The Summit, organized by the trade publication Golf Inc., brings together golf industry owners, operators, managers, and investors each year. Over three days, more than 80 speakers analyzed the challenges of the business in some 20 sessions, organized into three tracks: ownership, operations, and technology.
Eduardo Ruiz was part of the round table «Course of the Future: How automation, AI and other advancements are transforming operations» ("The Golf Course of the Future: How Automation, AI, and Other Advances Are Transforming Operations"). The session explored what golf course operations will look like in three to five years and what operators should invest in today to prepare.
Ruiz shared a table with Dave Vanslette, founder and CEO of FairwayiQ; Jaime Sharp, Director of Product Management at Xplor Golf and Club; and Andrew Kline, Vice President of Sales at Roboranger. Addressing the representatives of technology companies, he offered the perspective of someone who manages golf course operations in various golf markets across different continents.
The presence of the AEGG president at this forum reinforces the international profile of professional golf management in Spain, as well as the Association's commitment to knowledge sharing and recognizing the role of the manager. For course managers, the question is no longer whether to incorporate technology, but how to do it: which investments to prioritize, how to leverage data for decision-making, and how to prepare teams for change.
From Hilton Head to Murcia: innovation on the agenda of Spanish managers
The conclusions of this debate will be further developed at the 16th AEGG National Congress, to be held on November 23, 24, and 25, 2026, at the Santa Elena Golf Club in Fuente Álamo, Murcia. This will be the first time the event has been held in the Region of Murcia.
The Congress will bring together more than 250 managers, course directors, and industry professionals, with a program focused on innovation, sustainability, golf tourism, and new business models. The event will also include the traditional National Golf Managers Championship.
SOURCE: Spanish Association of Golf Managers
