A new era for golf course maintenance: From conventional to robotic mowers

Abstract

Bærheim Golfpark in Norway has changed most of its operations from conventional to automated mowing. The golf course has a fleet of 106 robots that mow most of the course and pick up golf balls at the driving range. The project has been innovative and today, we have the world's largest series-connected robot system. Along the way, we have encountered a number of technical and practical obstacles. Today, however, we can say that we have a facility that works well. The transition from manual to automated mowing has resulted in Bærheim becoming one of the most played golf courses in Norway. Its economy has improved significantly, the feedback from the players is very good, and the employees can use their skills on tasks other than mowing grass. We have significantly reduced the use and emissions of fossil fuels for ordinary mowers. This supports the UN's Sustainability Goal Number 13: “Climate action”.