The Orange Fleet: How robots and greenkeepers ushered in a new era at the AIG Womens Open

When the world’s best female golfers arrived at Royal Porthcawl for the AIG Women’s Open this August, they were greeted by fairways that had been meticulously mowed —not only by human hands, but by a fleet of Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers. It was a historic moment for greenkeeping and was the first time The R&A had entrusted all 18 fairways to autonomous machines, both in the build-up and throughout one of its major championships. But behind this technological leap was a story rooted in human experience, vision, and collaboration.

Ian Kinley, Royal Porthcawl’s course manager since 2009, has spent his career preparing championship venues for the highest levels of competition. His journey into greenkeeping began in an unexpected place: building Trident ballistic submarines. After redundancy forced a career change, a suggestion from his mother—then a floristry teacher at Myerscough College—led him to consider greenkeeping. An aspirational golfer who knew he wouldn’t make the cut as a player, Kinley found his calling in turf care. From Royal Birkdale to St Andrews, Lahinch to North Berwick, and finally to Royal Porthcawl, Kinley has built a reputation for excellence.

That reputation was put to the test when he proposed using robotic mowers not just on practice areas or turf nurseries, but on the fairways themselves. Initially trialled to alleviate pressure on less visible areas, the CEORA mowers quickly proved their worth. Kinley and his team observed improvements in turf texture, upright growth, and even suppression of worm casting. By May, the robotic fleet was cutting all fairways and in the weeks leading up to the championship, Kinley was encouraged to also use the robotic mowers on the approaches to greens.

This wasn’t about replacing people—it was about elevating them. With the CEORAs and two Automower 580L EPOS working silently through the night, the greenkeeping team arrived each morning of championship preparation to a course already cut and ready for detailed work.

Ian explained: “We had guys sat on fairway mowers for six or seven hours, two or three times a week, and so that’s a significant amount of resource we’ve gained back.”

The robotic mowers freed up time for the team to focus on greens, tees, and the finer points of presentation—tasks that demand human skill and attention.

The collaboration between man and machine provided a glimpse of the future of elite tournament maintenance. Once the robotic mowers had completed their overnight shift, Husqvarna technicians worked each morning to clean, calibrate, and replace blades on each mower, ensuring a premium cut every day. The CEORAs were monitored

via Husqvarna Fleet Services, allowing precise control over cutting schedules and performance.

“We know exactly what every machine’s doing,” said Craig Stoba, pro robotics key account manager. “It’s key to getting our schedule bang on.”

The results were undeniable and The R&A’s Sustainable Agronomy team was suitably impressed by the quality of turf produced by the robotic mowers.

“The texture of the turf and the way the ball sits on links turf was enhanced by the use of robotics,” Kinley said. “It’s honestly incredible.” Players and members alike noticed the difference, with many fascinated by seeing the silent machines gliding across the fairways. “The members have really embraced it and they like seeing the robots out there,” Kinley added. “We call them the Orange Fleet.”

From a sustainability perspective, the benefits were equally compelling. The CEORAs operate without fossil fuels, produce no noise pollution and no direct carbon emissions. They also reduce the need for heavy machinery that compacts turf.

“Greenkeepers don’t need to aerate or scarify as much,” said Trevor Mill-Irving, Husqvarna technical specialist. “That means more time for intricate areas around the course.”

For Royal Porthcawl, a club steeped in tradition since 1891, embracing robotic mowing was a bold move. Club Secretary John Edwards admitted the committee was initially surprised by Kinley’s proposal, but quickly saw the benefits.

“Ian’s a fantastic course manager and we have absolute faith in him,” he said. “The mowers have made a real difference. We’ve seen no compromise in cut quality, and they work 24 hours a day. From our perspective, there really is no downside.”

Beyond the championship, the integration of robotics signals a shift in how greenkeeping is perceived—and who it might attract. Kinley believes autonomy could help address the industry’s recruitment challenges.

“Kids today are tech-savvy. We map cutting areas with an Xbox controller,” he said. “Greenkeeping can be made more cool. It won’t be old school, sat in a flat cap on a mower. It’ll be young kids who are tech-savvy, and a lot of stuff will be technology driven.”

This sentiment was echoed by Jonathan Snowball, who led Husqvarna’s tournament support programme at Royal Porthcawl. “This is probably the most exciting thing I’ve been involved with in my 16 years at Husqvarna,” he said. “The greenkeeping team has really welcomed the robotic mowers into their team, and they can be seen as additional team members. It’s all working really well in collaboration.”

For Husqvarna, the championship was a showcase of innovation and commitment. Snowball described the journey as beginning with a “crazy idea” to cut all fairways with robots. “We sat down with Ian and formed a plan. Now we have 15 robotic mowers cutting all 18 fairways at the AIG Women’s Open. The feedback has been fantastic—from Ian, from the players, and from The R&A.”

As the final putt dropped and the grandstands emptied, one thing was clear: robotic mowing had arrived on the championship stage. But it wasn’t just about machines—it was about people. The greenkeeping team at Royal Porthcawl, supported by Husqvarna’s technology and R&A Sustainable Championship Agronomy, delivered a course that met the highest standards of professional golf. Together, they demonstrated that autonomy isn’t a threat—it’s a tool. One that supports greenkeepers, elevates their craft, and opens the door to a new generation of turf professionals.