SPECIALIST XXXXXX MOWERS
Three-time major champion, Anna Nordqvist, celebrated the quality of Royal Porthcawl ahead of taking on the AIG Women’ s Open this week:“ I’ ve played this course a few times and honestly, I didn’ t think it could get much better, but I’ ve never seen it looking and playing so well. I’ m really excited to get out there and play golf on the biggest stage, in these top conditions.”
Course Manager Ian Kinley has championed the use of robotic technology at Royal Porthcawl since first working with Husqvarna in January.
Throughout the championship, autonomous technology will enable his team to focus their efforts upon other key areas of the course, such as the greens, tees and bunkers.
Ian Kinley, Course Manager at Royal Porthcawl, said:“ With the AIG Women’ s Open set to be the largestever women’ s sporting event in Wales, we know there’ s tremendous pressure to produce playing surfaces that are worthy of such a high-profile event.
It’ s been priceless to be able to lean on the support of the Husqvarna team as we prepare for the championship.
“ Autonomous machinery aligns closely with our commitment to more sustainable practices at Royal Porthcawl.
We’ re invested in using robots on our course long term and we’ re incredibly proud to be one of the first venues in the world to use this technology during the hosting of one of golf’ s major championships.”
Glen Instone, President of Husqvarna Forest & Garden Division, said:“ Husqvarna has been building robotic mowers for the professional market exclusively in Europe for 30 years and we’ re delighted that the technology has advanced to the level where it is being embraced by the golf industry including one of the game’ s biggest stages at the AIG Women’ s Open.
“ Our journey with Royal Porthcawl began with Course Manager Ian Kinley’ s desire to work with more sustainable solutions and his consideration of how the role of a modern golf greenkeeper may be changing. Ian’ s faith in our technology, coupled with collaboration from The R & A’ s championship agronomy team, is a source of immense pride for everyone at Husqvarna.”
Throughout the AIG Women’ s Open a team of Husqvarna experts will be on hand to support the championship in the deployment of 15 Husqvarna CEORA 546 EPOS and two Automower 580L
GroundskeepingJournal. co. uk | September / October 2025 57