plates to get a comprehensive analysis of the swing.
“I’ve been teaching golf for nearly 25 years,” Atherton says, “and I’ve worked with a lot of different kinds of technology. There simply isn’t anything else like this, and I’m really proud of what we’ve built.
“But it’s not just about the tech,” he continues. “We’ve been able to help so many athletes, golf lovers and brand-new golfers. There’s nothing much better for me than a client coming to a lesson and showing me their scorecard, proving that the work we’ve done has paid off. Or when they tell me, ‘Steve, I was just hoping to get back to playing nine without pain and I played two rounds in the last week!’ That’s what it’s all about.”
For more information or to book time in the lab, contact golf@sprivail.org.