The all-in-one system for golf ball management

Drop-Pit (Light): an ROI to dream of

10,000 golf balls. That's how many are hit at a driving range on average every day. Picking them up, washing them and redistributing them is a time-consuming job. At least, it used to be. Thanks to Drop-Pit, the automated collection and washing system from VDB Technics, golf clubs save thousands of working hours and labor costs every year. For smaller clubs there are now Drop-Pit Light and Small: compact and budget-friendly.

"Picking up golf balls, washing them and returning them: it used to be all done manually," says Yves Van den Bosch, business manager of VDB Technics. "Just imagine: an average of 3 hours of work per day, 7 days a week. Multiply that by 40 euros per hour, and you're looking at 33,000 euros per year. Just to get your balls back in the dispenser." With those figures, VDB Technics went to work. "That could be done more efficiently. That's how our Drop-Pit system was born, which works with a robot that collects golf balls and brings them to a collection point. There they are 'dropped' into an underground washing line to eventually end up back in a dispenser via vacuum technology."

Bye-bye manual labor, but the biggest advantage remains the savings: "You earn back the installation in about two years," Van den Bosch stresses. "And you're relieved of looking for weekend help or job students."

Drop-Pit Light

For clubs with a ball rotation of less than 10,000 balls per day, VDB Technics developed the Drop-Pit Light. The principle is the same: a robot collects balls and drops them into a collection system. "But instead of an underground conveyor system, a simple conveyor belt comes into play. No washing function, just a quick, practical solution that eliminates manual raking."

Although Drop-Pit Light is also installed by VDB Technics, the system is faster and easier to commission. No underground work is required, and you choose whether to place the catch basin on top or partially in the ground. Those not digging in can work with a ramp. "And we are working on a plug-and-play method so the system will be even more budget-friendly."

The Drop-Pit family expands

"Depending on customer needs, we can automate the entire process or part of it," says Van den Bosch. "As of June, there is the Drop-Pit Small, where balls are washed, but without a conveyor system."

For top golf such as Liberty Golf (France) or Ascona Golf (Switzerland), where 100,000 balls in an afternoon are no exception, there is the Drop-Pit XL. "We manufacture that exclusively for Duchell, for courses with a ball rotation of more than 50,000 balls. It can be combined with a manual raper for optimal efficiency."

Durable and discreet

What makes Drop-Pit suitable for golf courses is its aesthetic and durability. The installation is discreet, can be placed behind a hedge or in a corner of the property, and is made of stainless steel that resists weather, wind and corrosion. "Everything is designed to last a lifetime. In addition, 98% of the system is recyclable." Sustainable and without invasive works, Drop-Pit provides significant savings with minimal impact. This is precisely why the system is already a fixture on modern golf courses today, in Belgium and abroad.