Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

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Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Husqvarna technology is playing a crucial role in preparing The Belfry’s iconic Brabazon Course for the 2026 Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, as the venue builds towards the arrival of the DP World Tour’s leading players from 26–30 August.

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

In the build-up to the championship, seven Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers are maintaining the fairways of the four-time Ryder Cup venue, working consistently across the course to help produce the exacting standards required for elite tournament golf.

During the tournament week, Husqvarna will expand its operation considerably. A fleet of 15 CEORA robotic mowers will cut the championship fairways overnight, supported by a dedicated Husqvarna team working from 8pm until 6am. The team will transport the mowers to their designated fairways, oversee the overnight operation and collect the machines at the end of each shift.

Husqvarna CEORA, Automower® 580L and RELOX technology will also be deployed on the driving range, while a Husqvarna 535 AWD EPOS is maintaining the short game area to ensure the rough is always at optimal height for practice. Every machine used during the championship will be cleaned and calibrated daily, with blades changed each day to maintain consistent cutting performance throughout the event. The Belfry’s greenkeeping team is also using a comprehensive fleet of Husqvarna battery-powered handheld equipment, including leaf blowers, grass trimmers and hedge trimmers throughout its preparations. The brand-new Husqvarna 570iBT battery backpack blower will play an important role with 10 units being used to clear tees, bunkers and general course detailing.

The installation brings together autonomous mowing and professional battery technology as part of a modern, integrated approach to golf course maintenance. While robotic mowers deliver frequent and consistent cutting across large areas of turf, the handheld equipment supports the detailed work undertaken by the greenkeeping team around course furniture, including trees, bunkers and other areas that require a more precise finish.

The deployment also reduces reliance on conventional fossil fuel-powered equipment and provides the team access to quieter machinery with no direct exhaust emissions during use. This can help work to continue around golfers and other course operations with less disruption.

For Husqvarna, the installation provides a powerful demonstration of the company’s technology in action at the tournament for which it is Title Partner. Rather than being limited to branding around the event, Husqvarna products are directly supporting both the advance preparation of the course and its presentation throughout championship week. The dedicated overnight operation will put Husqvarna technology and technical expertise at the heart of maintaining the surfaces on which the tournament will be decided.

Andrew Lees, Global Segment Manager for Professional Robotics at Husqvarna, said: “The Husqvarna British Masters gives us an outstanding platform, but the most important story is what our technology is delivering on the ground. Our products are not simply being displayed at The Belfry, they are working every day alongside an exceptional greenkeeping team to help prepare one of the world’s most famous tournament courses.

“Following the success of our operation at Royal Porthcawl during the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, we are proud to bring the same level of tournament support to a very different venue. Every machine will be cleaned and calibrated and its blades changed daily, helping The Belfry present The Brabazon to a global audience at the first Husqvarna British Masters.”

Designed for large-scale professional turf management, CEORA uses satellite-based EPOS navigation to operate systematically within virtual boundaries. This produces accuracy to just 1cm, meaning fairways perimeters are delivered with high definition and confidence that the integrity of the fairway shape is maintained. CEORA’s autonomous operation allows mowing schedules and designated work areas to be managed digitally, giving course teams the flexibility to adapt cutting programmes around weather, playing schedules and operational requirements.

In the build-up to the event, the seven CEORA units at The Belfry regularly maintain the fairways without the need for a driver, supporting consistent turf presentation while freeing members of the greenkeeping team to concentrate on agronomic and detail-focused tasks elsewhere on the course. During the championship itself, fairway mowing will become a managed overnight tournament-support operation. Fifteen CEORA units will be transported to and from the fairways and overseen by Husqvarna personnel, allowing the fairways to be maintained outside playing hours while giving the tournament team daily oversight of machine condition and performance.

Husqvarna became Title Partner of the British Masters through a multi-year agreement announced earlier this year. The company is also the Official Robotic Mowing Partner of the DP World Tour, building on a partnership that has already demonstrated autonomous mowing technology on some of golf’s most prominent stages.

At the 2025 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, 15 Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers cut the championship’s playing surfaces, marking the first time Husqvarna robotic mowers had performed this role at a major golf championship in the United Kingdom.

Hosted by six-time Major champion and Husqvarna Brand Ambassador Sir Nick Faldo, the 2026 Husqvarna British Masters will begin with the celebrity pro-am on Wednesday 26 August, followed by four days of championship play from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August.

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Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

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Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

When Chris McGhee took over as Course Manager at Pollok Golf Club in January, one of the first things he identified was the need to improve the heavily worn areas around the course.

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Founded in 1892 and situated on the south side of Glasgow, Pollok Golf Club is a traditional, tree-lined members’ course with design influences from both James Braid and Alister MacKenzie. While its rich history is part of its charm, it also presents modern-day maintenance challenges.

“Being designed so long ago, the spaces between greens and tees are quite small,” explains Chris. “On newer courses you might walk 20, 50 or even 100 yards to the next tee. Most of our tees are right beside the greens, so those areas get heavily worn, especially through the winter.”

With an active membership that continues to play throughout the colder months, alongside increased traffic from trolleys and ride-on buggies, maintaining grass cover in these high-traffic areas is a constant battle.

“It was one of the main reasons I wanted an overseeder,” he says. “I wanted something that would help bring these areas back quicker and improve the quality and density of the turf.”

That search led Chris to the Redexim Overseeder 3D 1575.

Having previously used Redexim equipment, including a Verti-Drain and a Redexim dimple seeder during his time working in Norway, Chris already had confidence in the brand.

“I’d worked with pretty much all of the disc seeders on the market,” he says. “For me, the Redexim offered the right balance of ease of use, practicality and price. We have a lot of trees and a lot of manoeuvring to do around the course, and I felt the 1575 was the best fit for our needs.”

Purchased in March this year, the Overseeder 3D 1575 has quickly become a regular part of Pollok’s maintenance programme.

Designed for use across a wide range of surface types, the machine features a seed delivery mechanism with single-point adjustment, while durable discs cut precise grooves into the soil before a rear roller closes the groove and covers the seed. The result is accurate seed placement, excellent seed-to-soil contact and consistently strong germination rates. An adjustable seed aperture accommodates a variety of seed types, which can be easily adjusted to accommodate a variety of different seeds.

At Pollok, the machine has been deployed extensively across tees, aprons, walk-off areas, grass pathways and other worn sections of the course.

“In all honesty, we’ve used it everywhere apart from the greens,” says Chris. “The walk-off areas and paths have probably been the biggest focus because they’re the areas that suffer most from wear, but we’ve used it across the course.”

The results have been immediate.

“It’s been a really good investment,” he says. “The strike rate has been brilliant. We’re mainly using ryegrass in these areas to improve wear tolerance and the germination has been excellent. You can see the lines very clearly and they establish quickly. There’s very little seed waste as well.”

Ease of operation has also been a major advantage.

“We’ve all used it,” says Chris. “Everyone in the team has had a go setting it up and adjusting the sowing rates. The instruction manual includes a table that makes calibration very straightforward.

“The hopper size is another big benefit. It holds around three full bags of seed, which means we’re not constantly stopping to refill or carrying bags around the course.”

The improvements haven’t gone unnoticed by club members either.

“The members have definitely commented on it,” he says. “They like seeing the seed lines because it gives them a visual indication of what’s being done and where the investment is going. We regularly share photos of the germination and recovery work through our WhatsApp updates, and people have been really positive about the results.”

Support from local dealer Hamilton Ross Group and Redexim also helped ensure a smooth introduction to the machine.

“Allen Whellans from Redexim came out with Paul Johnstone when it was delivered,” says Chris. “The training was excellent. It was thorough, easy to understand and focused on exactly what we needed to know. We were confident using it straight away. We always get great support from Hamilton Ross.”

After several months of use, Chris has no hesitation in recommending the Overseeder 3D 1575 to other turf professionals.

“The ease of use, the strike rate, the hopper capacity and the compact storage all stand out,” he says. “It’s very well built, very well made and it does exactly what it’s meant to do. That’s the most important thing.”

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

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GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

Romford’s Whalebone Golf Club is discovering the many benefits of automous maintenance following the installation of a completely automated driving range system from GroundTech. Director Ed Blacker notes that the combination of ECHO robotics and the innovative Drop Pit wash return system has been pivotal to consistent presentation of the range and central to the venues wider growth and development.

GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

Acquired by its current owners in September 2025, Whalebone Golf Club is currently undergoing an exciting period of investment, with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for golfers of all ages and abilities. Central to achieving that ambition is maintaining a well-presented driving range and optimising the utilisation of the club’s greenkeepers.

“Our previous range set up presented a number of challenges” says Ed. “The entire range needed to be cleared before we could cut the grass, with the whole process taking valuable time away from the greenkeeping team’s daily responsibilities on the golf course.” After exploring available alternatives, Whalebone appointed robotic specialists GroundTech to install an ECHO RP1250 robotic ball picker, ECHO TM-1050 mower complete with deflection kit and the revolutionary Drop Pit wash return system – enabling ball collection and grass cutting to take place simultaneously and maintaining a constant supply of clean golf balls for the range.

A few short months after the installation, Ed says the set-up has transformed the upkeep of the busy range, which can see as many as 15,000 golf balls used in a single day. “We estimate we’re saving four or five hours of labour each day which can be redirected into more valuable work elsewhere around the site.”

The finish of the ECHO TM-1050 has also impressed. “We can cut in all conditions, maintaining presentation throughout the year which is vital for creating a good first impression. It makes a real difference to the customer experience hitting into an outfield that is well manicured and not covered in golf balls.”

Ed also praised the installation and support provided by the GroundTech team. “They offered a complete solution, from consultation and planning through to installation and full training. The team were efficient and friendly and, with minimal construction and groundworks needed, the whole project was completed very quickly, and we’re pleased with the outcome.”

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St Enodoc takes a joined up approach with Toro

St Enodoc takes a joined up approach with Toro

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St Enodoc takes a joined up approach with Toro

St Enodoc Golf Club has committed to Toro in a significant, multi-year investment that includes a tailored fleet of machinery and an upgrade to its irrigation infrastructure and technology.

St Enodoc takes a joined up approach with Toro

St Enodoc takes a joined up approach with Toro

The investment represents the club’s first major fleet renewal in a decade and was developed over a three-year period with DGM LTD and Reesink Turfcare. It reflects a carefully planned transition designed to align with the club’s evolving agronomic and operational requirements.

The package features battery-powered greens mowers, pedestrian cutting equipment and an evolving upgrade of the irrigation system supported by Toro Lynx Central Control software.

For Head Greenkeeper William Smith, the decision reflects both the changing demands placed on modern golf courses and the opportunities offered by advances in technology.

“A lot has changed over the past decade,” he says. “Expectations around course presentation have continued to rise, while sustainability and efficiency have become much bigger priorities. This investment allows us to modernise our fleet and give the team the tools they need to maintain the course to the highest possible standard.”

Among the standout additions to support the club’s wider sustainability ambitions, which are guided by its GEO certification, are four battery-powered Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 and hybrid 3360 greens mowers.

“They deliver a consistently high quality of cut while reducing operational emissions and noise,” says William. “Crucially, they eliminate the risk of hydraulic oil leaks on sensitive playing surfaces. Protecting our greens is a huge priority and these mowers provide exceptional precision and a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable way of maintaining some of the most important areas of the course.”

The addition of six Toro Flex 1021 hand mowers has further enhanced presentation standards on greens and tees, while the expanded overall fleet provides greater operational flexibility by allowing multiple maintenance tasks to be completed simultaneously, reducing downtime and improving productivity.

Alongside the machinery investment, St Enodoc is taking a phased approach to upgrading its irrigation system. New Toro sprinklers are being installed across tees and walkways, complemented by the introduction of Toro Lynx Central Control software, giving the greenkeeping team greater precision over irrigation scheduling and water application.

“Water is one of our most valuable resources, so using it efficiently is essential,” says William. “Toro Lynx gives us much greater control over when, where and how much water we apply, helping us reduce waste while maintaining turf health in what’s fast becoming an unpredictable climate.”

Working closely with Reesink Turfcare and local dealer DGM proved instrumental in developing a machinery package tailored to the club’s specific requirements.

“Rather than offering a standard package, they took the time to understand our course and our long-term objectives,” says William. “It’s been a genuine partnership from start to finish. Our aim is to deliver outstanding course conditions while operating more efficiently and responsibly. This investment provides the foundation to achieve that for many years to come.”

Rob Read at DGM says: “St Enodoc has taken a considered, long-term approach to investing in both machinery and irrigation, recognising how the two work together to deliver consistently high course standards.”

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GKB Deep Clean delivers speed, simplicity and superior results

GKB Deep Clean delivers speed, simplicity and superior results

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GKB Deep Clean delivers speed, simplicity and superior results

The search for a modern, efficient solution to synthetic surface cleaning was a short one for Miguel Pimenta of King’s College School in Wimbledon, after seeing the GKB Deep Clean at SALTEX 2025. In just a few short weeks since its delivery, the Deep-Clean has ‘transformed’ the school’s artificial maintenance, bringing speed and consistency to pitch cleaning and performance.

GKB Deep Clean delivers speed, simplicity and superior results

GKB Deep Clean delivers speed, simplicity and superior results

Nationally and internationally recognised for excellence in education, King’s sets high expectations across the board – including the standards they employ for maintaining the school’s extensive grounds and sports facilities. With their previous artificial cleaner at the end of its working life, Miguel attended SALTEX in the hunt for a replacement and quickly identified the new GKB Deep Clean as the perfect fit. Following discussions with local dealer Ernest Doe, the purchase was finalised and the impact was immediate.

“The Deep-Clean has completely transformed the way we maintain our synthetic turf pitches” explains Head Groundsman Miguel.

A key advantage has been the machine’s speed and simplicity of operation. “Within a couple of minutes, we can have the machine hitched up and ready to go. The adjustable front wheels also make it incredibly straight forward to adjust the working depth on the fly, without the need for tools, which saves us a lot of time on busy maintenance days.”

“The brush and vibrating screen system lifts the infill and removes debris far more effectively than anything we’ve used before, with a range of screen types to choose from which means the unit can always be perfectly configured whatever the conditions.” He adds, “The suction unit also does a great job capturing dust and lightweight contaminants, leaving the surface noticeably cleaner and more consistent.”

Recently redeveloped, Miguel saw the new GKB Deep Clean on its debut UK outing in November. Available in three working widths and designed to work with various infill types, this next generation cleaner sieves, separates and collects debris and microplastics returning clean granules back into the pitch and leaving a clean and safe surface that’s ready for play.

Miguel continues, “What I appreciate most is the build quality. It’s clear that GKB designed this with real grounds teams in mind. The machine is robust, reliable and fast, and the collection container and dust bag system make disposal straightforward.”

“For us, the Deep Clean has delivered exactly what we needed – speed, simplicity and excellent results.”

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