Certainly, robotic lawn mowers are created for professional use, including for maintaining golf courses.
Prominent manufacturers like Husqvarna, John Deere, and Turflynx pioneered much of the base technologies of automated lawn mowers for commercial use including:
- Golf courses
- Sports clubs
- Football pitches
- Cricket grounds
- Parks and municipal gardens
- Professional landscaping
This post is focused on the sequestered revolution of robotic mowers, working quietly on golf courses across the globe. We will discuss the benefits and implications of this change for golf course operators and players.
All about Robotic Lawn Mowers for Professional Golf Course Use
To illustrate, check out this John Deere Fairwaymower 8900 A, which is an autonomous golf course mower that masterfully tackled this perfectly pristine fairway:
Having pro robotic lawnmowers on staff has changed the face of groundskeeping and landscaping.
When it comes to efficiency and productivity, teams that are responsible for maintaining some of the premier golf courses in the world now get a lot more done.
Robotic lawn mowers are easy to use, cost effective, and can help keep lawns looking perfect without human manpower, while the automatic lawn mowers take over a difficult chore with consistent results.
Therefore, it is of no surprise that golf courses are excited to keep their semi roughs and fairways pristine with healthy, tidy grass mowed by a robot.
These Autonomous Golf Course Mowers Result from an Extensive Body of Research and Continuous Innovation
As an example, Swedish company Husqvarna works closely with The University of Pisa in Italy to study their use in the care of world-class sports turf.
Through rigorous field trials, it has become clear that robotic mowers are suitable for cutting the tee area on golf courses and roughs, and they confirm that these mowers give greenkeepers extra time for technical tasks.
Is a Robotic Mower the Best Solution for a Golf Course?
Automatic mowers for golf courses compare favorably with manual mowing options like:
- Front Mower
- Zero-Turn
- Lawn Mower
Key considerations for robotic mowers for golf courses include:
- The overall area in square meters
- Slope
- Energy costs
Benefits of Mowing Golf Courses with a Robotic Lawnmower
Robotic lawnmowers are a compelling choice for golf courses because they provide a range of benefits that can support the operational business component of the golf course.
Here is a list of some of the key benefits.
1. Using Automatic Mowers Can Be an Environmentally Sustainable Alternative to the Conventional Petrol Mower
Battery-operated robotic lawnmowers are powered electrically, meaning they do not emit fumes, and they have considerably less energy consumption per area mowed.
The mulching functions of robotic lawn mowers are also superb for the environment.
The fast rotating blades of these lawn mowers chop grass and leave finely milled mulch that will be absorbed.
Also, the clippings have some moisture content that reduces the need for watering the grass, and contributes to fertilizing the grass as well.
2. Costs for Using These Professional Robot Mowers Are Also Greatly Reduced Compared to Conventional Mowing Alternatives
Robotic lawnmowers have been in development for decades since the 1990s.
That golf courses are willing to utilize autonomous mowers reflects the professional level of service and efficiency they are able to provide.
A fleet of autonomous mowers can mow entire golf courses, tirelessly working to provide precision cut grass.
3. Professional Robotic Mowing Uses Advanced Technologies to Achieve Superb Lawn Care Conveniently
Professional robot mowers often have specifications well beyond what is available on a regular home robot mower.
Most residential robotic mowers have some sort of boundary wire that the mower needs to detect.
In a large area like a golf course, professional robot mowers will utilize a satellite to operate using programmed virtual boundaries.
GPS-guided Mowing Is the Most Advanced Robotic Mowing Technology
These automated lawn mowers utilize GPS technology while being remotely configured via a map-based software application that provides the mower mowing where to mow and where not to within a centimeter accurate operational precision.
GPS will depend on the mower being placed in an open area to receive full exposure to the open sky to receive its instruction.
A groundskeeper may monitor the performance of the robot, assign mowing area and schedule time using 4G smartphone and cellular or Wi-Fi to connect to the grass-cutting robot.
Automatic golf course mowers can mow infrequently cut and allow grass to reach a maximum length without the hassle of installing a physical boundary.
The wire-free feature of a pro robotic lawn mower provides incredible flexibility of deployment and operates far easier than installing a boundary wire for managing greenspaces.
There is no boundary wire installed, and turtles can be aerated and scarified without any risk of disturbing the boundary wire.
Hands-free Monitoring and Maintenance
Instead of heavy manuals, the major professional mower manufacturers often offer some digital management tools, remote troubleshooting, etc.
People can view battery capacity, service history, and settings from a phone, tablet, or computer, and notifications can be automated when service is needed in advance.
4. Golf Courses Can Run Fleets of These Robots to Keep Their Grounds Pristine 24/7
Golf courses maintain fleets of robot mowers that self-operate and mow the entire golf course as per their programmed schedule.
Groundspersons and greenkeepers can manage a fleet of robot mowers from their smart devices, activating and deactivating the respective grassed area for the mower to operate.
This means that these robots can operate discreetly while the golf course continues to be in-play, despite the temporary stay-out zones.
Professional robot mowers will also provide substantial data on their condition and performance using extensive proprietary digital management tools and platforms.
The mower will even alert the greenkeeper of specific faults or if a servicing is due.
These features allow a golf course to remain as productive and profitable as possible.
5. Professional Robotic Mowers Can Handle a Wide Range of Terrain and Conditions
These tough automatic lawnmowers can traverse asphalt, gravel, and other surfaces to get to the grassy areas that need mowing and trimming.
Mowers can also do a great job of mowing lawn grass day or night, and in rain.
Should the mower run into an obstacle or hazard along its journey, a network of sensors onboard will kick in, halting the mower or changing its direction.
Safety First
Advanced security measures also ensure that the mower will not be used or mishandled without authorization, as most mowers will lock almost immediately if stolen.
Given the price for such equipment, GPS tracking is also a valuable safety feature, as the onboard tracking antenna will report its location.
The Best Greens in the World Now Use Robotic Mowers
Golf courses are now engaging in turfgrass management with automatic mowers because they have less environmental impact due to being powered by electricity.
These mowers are virtually silent and cut precisely with sharp, pivoting blades.
Low noise from the mower is also a desirable feature because they can work without disturbing the ambiance of the course.
Autonomous Golf Course Mowers Can Meet the Exacting Standards of the Golf Course Greenkeeper
Pro robotic mowers are designed and constructed to produce exceptional results.
With only 3 razor-sharp blades and an adjustable cutting deck, the quality of cut they can achieve is much closer to a conventional cut.
The mulching action breaks the grass clippings into an undetectable mulch that feeds the carpet-like finish .
Golfers love the velvet carpet finish created by these mowers; it feels great underfoot.
Because the mower is relatively light, the finish is perfect and leaves no tracks!
Golf Courses Use Robotic Mowers Because They Free up Valuable Time
The ROI in recovered man-hours is considerable.
Groundsmen and greenkeepers can invest their valuable time focusing on grounds management areas that will make a vested contribution to the golfers’ experience.
The Maintenance Needs of These Mowers Are Massively Reduced Compared to Ride-on or Push Mowers
They can autonomously go back to the charging point, recharge their batteries, and then continue with their mowing schedule.
Their robust operation and durable electric motors last a long time which means personnel do not have to service them regularly saving money and time.
Golf Courses Are Even Using Robotic Mowers to Mow Their Fairways
Maintaining the fairway must be done to a high standard and it demands a level of ongoing detail and attention by a professional grounds team.
Automatic golf course mowers entered the golfing sector for semi-roughs, which are less demanding for precision than fairways.
Today, mowers are cutting to a standard that no longer surprises players but is worthy of praise from the greenkeepers.
Some mowers are adapted or built, specially to mow highly maintained areas like fairways set at an ultra-low cutting height (10 millimeters) and maintained with limited mechanical power.
Quality Mowing Consistently
A lot of groundskeepers have aggravation with the tracks and clumps that cylinder mowers can create when it is wet.
The ability to mow with no compaction and at the optimum height is often appreciated.
Couple this with the programming and abandonment of mowing, along with the maintenance of fairways and roughs to look their best for golfers during play time, and this all adds value.
What Do Golf Courses Think about Automatic Lawn Mowers?
Here is the feedback of a golf course in Germany on the robotic mowers they use:
The golf club has seven Automower® robotic mowers on the practice range, and everyone is very happy with the outcome. From the greenkeeper to the Management and, of course, the golfers. “The practice range is always in perfect condition,” says Lars Lammich, Marketing Director Golfrange, München – Brunnthal, Germany Husqvarna professional robotic lawn mowers.
Rounding Up
The considerable investment of robotic mowers had previously prevented many businesses, including golf courses, from investing in them.
However, over time the price of this exceptional technology has significantly decreased, making the value proposition hard to ignore for even the smallest of golf clubs.
Increased availability of autonomous golf course mowers has been evident over the years with an abundant amount of technology to help reduce costs.
Professional mowers can begin with an investment amounting to greater than $4000, and most cases good mowers will prove to be affordable, due to time, labor and material savings.