Robot's Hole-in-One at WM Phoenix Open Almost Didn't Happen

Miscommunication nearly prevented the historic shot by Gene Parente's golf testing robot.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:39pm

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In 2016, Gene Parente brought one of his golf equipment testing robots to the WM Phoenix Open to put on a show for the crowd. To everyone's surprise, the robot delivered a hole-in-one on the iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. However, the epic shot almost didn't happen due to a miscommunication about the distance, which caused Parente to initially miscalibrate the robot. After some last-minute adjustments, the robot was able to pull off the incredible feat, much to the delight of the crowd.

Why it matters

Parente's robot hole-in-one at the Phoenix Open was a unique and memorable moment that highlighted the capabilities of his golf equipment testing technology. The near-miss due to the miscommunication also underscores the challenges of integrating advanced robotics into live sporting events and the importance of clear communication to ensure successful demonstrations.

The details

Parente's robots are used to test golf equipment, and in 2016 he brought one of them to the Phoenix Open to entertain the crowd. However, Parente was told the wrong distance for the 16th hole, so he had calibrated the robot for a much longer shot. When they got to the tee box, Parente realized the mistake and had to quickly adjust the robot's settings on the fly. After a few unsuccessful attempts, Parente made a "Hail Mary" adjustment that resulted in the robot delivering a hole-in-one, much to the delight of the crowd.

  • In 2016, Parente brought one of his robots to the Phoenix Open.
  • The hole-in-one shot occurred during that 2016 Phoenix Open event.

The players

Gene Parente

The owner of Golf Laboratories, which uses robots to test golf equipment. Parente brought one of his robots to the 2016 Phoenix Open and was responsible for the robot's historic hole-in-one shot.

TPC Scottsdale

The golf course that hosts the annual WM Phoenix Open tournament, known for its iconic 16th hole where Parente's robot achieved the hole-in-one.

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What they’re saying

“Pure disbelief. It's one of those moments where you almost have an out of body experience because everything is going nuts and your brain is trying to catch up to what exactly happened.”

— Gene Parente, Owner, Golf Laboratories (azfamily.com)

“Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.”

— Gene Parente, Owner, Golf Laboratories (azfamily.com)

What’s next

Parente is launching a new video game called RobotGolfer.com that will allow players to control a real golf robot and try to achieve hole-in-ones and other feats.

The takeaway

Parente's robot hole-in-one at the Phoenix Open demonstrated the potential of using advanced robotics in sports entertainment, though the near-miss due to miscommunication highlights the importance of careful planning and coordination when integrating new technologies into live events. Parente's new video game aims to bring that unique experience to a wider audience.