Disability discrimination?

[Slab]

I understand that, but as a member, he could respect that and be willing to be monitored.

The old beeping buggy doesn’t mean I can’t trash the rest of the course.

Just a thought.

Its also true that just because a buggy has GPS fitted to lock it in order to stay away from certain areas, its not fool proof. I use these types of buggys regularly, if I had a mind to drive one across a green the GPS/lock/battery cut out, wouldn't stop me

 

[NearHull]

I’m only going by what I have seen at my club on 9th and 18 th fairways.
But at ours the wet grass sticks in the mower heads and it then drops it when it gets to heavy to stick to the mower.
It’s quite noticeable.
I’m not sure if we’re buying them.

Just topping the grass still leads to a build up of dead grass over time .
Most triple mowers remove the grass and it’s disposed of in the trees.

We haven’t experienced any issues with cut grass from the robotic mower. The Scandinavian trial also produced a scientific paper that concluded ( amongst many conclusions) that there was no impact to the course from either collecting mown grass as it was cut, or leaving on the course. Admittedly, I didn’t fully read the paper, it was 6 sides of A4 and really beyond my collection of brain cells.
The sole use of the mower over winter may tell a different story.

Edited to add

I’ve just searched on line for the scientific paper and discovered a more readable version.

https://sterf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ROBO-GOLF_final-experiences-and-results.pdf

 

[clubchamp98]

We haven’t experienced any issues with cut grass from the robotic mower. The Scandinavian trial also produced a scientific paper that concluded ( amongst many conclusions) that there was no impact to the course from either collecting mown grass as it was cut, or leaving on the course. Admittedly, I didn’t fully read the paper, it was 6 sides of A4 and really beyond my collection of brain cells.
The sole use of the mower over winter may tell a different story.

Edited to add

I’ve just searched on line for the scientific paper and discovered a more readable version.

https://sterf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ROBO-GOLF_final-experiences-and-results.pdf

That’s very interesting.
I would say it’s more or less what we found.
We had GPS units with the docking station next to the clubhouse.
We found the battery life meant the mower was frequently needing to charge and was making a muddy patch right in front of the charger that eventually it got stuck in.

The biggest downside the players reported was how much grass was stuck on their balls when it was damp.
This was because the clippings were so small, similar to ball in sand on a sanded green! no lift and clean in summer
This lead to flyers from the fairway with several holes in the fence behind the 9th green.
They didn’t stop when a ball was in their line and this did damage the blades and the ball.

I think they have a place in summer in high cutting season but not in very wet areas.

If golfers think this will lead to Greenkeepers have time to do other things ! Imo they’re wrong.
This will lead to fewer Greenkeepers!
Clubs will not invest in robots and keep paying Greenkeepers wages .

 

[Lord Tyrion]

That’s very interesting.
I would say it’s more or less what we found.
We had GPS units with the docking station next to the clubhouse.
We found the battery life meant the mower was frequently needing to charge and was making a muddy patch right in front of the charger that eventually it got stuck in.

I watched a piece on FB from Carus Green yesterday, the Golf Mates bloke plays there and they were trialling them. He was talking to the Head GK about it. An interesting chat, worth looking up. Anyway, their docking station was on concrete, as was the approach. Seems a fairly simple solution to that. If you don't have that option, maybe a strip of astroturf or something similar to resolve that particular problem.

Your other points are very interesting ones . One thing that did surprise me was the opposition to cutting in wet areas. I thought one of the benefits of these is that they are light and so do not create tyre tracks, unlike regular mowers that do the cutting.

 

[RichA]

We have two robot mowers on trial.
They do a decent job when the grass is dry but leave a trail when wet as they don’t collect the cut grass.

This is a problem imo as the grass cuttings could lead to mulch and disease over time if not removed.

I'm no expert but the perceived wisdom in lawncare is that, while the collection of long grass cuttings is sensible, it is actually beneficial to the long-term health of the grass if regular cuts are mulched back onto the surface. It protects the roots during dry spells and returns nutrients to the earth.
Collection of clippings is more about aesthetics than the health of the grass. But this also relies on occasional light scarification to remove excessive thatch, so possibly impractical on the average golf course.
Good thread drift though.

 

[clubchamp98]

I'm no expert but the perceived wisdom in lawncare is that, while the collection of long grass cuttings is sensible, it is actually beneficial to the long-term health of the grass if regular cuts are mulched back onto the surface. It protects the roots during dry spells and returns nutrients to the earth.
Collection of clippings is more about aesthetics than the health of the grass. But this also relies on occasional light scarification to remove excessive thatch, so possibly impractical on the average golf course.
Good thread drift though.

Yes there is swings and roundabouts depends on your head GK I would say .
The science on grass cultivation varies enormously, take frozen greens some play on them lots don’t.

 

[clubchamp98]

I watched a piece on FB from Carus Green yesterday, the Golf Mates bloke plays there and they were trialling them. He was talking to the Head GK about it. An interesting chat, worth looking up. Anyway, their docking station was on concrete, as was the approach. Seems a fairly simple solution to that. If you don't have that option, maybe a strip of astroturf or something similar to resolve that particular problem.

Your other points are very interesting ones . One thing that did surprise me was the opposition to cutting in wet areas. I thought one of the benefits of these is that they are light and so do not create tyre tracks, unlike regular mowers that do the cutting.

Not opposition as such.
We found in wet areas the mowers were working so much harder that they needed recharging much more than normal.
The wet grass seemed to drain the power much more .

But if they start putting heavier batteries in it starts to rut.
Thus defeating the object.

 

[NearHull]

I learnt today that there are winter blades v summer blades and that we change the blades every 4-6 weeks.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I learnt today that there are winter blades v summer blades and that we change the blades every 4-6 weeks.

What is the difference? I believe they are quite cheap, certainly in comparison with sharpening regular cutting equipment.

 

[SteveW86]

I love how this thread has developed into discussing robot mowers from the original post asking for advice on disability discrimination.

One of the finest tangents

 

[D-S]

When we were in Portugal (Quinta da Ria), they had a full blown large Toro fairway mower, just as UK courses have, that was autonomous.

A strange sight as it came lumbering up behind you and stopped and moved off again when you moved.

It seemed to defeat the idea, or maybe many of the benefits, of small robot mowers but they obviously thought the wage saving justified it.

 

[NearHull]

What is the difference? I believe they are quite cheap, certainly in comparison with sharpening regular cutting equipment.

I’m sorry, I don’t know the difference though I did ask the course director about sharpening the blades and he stated that we don’t sharpen them as replacements are reasonable.

As an ex apprentice engineer, taught how to sharpen drill bits, I find his answer a bit uncomfortable.

 

[clubchamp98]

I learnt today that there are winter blades v summer blades and that we change the blades every 4-6 weeks.

That’s a new one on me.
Never heard of seasonal mower blades, schooldays.

 

[clubchamp98]

I’m sorry, I don’t know the difference though I did ask the course director about sharpening the blades and he stated that we don’t sharpen them as replacements are reasonable.

As an ex apprentice engineer, taught how to sharpen drill bits, I find his answer a bit uncomfortable.

Cheaper to ditch them.
Modern world!

 

[rulefan]

I’m sorry, I don’t know the difference though I did ask the course director about sharpening the blades and he stated that we don’t sharpen them as replacements are reasonable.

As an ex apprentice engineer, taught how to sharpen drill bits, I find his answer a bit uncomfortable.

As would our Greens Manager

 

[Lord Tyrion]

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This is the piece I was mentioning earlier. It answers a few questions. Interesting piece.