Fred, the Golf Robot

Fred, 38 years old and an engineer in robotics and IT technologies, has been fascinated by science fiction since he was a young boy. The idea of a futuristic world and technological advancements shaped his life. Today, he loves his job, which often keeps him in the office deep into the night. To balance out the mental work and maintain his physical fitness, Fred passionately plays golf.

In his golf club, Fred is known for his dedication and expertise, especially because he’s always ready to step in for the team. He practices with great discipline, mastering even difficult shots from unfavorable positions. His teammates appreciate his motivation and determination, but one characteristic stands out: Fred marches across the fairways like a guard officer. For his shorter, rounder teammates, keeping up with his pace can occasionally be a challenge.

On this pleasant day, Fred was once again on the golf course. A light breeze was blowing, and it looked like he could finish the 18 holes in less than four hours. This would leave him plenty of time to refresh himself in the club restaurant, chat with colleagues, and maybe even enjoy a little flirt with the charming waitress.

At the tee-off of hole 3, Fred and his playing partners were preparing. Suddenly, a loud "Fore!" came from the adjacent course. A botched shot. With a loud crack, the ball hit a few trees to Fred’s left before finally coming to a halt. Silence returned.

It was now time for Fred to take on his hole. A 7-iron would be enough to land the ball close to the green. With a precise stroke, the ball flew from the sweet spot of his club, and the white tee shattered, falling to the ground. Fred watched the straight flight of the ball with satisfaction when suddenly another golf ball appeared out of nowhere and struck him on the forehead without warning. The "Fore!" came too late. Fred collapsed, blood seeping from his forehead, and he lost consciousness.

His playing partners rushed to his side, trying to wake him, while one immediately alerted the clubhouse. As his friends gathered around, they noticed that Fred was smiling despite the accident. Why, they wondered?

In that moment, Fred experienced a strange transformation. He felt an exosuit envelop his body, giving him superhuman strength and allowing him to stride effortlessly across the course. His hands transformed into metallic gripping tools, supported by electrically powered joints. His legs became a sturdy chassis with wheels, and an integrated drawer for tees and balls completed his new gear. The e-caddy docked onto the back, while his laser eyes scanned the course, measured distances, and instantly located lost balls.

Fred had become a golf cyborg – the first of his kind. All the world’s golf courses were stored in his brain, and an algorithm always selected the optimal club. He no longer shouted "Fore!" himself; an integrated speaker took care of that.

With tireless precision and renewed energy, Fred rolled across the course, executing one shot after another and seemingly on track to set a course record. But then, a sudden storm rolled in. The rain came down hard, and Fred's wheels began to sink into the mud. On the ascent to hole 18, his wheels spun, his massive cyborg body was too heavy. After several failed attempts to climb the hill, Fred toppled over. Water poured into his mechanical parts, and he realized that his circuits were in danger. After all, he was just a prototype, not built for such conditions.

With the last of his strength, he wiped his metallic forehead as he suddenly heard voices: "Fred, are you awake?" One of his teammates was dabbing the blood from his forehead. „Stay down, the medic is on the way. You were briefly unconscious and muttering something about evolution. But don’t worry, it looks like you’ll only have a bump that needs stitches."

Fred recovered quickly, thanks to his robust health. A small scar on his forehead reminded him of the incident. But one thing had changed: Fred no longer charged across the golf course. He now approached the game with a much calmer attitude – as if he had indeed become a little wiser.