Partner interview · Tenerife · 5-9 October 2026
Golf with a different future.
Daniel Rodríguez Pérez, CEO of Kairo Golf, explains why the Spanish brand wants performance, design and circular thinking to belong in the same conversation—and why the playing experience remains non-negotiable.
Kairo joins the 2026 International Pairs World Final as the event’s Official Ball. In written responses prepared for International Pairs, Rodríguez Pérez introduces the EcoSoft and EcoPower models, addresses recycled-material claims directly and shares his message for the pairs heading to Tenerife.
Part one · The brand
A responsible choice that still has to earn its place
Kairo Golf began with a straightforward proposition: golfers should be able to enjoy a quality ball while making a more responsible choice. The brand launched with two models because players do not all look for the same feel—and its wider ambition is to bring performance, design and circular thinking together across golf.
For Rodríguez Pérez, that ambition began with the amount of material the sport uses and the number of balls that disappear from courses. Yet one principle came first: a sustainability message cannot compensate for a disappointing shot or an inconsistent feel.
“The one thing I would never compromise on is the playing experience.”
Daniel Rodríguez Pérez · CEO, Kairo Golf
Part two · EcoSoft or EcoPower?
Start with the feel. Then test the full round.
Rodríguez Pérez positions EcoSoft for golfers who value a softer sensation and control around the green. EcoPower is the firmer option, designed for players looking for distance.
His recommendation is practical: play both models over a full round, paying particular attention to approach shots and putts, then choose the ball that creates the most confidence. The same thinking applies in Tenerife, where coastal wind makes familiarity with flight and feel especially important.
For sceptics, the invitation is equally direct: judge the ball by the shots. Kairo wants the on-course experience—not the sustainability message alone—to decide whether it belongs in a player’s bag.
Part three · Materials and circular thinking
Precise claims matter as much as positive intent
Asked what “100% recycled” means, Rodríguez Pérez makes an important correction: Kairo does not describe either complete ball that way. According to the product specifications supplied in his response, EcoPower contains 92% recycled material and EcoSoft 76%.
He says using recycled material reduces the need for virgin material in the balls Kairo produces. It does not, however, solve the wider problem of lost balls. The longer-term ambition is to develop ways to recover used balls and materials and return them to a circular system.
“We also have to be precise about our claims.”
Daniel Rodríguez Pérez · CEO, Kairo Golf
Part four · Engineering and design
Consistency in play. Purpose in presentation.
The engineering challenge, Rodríguez Pérez says, is to achieve the feel and consistency golfers expect while incorporating recycled material. That calls for careful work on the materials, testing of the finished ball and an ongoing cycle of player feedback.
Design matters for the same reason: it signals how seriously a product has been considered. Kairo wants a golfer to see a box they would be proud to play, gift or display in a pro shop—making a more responsible option feel like a natural choice rather than a compromise.
Part five · Tenerife and the World Final
Put the ball in players’ hands—and let them decide
International Pairs brings golfers from many countries together through a shared love of the game. For a young Spanish brand, Rodríguez Pérez sees the World Final in Tenerife as an opportunity to place Kairo balls in players’ hands and invite an honest reaction: enjoy the ball first, then become curious about the materials and thinking behind it.
He also sees Tenerife’s island setting as a reminder that equipment brands have to consider the materials they use, the products they place into the world and what happens afterwards. In his words, progress requires practical work—not only a message on a box.
A message to the World Final field
“Enjoy the journey with your partner.”
Daniel Rodríguez Pérez · CEO, Kairo Golf