This is what the future of golf maintenance looks like

A major milestone in robotic mowing

Automatic mowing of a golf course is nothing new in itself, but the different zones that demarcate the golf course present their own challenges in terms of settings and implementation. What is unique and innovative, however, is the ability to mow all zones (except the green) with a fleet of Belrobotics robotic mowers controlled by the latest software version and equipped with WiseCut technology.

Thanks to the advent of GPS-RTK technology, Belrobotics' robotic mowers could already mow in strips with impressive cutting power and incredible accuracy of 3 to 5 cm. Then, the Wisenav® software update further enhanced this performance by eliminating the use of boundary wires. Today, Belrobotics is taking a revolutionary step forward with its WiseCut technology.

Tee, fairway, semi-rough and rough, perfectly cut

With the exception of the green, which must be cut perfectly short with a conventional cylinder mower to ensure an optimal playing experience, the other areas - the tee, fairway, semi-rough and rough - are cut at different heights and at a very specific angle. Tanguy Destray, Robotics marketing manager at Yamabiko Europe, explains the benefits of the new WiseCut technology to us: “When our robotic mower finishes mowing the fairway in parallel strips, it stands at the edge of the semi-rough and follows the contours of the fairway to cut the semi-rough concentrically, adjusting the cutting height to this specific area. He then proceeds in the same way for the rough, at an even greater grass height, staying parallel to the fairway and semi-rough. This mowing method is not possible with a cylinder mower. So thanks to our robotic mowers, clubs can also save on materials.”  

The latest version SW 5.3 of the software is even more efficient

Belrobotics engineers perfected the built-in software. It was already possible to accurately determine which areas to mow and which areas to avoid (“no-go zones”), and to take penality zones into account. The new features allow for mowing at different heights (8-12 mm for the tee; 12-25 mm for the fairway; 25-40 mm for the semi-rough; 50-100 mm for the rough; 8-12 mm for the pre-green), variable setting of the mowing angle (important, for example, on the tee to avoid shifts at the starting drive); precise circumvention of obstacles thanks to improved GPS navigation in narrow zones and, last but not least, complete management of the fleet of robotic mowers thanks to the innovative Connect App.

Major technical improvements

The cutting mechanics have also been improved for even neater and nicer results. For example, the robotic mower now has six blades per cutting disc (instead of three before), making a total of 30 cutting blades. This results in a finer cut, easier cleaning of the robots and a significantly longer life of the blades. The design has been modified and slightly curved to avoid the scalping effect that can occur when the mower disc hits the ground through an uneven surface and ‘scalps’ the grass. At the same time, every effort has been made to make the robotic mower more user-friendly than ever. “The first aspect taken into account was to ensure that the user could very easily find useful information and also go very far in configuring it via tablet or PC. The second point is more focused on functionality, with the application being rolled out on all models and supporting the management of the entire robot fleet. Our new smartphone app Connect offers unprecedented live interaction with our robots, giving the greenkeeper full control over his robot fleet at any time,” says Tanguy Destray.This allows the director of a golf course to maintain virtually his entire course with four to eight robotic mowers, without having to rely on a large number of traditional, expensive and bulky machines. Add the Ball Picker ball picker and the automation is truly complete. With a payback period of about three years and a lifetime of at least eight years. 

And what do people in the field say about it? 

Michael André, manager of Golf du Château de la Bawette, highlights the golf course's highly technical and hilly configuration, which requires very thorough daily maintenance. “Thanks to Belrobotics” five robotic mowers, the fairways are perfectly mowed every day, which improves their density and quality. The mowing is flawless, the maintenance staff can perform other tasks and our players appreciate being able to train on a quality course."