Robotic grass cutters, known as 'mowbots', are increasingly being used on Scotland's golf courses to replace hours of work traditionally done by greenkeeping staff on ride-on mowers. The technology is being adopted as clubs struggle with recruitment and rising costs.
Industry Impact and Adoption
Industry leaders have described the switch as a game-changer, with an estimated 53 per cent of greenkeeping teams under strength. The mowbots are attractive even to famous courses because they can tend fairways and greens at night.
Several clubs have already implemented the technology, including Murrayshall Country Estate & Golf Club in Perthshire, Bearsden Golf Club in East Dunbartonshire, and Deeside Golf Club in Aberdeenshire. More clubs are preparing to follow suit, including the world-famous St Andrews Links in Fife, with trials currently under way at Bothwell Castle Golf Club in Lanarkshire.
Positive Reception from Greenkeepers
Jim Croxton, chief executive of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, said: 'The majority of greenkeepers we have engaged with are very positive about the introduction of autonomous technology as an addition to their armoury of tools and solutions to manage their courses.'
At Murrayshall, the robots are programmed to cut the rough, fairways, and green surrounds three times a week. St Andrews Links has limited robot mowers to their golf academy and driving range, where they are used to collect balls and mow areas of the outfield.
Future Prospects and Traditional Approaches
A spokesman for St Andrews Links added: 'We are looking into whether the use of bots elsewhere across the site would be beneficial, including on some courses. This would only be to supplement the work of our greenkeeping team.'
However, not all courses are embracing the technology. Gleneagles in Perthshire, which has hosted the Ryder and Solheim Cups, is sticking to traditional greenkeepers. A spokesman said: 'Gleneagles does not use any mowbots within its golf operations – and has no immediate plans to do so. It currently has a full-strength maintenance team.'
