Semi-rough perfectly trimmed with robotic mower

On golf courses, you increasingly see automated robotic mowers at work. But the large differences in terrain make it quite a challenge to set up the mowers correctly and make them work perfectly everywhere. Just think of the semi-rough, where the grass needs to stay a bit longer. Until now, all those stretches have been maintained manually. But with the latest developments, that will soon change.

Do you already work with robotic mowers on your golf course? If so, you may find it hard to do without them. The robots help you keep the green carpet in top condition all year round. They guarantee nice straight strips: a treat for the eye. This leaves you, the greenkeeper, more time for disease control, for example. But can such robotic mowers also handle the semi-rough? That is the area between the fairway and the red penalty area, usually a water feature. The grass stays up to 55 mm high there, while the grass on the fairway is usually only 20 mm high. 

A new approach to robotic mowing

Tanguy Destray, marketing manager Robotics at Yamabiko Europe, explains why the semi-rough is such a challenge for greenkeepers. “The semi-rough is an area about 4 metres wide where the grass is about 55 mm high. The only way to get that result with a robotic mower is to drive the mower not in strips, but in concentric circles. Starting from the fairway towards the rough that lies on the other side of the semi-rough. For now, there is only 1 robotic mower that succeeds in this: the robotic mower from Belrobotics.” Mowing in circles on challenging terrain is truly an innovation. For that, Belrobotics not only adapts the mechanics but also the software of its mowers. The brand does this with the flagship of their range: the Bigmow 2050, specially designed for large areas such as sports fields and public areas. 

Intensive test period

How does it work? Well, the Bigmow 2050 first cuts the fairway in strips and then returns to the charging station. Once the mower is fully charged, it starts the semi-rough. 

“It was quite a challenge for our engineers to make the mower run in nice circles instead of straight tracks. The cutting heads are basically fixed to cut the grass to the same length everywhere. So mechanical adjustments were needed to allow the cutting heads to move smoothly depending on the type of terrain, without the robot having to stop and require manual adjustment. Our software must also be able to switch smoothly between different terrains. With the new version, the SW 5.3, it is now possible to drive the mower in circles,” Tanguy explains. 

To make sure the theory also works in practice, Belrobotics carried out endless tests at every possible golf course in Belgium over the past year. From Golf Club Spiegelven in Genk and the Naxhelet Golf Club in Liège to Golf de Rigenée in Villers-la-Ville, the results have been amazing. Belrobotics further customises the mower to make the mowing result even better and increase the speed further. 

 “We will continue testing and improving for a while. The official launch will probably be before 2025. The automatic robotic mower can then maintain your entire golf course: the fairway, the tee-off and the semi-rough. With the exception of the rough and putting green which will not be mowed anyway,” Tanguy summarises.