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Promoting nature-based, toxic-free land care practices for the health of people, their pets, and the planet.

Golf Links: Pesticides, Parkinson’s, and You

“Parkinson’s is not inevitable, it’s preventable.”
—Dr. Ray Dorsey, neurologist and author of The Parkinson’s Plan. 

Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological disease in the world. Cases have doubled over the last 25 years and research shows a link between pesticides and this debilitating illness. Along with other neurological degenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s, we are learning more about why this increase is happening and what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Help us change the course of these preventable diseases. Learn what your risk factors are and what you can do about it.

Sign up for the Palm Beach study here

  • In a 2025 study, researchers found that living within one mile of a golf course was associated with a 126% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
  • Golf courses use five times more pesticides per acre than farms.
  • Parkinson’s disease and ALS are linked to greenspace workers, including landscapers and golf course crews.
  • The two most commonly used pesticides on golf courses (chlorpyrifos, estimated to cost 26 million American children 17 million IQ points, and 2,4-D, a component of Agent Orange) damage the dopamine-producing nerve cells that are lost in Parkinson’s disease.

Our goal at Perfect Earth Project is safe, toxic-free land for all. Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to the knowledge and professional support they need to enjoy safe, healthy, beautiful lawns, gardens, and recreational spaces without harmful chemicals.

We are collaborating with a team of experienced researchers, led by Dr. Dorsey, to offer golfers and lawn owners a powerful tool to help raise awareness and spark change: a clinical trial to actually measure pesticide levels in their bodies (e.g., blood, urine, hair).

We are looking for residents in the Palm Beach area to engage the local community and help us conduct a groundbreaking clinical trial in winter/spring 2026 to determine the following: 

  • Whether pesticide levels are elevated among golfers compared to standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
  • Whether levels are higher among golfers versus non-golfers; 
  • Whether levels increase in individuals after playing a round of golf.  

Read more about Dr. Dorsey’s pilot study here.

Sign up to be considered for this first-of-its-kind study in Palm Beach!

And then what? Perfect Earth Project has the tools to help turn our shared goals for safe, chemical-free lawns and courses into reality. Everyone can change their land care practices from harmful to healing—and do a world of good in the process.

Dr. Ray Dorsey is a neurologist, researcher, and public health advocate working to end Parkinson’s disease by addressing its root causes: toxic environmental exposures. He is the founding Director of the Center for the Brain & Environment at Atria Health and Research Institute and serves as Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester. Dr. Dorsey has testified before Congress, advised the World Health Organization, and was recognized by the White House as a “Champion for Change.” He is the co-author of Ending Parkinson’s Disease (2020) and the New York Times bestseller, The Parkinson’s Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment (2025). PDPlan.org