Five ways mowers can influence golf course design TEE BOX Husqvarna, with over 30 years of experience in autonomous turf care, has published a report based on input from members of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) that outlines the ways in which mowers can influence golf course design. The Golf course architects embracing robotic mowers report identifies five key trends driven by advancements in robotic mowing technology that could transform the landscape in a positive way: 1. W ider fairways – “This change can make play easier and faster, while also restoring historical course layouts that featured wider fairways.” 2. D esign consistency and multidesign – “These mowers can eliminate the inaccuracies that arise from manual mowing, ensuring the design stays true to the architect’s vision.” 3. R ethink slopes and undulation – “Robotic mowers can maintain steep slopes up to 70 per cent, opening new possibilities for course design.” 4. C reative pathways and details – “These machines can navigate tight spaces and intricate designs, enabling architects to focus on finer details and create more visually appealing and functional pathways.” 5. Flexible height of cut – “The ability to set and change cutting heights with ease enables more creative and strategic use of different heights throughout the course. This can also lead to more varied and interesting playing surfaces.” Caspar Grauballe, EIGCA president, said: “The advancement of robotic mowers has greatly benefited us as golf course architects, allowing for more design freedom. We can now incorporate steeper slopes with confidence and know that GPS-guided precision ensures mowing lines remain exactly as intended.” 24
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