Doosan Match Play Unique Prizes: "From Excavators to 'Barista Robots'"

The winner of this year's Doosan Match Play Championship will receive a 'Barista Robot' due to an injury. Photo by KLPGA

[Chuncheon (Gangwon Province) = Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "Are they giving away a coffee-making robot?"

At the Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW) held on the 18th at Radena Golf Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,350 yards), the winner will receive a coffee robot. The unmanned cafe robot 'Dr. Presso,' produced and sold by Doosan Robotics, a subsidiary of Doosan Group, will be awarded to the champion. 'Dr. Presso' is a 'barista robot' that makes coffee. It takes orders, grinds coffee beans, extracts coffee, and even serves it.

The types of coffee and beverages it can make are virtually unlimited depending on the program. However, considering ingredient preparation, 10 types of coffee and 5 types of beverages are typical. Doosan Robotics developed and began distributing it in October last year. It is installed and operated in several large buildings in Seoul, including the Doosan Group headquarters and Doosan Tower in Dongdaemun. It can operate 24 hours a day, making it perfect for large buildings with many night shift workers. It is equipped with a function to close the cup lid before serving.

If the winner of the Doosan Match Play Championship rents an appropriate space and wants to operate an unmanned cafe with 'Dr. Presso,' installation will be provided. If they prefer to cash it out, about 30 million KRW will be given instead. In 2018 and 2019, the Doosan Match Play Championship awarded an excavator to the winner. The title sponsor Doosan Infracore launched the 'DX35Z-5' model in Korea in October 2017. At the time, this unique prize attracted considerable attention.

Park In-bee is sitting on an excavator she received as a prize after winning the 2018 Doosan Match Play Championship, smiling.

Doosan Infracore explained, "Golf and construction machinery share the common traits of being delicate yet powerful." The market price is 30 million KRW. The 2018 champion Park In-bee (34, KB Financial Group) gifted it to her grandfather who runs a farm. Last year, as Doosan Infracore withdrew from co-hosting, the excavator prize ended after two times. The Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour CAT Ladies gives excavators, and the PGA Tour John Deere Classic awards tractors.

Most winning prizes are cars or watches, but there are many unique prizes that have attracted the spotlight, such as pianos and yachts. The Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) Dunlop Phoenix Tournament focuses on local specialties. It offers Miyazaki specialty beef 'Wagyu,' which costs as much as 90 million KRW. If the player wishes, it is disassembled by cuts and delivered as refrigerated or frozen meat. The Yokohama Tire PRGR Ladies Cup also offers Wagyu beef.