The Pinnacle World Long Drive Tour(WLD) Director of Partnership Chris McLendon and VP of Operation Mike Ambriz share insights on how deploying their first-ever robotic picker optimized event efficiency, reduced labor overhead, and elevated player experience without disrupting the game. To the spectators and athletes at the recent Pinnacle World Long Drive (WLD) tour event, it looked like a beloved Pixar character had stepped off the screen and onto the driving range. Dubbed “Wall-E” by captivated crowds and players, a sleek, white autonomous ball-picking robot became the unexpected star of the tournament grounds. But beyond the pop-culture charm, this robot —…
Author: Jane Turner
Jane Turner
Jane Turner is the Editor of Golf Business Technology and has worked in the Education and Consulting sector for over two decades.
Industry leading pioneer of synthetic bunker wall technology, EcoBunker, will showcase its latest innovations to visitors from across the middle east at Futurescape Global on the 8th & 9th June. Held at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, Saudi Arabia, Futurescape Global brings together all aspects of landscaping that enhance outdoor living and wellness and promote sustainable development, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. “We were privileged to be chosen as part of the team creating the incredible golf course at Royal Golf Club Wadi Safar, a short distance from the convention,” said EcoBunker CEO, Richard Allen. “Having…
The Women in Golf Awards has announced the first three recipients of the Kate & Justin Rose Foundation Bursary, a new initiative supporting women under 21 with education and professional development opportunities. Following applications from across the industry, funding has been awarded to women working in Turfcare, golf club marketing and manufacturing reflecting the diverse roles young women are choosing for their careers. Sophie Easton, a Sports Technology student at Loughborough University and Process Engineering intern with PING Golf in Phoenix, received bursary support to attend The International Sports Engineering Association Conference in Washington. She comments: “Thanks to the bursary…
Ben Hogan Golf has expanded its premium putter collection with the launch of the BHM Series — a trio of performance-driven putters created to deliver exceptional feel, enhanced consistency and greater confidence on the greens. The release marks the first new putter range from Ben Hogan since Golf Brands Inc. took over stewardship of the brand in 2023. Blending classic Ben Hogan craftsmanship with modern engineering, each model has been designed to suit different visual preferences and stroke styles, while delivering soft feel and precision. Designed to influence alignment, toe flow and face rotation characteristics, the range allows golfers to…
Acclaimed 36-hole Spanish venue named 16th in inaugural list of ‘Top 100 Luxe Resorts Europe’ La Hacienda Links Golf Resort’s position at the top table of European golf’s elite resorts has received a glowing new endorsement after the up-and-coming Spanish resort was ranked in the top 20 of a new industry list of the continent’s most luxurious golf venues for couples. The acclaimed 36-hole resort, which occupies a privileged setting on Spain’s iconic Costa del Sol coastline overlooking the Rock of Gibraltar, was named 16th in Golf World’s inaugural ranking of the ‘Top 100 Luxe Resorts in Europe’. Featuring a who’s who of Europe’s…
Nauka Golf Club, the highly anticipated private members club boasting a championship golf course designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio, is now officially open for play. The course welcomed its first golfers in late 2025, with the newly opened Siari Riviera Nayarit, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, marking a defining moment for luxury golf and destination development on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Set within the private 920-acre Nauka community along the pristine Riviera Nayarit, the par-72, 7,600-yard layout is shaped by four dramatically different natural environments: old-growth jungle, volcanic cliffs, protected estuary and more than four miles of Pacific coastline. Nauka Golf Club…
The Dunas Course earns top accolade in Golf Digest’s updated list of ‘Best Courses in Portugal’ The remarkable rise of The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta to the summit of Portuguese and global golf has continued after the layout debuted at number one in Golf Digest’s updated ranking of the ‘Best Courses in Portugal’. The magazine’s international panel of course raters had no hesitation in naming the par-71 layout near Lisbon as its new leading course in the respected industry list less than three years after being unveiled to the golf world. Revealing that it was “no surprise” to see The…
Close House has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work at The Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards. Close House was ranked among the Top 10 businesses nationally in the Travel & Leisure sector and Medium Business category, alongside organisations including TaylorMade Golf and England Golf. The club is also one of only five businesses in Newcastle upon Tyne to receive the accolade, recognising excellence in workplace culture, employee engagement and staff wellbeing. “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work,” commented Jonathan Lupton, Managing…
The R&A has provided an update to its Golf Course 2030 Water Portal to offer golf course operators with the latest guidance, data and practical solutions to help address sustainable water management. Water management – including sustainable sourcing, efficient use and the management of extreme weather events – continues to present challenges for golf courses globally.. Launched in 2023, the portal has now been updated by environmental consultant and subject expert Dr Tom Young (TEP) to reflect the latest legislation, industry guidance and best-practice approaches for water management. An interactive mapping tool enables users to explore how climate change could…
Aaron Rai’s breakthrough PGA Championship victory at Aronimink Golf Club not only marked the Englishman’s maiden major title, but also once again showcased the performance philosophy behind ECCO GOLF’s industry-leading BIOM® technology. Rai, wearing ECCO BIOM TOUR shoes throughout the week, produced a composed and clinical performance to secure the Wanamaker Trophy with a stunning final round five-under-par 65. For ECCO GOLF, the victory represents another milestone moment in the long-standing success story of BIOM®, a technology platform that has been at the centre of ECCO GOLF’s performance footwear for more than a decade. Rai had been wearing ECCO GOLF…