Move over Roomba, there’s a new robot in town, and while this one doesn’t clean up its mess, it does a darn good job of keeping the fairways in pristine condition at Tasman Golf Club.
Sourced locally through Husqvarna, the robotic lawn mower has been hitting the fairways at the golf club on the Kina cliffs for about a month, and has already saved manhours, fuel and maintenance.
Tasman Golf Club manager Lyndal McMeeking says a grant for $20k from New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), made the purchase possible and will help immensely with keeping the grounds tidy and in top shape for use.
The club employs Lyndal as club manager along with a full-time greenkeeper, but relies on dedicated volunteers to help keep the course in top condition.
“The whole course would take at least 60 hours a week to look after, the rest is all volunteers.”
Committee member Mike McGee says the NZCT grant has significantly reduced the time, fuel and effort involved in maintaining the course.
“The robotic mower can operate around the clock if needed, freeing up our greenkeeper for other vital tasks,” he says.”
“It also removes the safety risks associated with operating heavy machinery on an active course — especially with wayward golf balls in play. It’s a smart, safe, and sustainable step forward for our club.”
The mower is specifically programmed with the Tasman Golf Club fairways, so it knows exactly where it’s off to.
“It can mow right through the night,” remarks Lyndal. “It’s a game-changer for the course, I think we are the first club in the district to have one.”
The mower can sense if it’s coming close to objects, or people, and will reprogramme itself to chart a new course, or head back the way it came, so it can operate without disturbing club members’ games. When the battery level drops, it heads on back to its docking station to recharge.
“It has the course looking good and mowed all the time,” Lyndal adds. NZCT’s general manager of grants, marketing and communications, Ben Hodges, adds they are proud to support a “great little golf club to be more financially and environmentally sustainable”.
“Grants like this wouldn’t be possible without the responsible gaming partnership we share with our local venue Hotel Motueka,” he adds.
